Canterbury Lodges and Glamping is in the Kent countryside, just four miles from the city’s medieval walls and virtually next door to a wild animal sanctuary. This mix of the bucolic, the historic and the exotic make it an excellent place to stay if you want to explore any of these aspects of Kent – or all of them. The site is three green acres on your host’s smallholding alongside cute pygmy goats and free-range chickens. Your base is your choice of a simple bell tent or a shepherd’s hut with a hot tub outside. Whichever you choose, you’ll have a fire pit and a private shower and loo.
The shepherd’s hut sleeps two and is great for a romantic stay while the bell tent works as well for a family as it does for a couple. The tent has a proper double bed and three fold-out singles so it can sleep up to five. But do be aware that you’ll need to bring your own bedding – and that the tent is off grid, so torches are a good idea. Other than that, pretty much everything is supplied, including cooking kit, which you’ll find in a separate camp kitchen. But if off-grid life isn’t for you, opt for the shepherd’s hut instead. There, the bedroom, kitchen and living space are all under one roof and supplied with electricity. There’s even a flatscreen TV – though you may not find time to switch it on.
There’s a lot to do around here. Howlett’s Wild Animal Sanctuary is so close that you can often hear monkeys hoot and lions roar. You can walk there for one of your days out and, perhaps, stroll to the village pub for your dinner. The city of Canterbury itself is another place you won’t want to miss. Its cathedral, along with the nearby Abbey of St Augustine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there are lots of medieval buildings in its pedestrianised centre. On top of all this, the site is only a half-hour drive from some of the coolest towns on the Kent coast including Whitstable, Margate and Deal.
