Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Ashford, Kent

Port Lympne's diverse accommodation options dot the 600-acre safari park, which is less than two hours' drive from central London. The hotel, Pinewood glamping base and most lodges have their own dedicated restaurant or café. Golf buggies are provided for hotel, lodge and cottage guests to get around. Port Lympne's sister property, Howlett's Wild Animal Park, is a 30-minute drive away and your entrance fee includes access to both.

By car: around 2 hours 15 mins from London on the M20, 2 hours from Brighton, 3 hours 20 mins from Bristol. Free parking on site.

By train: Ashford International station is a 20-minute drive from the hotel, accessed via London St Pancras in 1 hour, as well as Charing Cross and Victoria, Paris, Brussels and Lille. Book trains to Ashford International.

Each accommodation type has its own style, from the gracious Grade II-listed mansion with its luxurious suites and the romantic Bubble dome to the contemporary glass-fronted Treehouse suites and rustic Shepherd's Huts. Uniform to them all is a remarkable setting amidst a safari park brimming with wildlife.

Everybody here exudes boundless enthusiasm and passion. In addition to the restaurants, cafés, bars and myriad attractions of Port Lympne, guests have complimentary access to its sister property, Howlett's Wild Animal Park, from 9.30 am on the day of arrival.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Animal reserve
• Sun terrace
• Games room
• Children's playroom

• Gift shop

• Family friendly
• Accessible main house
• Complimentary parking
• Free Wi-Fi

With so many different types of accommodation on offer, you're best off discussing your budget and needs with the team. Go glamping and you'll have access to communal bathrooms, whereas the self-catered Treehouses and cottages offer independence; the en-suite tents of Giraffe Lodge add a South African-inspired dinner in laapa lodge.

Room types: Double Bedrooms, Junior Suites, Suites, Lodges, Cottages, Creek Houses, Treehouse, Forest Hideaway, Glamping

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, smart TV, hairdryer, tea & coffee facilities, safe, iron, Wi-Fi

In addition to informal cafés at the Pinewood and Bear Lodge glamping bases, there's excellent Italian fare, including wood-fired pizzas, in the relaxed setting of Babydoll's restaurant, virtually all-day al fresco dining in the pretty Moroccan Courtyard, and more formal dining at the intimate hotel restaurant.

Pinewood Café: Relaxed, modern. Tea, coffee and light bites. Open daily.

Port Lympne Restaurant: Light and airy. Locally-sourced ingredients, seasonal menus. Open daily. Mains from £16.