Oakside Tree Tops

For a city break that’s like none you’ll have experienced before, head for the trees outside Canterbury. There, on the edge of ancient Blean Woods, you’ll find Oakside Tree Tops in the woodland garden of Oakside Lodge B&B. This smart treehouse sits less than three miles outside the medieval walls of the city centre and offers one of the quirkiest hotel rooms you'll find anywhere.

Built around the trunk of a sturdy oak, with a deck at canopy level, the treehouse is perfect for a romantic getaway. Having said that, with a sofa bed included, it could also accommodate an extra adult or a couple of small children, who would see staying here as an extra-special treat – indeed, who wouldn’t? Like the main lodge itself, across the garden, this place offers hotel-style accommodation with all the usual facilities – a private bathroom,  Freeview TV, WiFi if you want it – but the lofty setting, the views and the way the wood is worked into the furniture and fittings, give it a real point of difference. We’re not sure you’d find a treehouse with these kind of facilities anywhere.

While it’s Canterbury, you’re probably here to explore, the woods themselves are a highlight too. Not only do they mean birdsong and a leafy view but they offer a nice place to walk. Your hosts Stuart and Georgiana own five acres of this ancient forest and rear pigs among the trees. In fact their home-reared bacon and sausages feature on the excellent breakfasts you will enjoy in the lodge’s breakfast room each morning.

After that, you’ll likely be off to explore the area and there’s plenty to see in the city: the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Cathedral and the medieval streets that surround it, museums, a theatre and boat trips on the River Stour. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in this bustling little city, which is just over five minutes’ drive away (about £10 in a taxi). And once you’ve done the city sights and enjoyed the peace and quiet of Oakside's woods, there’s always the sea – the charming town of Whitstable is less than 10 miles away.