Find self catering and cottages that are great for a short break in Kent, South East England

Wysteria Cottage, Pembury, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 4
Weekly price range £600 to £899

Self catering accommodation in Pembury sleeps 4.

Features include: • Open Fire or Woodburner Stove • Short Breaks • Sleeps 4

Accommodation overview: A pretty converted coach house in the grounds of the owners’ Georgian house, with its own small garden. An excellent holiday retreat in the Weald of Kent, near the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. A narrow road leads to the village and there are many historic houses and beautiful gardens within easy driving distance; including Chartwell and Hever and Leeds Castles. Sissinghurst (NT) gardens are spread over the site of a medieval moated manor and are now one of England’s greatest and most popular gardens. Easy access to London and the Eurostar to France via Ashford. Shop 1 mile.

Entrance hall. Cosy sitting-room with electric fire. Dining room with open fire. Small, fitted kitchen overlooking owners’ attractive garden. Bathroom with over-bath electric shower and toilet. First floor: Double bedroom. Twin bedroom. Both with wash basins.

Stray Lees Barn, Blean, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 6
Weekly price range £900 to £1299

Self catering accommodation in Blean sleeps 6.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Detached • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: This well thought out, stylish, detached barn conversion is situated in the owner’s 26 acres of grounds, offering access to woods and walks from the doorstep. Blean Woods are the largest in Kent covering 11 square miles, half of which is designated as an SSSI and favoured by nightingales and woodpeckers. The holiday property is a short drive from the historic Canterbury Cathedral which has welcomed pilgrims since AD 597 and displays some of the oldest and most beautiful stained glass windows in the country. Visitor attractions include The Canterbury Tales, The Crab and Winkle Way to Whitstable (4 miles), Herne Bay or a boat trip on the River Stour. Shop ½ mile, pub ¼ mile.

Living room. Well-equipped kitchen/dining room. Twin bedroom. Separate toilet. First floor: Two double bedrooms, each with sloping ceiling and 5ft bed. Bathroom with shower attachment, toilet and tiled floor.

The Smithy, Bodsham, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 4
Weekly price range £300 to £599

Self catering accommodation in Bodsham sleeps 4.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pub nearby • Detached • Easy Walking • Garden • Sleeps 4

Accommodation overview: This comfortable single-storey cottage stands detached in the heart of the small hamlet of Bodsham in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Only 4 miles from the picturesque village of Wye, the cottage is surrounded by a network of foopaths including the North Downs Way. Dating back to the 17th-century, with its own garden, the cottage has been tastefully refurbished to a high standard and is ideally placed for sightseeing and touring. The Channel Tunnel lies just 20 minutes’ drive away, whilst the cathedral city of Canterbury, the market town of Tenterdon, Leeds Castle, Howletts Zoo and the seaside town of Whitstable are all within easy driving distance. Shop 4 miles, pub with popular restaurant 100 yards.

Beamed living/dining room with wood-burning stove. Modern fitted kitchen. Double bedroom with fitted wardrobes. Bunk bedroom. Bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet.

Capel Cottage, Petham, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 7
Weekly price range £900 to £1299

Self catering accommodation in Petham sleeps 7.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Detached • Sleeps 7

Accommodation overview: Standing alone within its own 1-acre cottage garden, this characterful cottage commands views over the surrounding, undulating countryside. Spacious, it occupies a secluded position within the grounds of the owners’ country house, providing holiday accommodation that is perfectly placed for touring this scenic corner of England. Canterbury, with its numerous attractions including the cathedral, and 18-hole golf course, is just a 5 mile drive, whilst the beautifully moated Leeds Castle and Howletts Zoo, are both easily accessible. Restaurant 3 miles. Shop 2½ miles, pub 3 miles’ drive, or walk through Capel Wood.

Living room with ornamental fireplace and French doors to terrace. Dining room. Well-equipped fitted kitchen. Utility room. Single bedroom. Separate toilet. First floor: Double bedroom with 5ft four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom with shower attachment and toilet. Two twin bedrooms. Bathroom with shower attachment and toilet.

Bankside Cottage, Chilham, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 8
Weekly price range £900 to £1299

Self catering accommodation in Chilham sleeps 8.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Pub nearby • Detached • Sleeps 8

Accommodation overview: This detached holiday cottage is situated on a working 120-acre fruit and stud farm. The cottage in bygone years was used by the fruit pickers and has now been thoughtfully renovated and modernised to a high standard. Jacobean red brick and Tudor half-timbered shops and houses surround the square. The North Downs Way is on the doorstep. Dover Castle, Leeds Castle, Belmont House and the Edwardian gardens at Mount Ephraim are worth a visit. Shops, restaurant and pubs ½ mile.

