Since we didnt' make it to Dover during our London stay, I'm considering a separate weekend trip and will also include Canterbury. Based on earlier feedback, I take it Dover isn't the place to stay. How about Canterbury? or somewhere else close by?

Targeting the early May bank holiday for a 3-day weekend. Family of four with car.

Any particularly unique stays I should consider in the area? I normally like to target about £150/nt but could splurge for something unique (castle, lighthouse, etc.). Maybe £300/nt. I might rope another family into going as well if it is a larger place.

Perhaps I'm already too late to book something like that. We'll see.

So, looking for both general and specific recommendations. Thanks.

W/ a car you could stay anywhere - <i>except</i> central Dover.

Somewhere near Deal/Walmer would be convenient to Dover and not a bad drive over to Canterbury.

In the morning I'll look up a couple of the places I've stayed before.

http://www.premiercottages.co.uk/Cot...m-Cottage.aspx

We stayed in Sussex on this working farm. Plenty to see - Chartwell, Great Dixter, Sissingurst, and easy to reach Canterbury, Brighton, or hop on the Eurostar at Ebbsfleet and have lunch in Lille.

For something different the following two castles offer accommodation

http://www.lympnecastlecottages.com/

http://www.leeds-castle.com/land.php

or you could stay at a National Trust lighthouse

http://www.nationaltrustcottages.co....ottage-021003/

Ooh - even if you don't stay at the Lympne cottages - definitely try to include the animal park in your plans. An amazing place (and not at all a typical zoo)

http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne

Sorry - haven't had a chance to search for the links and am running out for the day.

(I've stayed near Wadhurst/Bewl Water a few times and it is a nice area -- but Havana's suggestion probably isn't a good one for this trip. It would be more for the Western Kent/East Sussex castles/gardens)

Thanks for the suggestions and links. I've talked about staying in a unique place (castle, lighthouse, etc.) before and can never seem to pull the trigger. I'll check them out.

Keep 'em coming.

Have you had a look at the Landmark Trust properties?

re: Landmark Trust

I have. There's just one suitable in the area (Ramsgate) but it sleeps 8 and is &pound;1600. A little steep I'm afraid. Thanks for the suggestion though.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/Buil.../80/The_Grange

Indy-Dad, that Landmark Trust property in Ramsgate was the home of and was designed by Augustus Pugin who designed the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in London and well worth the chance to stay in it.

The Landmark Trust is wonderful - but most of their properties are unique and aren't all that practical for the typical family vacation. For one thing they tend to the very expensive (worth it for the 'uniqueness' but don't fit in that many budgets), and 2nd, being so special they do book up far ahead by members/previous visitors (same to a lesser extent for the National Trust)

Their work is very worthwhile - but a donation might be more doable