insideKENT Magazine Issue 46 - January 2016 | Page 84

VISITKENT

Stay at the University of Kent
If you’ve never thought of the University of Kent as a great place to
spend the night, you could be missing a trick…
The Canterbury-based University offers a wide
range of accommodation during the Easter and
summer break, making it a superb spot for a
short break or as a handy base for visiting family,
friends or groups during the holidays.
And here’s five reasons why a short break on
Kent’s Canterbury campus is a great idea…
1. Great value and wide range
of accommodation
Forget those distant memories of austere halls
of residence where students huddle together for
warmth; university accommodation today is
positively luxurious, and the Canterbury campus
is no exception.
The campus has a range of award-winning ensuite accommodation to choose from – all with
free wi-fi, tea and coffee making facilities and
complimentary toiletries. Choose from en-suite
single and double rooms on B&B basis, or snap
up self-catering flats or houses (5-6 single
bedrooms) for larger groups. B&B prices are from
£49.50 per person/night en-suite, or from £105
per night for 5-bedroom house. Group rates are
also available.
2. Great setting
When it comes to views, you can’t get much
better than the vista from the top of ‘university
hill’. The campus looks out over Canterbury, with
the magnificent cathedral at its heart. Gleaming
on a clear day, bathed in golden light on summer
evenings, and a twinkling delight at night,
Canterbury is a joy to behold. The estate is also

surrounded by beautiful parkland and woods,
offering great walks and space for picnics. You
can even pick up the Crab and Winkle Way and
take a long walk to Whitstable. And did we
mention those sunsets over the city? You won’t
want to miss those.

Howletts Wild Animal Park and beautiful
Goodnestone Park are outside of the city, and
it’s a 10-minute drive to Whitstable’s famous
beaches and oysters. Dover Castle, trendy
Margate and the Channel Tunnel are all only 30
minutes away.

3. Great location
The university campus is perfect for visiting the
historic city of Canterbury – a pleasant 20-minute
walk through the parkland and fashionable St
Dunstans, and bus services run every 15 minutes,
whisking you to the city centre in 10 minutes

5. Great facilities and great staff
The campus has a wide range of restaurants,
bars and leisure activities to sample on site, with
prices to suit every budget. Sports facilities include
football pitches (artificial and grass), tennis and
netball courts, dance and fitness classes, and a
hi-tech gym. For culture vultures, the Gulbenkian
theatre and cinema offers outstanding
entertainment, with famous acts, award-winning
productions and excellent films to enjoy all year
round.

Canterbury West train station is close by, with
high-speed rail links to London, and there is
ample free parking on site so you don’t have to
worry about battling the traffic during your stay.
4. Great city in a great county
The cathedral city has something for everyone
to enjoy – whether you want to soak up
atmosphere in the cathedral, step back in time
with the family at The Canterbury Tales or The
Roman Museum, take a lazy boat ride on the
River Stour, or shop ‘til you drop at big name
stores and independent boutiques. And with
stylish cocktail bars open until the early hours
and award-winning restaurants catering for every
appetite, you can guarantee a great day and
night out.
Should you want to head further afield, the
University of Kent campus benefits from excellent
bus services and close proximity to both the
A2/M2 and high speed rail links.

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What’s more, you can be assured of great service
during your stay, as the campus has been ‘Best
University accommodation for groups’ for the
eighth year running by Group Travel Organiser.

Accommodation is available
during Easter and summer
holidays: 9th April to 6th May, and
18th June to 16th September 2016.
www.kenthols.com