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Summary of reviewsHowfield Manor Hotel offers a charming blend of historical allure and modern comforts, situated in a picturesque setting on the outskirts of Canterbury. This makes it a peaceful retreat while still providing convenient access to nearby attractions. Guests consistently praise the beautiful architecture and serene grounds, feeling as if they are staying in a stately home surrounded by apple orchards and a tranquil lake. The hotel's strategic location is perfect for exploring Kent, visiting Canterbury Cathedral or traveling to Dover.
The breakfast at Howfield Manor Hotel stands out with its extensive variety and delicious options, receiving accolades for the cooked breakfast often hailed as the best among hotels of its category. The plentiful offerings include traditional English and continental choices with dietary options available for those who need them. The atmosphere for breakfast, especially when dining in the garden, elevates the pleasant experience further.
Dinner at the hotel's restaurant receives favorable reviews for its excellent food quality with specific praise for dishes like the steak and rack of lamb. Although the menu is limited, the well-chosen and beautifully presented meals, along with the pleasant dining room ambiance, leave a positive impression. However, occasional comments about the limited menu and slow service suggest room for improvement.
Rooms at Howfield Manor Hotel are appreciated for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort, often featuring large beds and luxurious amenities like four-poster beds and whirlpool baths. Views of the gardens and countryside add to the appeal. Despite some comments about dated decor and occasional noise, the overall charm and cozy atmosphere of the rooms enhance the guest experience.
Cleanliness is a strong point with rooms frequently described as spotless and well-maintained. Housekeeping is efficient, ensuring comfortable and hygienic stays, although some areas like carpets and bathrooms could use updates.
The staff at Howfield Manor Hotel are highlighted for their friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness, significantly enhancing the guest experience. From the reception to the restaurant, the warm and accommodating service leaves a lasting positive impression.
While the free Wi-Fi service has areas of variability in connection quality, particularly due to the historic building's thick walls, some guests found it adequate after initial issues were addressed.
The hotel provides a family-friendly atmosphere with amenities like a superb play area, ample car parking and accommodations suitable for family stays. Though there are some minor issues with room adjustments and the need for more connecting rooms, the overall environment is well-suited for families visiting Canterbury and nearby attractions.
Beds are generally found to be comfortable with many guests highlighting the cozy, soft beds and clean bedding. Nevertheless, mixed opinions on bed firmness and size indicate areas for possible enhancement.
Overall, Howfield Manor Hotel offers a solid three-star experience with clean, budget-friendly accommodations, making it ideal for short stays or extended visits in the Kent countryside. It is praised for its great value, friendly service and charming atmosphere, ensuring an enjoyable stay for travelers seeking a pleasant retreat. Show more
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Family Friendly Hotel
Located just outside Canterbury, near Chilham, this hotel offers a quiet and family-friendly atmosphere. It features a superb play area for younger guests and provides ample car parking, simplifying family travel.
Small Hotel
Located a short distance from Canterbury's city center, this hotel offers a quintessentially English countryside experience. The hotel exudes a rustic elegance with its traditionally styled rooms, antique furniture, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Guests can enjoy locally sourced cuisine.
3-Star Hotel
Located in a tranquil setting, this hotel offers a relaxing escape with its beautiful grounds and comfortable rooms. It is ideal for guests seeking a peaceful retreat while still being close to Canterbury.
Room Types
Double RoomThis en suite room features satellite TV and complimentary tea/coffee-making facilities.
Twin RoomThis en suite room features satellite TV and complimentary tea/coffee-making facilities.
Superior Double RoomSpacious and bright, this beautifully decorated room has 2 large windows, a work desk, and a satellite TV.
Double Room with Four Poster BedSpacious and bright, beautifully decorated room with 2 large windows and four-poster bed, as well as a TV with satellite channels.
Small Double RoomThe double room features a private bathroom equipped with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a safe deposit box, an electric kettle, heating, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, as well as garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Family RoomThis family room has an electric kettle, heating and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The unit has 2 beds.
King RoomThis double room features an electric kettle, heating, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
Howfield Manor Hotel is praised for its picturesque and serene setting on the outskirts of Canterbury. Guests appreciate its convenient location, which provides easy access to Canterbury and nearby attractions while offering a peaceful retreat surrounded by green, idyllic landscapes. Nestled alongside apple orchards and a tranquil lake, the hotel allows guests to feel like they are in a stately home with a charming mix of historical and modern amenities.
