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The top 11 holiday homes in Kent according to TripAdvisor

When you look to rent a holiday cottage, you want it to be the perfect home-from-home.

So we thought we'd see what TripAdvisor reviewers thought about holiday homes to rent in Kent - and give you a gallery of pictures for each one so you can take a look inside.

Here are the top 11 across the county according to their traveller rating, with the top two in Ashford.

TripAdvisor gives a Certificate of Excellence to accommodations, which consistently earn great reviews from travellers and all the properties listed have been given that status.

1. Woodlands, between Hamstreet and Ruckinge, Ashford

Rated 5 with 45 reviews

Overview: Countryside holiday home

Minimum stay varies

Woodlands is rated as 1. Picture: TripAdvisor (11739385)
Woodlands is rated as 1. Picture: TripAdvisor (11739385)

The holiday rental house is in a quiet location surrounded by farmland on a quiet country lane in its own grounds.

Set in the heart of the Kent countryside, the four bedroom bungalow is the perfect escape from the daily hustle and bustle.

Woodlands is a spacious bungalow with full self catering facilities, off road parking and everything anyone would need for a short break in the country.

Close to the village of Ruckinge, it provides an ideal base for enjoying Kent and nearby East Sussex but also for day trips to London and France.

Surrounded by open fields and woodlands alive with wildlife, visitors will see more pheasants, rabbits and sheep than cars.

The bungalow has two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the ground floor and two bedrooms upstairs within the eaves of the property with a further bathroom.

It has its own private garden with a barbecue for al fresco dining, two decked areas for lazy days in the sun and a large grassed area for fun and games with the children.

The bungalow boasts a modern kitchen with an adjoining dining room, a spacious lounge with a full panoramic view of the surrounding fields and distant coastline, freeview TV and DVD player, WiFi, and separate laundry room.

A 10-minute drive will find you in the heart Ashford for some retail therapy at the Designer Retail outlet or to hop on the train at Ashford International Station.

The beautiful coastal towns and sunny beaches of both Kent and East Sussex, including Hythe, Dymchurch, Camber Sands and Rye are within a 20 minute drive away.

No pets or smoking is allowed but it is child friendly.

2. Plantagenet Cottage, Boughton Aluph, Ashford

Rated 5 with 41 reviews

Overview: Described as hidden and historical and the cottage also has a pool

Minimum stay one night

Plantagenet Cottage rated 2. Picture: TripAdvisor
Plantagenet Cottage rated 2. Picture: TripAdvisor

It has three bedrooms and one bathroom and has enough room to sleep six guests.

The unique country cottage is steeped in history and has links to the Plantagenet Kings of England.

It dates back to the 16th Century and was built by a natural son of King Richard III.

Guests get use of the entire house and grounds and the hidden cottage is surrounded by a big garden which overlooks the Eastwell Manor Country Estate.

It has a good-sized heated outdoor pool and the cottage has been newly refurbished. It is spacious, very private and is relaxing with a certain English charm and character.

It is pet and child friendly but has a no smoking policy.

3. Pear Tree Garden, West Peckham, Tonbridge

Rated 5 with 52 reviews

Overview: A delightful cottage in the Kent countryside

Minimum stay three nights

The Pear Garden is rated 3. Picture: TripAdvisor
The Pear Garden is rated 3. Picture: TripAdvisor

The one-bedroom holiday house is ideally placed in the middle of a strawberry farm in the picture-perfect village of West Peckham.

The village has a Saxon church, village green and pub, The Swan On The Green, which serves freshly-prepared food, excellent wines and real ale from its own micro-brewery.

Walkers will love the cottage situated on one of the most picturesque walks in the South East, Wealdway, which leads north to the Thames Estuary and south to Eastbourne, passing through Tunbridge Wells.

Guests can enjoy waking-up in a big, circular bed and have complimentary tea and coffee and toast on the patio, overlooking the Garden of England.

Those who stay can also help themselves to pears from a tree when they are ripe.

No pets or smoking is allowed, but the house is child friendly.

4. Cormorant Cottage, Whitstable

Rated 5 with 50 reviews

Overview: Beautiful coastal fisherman style cottage just 100 steps to the beach.

Minimum stay two nights

Cormorant Cottage is rated 4. Picture: TripAdvisor
Cormorant Cottage is rated 4. Picture: TripAdvisor

This four-bedroom fisherman-style cottage sleeps seven people and has a private courtyard located in the heart of Whitstable.

Cormorant Cottage has recently been redecorated throughout.

The style of the cottage is inkeeping with the rest of Whitstable and is perfect for friends and families

It is close to the town between Sea Street and the ever popular Harbour Street with its vintage shops. It was voted the 10th prettiest street in the country.

