4 Best places to stay in Canterbury

When the Abode opened in Canterbury there was a huge sigh of relief; finally this beautiful city had somewhere chic and comfortable to stay.

It’s location – right in the middle of the pedestrianised High Street – couldn’t be better; everything, from the impressive Cathedral, to the boutiques and quirky stores around the Buttermarket, is a short stroll away.   

Affordable, and equally welcoming to couples, friends or family, it’s a sleek but unpretentious boutique hotel. The champagne bar – all scarlet leather chairs and an original beamed ceiling – is a great spot to kick off the evening. 

For a special treat, book the Fabulous Suite, which boasts a private decked rooftop terrace.

If you’re coming to Canterbury for the Cathedral, there’s surely no better place to stay. Built in the grounds of the city’s world-famous cathedral, this sleek hotel has bedrooms that look straight onto the imposing facades. 

Rooms feel a touch corporate, but the garden is a joy, as is the Refectory Terrace, where hearty breakfasts and optional evening meals are taken. 

This isn’t the place to stay if you’re looking for buzz – many guests staying have business at the cathedral, but for a few days of quiet contemplation, it’s perfect. 

History seeps out of the walls at the House of Agnes, which dates back to the 15th century, and is mentioned in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield.  

The restored main house has eight elegant bedrooms, with eight more in the equally-old stables. On warm days the beautiful walled garden – the largest in the city – is a complete joy; the honesty bar in the small lounge offers locally-produced beers, along with soft drinks and wine. 

The cherry on the cake is Agnes’ location, just 200m from Canterbury West station, making it perfect for a car-free weekend. 

Three miles outside Canterbury, Bridge Place is an impressive Jacobean mansion with a colourful history – in recent decades, it was known for hosting rock and roll parties and gigs, including Led Zeppelin. 

This is a quirky, character-filled establishment, from the seven Hop Picker’s Huts that sit on stilts alongside the river, providing tranquil, waterfront accommodation, to the Potting Sheds, which double as spa treatment rooms. 

The kitchen has a strict sourcing policy – everything comes either from the kitchen garden, or within a 25-mile radius – and the lunch and dinner menus change each day, according to what’s available.  

A sexy, sophisticated bolthole, with food to die for.