A Guide to Buying a Holiday Home in Kent

Aerial view of Margate, image courtesy of Shutterstock

Holiday homes

Kent is known as the Garden of England for its landscape of farmland, fruit-filled orchards and numerous vineyards and offers a splendid backdrop for unforgettable holidays.

The county is also steeped in history, and boasts iconic landmarks such as Canterbury Cathedral and the White Cliffs of Dover. A journey through Kent's picturesque countryside reveals orchards, hop fields and charming villages. It's also a county of beautiful coastal stretches with traditional seaside resorts.

Whether you'll enjoy strolling through historic Canterbury, hiking the North Downs Way, or savouring the coastal beauty, this guide will uncover highlights about the county and provide you with a selection of quality holiday parks with holiday homes for sale, so that you could make Kent your new home away from home.

Claire Tupholme Content Editor: Travel/Campsites

As well as being the Content Editor for Travel and Campsites, Claire also looks after Premier Parks, which means she has seen her fair share of campsites and knows her way around Great Britain. Claire now loves to share her wealth of travel knowledge with other intrepid explorers.

MORE ABOUT Claire

Is Kent a good place for a holiday home?

The short answer? Yes! Kent is called the Garden of England for good reason – for its abundance of fruit trees and hops gardens. You can visit a vineyard, walk along the world-famous white cliffs, spend a day at the beach, visit one of the bustling seaside resorts, get lost in nature in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or uncover times gone by in historic Canterbury. All in all, there’s lots to see and do!

On sunny spring days and in the heat of summer you can head to one of Kent’s many glorious beaches, and in autumn and winter Kent’s vast countryside looks amazing and full of colour or covered in glistening frost. There are also plenty of indoor attractions for rainy days.

There are vineyards galore and plenty of quaint villages for couples to enjoy the peace and quiet and rural scenery. You could head into Canterbury for shopping or to enjoy local food, or visit one of the many castles to discover more about Kent's rich heritage.

The many sandy beaches are great for families with children or you could head to Port Lympne to see over 900 rare and endangered animals, many roaming freely over 600 acres.

If Kent sounds like the perfect place to enjoy regular holidays, take a look at our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home, to get you on your way to making the holiday home-owning dream a reality.

Aerial view of Botany Bay, image courtesy of Shutterstock

What to do in Kent

With over 350 miles of beaches, cliffs, and coves, Kent boasts one of Britain's longest coastlines, featuring some of the UK’s best beaches – from golden sands and white cliffs to quiet, hidden coves and family-friendly shores with rock pools.

Kent is also home to more castles than any other English county, due to its proximity to France. History lovers will enjoy exploring its impressive coastal fortresses.

Inland, the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers scenic walks, and there are many country houses, gardens, museums, and galleries. Nature enthusiasts can explore numerous reserves and animal sanctuaries.

For shopping, head to Bluewater or the charming Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Families can enjoy Howletts Wild Animal Park or Dreamland amusement park in Margate. Foodies will find plenty to love, from orchards and vineyards to Michelin-starred dining.

Photo courtesy of Trawsdir caravan park

Try our Campsite Finder!

We have an extensive database of campsites across the UK and Europe.

Whether you're looking for the perfect pitch for your motorhome, caravan, tent or to hire glamping accommodation or a holiday home or lodge, our exclusive Campsite Finder will help you choose your next weekend break, midweek getaway or summer holiday in the UK or Europe.

Browse campsites now

Ramsgate, image courtesy of Darryl/stock.adobe.com

Leeds Castle, image courtesy of Pixabay

Must-visit places in Kent

From sandy beaches to historic castles, Kent offers something for everyone.

Start with the coast: Whitstable is famous for oysters, a shingle beach, and seaside pubs. Margate promises classic seaside fun with the Dreamland amusement park containing the UK’s oldest wooden roller coaster, art at the Turner Contemporary, and plenty for families. Ramsgate features a busy marina, an award-winning beach, and clifftop views, while Broadstairs charms with seven sandy bays, watersports, and winding lanes lined with fisherman’s cottages.

Kent is well know for its castles. Families can explore Leeds Castle with its maze, moat, and falconry displays; Dover Castle is outstanding, perched above the iconic White Cliffs, complete with underground wartime tunnels; and Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, is surrounded by stunning gardens.

Take a city break in Canterbury with its cobbled streets, historic cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and vibrant mix of shops and cafés. Or go on a voyage of discovery at the Historic Dockyard Chatham where you can uncover years of maritime heritage.

For a more relaxed pace, adults might like to visit Chapel Down Winery near Tenterden for wine tasting, or stroll the formal gardens and parkland at Penshurst Place. The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells is perfect for boutique shopping in a beautiful Georgian setting.

And for nature lovers, Samphire Hoe offers a unique coastal reserve created from Channel Tunnel excavations – now home to rare wildlife and 200 plant species.

Hever Castle, image courtesy of Pixabay

Samphire Hoe, image courtesy of Martin Valigursky/stock.adobe.com

Canterbury, image courtesy of Shutterstock

FAQs

How to buy a holiday home in Kent?

Our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home will help the whole buying process seem less daunting and will guide you through step by step. Read about everything from initial considerations, through to choosing the right holiday park, and the less exciting, but vitally important, things like insurance and fees.
How much do holiday homes in Kent cost?

Much like buying a car, prices for holiday homes vary, with brand-new homes being more expensive than ones a few years old. Manufacturers also create homes especially for those on a budget to make buying a holiday home more affordable.
We've put together some handy guides to help you, including a Guide to Buying a Holiday Home, along with our Holiday Homes for All Budgets article.
If you're wanting information tailored more to specific budgets, then our guides to the different levels of holiday home will prove invalauble. You can learn more about affordable holiday homes, and mid-level holiday homes, right up to luxury holiday homes.
Which area is best to buy a holiday home in Kent?

That really depends on what interests you, and what you want to do on holiday. There are holiday parks with holiday homes all along the county’s coastline so you can be near the beach. Or maybe you prefer a rural retreat? In which case choose somewhere in Kent in the lush countryside.
Once you've decided on the ideal location in Kent for your holiday home, and considered what type of holiday park you want to be sited on, take a look at the parks we've featured in this article that have a selection of holiday homes for sale.
How to rent out a holiday home in Kent?

When you are not using your holiday home in Kent you could consider renting it out for other people to enjoy for holidays, and this is a great way to get additional income from your holiday home. For more details on how to do this and what to consider, read our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home.
Alternatively, if you're looking to hire a holiday home for a short break in Kent or want to try a holiday there before you buy, take a look at our campsites in Kent, some of which have holiday homes and lodges to hire.