The Best Hotels in Ashford

Ashford Hotels

Slap bang in the centre of Kent – the garden of England – Ashford is a fast-growing large town brimming with modern amenities, including restaurants, designer shops and quick transport links into London. An ancient market town, Ashford remains an important outlet for local farmers who sell their produce at the regular market. Much of the ancient centre has been taken over by post-war architecture, but some old timber-frame buildings still remain, as well as the weathered stone-built St Mary’s Church.

Things to see

If you’re in town on a market day you’ll be surrounded by colourful seasonal fruit and veg as well as other locally farmed produce. It’s also a place to seek out a bargain from traders who sell everything from children’s clothes to the latest gadgets. Away from the market Ashford’s high street shops offer every type of retail therapy, while the Designer Outlet just out of town is the place to get top-end brands at discount prices. Armed with your shopping bags, head to a traditional pub to sample some locally brewed ale – Kent is world famous for its hop production. Out of town, Ashford puts you right in the heart of the captivating English garden county. Discover fruit-tree filled orchards, rolling green farmland interspersed with pockets of ancient woodland, and sweet-scented rose gardens around stately castles – Sissinghurst, Leeds and Lympne Castles are all close by.

Hotels in Ashford

As a burgeoning transport link between the UK and France, ever-expanding Ashford offers a vast array of popular good value chain hotels, which are your best option if you’re in need of something cheap. Away from the major brands, a handful of independently run guesthouses provide a more personal alternative, often in olde-worlde homes with roses growing around the front door. Most are 3 star-rated but further out into the countryside you’ll discover elegant mansion houses, perfect for those wanting 4-star luxury. Hotels in Ashford generally offer all modern amenities including WiFi and en-suite bathrooms as well as full English breakfasts.

Where to stay

Those looking to be in walking distance of the train station, good restaurants or shops should stay in the town centre. Many new hotels – often well-known chains – have popped up on the town’s outskirts among new estates. Although less atmospheric they do provide quick access to the motorway, making it easy to hop around the county on days out. For something more secluded you should head out to the countryside where you’ll find homely farm-based guesthouses, as well as luxurious stately home hotels, popular for weddings, occasions, or anyone looking for some downtime surrounded by rural English charm.

How to get to Ashford

Ashford International Station serves as a stop on the Eurostar train line running from London St. Pancras to Paris and Lille. With the opening of High Speed 1, it’s a quick 37 minute hop between London St. Pancras and Ashford. Other domestic train services run from Canterbury, Folkestone and towns along the Kent coast, including Margate. Local buses provide an alternative to trains and are a good option for travel to smaller surrounding villages such as Tenterden and Bethersden. A car is the best option for really exploring the countryside, and many car hire firms operate in the town.