A visit to Gusbourne has a way of recalibrating expectations. The lanes narrow, the skies seem to stretch and suddenly the idea of driving straight home after a tasting feels like unnecessary haste. So, to help you plan your escape, we’ve brought together some of our favourite places to stay - from design-led boltholes on our doorstep to quietly confident country houses.
The George in Rye, Rye
With its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and historic walls, Rye remains one of the south coast’s small-town gems – and The George sits at its centre. A Georgian coaching inn reimagined with flair, this boutique hotel balances historic character with a lively, contemporary energy. Think cosy, low-lit rooms, a gently buzzing bar and an excellent restaurant that’s loved by locals and visitors alike.
After a tasting at Gusbourne, The George makes for an ideal comfort-filled home from home, with plenty to explore the next day.
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The Outbuilding, Appledore
Tucked away on a quiet lane in the village itself, The Outbuilding Appledore is the sort of spot which appears in lifestyle blogs and travel editors’ recommendations. Once a humble outbuilding, this bolthole has been transformed into a beautifully considered retreat with a mix of vintage finds and contemporary design.
There’s a wood-burner for cooler evenings, a deep bath that begs for lingering and a private courtyard perfect for the first coffee of the day or a last glass of something chilled. It’s self-catering, but with the sensibility of a boutique hotel suite – and you’re just minutes from Gusbourne’s vines.
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Boys Hall, Ashford
Country house hotels can sometimes feel overly rehearsed, but Boys Hall is the definition of understated elegance. Its setting - just outside Ashford, on the edge of a network of industrial estates - makes the feeling of discovering a hidden gem all the more acute. From the moment your tyres crunch on the gravel driveway, and the vista of the 17th-century manor house unfolds, you know you're in for a treat.
Boys Hall's nine bedrooms are generous, individual and impeccably decorated. The shared spaces reveal layer upon layer of beautiful objects and design, while the atmosphere is unforced. The rhythm of the place perfectly suited to a long lunch at the vineyard followed by an early evening drink by the fire or, depending on the season, in the flower-filled gardens. Its timber-pannelled restaurant is a must for elegant, Kentish fare.
Boys Hall is polished without being precious – an opulent English country base for a Gusbourne weekend. As the eagle-eyed will notice, its stunning lounge and pub made the beautiful backdrop to our Christmas 2025 photoshoot.
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The Gallivant, Camber Sands
For those who like their vineyard visits balanced with sea air, The Gallivant delivers understated coastal glamour. Set back from the dunes, it’s calm and quietly confident, with an excellent restaurant and rooms designed for long sleeps and slow mornings.
The rhythm here is irresistible: barefoot walks on Camber Sands, breakfast without hurry and the promise of wine country on your doorstep. The restaurant is excellent, as is the English wine list.
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Port Lympne
For a stay that combines drama and adventure, Port Lympne Hotel is hard to beat. Set within a vast wildlife reserve, stays range from the grand historic mansion to secluded lodges and treehouses overlooking roaming animals. It’s immersive, cinematic and entirely unexpected in this corner of England.
Days here unfold at a different tempo. Guests can explore the reserve by safari truck or golf buggy, drifting past giraffes, rhinos and zebras. Early mornings are particularly special – coffee on a terrace while animals graze below, the reserve still and almost silent. There’s also time to wander the landscaped gardens, book a spa treatment or simply retreat indoors with a book and a view that keeps interrupting your concentration.
Staying in one of the lodges invites a cocooned kind of luxury – a glass in hand, dusk settling over the reserve, the sense that this is a true escape.
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