Discover Hidden Gems, Local Events and Insider Tips
We hope you'll enjoy browsing our blog, where you'll find a wealth of information about our charming self-catering holiday cottages at Hawthorn Farm: the stunning surrounding countryside, the miles of nearby coastline, and the historic City of Canterbury with its magnificent Cathedral, plus the many picturesque local towns and villages…
Whether you're a seasoned visitor or a first-time guest, we hope our blog inspires you to make the happiest of memories in your holiday cottage, and to explore all that our beautiful corner of the world has to offer.
Your Perfect Kentish Day Trip, Tailor-Made from Hawthorn Farm
One of the joys of a stay at Hawthorn Farm is its fantastic location, offering easy access to a wealth of experiences across the beautiful county of Kent.
To help you make the most of your time exploring, we've curated some bespoke day trip itineraries, designed with different interests in mind. Whether you're a family seeking adventure, a couple looking for romance, a history enthusiast, a foodie craving local flavours, or a pet owner wanting to explore with your furry friend, we've got the perfect day out planned for you!
We'd love to hear all about your Kentish adventures! Please feel free to send us your photos...
Local Events within easy reach of Hawthorn Farm Cottages
Are you planning a trip in 2026, and hoping to catch one or two of the amazing events being organised in East Kent? We've put together a handy list of diverse and exciting goings on happening in our area that we think you'll enjoy!
From musical and theatrical productions, to food and culture festivals, art exhibitions and workshops, parades and commemorations to mark the great historical events that have taken place in our county...
We'll be adding more events when more dates are announced. If you know of any other upcoming events that should be on this page, please do let us know!
A Guide to East Kent's Interesting and Quirky Names
Let's face it, the UK is full of quirky, funny and downright strange names! And East Kent is no exception... The iconic "Ham Sandwich" road sign is probably one of the most photographed landmarks in this area.
Why? Because there's something enthralling about our place names, as they're a reflection of a rich history, cultural identity, linguistic diversity - and often our unique sense of humour. Whatever their origins, these quirky names add a touch of charm and character to our landscape, and continue to captivate people all over the world!
Here are some of our favourite local place names, and a bit more information about them:
Plan your perfect Kent getaway: How to make the most of your annual leave in 2026
With the promise of warmer days on the horizon, it's time to start dreaming of your next escape. Kent, a hidden gem in the South East of England, offers a diverse range of experiences, from historic castles to stunning coastal walks.
At Hawthorn Farm Cottages, we've got everything you need for a memorable stay. Our cosy cottages, perfect for couples, families, or groups of friends, are the ideal base to explore all that Kent has to offer at any time of year.
To help you make the most of your time off, we've put together a handy guide to the 2026 UK bank holidays and some tips on how to maximize your leave.
More than just a fun name!
A short 10 minute drive from Hawthorn Farm, Sandwich is a historic town nestled on the Kent coast. It's a hidden gem that offers a delightful blend of history, charm, and coastal beauty. With its picturesque streets, medieval architecture, and stunning waterfront, it's the perfect destination for a leisurely day trip or a longer holiday.
We are often asked about which came first - the place name, or the name of the humble "sarnie" - now in common parlance around the world...
Top Tips for a Paw-some Holiday Cottage Getaway
Are you planning a holiday this year, but worried about whether you can take your pet with you?
We understand that having a beloved family pet means it can be difficult to know what to do for the best when you go away on holiday. Leaving them behind at the kennels or a cattery can be not only heart-wrenching, but also very expensive.
You may be concerned about how they'll cope with the journey, whether the holiday accommodation is truly pet friendly, with enough space and the facilities you'll need, how much gear to take, and whether there'll be pet-friendly pubs and restaurants near by...
With a little preparation, you can ensure a stress-free and enjoyable trip for everyone. Here are some of our top tips for travelling with your pet:
Which ones have you tried?
As Mr Jingle in Charles Dickens' first novel The Pickwick Papers (1836) famously said: "Kent, sir - everybody knows Kent - apples, cherries, hops and women"!
