Excellence Luxury Villas · Kent
Luxury Holiday Houses in Kent
Sea-view houses on the Kent coast and country homes in the Weald, under an hour and a half from London
As featured in
Oysters, orchards and a coastline facing France
On a clear day you can see France from the beach at Deal. That is Kent in a sentence: close to London, close to the Continent, and full of history. Henry VIII's castles guard its shingle shores, Canterbury Cathedral has drawn pilgrims for more than eight centuries, and the oysters at Whitstable have been famous since Roman times. Inland, the orchards, oast houses and vineyards are why it has long been called the Garden of England.
Our Kent collection runs to 100+ properties. There are sea-view houses and apartments along the seafront at Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown, beach houses in Margate and Whitstable, cottages on the shingle at Dungeness, and country houses near Canterbury and in the High Weald, the largest with 12 bedrooms.
Here is how the county divides, and where you might want to stay.
Kent at a glance
- Properties
- 100+ houses, apartments and cottages, sleeping up to 26 guests
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,200 to £4,800 a week, from around £1,600
- Best areas
- Deal and Walmer, Whitstable, Margate and Ramsgate, Dungeness, Canterbury and the High Weald
- Best time
- May to September for the coast; spring blossom and autumn harvest for the countryside
- Getting there
- High-speed trains from St Pancras reach Canterbury in under an hour and Margate in about 90 minutes
Browse all 100+ properties in Kentor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
House Alkham Kent: 10-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Seaviews & Hot Tub – Kent10 bedrooms
House Wealden Kent: Spacious 9-Bedroom Apartment with Heated Pool – Kent9 bedrooms
Craywood Mansion | 7-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Sidcup7 bedrooms
House Pilgrims Hollingbourne: Elegant 5-Bedroom Chateau Rental with Historic Charm – Kent5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Kent
Deal and Walmer for seafront houses and castles, Whitstable for oysters, Margate and Ramsgate for art and harbours, Dungeness for the wild shingle, and Canterbury and the High Weald for country houses.
Castles, a pier and the Downs anchorage
Deal is the pick of the Kent coast for many of our guests. It has a Georgian old town of narrow streets running down to the shingle, a long fishing pier and a good number of independent shops and restaurants. Henry VIII built Deal Castle and Walmer Castle to guard the anchorage offshore, and Walmer, long the residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, has gardens worth an afternoon. Kingsdown, just south, is quieter, with the White Cliffs starting beyond it.
Further north, Ramsgate has its Royal Harbour, and Margate has the Turner Contemporary, the Shell Grotto and a sandy beach that has drawn Londoners for two centuries.
Browse houses in Deal
Oyster sheds and a cathedral city
Whitstable is a working harbour town with weatherboarded fishermen's huts, a shingle beach that faces west for long summer sunsets, and seafood stalls by the harbour. At low tide The Street, a shingle spit off Tankerton, stretches out into the sea.
Canterbury is only a short drive inland. The cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the medieval centre is easy to walk. Our country houses nearby, around Chilham and Wye, sit among the orchards and footpaths of the North Downs.
Browse houses near Canterbury
Shingle, marshland and oast houses
Dungeness is like nowhere else in England: a great headland of shingle with lighthouses, fishermen's huts and Derek Jarman's garden at Prospect Cottage. It is a National Nature Reserve, and the miniature Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway runs along the coast from here to Hythe.
Inland, Romney Marsh gives way to the Isle of Oxney and the wooded hills of the High Weald around Tenterden and Hawkhurst. This is the country of hop gardens, oast houses and vineyards, with Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Scotney Castle within easy reach, and Rye just over the border in Sussex.
Browse houses in the High Weald
Natives, sparkling wine and apple blossom
Kent eats very well. Whitstable oysters are the great local delicacy, and the town's Oyster Festival is held each July. The chalk soils of the county now produce some of England's best sparkling wine, and several vineyards around Tenterden and the Weald offer tours and tastings.
Summer is the season for the beaches, while spring brings orchard blossom and autumn the apple and hop harvests, which is a lovely time for walking and the quietest for the coast. Our concierge can book restaurant tables, vineyard visits, a private chef and transfers from London.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Kent
House Wye Kent: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Hot Tub – Kent Countryside5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,588 a week
House Swale Whitstable: Spacious 9-Bedroom Family-Friendly Apartment – Whitstable9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £7,476 a week
House Gregale Walmer Deal: Luxury 6-Bedroom House with Seaview & Pool – Deal6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,203 a week
Clarence Estate Villa Rental in the | 8-Bedroom Villa in Sandwich Wood8 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £6,811 a week
Hall Wye Kent: 5-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Pool & Tennis Court – Kent5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,762 a week
House Ham Sandwich: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Stunning Seaview – Deal6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £6,587 a week
House Hawksdown Deal: 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Tennis Court – Deal6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £6,111 a week
House Darent Kent: Spacious 5-Bedroom Luxury House Perfect for Families – Kent5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £6,020 a weekWhy book your house in Kent with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Kent's coast and countryside feel very different from one town to the next, and we know which houses are right on the seafront, which are a stroll from Deal's restaurants and which have the countryside to themselves. With 100+ properties in Kent, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant reservations in Deal and Whitstable, vineyard tours and tastings, a private chef, fishing and boat trips, and transfers from London, the airports and Ashford International. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Kent?
Deal and Walmer are best for seafront houses, a lively town and castles. Whitstable suits food lovers, Margate and Ramsgate suit those who want art and harbours, Dungeness is for wild, open shingle, and Canterbury and the High Weald are best for country houses.
How do I get to Kent from London?
High-speed trains from St Pancras reach Canterbury in under an hour and Margate in about 90 minutes. By car, most of the county is within two hours of London, and the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone makes Kent an easy stop on the way to or from France.
When is the Whitstable Oyster Festival?
The Whitstable Oyster Festival is held each July, with seafood, music and a celebration of the town's fishing history. It is a busy week, so we recommend booking early.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Kent?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Kent cost?
Across our 100+ properties in Kent, weekly rates typically range from £2,200 to £4,800, with the most affordable from around £1,600 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
When is the best time to visit Kent?
May to September is best for the coast and the beaches. Spring blossom and the autumn harvest are lovely times for the countryside and vineyards, and the seaside towns are much quieter then.
Are there houses in Kent for large groups?
Yes. Our Kent collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Kent
100+ houses on the Kent coast and in the countryside, booked direct with our concierge on hand