It is just a stone's throw away from the beautiful Whitstable pebbled beach and famous harbour.

It has a spacious open plan lounge with a log burner and logs and kindle available at an additional fee.

The dining room leads to a Yorkstone courtyard with pergola, garden furniture and beautiful fairy lights.

It has a fully -quipped modern kitchen with Smeg and Dualit kitchen appliances and one bathroom with shower.

The property has WiFi and Sky TV and a high chair and travel cot.

There is no allocated parking but there is free off-street parking within walking distance of the cottage.

Smoking is not allowed but it is child friendly and pets will be considered at an additional fee to cover additional cleaning charges. Parties or events are not permitted.

5. The Courtyard, Tunbridge Wells

Rated 5 with 17 reviews

Overview: Holiday rental townhouse

Minimum stay three nights

The Courtyard is rated 5. Picture: TripAdvisor
The Courtyard is rated 5. Picture: TripAdvisor

The house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and fits four guests.

The three-storey townhouse has its own parking in The Village area of Tunbridge Wells close to the historic Pantiles and within walking distance of the station, but in a quiet private road.

Decorated and equipped to a high standard, the property is ideal for couples or families with older children.

No pets or smoking is allowed and it is not child friendly.

6. Naple Villa, Ramsgate

Rated 5 with four reviews

Overview: Beautifully decorated, luxuriously appointed, spacious holiday home

Minimum stay two nights

Naple Villa is rated 6 Picture: TripAdvisor
Naple Villa is rated 6 Picture: TripAdvisor

Naple Villa sleeps up to 10 people, offering five spacious bedrooms and four bathrooms.

It has a fabulous through kitchen and adjoining dining room and a large sitting room with two over-sized leather Chesterfield sofas, separate playroom, games and TV room.

There is a large deck to the rear with barbecue, outdoor dining table and outdoor sofa and coffee table.

Secure side access to the garden is great for bikes and sandy kids after fun days out by the sea.

The villa is a beautifully-decorated, spacious holiday home set over five stories, making it an ideal option for groups of family and friends seeking privacy in addition to fabulous communal living areas.

No car is required due to the location being so close to the seafront, shops, restaurants and town centre. A bus provides frequent and fast access to Ramsgate station in about four minutes, and on to Broadstairs and Margate.

No pets or smoking is allowed but the home is child friendly, but noise must be kept to a minimum after 11pm because of neighbouring properties.

7. Seashells, Broadstairs

Rated 5 with 21 reviews

Overview: Luxury holiday cottage close to beach

Minimum stay varies

Seashells Cottage is rated 7. Picture: TripAdvisor
Seashells Cottage is rated 7. Picture: TripAdvisor

Seashells is a luxury holiday cottage that has just been renovated and has enough bedrooms for six guests.

It has high ceilings, cornices, ceiling roses and feature fireplaces which have been combined with stylish furnishings to create a homely feel from the moment you step into the hall.

The modern and well-equipped kitchen-dining room is to your left with double doors opening to the patio and a large shower room lies ahead of you.

The first floor is accessed via a steep Victorian staircase which leads up to a sunny west facing living room at the top of the stairs and the three bedrooms, all with sea views, are well positioned for the luxury family bathroom.

There is an en-suite loo to bedroom one which has a king-size bed. Bedroom two has two twin beds and bedroom three has two beds.

There is also a small balcony which gives great views of Broadstairs, the sea and the summer fireworks.

The property is in a great location for the beach, restaurants and shops and short walk to them all.

No pets or smoking is allowed and this includes the balcony but the home is child friendly. No stag or hen parties are permitted at the property.

8. Swallows Return, Romney Marsh

Rated 5 with nine reviews

Overview: Self catering converted barn

Minimum stay seven nights

Swallows Return is rated 8. Picture: TripAdvisor
Swallows Return is rated 8. Picture: TripAdvisor

Swallows Return is a luxurious self catering barn conversion with easy access to culture, wildlife and the seaside.

The open plan living, dining and kitchen area has been thoughtfully laid out with dual aspect windows and french doors leading to several outdoor seating areas so guests can enjoy the amazing views over the Romney Marsh and take in the abundant wildlife and birds.

The owners have taken pride in every aspect of this conversion making the look and feel not only luxurious but like a home from home.

The owners beautifully designed garden is part of the National Garden Scheme and is open twice a year to visitors, where you will probably find the free range hens wandering around.

There is also a tennis court at the property, which can be enjoyed with the owner's permission.

The property has three bedrooms two bathrooms WiFi and Netflix available, private parking, bed linen and bath towels included, garden and courtyard, travel cot available.

