Winston Churchill knew it, Anne Boleyn knew it and Henry VIII knew it, too: West Kent is a great place to escape from London. These days you don’t have to be an aristocrat to enjoy a weekend away in the peaceful Kent countryside — thanks to places like White Hill Woods. It just so happens that this boutique glamping site is within a half-hour drive of the stately pads once frequented by those historic big wigs and is now open to the public. There’s Hever Castle, Penshurst Place, Lullingstone and Chartwell. It’s also within walking distance of a vineyard, two pubs and a little museum. All this and it's also only a short drive away from a lovely lavender farm — and three minutes’ walk from the nearest train station. And did we mention there’s a heated swimming pool on-site (Open Easter to end of October)? If country life appeals but you live in the city, it doesn’t get much better than this.
An improbably short hop from London by train or car will get you to White Hill Woods, where a single log cabin and a shepherd’s hut sit in a lovely woodland meadow. This is a family-run affair in the grounds of a family home and while it’s suitably family-friendly — the lodge sleeps up to five and a swing set and trampoline is located in the communal-access garden — it’s also great for couples. In addition to the play equipment, there’s a fire pit area for barbecues, views and walks into the nearby Kentish Downs and, of course, that heated pool.
White Hill Lodge is called a log cabin, and from outside it offers that charm, but it's really much more than that. It’s a fully-equipped but compact holiday cottage for self-catering stays. We’re talking Freesat TV, electric log burner, WiFi, rainfall shower and more. The only concession to camping is what’s outside and the mezzanine double bedroom. Over at White Hill Hut, things are a little cosier, as you’d expect for a shepherd’s hut that’s been designed for couples. It is, however, still self-contained with an en-suite shower, loo, its own kitchenette and private outdoor seating.
Whichever accommodation you choose, White Hill Woods is a comfy countryside bolthole that’s so easy to reach from London that it’s tempting to talk about it the other way around. The brief 10-minute drive to the M25 and three-minute walk to the train station means that you could actually use this as a base from which to visit the city. But that would be to miss the local charms and, with so much so close by, you definitely wouldn’t want to do that.