Living room with wood-burning stove. Well-equipped kitchen/dining room with wood-burning stove. Bathroom with shower cubicle with jet shower, seat, toilet. First floor: Two double bedrooms, each with 5ft bed, shared en-suite toilet. Second floor: Two twin bedrooms, one with snug, TV and DVD. Some rooms with sloping ceilings.

The Cottage, St Margarets Bay, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 12
Weekly price range £1300 to £

Self catering accommodation in St Margarets Bay sleeps 12.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Golf nearby • Pub nearby • Detached • Games Room • Sleeps 12

Accommodation overview: Commanding stunning views across the English Channel, this attractive, spacious, family home for all seasons is the ideal property for a relaxing holiday with both friends or relatives. A decked terrace runs the length of the property, an ideal spot for soaking up the sun or relax after a brisk winter walk in front of a glowing log burner in the cosy living room, overlooking the frothing waves. Four of the six bedrooms have sea views and the other two have attractive garden views. There is also a games room. The white chalk cliff above St Margaret’s Bay is said to be the first place the sun reaches each morning on mainland Britain! The beach is famous for being the closest point to France and is the spot where Channel swimmers begin their marathon 21 mile swim. The village itself offers good pubs, restaurants and local shop within walking distance. The coastal path leads to the famous White Cliffs of Dover, gateway to England and now one of the UK’s protected Heritage coasts offering some of the best cliff coastal walking in the country. The lighthouse is the place where Marconi transmitted his first radio broadcast to France. Closer to France than London, bring a passport, catch a ferry from Dover and visit the French markets in Calais and Boulogne for the day. Visit Dover, Deal and Walmer Castle, Pines Garden and Metropole Galleries Folkestone. Canterbury 17 miles. Golf, sailing, cycling, horse riding locally. Shops and pubs 500 yards.

Sixteen steps to entrance (twenty seven to rear entrance). Entrance hall. Large living room with wood-burning stove, French doors with sea views and wooden floor. Dining room with sea views. Three steps up to well-equipped kitchen with Rangemaster (for cooking), breakfast area, French doors to decked balcony and tiled floor. Utility. Double bedroom with ornamental fireplace. Separate toilet. Steep, narrow stairs to lower ground floor: Games room. First floor: Double bedroom with 6ft bed, TV, wash basin and sea views. Two further double bedrooms, one with TV, sea views and en-suite shower room with double shower cubicle and toilet. Twin bedroom with ornamental fireplace. Bathroom with hand-held shower over bath, separate shower cubicle and toilet. Fully-tiled shower room with toilet. Steep stairs to second floor: Twin bedroom with French doors to balcony.

Blackbird Cottage, Ottinge, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 4
Weekly price range £600 to £899

Self catering accommodation in Ottinge sleeps 4.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pub nearby • Detached • Games Room • Sleeps 4

Accommodation overview: This beautifully restored Grade II listed thatched barn dating back 300 years, has been divided into two beamed holiday cottages equipped to a very high standard which reside in the grounds of the owners’ 500-year-old home Boyke Manor, where the great grandfather of Edward Elgar once lived, situated in the unspoilt Elham Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Activities in the area include walking, horse riding, cycling, wildlife viewing, golf, beaches and art and crafts to name a few. Canterbury, great for shopping and sightseeing, and Dover, ideal for day trips to France, are both 20 minutes away. There is a fast train link to London (55 minutes). Shops ½ mile, pub 1 mile.

Harbour Mews, Broadstairs, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 6
Weekly price range £900 to £1299

Self catering accommodation in Broadstairs sleeps 6.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Golf nearby • Pub nearby • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: This stylish, modern mews house lies in a quiet lane in the heart of Broadstairs, 250 yards from the beach - perfect for families or small groups. This lively seaside town, packed with history, has an impressive array of restaurants, bars and ice cream parlours within a 5-minute walk. Its thriving events calendar includes a famous Folk Week, Food Festival and Dickens Festival. A favourite haunt of the Victorian novelist, Broadstairs also boasts Bleak House and the Dickens House Museum. In summer, the town’s beautiful Seven Sandy Bays host Punch and Judy shows by day and firework displays over the harbour by night. Golf, coastal walks and surfing locally. Shops 500 yards, pub 100 yards.

Well-equipped kitchen. Conservatory. Separate toilet. First floor: Living room. Double bedroom with 5ft bed. Second floor: Double bedroom with 5ft bed and en-suite shower room with toilet. Twin bedroom. Bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet.