It has a Visit England Gold Award, four-star rating and the nearest shop is three miles away, nearest pub 0.5 miles away and the coast is nine miles away.

No pets or smoking is allowed but the property is child friendly.

9. Tufton Croft, Wittersham, Tenterden

Rated 5 with two reviews

Overview: Cabin holiday rental

Minimum stay varies

Tufton Croft is rated 9. Picture: TripAdvisor
Tufton Croft is rated 9. Picture: TripAdvisor

Tufton Croft is a charming detached weather-boarded cottage, set in a secluded location on the edge of the village of Wittersham.

Overlooking fields and woodland, this cottage is peacefully situated at the end of a grassy track, yet only a short stroll to a cosy, dog-friendly village pub with good food and awards from the Campaign for Real Ale.

The cottage is surrounded by enclosed lawned gardens, with heavily scented old roses and plenty of space for summer living, with room to kick a football around along with parking.

This holiday cottage sleeps four guest and has two bedrooms, one double bedroom and the other is a twin bedroom with en-suite wet room and the beds can be converted to a double.

It also has a family bathroom a wood burning stove and enclosed, lawned garden with garden furniture.

The cabin is pet and child friendly but smoking is not allowed.

10. Rose-Dene, Halfway, Isle of Sheppey

Rated 5 with 24 reviews

Overview: Beautiful detached self catering bungalow with ample parking

Minimum stay two nights

Rose Dene is rated 9. Picture: TripAdvisor
Rose Dene is rated 9. Picture: TripAdvisor

Rose-Dene is a two bedroom bungalow which sleeps six and has a cot for a baby.

Its is in a residential area of Sheppey and has ample parking space at the front with easy access from the road which can be busy at peak periods.

At the back of the bungalow guests will find a beautiful and extensive garden where they can relax or enjoy a game of table tennis, barbecue and in the summer a cream tea.

The property has full gas central heating, hair drier, milk, tea, coffee, breakfast cereals; linen and towels included in tariff.

The bungalow is 3km from the sea and walks beside the cliffs can be enjoyed throughout the year.

The Halfway area is within easy walking distance 0.5km from the bungalow has a variety of restaurants for all tastes including a very popular Chinese, two Indian restaurants, good pub cuisine; pizza delivery and a variety of takeaways.

There is also a well established micro pub with delicious ales and ciders and some entertainment which is a good place to spend time before or after dining.

Half a mile in the opposite direction you will find a traditional pub with food.

The property does not allow pets or smoking but is child friendly.

11. Middle Street, Deal

Rated 5 with five reviews

Overview: An impressive and substantial Georgian family home

Minimum stay two nights

Middle Street Deal has been rated 11. Picture: TripAdvisor
Middle Street Deal has been rated 11. Picture: TripAdvisor

The house is a wonderful Grade II listed Georgian family home which has been recently renovated to a very high standard.

Painted throughout with Farrow and Ball paint, the owners have created a wonderful holiday home for large families or groups of friends.

Guests will find the house on the corner of Golden Street, seconds from Deal's seafront and town centre, so no need to get in the car at all.

When staying at the property guests walk into the hallway into the pretty sitting room which has a wonderful large fireplace housing a log burner.

The floors have been stripped to their original floorboards and have pretty sash windows to the front and the side providing lovely natural light.

The kitchen is extremely well equipped and has a clever seating area one end with window bench seating.

There is a wonderful snug with bench seating and big comfy cushions all around with an enormous TV, making this the ideal place for children.

There are double French doors to the pretty courtyard which has a table and chairs, lots of cupboards to house bikes, golf clubs and the like.

There is a useful side access to the street and the property has four bedrooms, one a double bedroom with a huge en-suite and large family bathroom and sleeps 10 people.

Along the corridor you will find a large family bathroom with a bath, basin with lots of mirrors over and a WC

Then guests come to the fun cabin room. The owners have cleverly designed a room which is amazing for kids of all ages.

There are bunk beds built around the room to provide lots of fun for sleepovers.

There is a lower double bunk bed and then four more bunk beds and a further pull out bed with built in drawers and wooden climbing stairs.

All the bunk beds are good sizes so also would be perfectly suitable for adults.

On the top floor you will find a pretty twin bedroom which also has two full size single trunk beds and another good sized double bedroom.

The house actually could sleep up to 15 as guests can sleep eight adults comfortably and then the children could all sleep in the bunk beds and the pull out trunk beds in the twin room.

The property has WiFi and double parking outside the property to unload and then you can either park along the seafront which is pay and display or the best thing to do is to drive to the end of Middle Street and park in Sandown Road for free, a short walk from the property.

No pets or smoking allowed but the property is child friendly.

For more ideas on days out and things to do, head to our What’s On section

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