The Best Hotels to Book Near Leeds Castle, Kent

The Black Horse Inn is perfect for those who are looking for exposed brick walls and cosy fireplaces in a storied setting | Courtesy of the Black Horse Inn, Thurnham / Expedia

Jo Fernandez-Corugedo

9 October 2021

Leeds Castle is beautiful any time of the year, from golden autumn to bright-green spring. Chances are, you’ll want to visit this South East England gem more than once while you’re here, so stay somewhere close by – these neat retreats are all bookable on Culture Trip.

The name may confuse you – Leeds Castle is nowhere near the city of Leeds. It’s believed the title came from Ledian, after the man who built its first timber incarnation in the 9th century. Whatever the story, the reality is breathtaking: set on a trio of islands ringed by an artificial lake, this Norman stronghold-turned-Tudor palace-turned-Georgian mansion cuts a classic turreted and crenellated profile. Make your exploration easy by booking into one of these nearby boltholes.

The Dog & Bear, Lenham

Pubs with Rooms

Business

4.4/5 (428 Reviews)

Courtesy of the Dog and Bear, Lenham / Expedia

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Now from $86 per night

It was built in 1602, but this classic Kentish-village pub, 14km (9mi) east of Maidstone, keeps things firmly in the 21st century. Rooms – from singles to doubles and family rooms – have on-trend mustard and grey tones as well as old beams. Book the feature room for its grey-painted four-poster and ornate fireplace. You’ll sleep soundly – and rise to more cosy beams and open log fires downstairs. After bacon and eggs overlooking Lenham’s village square, go for a stroll, taking in the medieval ambience, then make for Leeds Castle under 10 minutes’ drive away.

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The Vineyard, Lamberhurst

Pubs with Rooms

4.3/5 (20 Reviews)

Courtesy of the Vineyard, Lamberhurst / Expedia

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Now from $84 per night

This 17th-century inn takes its name from the well-established Lamberhurst Vineyards adjacent, and behind its whitewashed facade it’s as elegant as a fine wine itself. Four stellar suites, named after county beauty spots, occupy the 13th-century coach house, with its sun terrace overlooking the grounds. After you’ve returned from Leeds Castle (40 minutes by car), settle in for a chilled bottle of local Chapel Down fizz in the wood-beamed and panelled pub. It goes perfectly with the French brasserie-style food.

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Bridgewood Manor, Chatham

Spa Hotel

Business Family

4.1/5 (622 Reviews)

Courtesy of Bridgewood Manor, Chatham / Expedia

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Now from $70 per night

Pampering weekends are handled perfectly at this low-rise modern spa hotel in Chatham, featuring a splendid heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room, as well as treatments using grape extracts – after all, this is prime wine-producing territory. Rooms and suites have been decorated with serenity in mind, all shades of champagne, cream and gold; upgrade to a suite for angular metal four-poster beds and floral feature walls. After the spa, it’s the done thing to take (three-tier) afternoon tea with jam-and-cream-filled scones and slender finger sandwiches. Dig in, as you can walk it all off later at Leeds Castle, less than 20 minutes’ drive away.

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The Farm House, West Malling

Bed and Breakfast

4.2/5 (8 Reviews)

Courtesy of the Farm House, West Malling / Expedia

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Now from $84 per night

Don’t let the name fool you. This rustic-sounding B&B, in the heart of the pretty market town of West Malling, steps out in contemporary style: chevron-laid wood-clad walls, French-style wicker bed heads and rustic-chic murals, as well as super-shiny bathrooms adding urban glamour. You’re spoilt for local walks, starting from the pub itself – but don’t miss a day among the glorious grounds of Leeds Castle, 20km (12mi) away. When you get back to the Farm House, up to the eyeballs in historical details, flop and switch off, with a dinner of rosemary sourdough flatbread and fig-and-cobnut salad – and another helping of this place’s unique rustic chic.

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N° 64 at the Joiners, West Malling

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

4.2/5 (41 Reviews)

Courtesy of N° 64 at the Joiners, West Malling / Expedia

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Now from $127 per night

French-style decor lends charm to the four rooms at this bijou red-brick B&B on West Malling’s charming High Street. Settle in among glassy chandeliers, marble-topped ornate dressers and hand-painted period-style beds, before ambling out to explore the local independent shops, inviting pubs and history on your doorstep. Back at the ranch, relax with a glass of fruity French wine in your free-standing volcanic-limestone tub as you contemplate your serene surroundings – you’re just 10 minutes’ drive from Maidstone; Leeds Castle is another 10 minutes further away.

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Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club

Resort, Chain Hotel

Business Golf Romantic

4.2/5 (540 Reviews)

Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club

Courtesy of Tudor Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club / Expedia

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Now from $101 per night

Returning from a stressful trip to France? Ashford International and the Eurotunnel are 20 minutes away from this modern golf and spa resort, set amid leafy rural scenery and deer parkland – so a quick de-stress night or two makes sense. Have steak at the in-house Cast Iron Grill before visiting Leeds Castle. Or just stay in – many rooms overlook the 18-hole PGA golf course, and superior terrace rooms have a sweet outside space set with a bistro table (ideal for morning cuppas). Among the highlights of the wellbeing centre is the freeform indoor pool in a modern beamed space, with loungers to loll on following a dip and a steam.

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The Black Horse Inn, Thurnham

Pubs with Rooms

Family Romantic

4.6/5 (366 Reviews)

Courtesy of the Black Horse Inn, Thurnham / Expedia

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Now from $106 per night

Worshippers of old-world beams, exposed brick walls and cosy fireplaces will love this 18th-century pub in Thurnham hamlet, 15 minutes by road from Leeds Castle and its celebrated gardens. Kentish barn-style lodges, sleeping between one and four guests, strike a cheery note with pine furniture and checked fabrics; choose a cottage if you’d like a four-poster bed. The inn is on the Pilgrims’ Way, between Winchester and Canterbury, and gets mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Toast those many feet that have gone before you over the centuries with a Kentish cask ale at the bar – after a day exploring the verdant Kentish countryside.

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These recommendations were updated on October 9, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh. This article is an updated version of a story created by Jo Fernandez-Corugedo

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The Best Hotels to Book Near Leeds Castle, Kent

The Dog & Bear, Lenham

The Vineyard, Lamberhurst

Bridgewood Manor, Chatham

The Farm House, West Malling

Why Book With Culture Trip?

N° 64 at the Joiners, West Malling

Tudor Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club

The Black Horse Inn, Thurnham

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