Culvers, Kennington, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 8
Weekly price range £1300 to £

Self catering accommodation in Kennington sleeps 8.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Golf nearby • Pub nearby • Detached • Games Room • Sleeps 8

Accommodation overview: Nestling down a quiet country lane, in a rural setting just 10 miles from Canterbury and 10 miles from beaches at Hythe is this attractive stylish Grade II listed detached family holiday home built around 1756. Retaining much of its original charm and character, accessed via a shared drive, Culvers provides generous accommodation for a family or group get together with full use of wood-burning stove, making it cosy in the winter or enjoy a glass of wine on the sunny terrace in the summer which adjoins the owner’s grounds which guests are welcome to use. A perfect base for exploring this verdant part of the British Isles, with easy access to Leeds Castle, Sissinghurst Gardens, Tenterden Steam Railway, Ashford Museum, Biddenden Vineyards and for those that enjoy shopping - Bluewater is easily reached and a bargain can be had at the local designer outlet - McArthur Glenn. Golf, fishing, riding and tennis all available within a 5-mile radius. Bring a passport for a day trip to France or Belgium. Shop 200 yards, pub 1/3 mile.

Ground floor: Living room with wood-burning stove. Dining room with wood-burning stove and wooden floor. Well-equipped kitchen with breakfast bar, gas Aga, electric oven and gas hob. Utility. Games room. Separate toilet. First floor: Four double bedrooms; two with 5ft bed, one with en-suite bathroom, over-bath shower and toilet. Bathroom with separate shower cubicle and toilet. All bedrooms with TV.

Hucking Court Stables, Hucking, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 6
Weekly price range £600 to £899

Self catering accommodation in Hucking sleeps 6.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Pub nearby • Garden • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Originally stables to the main farmhouse, this 16th-century Grade II listed property has been carefully converted to provide an ideal holiday base from which to explore the ‘Garden of England’. Set in the heart of the North Downs, surrounded by Woodland Trust countryside, holidaymakers can enjoy wonderful walks through wooded bluebell glades, and along the famous Pilgrim’s Way or North Downs Way. Often dubbed ‘the world’s most beautiful castle’, Leeds Castle is close by, host to a series of events and concerts throughout the year. Excellent road connections ensure rapid access to London and the Channel Tunnel for shopping and sightseeing trips. Shop 3½ miles, pub ½ mile.

Open-plan living/dining room with French doors to garden, sofa-bed (for +2) and farmhouse-style kitchen area. Double bedroom with 6ft bed. Twin bedroom. Bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet. High beamed ceilings, rustic flint walls, natural slate floors (carpet in bedrooms) and exposed beams throughout.

The Oast House, Smarden, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 6
Weekly price range £900 to £1299

Self catering accommodation in Smarden sleeps 6.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Detached • Garden • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Situated on the edge of the old Wealden wool village of Smarden, this fine example of a beautifully renovated detached oast house has been finished to a high standard, with oak floors and half-galleried landing. Half-timbered houses and white weatherboard houses dating back to 1331 make up the village, which thrived as a weaving town until the 19th century when hops were introduced. Footpaths abound in the area, and fishing is available by arrangement. NT properties to visit include Scotney Castle and gardens, Sissinghurst, and Small Hythe Place; other places of interest being Leeds Castle, Biddenden vineyards and ciderworks, and the Kent and Sussex Steam Railway. Day trips to Paris possible. Shop 1 mile.

Living room (in roundel) with oak floor and French door to terrace. Well-equipped fitted kitchen/dining room with wood-burning stove. Underfloor heating. Shower room and toilet. Oak staircase (bottom 3 steps partially open-tread) to first floor: Half-galleried landing. Double bedroom (in roundel) with four-poster bed. Twin bedroom. Further bedroom (can be double or twin). Bathroom with over-bath shower.

Butterfly Cottage, Whitstable, Kent, South East England

Sleeps 6
Weekly price range £600 to £899

Self catering accommodation in Whitstable sleeps 6.

Features include: • Open Fire or Woodburner Stove • Short Breaks • Pub nearby • Garden • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Just a short stroll to the beach and harbour is this restored, adjoining Victorian holiday cottage over three floors, with wooden shutters and floors, open fireplace, wood-burning stove and 130ft enclosed garden with decked terrace. Explore the winding alleys of Whitstable, once the haunt of smugglers, down to the beach - one of the very few in the country that boast a pub! Take advantage of the local oysters and freshly-landed fish, along with the popular Whitstable Ale. Shop and pub 300 yards.

Living/dining room with open fire. Dining room with wood-burning stove and window shutters. Two steps down to kitchen with breakfast area and oak work tops. Wooden floors throughout. Wet room with toilet. First floor: Two bedrooms, each with ornamental fireplace; one double, one twin. Second floor: Double bedroom with sloping ceiling and en-suite bathroom with toilet.