The hotel is strategically positioned for those exploring Kent, visiting Canterbury Cathedral or traveling to Dover for the ferry. The historic, well-maintained building and beautiful grounds add a romantic and atmospheric touch to the stay. With free parking and recommendations for local attractions, including the nearby Wincheap Park and Ride, visiting Canterbury and exploring the surroundings becomes effortless.
Overall, guests highlight the hotel's great location, friendly service and beautiful architecture, deeming it perfect for both short stays and extended visits in the English countryside.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Howfield Manor Hotel has received widespread acclaim from guests, highlighted by its extensive variety and delicious offerings. Many guests praised the cooked breakfast as excellent with several noting it as the best they've had in a hotel of similar category. The options are plentiful, featuring both a well-presented buffet and à la carte choices, allowing guests to enjoy traditional English breakfast items as well as continental selections.
The quality and taste of the food have been repeatedly highlighted with phrases such as "very tasty," "delicious," and "nicely cooked" frequently mentioned. Guests who had dietary restrictions also appreciated the availability of gluten-free options and vegetarian choices. The breakfast service is noted for being both efficient and friendly, enhancing the overall meal experience.
Several reviews commend the atmosphere, particularly enjoying meals in the garden or in the well-laid-out dining areas. A few guests indicated that while the breakfast buffet could use some updating, the freshly cooked items and variety made up for it. Overall, the breakfast at Howfield Manor Hotel stands out for its quality, variety and the pleasant dining environment, making it a memorable part of guests' stays.
Dinner
The dinner experience at Howfield Manor Hotel gathers generally favorable reviews, emphasizing the quality and taste of the food. Many guests have found the restaurant's fare to be excellent with a highlight on specific dishes like the steak and the rack of lamb, which received notable praise. The menu, albeit limited, was often described as well-chosen with exquisite options that are well-prepared and beautifully presented. The wine also received a special mention for its deliciousness.
A significant portion of reviews commended the overall quality of the food, indicating that both dinner and breakfast were consistently very good, tasty and well-cooked. Diners appreciated the generous portion sizes and the good value for money, despite some mentioning that the pricing could be on the higher side. The ambiance of the dining room was appreciated, being described as well furnished and the service as excellent.
However, some guests pointed out a few areas for improvement. There were occasional comments about the dinner being disappointing or average with some specific complaints about the food being cold or not meeting expectations. The limited menu was a recurring theme with several suggesting that a larger range of options would enhance the dining experience. Additionally, slow kitchen service and the restaurant being a bit overpriced were noted by a few diners.
Overall, the Howfield Manor Hotel's restaurant is praised for its excellent food quality and enjoyable meals, making it a solid dining choice for visitors, even though there might be occasional hiccups with service and variety.
Rooms
Howfield Manor Hotel has garnered a variety of reviews regarding its rooms, but the positive aspects are notable. Guests frequently highlight the spaciousness and comfort of the rooms, finding them large, clean and often beautifully decorated. It's mentioned that the rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, including four-poster beds and amenities like whirlpool baths, which add a touch of luxury to the stay. The views from the rooms are also praised, offering pleasant sights of the gardens and countryside.
Many guests appreciate the peaceful and cozy atmosphere with rooms that are adequately quiet, despite some reports of noise from certain areas like above the restaurant. Daily room service adds to the convenience, ensuring that rooms are clean and well-maintained.
Despite some feedback mentioning that the decor is dated and in need of modernization, others find charm in the old-fashioned style, fitting for an old country manor. The hotel’s characterful building and grounds receive positive remarks, enhancing the overall experience.
Thus, while there are mixed feelings about the outdated elements and occasional maintenance issues, the general consensus leans towards Howfield Manor Hotel providing a comfortable and charming stay with spacious, clean and well-furnished rooms.
Beds
Howfield Manor Hotel features a variety of bed options with notable feedback on their comfort levels. Many guests found the beds to be comfortably soft with several highlighting the cozy and overall pleasant feel of their sleep experience. Specifically, four-poster beds were praised for their exceptional comfort. Despite this, there were mixed opinions regarding bed firmness and size. Some found the mattresses to be extremely soft, while others described them as too hard or worn out.
Beds varied in size with comments pointing out small double and single beds, often perceived as too narrow or short. A few guests mentioned larger beds, including a sizable king bed, adding to the comfort. Cleanliness appeared to be consistently noted with beds and bedding frequently described as very clean and conducive to a restful night.
Pillows garnered mixed reviews as well with some guests finding them too hard and uncomfortable, while others were pleased with the pillow comfort. Duvets were occasionally described as heavy or too warm, affecting the sleeping experience for some.
