The six best spa hotels in Kent

All too often regarded as an extension of London or a throughway to the continent, Kent rarely benefits from recognition as a destination like Devon or Cornwall. However, the Garden of England offers bucolic countryside dotted with medieval pubs, distinctive seaside towns like Whitstable and Margate and the historic cities of Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells.

From the rolling High Weald to the rugged North Downs and from crab butties offered up on Dungeness beach to Michelin-starred food served in the 10-person intimacy of STARK in Broadstairs, Kent blends coastal nostalgia, rural charm and urban interest. This quirky fusion is bound together by the county's burgeoning reputation as a foodie epicentre and its eclectic spa offerings. Here you can be massaged with organic products in a rustic potting shed by a babbling stream, enjoy romantic couples treatments by the seaside or splash out on a wellness weekend in a grand destination spa hotel. These are the best spa hotels in Kent.

How we review

Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.

A historic country house hotel and spa owned by Champneys, set among beautiful grounds in the Kent Downs. In addition to the full-service spa, facilities include an outdoor pool with a food van, a nine-hole golf course, falconry centre, tennis court and range of garden games including croquet, pétanque and badminton. This is one of the best spa hotels in Kent, with an extensive range of wellbeing and beauty treatments, a 20-metre pool, sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool, and gym. A large heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool has recently opened (pictured) bringing the spa area more up to date.A country house spa hotel set in lush gardens that offers a sense of tranquility, despite being within easy reach of London. The traditional Victorian and clapboard exteriors (some original, some new) belie the property's contemporary interiors, slick service and impressive Utopia Spa, which is one of Kent's best with a dramatic duplex swimming area designed to resemble Roman baths; hair and nail salons; a large gym; 17 treatment rooms offering expertly administered therapies from British brands Ila and Temple Spa; and a tempting shop. We recommend The Ayurvedic Inner Peace treatment, which fully delivers on its name.This Georgian mansion set in 12 acres of private grounds is all about restrained grandeur. Décor is neutral with a muted colour palette, white painted wood panelling and squishy leather armchairs. The 38 rooms are bright and remarkably spacious, all featuring a seating area. Also standard are comfortable beds with a mindboggling array of pillows, bathrobes, a bath with rain shower and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. The spa comprises a 13-metre indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms and relaxation room. There are also seven treatment rooms for massages and facials, most using ELEMIS products. The health club, also open to non-resident members, features a state-of-the-art gym and studios and a tennis court.First launched in 1880 as the Seabrook Hotel, the Hythe Imperial boasts a long history as Hythe’s smartest address. Set on the beach the hotel strives to combine old school and contemporary seaside glamour. Facilities include a leisure centre with spa, pool and gym (open to non-residents); a nine-hole golf course; two restaurants; an afternoon tea parlour; a bar-cum-café and a Moët & Chandon Champagne bar. The main dining venue is the Coast Restaurant, which serves “modern British” cuisine in fairly formal surroundings in the evening. The menu is seasonal, with a focus on seafood, and dishes pay tribute to local produce: grilled Rye Bay mackerel fillet with tomato carpaccio, Kentish lamb rump with lamb bonbons and mint and caper salsa, and a generous Kent and Sussex cheeseboard.A smart hotel set in a renovated Jacobethan-style building within the East Kent College campus. Although managed by professional hoteliers and restaurateurs, a proportion of the Yarrow's staff are apprentices and trainees, fresh from hospitality courses. Clearly dedicated to the industry, they're polite, enthusiastic and efficient. Facilities are also impressive with a restaurant; large bar and sunroom with dedicated menu; a spa with sauna, steam room and whirlpool (all free for residents), treatment rooms and a hair and beauty salon (reduced prices for trainee therapists and stylists). There are 23 spacious rooms and five suites, all finished to high quality with sleek furnishings, Hypnos beds and top-spec bathrooms.The Holdstock family bought Hempstead House in 1990, offering b&b in three bedrooms. Five fairly sympathetic extensions later, the original house is now linked, via the mid 19th-century Coach House, to the spa in a horseshoe shape, with pretty courtyards in the middle, and a total of 34 rooms. The hotel feels like a small resort, boasting two restaurants, three bars, two private dining rooms, a large conference/wedding suite and spa. The AquaManda Spa comprises a swimming pool and gym (open to non-resident members but off-limits to children under 16), beauty salon and five treatment rooms, one of which accommodates couples treatments.

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