Holidays in Kent
Kent is England's oldest county and is a wonderful short break and holiday destination. Often referred to as the 'Garden of England', one third of the county is covered by Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it is home to over 80 country parks and nature reserves, from the famous White Cliffs at Dover to the National Pinetum at Bedgebury Forest.
This Guide to Green Holidays in Kent provides all the information you'll need to make the most of a trip to this glorious part of England. We've done the hard work for you by picking out the greenest places to stay, the top restaurants and pubs serving delicious local organic food, and the best attractions and family days out, including castles, gardens, walking paths, cycling trails and watersports.
We also provide detailed information on travelling to and around Kent by public transport as well as by ferry from continental Europe. Less carbon more fun!
>> Read Catherine Mack's guide to a Family day out at Bedgebury Forest
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From city hotels, B&Bs and holiday parks to cosy barns and traditional Kentish oasthouses, browse our pick of the best green places to stay in this beautiful county.
Traditional pubs, the freshest fish markets and sumptuous Michelin-starred restaurants, Kent's fields, woodlands and coastlines offer up fantastic local produce.
Kent offers a whole world of attractions for the entire family, from magnificent castles and cathedrals and National Trust properties to many splendid parks and gardens.
Kent has many miles of tracks, trails and byways for you to explore on foot, by bike or on horseback, plus a fantastic range of watersports along its wonderful coastline.
Map of Kent
>> See also Kent in Google Maps (which has now integrated train routes, so you can now compare journey times and routes by car and train from anywhere in mainland Britain. For more info on this, see our article: Google Maps Train Routes Across Britain)
Sustainable Tourism in Kent. Good for the environment, good for you
In order to protect and enhance The Garden of England, Kent promotes sustainable tourism. So, leave your car behind and come by train, get around by bus or cycle, tuck into wholesome, locally grown organic fare. It's easy - and you'll enjoy such a rewarding break.
Today more than ever we all want to escape the pressures of the rat race, and Kent’s countryside and coastal areas offer the perfect oasis. Of course, ‘wellbeing tourism' puts pressures on this landscape but there are many measures in place to strike a balance, to encourage recreation consistent with conservation.
It's why you'll find - and can absorb the safeguarded splendour of - two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering approximately one third of the county, the Kent Downs and (part of the) High Weald. There are over 500 sites of interest for nature conservation, accounting for around nine per cent of the landscape. In fact Kent has more conservation areas than any other county in England. And you're welcome to relax and re-charge your batteries.
The Kent Downs stretch from the White Cliffs at Dover to the London and Surrey borders. It's a magnificently diverse landscape, of dramatic chalk escarpments, secluded valleys, ancient woodlands, distinctive villages and wonderful wildlife. Sustainable initiatives protect the natural landscape and work with communities while also providing fulfilling and fun visitor experiences.
Did you know?
- At the southeastern border of England, Kent is only around 21 miles from France.
- Kent boasts over 1000 square miles of countryside and 350 miles of coastline to explore, plus more historic homes and castles than any other county.
- Kent is known as 'The Garden of England', due to the large number of hop gardens and orchards in the county.
- Kent is widely believed to be England's oldest county, and is home to around 17,000 listed buildings.
- Two of Kent's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty cover around one third of the entire county.
- A train journey from London to Ashford in Kent takes just 37 minutes