Overall, while a substantial number of guests reported comfortable beds and sleeping conditions, there are mentions of the need for mattress replacements and concerns about bed sizes and firmness that suggest room for improvement.
Cleanliness
Howfield Manor Hotel receives high marks for its cleanliness from guests who have stayed there with frequent praise pointing to the spotless and well-maintained rooms. The hotel's rooms are often described as clean, tidy and comfortable, ensuring a pleasant stay. Despite some mentions of dated furniture and a need for renovation, the general consensus highlights well-kept accommodations. Housekeeping is noted to be very efficient, contributing to the overall clean environment.
The bathrooms receive mixed reviews with some guests pointing out areas needing more attention. However, the clean linens and fresh bedding add to the comfort and hygiene of the rooms. The property's beautiful surroundings and charming atmosphere are enhanced by the high standard of cleanliness maintained throughout the hotel. While some areas, such as carpets and floors, may benefit from updates, the overall impression is one of cleanliness and good maintenance, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay for visitors.
Staff
The reviews about the staff at Howfield Manor Hotel paint a consistently positive picture. Guests frequently highlighted the friendliness, professionalism and helpfulness of the staff. From the reception to the restaurant, visitors experienced warm welcomes and courteous interactions. Several reviews specifically noted the efficiency of the check-in process and the attentiveness of staff members. Guests appreciated the personalized and accommodating service with some staff members, like Kevin and Charmi, being mentioned for their exceptional support. The atmosphere was described as friendly and engaging, contributing to a pleasant overall experience. Despite a few isolated instances of less welcoming interactions, the majority of reviewers praised the staff's dedication, enthusiasm and positive attitude. The consistent theme was that the staff made the stay enjoyable through their diligent and proactive service. Overall, the staff at Howfield Manor Hotel appear to be a significant highlight, enhancing the guest experience through their professionalism and welcoming nature.
Wi-Fi
Howfield Manor Hotel offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities, although the quality of the Wi-Fi service has been highlighted as an area in need of improvement. While some guests found the free Wi-Fi to work well and had a strong signal after initial issues were addressed, others experienced a generally poor connection, particularly in the rooms. The thick, old walls of the historic building seem to interfere with the signal, resulting in weak, slow or practically non-existent Wi-Fi in certain areas. Despite some spots having perfect internet during their stay, the consistency of the Wi-Fi service varied with some guests facing significant connectivity issues. Those relying heavily on internet access should be aware of the potential for variable signal strength throughout the property.
Family
Howfield Manor Hotel offers a notably family-friendly atmosphere, ideal for those traveling with children. Located quietly just outside Canterbury, near the picturesque Chilham, the hotel provides a serene yet convenient setting. The play area is praised as superb, providing entertainment for younger guests and much information is available for planning family activities and day trips. Additionally, the hotel features ample car parking, making it easier for families traveling by car.
Rooms and family accommodations receive mixed feedback. While some families had trouble with room arrangements and bedding, the hotel offers family rooms and upgrades, indicating options for those needing more space or specific configurations. The hotel's family-oriented environment extends to its meal services, which cater well to both adults and children, making it suitable for family stays.
Noteworthy amenities include extra heating in rooms, towel provisions and accommodations for disabilities, contributing to overall comfort and accessibility. Though the continental breakfast has limited choices and there were some minor issues with room expectations and the lack of connecting rooms, the general consensus remains positive. The hotel makes a pleasant stay for families visiting the Canterbury area or those embarking on short trips to nearby attractions like Faversham and Whitstable.
3 Star
Howfield Manor Hotel, nestled in the charming Kent countryside, offers satisfactory services and amenities reflective of a solid three-star establishment. Guests consistently praise the quality and value of the hotel's cooked breakfast, often described as excellent for this category. The tea room stands out for its cozy atmosphere, perfect for beginning the day with breakfast.
The friendly and helpful staff contribute greatly to the pleasant stay, although some reviewers noted the facilities and decor are a bit dated. Despite a few cleanliness issues, the hotel is generally well-maintained, providing good value for the price. While the overall experience is aligned with three-star expectations, it is appreciated for being clean and budget-friendly.
Suitability for short stays has been highlighted with many finding it good for an overnight visit or a couple of nights. Though the overall quality is seen as basic, Howfield Manor offers great value for a three-star hotel, making it a credible option for travelers seeking an honest and dependable accommodation in the Kent region.
No, Howfield Manor Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Howfield Manor Hotel.
No, Howfield Manor Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Howfield Manor Hotel.