The county of Kent has often been called “The Garden of England,” lush with greenery and famous for its fruit orchards and fields of hops. This is where you will find Cloth Hall, a 15th-century manor house converted into a luxury rural retreat.
You accommodations will be reminiscent of a rustic scene from a Jane Austen novel. Double rooms feature canopied four-post beds with overstuffed mattresses and airy comforters. The larger rooms have en-suite bathrooms. And thankfully, unlike the Elizabethan era, air conditioning is standard.
In the evenings, you will want to relax in the central sitting room by the great fireplace. It is the perfect spot for evening conversations or just watching the embers glow while sipping tea. All guests have access to a communal kitchen for making hot beverages and sandwiches.
A television lounge is available, too, if you prefer electronic entertainment. But why not spend time in the game room? Accept a challenge of snooker, billiards or darts, then savor a single-malt Scotch while enjoying a match of chess. It is a wonderfully tranquil way to relax after nightfall.
During the day, you will find a swimming pool maintained here in season. Tennis and fishing can also be enjoyed nearby. And for your convenience, there is a driving range and putting green provided for you to practice your golfing skills before taking on one of the many, fine local courses. You have never seen fairways so verdant.
Indeed, surrounding you at Cloth Hall are eight full acres of landscaped gardens. You will want to rise early each morning for a walk in the fresh country air. Watch the hedgerows and shrubs for butterflies and birds, occasional rabbits and field mice, or perhaps even a fox.
No doubt you have envisioned terrain like this when reading of hunts on horseback. If riding appeals to your sense of adventure, you can hire a mount for the day. Or ask the front desk to lend you one of the bicycles reserved for guests. What a fine way to tour the local area.
To go further afield, you will want to have a car. Tour the area to see “oasts,” the cone-shaped farm buildings where hops are threshed. Or stop by a local pub for a pint and bit of discourse on local events.
The more you linger, the better, for the whole point of staying at Cloth Hall is to slow down your pace. This is your opportunity to embrace the ease and refinement of country aristocracy.
A stay at a private manor in Kent for a week might cost you $812, if you got the best rate offered on Travelocity.com. But don’t even bother trying to get a reservation through a online agent.
As a member of the Global Resort Network, you can book seven days and nights at Cloth Hall for just $398. That’s a savings of more than 50%!
You have certainly earned a relaxing holiday away from it all, haven’t you? It’s time to give up the hustle and bustle of everyday life to revel in a Renaissance of refreshment. Join GRN today.































































