Kent is wonderful destination for a holiday or a short-break for families of all ages - it isn't just the county you pass through on your way to France!
The Garden of England is best known for its hop gardens and orchards, but South East Kent, where we're based, also has miles of award winning beaches, fabulous seaside towns, several wildlife parks, and many enchanting castles and historical sites to discover - plus plenty of other family-friendly attractions to enjoy!
Despite being within easy reach of London, Kent remains relatively low-key compared with more conventionally touristy destinations such as Cornwall and Sussex, and hence is a top choice for family holidays on a budget.
Hawthorn Farm Cottages in Kent is an ideal holiday destination for families
The accommodation
Our 2 and 3 bedroom cottages are perfect for accommodating families of four to five adults and children. For extended families, we can accommodate up to 20 people in total, including our adults-only luxury annexe, which is favoured by grandparents wanting a quiet space of their own!
Each cottage can be rented individually from 2 to 28 nights, or all together if you have a group that would like to stay close by but not having to share one large property. Please note that the minimum stay for group bookings (3 or more cottages) is 4 nights, subject to availability.
If you have any questions at all about the suitability of Hawthorn Farm for your family, or for an extended family group, then please give us a call on 01304 290029.
Primrose Cottage
Sleeps up to 5 people in two bedrooms. Dog friendly and wheelchair accessible. It's our largest cottage at the end of the terrace of three, with views of the playing field and hay/wildflower meadows out the back. Primrose Cottage has a large wet-room with electric shower and a fully equipped kitchen with electric cooker, microwave, Lavazza coffee machine, fridge/freezer and dishwasher.
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Prices for Primrose Cottage
Foxglove Cottage
Sleeps up to 4 people in two bedrooms. A detached dog friendly cottage, with a pretty gravel courtyard and ample parking right outside. There's also a picnic table under the shade of the trees behind the courtyard - perfect for an al fresco breakfast or evening meal in the warmer months! Please note, because of its location within the farm grounds, this cottage is only suitable for one infant under the age of 2, or up to two children over the age of 12.
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Prices for Foxglove Cottage
Rowan Cottage
Sleeps up to 5 people in three bedrooms. In the middle of the terrace of three, with an open plan lounge, kitchen/breakfast area. The twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom can also be made up as a super-king (6 foot) bed if you prefer. It also has lovely views of the playing field and hay/wildflower meadows out the back.
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Cherry Tree Cottage
Sleeps up to 4 people in two bedrooms. At the end of the terrace of three, with views on two sides of the paddocks, playing field and hay/wildflower meadows. This pretty cottage is a favourite with families as well as couples.
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Pear Tree Cottage
Available for 20 weeks a year, from late spring until early autumn. Pear Tree Cottage sleeps up to 2 adults in a luxury suite, annexed to the main farm house. Large kingsize bedroom with smart TV and seating area. Separate fully equipped kitchen, with Nespresso coffee machine, full size fridge/freezer, microwave and dishwasher. The luxury spa bathroom has a Jacuzzi bath, Bluetooth speakers and a large walk-in shower. Pear Tree Cottage has it's own private garden adjacent to the pear orchards, with its own barbeque and seating under the shade of the poplar and fig trees.
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Prices for Pear Tree Cottage
Some nearby family-friendly attractions
Hawthorn Farm is close to lots of attractions that are perfect for a family day out: the many different historic attractions, wildlife parks, and beaches of Kent are often geared towards family visitors. Wingham, Canterbury, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Walmer and Deal are all within easy reach of Hawthorn Farm.
Here are a few highlights which have become firm favourites with our guests:
- Wingham Wildlife Park - a great attraction for animal lovers, located just under 4 miles from Hawthorn Farm. They have over 200 different species – the biggest variety in Kent, including giraffes, tigers, lions, moon bears, meerkats, chimpanzees, wolves and red pandas. You can get up close to the animals with walkthrough enclosures for smaller creatures including lemurs, flamingos and wallabies. There is also a reptile house with snakes, lizards, creepy crawlies and amphibians, and a tropical house with birds, butterflies and bats. There's also a dinosaur zone, with moving animatronic dinosaurs complete with sound effects! If the kids still have some energy to burn off, there is a large outdoor adventure playground, plus an indoor soft play – so you can still have fun whatever the weather. For an extra thrill, you can race around the go-kart track or play on the diggers.
