The Good Family Hotel Guide: Eastwell Manor, Ashford, Kent

Mood

Mood

A lordly pile that's set in 60 acres of gardens, in the midst of a 3,000- acre estate of Kent park and farmland.

Accommodation

The family accommodation is in Eastwell Mews. This is a conversion of the Victorian stable block into 19 cottages and apartments with one, two or three bedrooms. Some look out over the countryside, others onto a courtyard. As well as use of the hotel facilities, each one also has a kitchen and eating area.

Refuelling

Posh meals in the hotel's The Manor restaurant. Simpler fare, including children's dishes, from the bar menu. For self-caterers, Sainsbury's, Tesco and other shops in Ashford, are within five minutes' drive. A brasserie with a separate children's menu will open in the new leisure complex (see below).

Activities

An outdoor heated swimming pool, spa and all-weather tennis courts. An indoor leisure centre with swimming pool, gym and sauna is also due to open in February.

In the area

Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Rye and the Eurostar terminal.

Fellow guests

Londoners mainly, plus quite a few Belgians, who arrive on the Eurostar from Brussels.

Sample prices

A two-bedroom cottage costs £400 for a three-night stay, including Saturday night, or £600 for a week.

Address

Eastwell Manor, Eastwell Park, Boughton Lees, Ashford, Kent TN25 4HR (tel: 01233 213000, fax: 01233 635530). There is also a freephone reservations number: 0500 526735.