The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne, Kent

When you arrive at the Woolpack, step across the lane and walk a few paces beyond St Matthew's church (dodging the sheep) for sweeping views of the marshes and Channel beyond them. You'll spot France on a good day, and London is less than one hour away by train. If you can tear yourself away, the historic port town of Rye, windswept Dungeness and Chapel Down vineyard are all within a 20-minute drive.

By car: The Woolpack is 1 hour 45 minutes from London and Brighton, and around 30 minutes from Dover.

By train: Fast trains runs from London St Pancras to Ashford International (35 mins). From there, take an 8 minute connection to Ham Street, followed by a 5 minute taxi to the hotel. Book trains to Ham Street.

Dating back to the 16th-Century, the Woolpack's heritage as an Inn and hothouse of wool smugglers is captured in its ancient timber beams, crumbling inglenook fireplaces and cosy, candlelit seating nooks. Touches like pint glasses hanging from the ceiling on old farming tools and wooden tables built around geranium-festooned planters on the sunny terrace bring it up to date.

Service is more attentive and professional than a standard pub, and staff are genuinely enthusiastic about local food and wine.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Pets allowed
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Steep, creaky stairs lined with cloudy wallpaper climb from the bar to five eccentric bedrooms. Constrained by medieval dimensions, they're definitively cosy: Niddy and Noddy, in the eaves, smuggle in slipper baths; inky blue Josephine is all French whimsy, and nautical Frederic's bath overlooks the church.

Room types: Honeychild, Josephine, Frederick, Niddy and Noddy

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with tub and shower, luxury toiletries, bathrobes, towels, iron, hairdryer, free Wi-Fi

The Woolpack doesn't have allusions of foodie grandeur, sticking to posh pub grub and wood-fired oven pizzas made with Kentish produce. Menu highlights include Kent cider chicken and ham pie topped with buttery thyme and black pepper pastry and the local fish platter of fish fingers, squid, devilled whitebait and oak-smoked salmon.

The Woolpack: hearty pub meals from local produce, snacks, wood-fired pizzas, Sunday roasts. Open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Mains from £9.