- Canterbury Cathedral - One of Kent’s most iconic places offers free entry to children with a fee paying adult. Little historians can delve into the history and stories of the Cathedral with fun trails, fascinating facts and even the chance to spot fantastic beasts and mythical creatures along the way! Pack a picnic and be sure to explore the Precinct Grounds for the best view of the Cathedral around. Children go free with a fee paying adult
- Canterbury Historic River Tours - These guided tours are the chance to see the city of Canterbury from a totally new angle: paddling under the King’s Bridge, one of the oldest working road bridges in Britain, and up to Greyfriars’ Island, once home to the Franciscans. Little ones will love seeing some of the historic sites of the city, like the sixteenth century Old Weaver’s House and the replica ducking stool, an infamous part of the city’s history. £46 for a family of four.
- Thanet Coast Project Events - The Isle of Thanet is always high on our visiting families' list - with its chalky shores to be explored, the series of summer Sea Safaris and scavenger hunts are the perfect day out for little adventurers. Discover chalk reef, rockpools and the habitats of underwater creatures. Run with the help of Thanet Coast Volunteers, these sessions are perfect for little ones aged 4-11. Suggested donation of £2 per person.
- Walmer Castle - Walmer Castle was built as part of the Tudor sea defences. It has a more recent history as the home of the Duke of Wellington who lived there for over 20 years, and the Queen Mother also used to stay there every year in her role as Warden. After exploring the castle itself, young explorers will enjoy letting off steam as they discover our natural play trail along the woodland walk. They'll love climbing into hollow tree trunks and giant nests, crossing wobbly bridges, conquering climbing nets and gazing up through the trees on leaf-shaped sky seats. They can even learn about wildlife by spotting sculptures of woodland birds dotted around the trail.
- Deal Castle - built on the order of King Henry VIII, it is today one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England. The castle is maintained by English Heritage and it was built in the mid-16th century. There are displays and exhibits that tell the history and stories of Deal Castle plus child-friendly activities. The museum has interactive displays. Please note that you can only park in Deal Castle car park for 3 hours. Family tickets from £13.60 if you book online in advance.
- Betteshanger Park - Take your bikes and head off to Betteshanger Park where there are 250 acres to explore. These smooth, traffic-free trails are perfect for training up young cyclists, while off-road tracks are made for mountain-biking fun. The Betteshanger Play Park has a zip line, maze, swings and slides designed for kids big and small! There's free use of the cycle track with a small £3.50 - £5 parking charge.
- Howletts and Port Lympne Animal Parks - Run in partnership with the Aspinall Foundation, we're very lucky to have these two award winning wild animal parks: Howletts near Canterbury and Port Lympne, near Ashford. They are very different to conventional zoos - leading the way in animal care, enclosure design, enrichment and breeding success and are designed to be breeding sanctuaries for some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals, from Kent’s only giant anteaters, and the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, to gorillas, leopards, monkeys and more. Plus, with visits to Howletts from the likes of Paw Patrol, Bluey and Bingo, Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig and PJ Masks throughout August, there’s never been a better time to pick up the brand new Howletts and Port Lympne Annual Pass, which provides unlimited visits to both parks for a year!
- Dreamland at Margate - the "all you can treat" seaside destination made for family fun in the sun! Treat yourselves to a great value bundle of 20 tokens for £40, and with most rides requiring just one token per person, that’s plenty of smiles (and maybe a couple of shrieks). The Chair-O-Plane, the Helter Skelter, The Scenic Railway…Dreamland’s mix of vintage-inspired and retro rides make for laughs-a-plenty this summer.
- Dover Castle’s Events including the Medieval Season, which will be in full swing throughout the whole of the summer holidays, with the chance to delve into life during the medieval times. Jester workshops, squire training, archery, storytelling and lessons in courtly etiquette – an afternoon at Dover Castle will soon have your littles forgetting all about the trappings of the digital world! Plus, English Heritage members, this one is completely free with your ticket.
- The Battle of Britain Memorial - Educating younger generations about the sacrifices by the few that were made during the Battle of Britain is invaluable. A visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne between Dover and Folkestone not only gives an atmospheric spot to reflect on those sacrifices, but also has replicas of Spitfire and Hurricanes to help bring it all to life. Entry to the Memorial is free with a small charge of £2-£5 for parking.
You'll find plenty more on our "Things to Do" page, and also at "Where to go with kids".
And when you're not out and about with the family...
You can spend time enjoying the peace and tranquility of Hawthorn Farm:
- The picnic areas outside the cottages are a perfect place to wind down and have a relaxing family meal.
- The Hawthorn Farm donkeys are always a great attraction for our youngest and oldest guests alike.
- Plus we have a wide selection of toys, games and DVDs for the little ones to enjoy including outdoor table tennis, kites, and croquet...
So whether you prefer a short break or a longer stay, there really is something for everyone: fun on the farm, the beautiful beaches, the picturesque medieval towns, the castles, family-friendly dining, and of course the acres of surrounding fruit orchards which make the aptly named ‘Garden of England’ the perfect place to stay at any time of the year!