For centuries Kent has been known as the Garden of England, and with good reason. The county, located at the sunny southeastern tip of the British Isles, has lush fertile farming and grazing land, acres of orchards, and a coastline teeming with sea life. Its location makes Kent a rich source of such a rich variety of produce.
Apart from the above apples, cherries and hops (ignoring Mr Jingle's final highlight!), did you know some of the best-loved British foods also originate in Kent? It should be no surprise that our beautiful county produces a delicious array of well-know culinary delights...
Here's a selection of some of the best of Kent’s traditional foods which, we hope you'll agree, provides a wonderful showcase for the glorious Garden of England.
Planning the Perfect Wedding Guest Accommodation
So, you, your best friend/sister/cousin/*insert-loved-one-here* are getting married! Exciting times, right? Confetti, cake, questionable dance moves... and the inevitable accommodation hunt. Let's be honest, nobody really wants to spend their precious pre-wedding (and post-wedding!) moments in a generic hotel room. It's all a bit, well… bland. This is a celebration of love, not a business trip!
That's where the magic of a holiday cottage comes in. Imagine this: instead of sterile hallways and identical rooms, you're greeted by a charming, character-filled cottage, perfect for creating lasting memories with your nearest and dearest... In this blog, we offer our tips for arranging the perfect accommodation to make sure the wedding of the decade is memorable for all the right reasons!
Winging It vs. Planning It: The Great Family Staycation Debate
Ah, the wonderful family staycation... A glorious opportunity to escape the everyday and make precious memories with your loved-ones without actually escaping via an airport or a ferry terminal. But when you're considering a staycation with your family, the age-old question remains: do you meticulously plan every mini-golf outing and artisanal ice cream stop, or do you embrace the chaos and let the winds of spontaneity carry you to untold adventures?
Let's dive into the world of staycation planning (and non-planning) to help you decide what's right for you and your family.
Read more: Stress-Free Staycations: Plan Ahead or Embrace the Unexpected?
Forget Hotel Rooms and Generic Stays!
Dreaming of a truly unbeatable escape? The secret to a perfect stay away from home often lies hidden in the humble, yet utterly charming, holiday cottage.
At Hawthorn Farm Cottages, we're privileged to welcome guests from across the UK and around the world, and we're often asked about the diverse reasons they choose our unique havens. Beyond the usual holidaymakers, people opt for a home-from-home base in this area for a wide array of personal needs. In this blog, we'll share these many reasons and dive into the specific benefits our guests enjoy by choosing a holiday cottage.
Read more: Beyond Hotels: The Irresistible Appeal of an East Kent Holiday Cottage
Beyond the charming historic towns and the rolling hills of the "Garden of England" lies a coastline of untamed beauty. East Kent is where the land dramatically meets the sea, offering breathtaking vistas, unique walking trails, and some of the best wildlife spotting opportunities in the UK!
If you're staying with us at Hawthorn Farm, you're perfectly placed to get great use out of both your hiking boots as well as your beach shoes, and discover a natural world teeming with life - from soaring seabirds to lazing seals...
Here is your essential guide to exploring the spectacular natural wonders of the East Kent coast:
Read more: The Kent Coast for Nature Lovers: Birdwatching, Seals and Spectacular Cliffs
Tales from the East Kent Coast
When you stay at Hawthorn Farm, you aren’t just visiting a quiet corner of the Garden of England; you’re stepping into a landscape shaped by centuries of high-seas drama and clandestine behaviours.
While our cottages today offer a peaceful sanctuary, the winding lanes and rugged coastline nearby once hummed with the whispers of "the free traders." If these flint walls could talk, they’d have some incredible stories to tell!
A picture is worth a thousand words
East Kent, with its stunning coastline, historic towns, picturesque villages, orchards and expansive countryside views, offers a wealth of photographic opportunities for both amateur and professional photographers alike.
So whether you've got all the kit and take your photography seriously, or whether you like to snap away on your mobile phone to upload images to Instagram, your holiday photos can be a beautiful reminder of your trip!
Here are some tips to inspire your next photography adventure in East Kent and help you capture some stunning memories: