The Milk House Hotel

Kent

Sissinghurst is in one of the most bucolic corners of Kent. Indeed, at times it veers into being almost unbelievably pretty. The region’s windmills, cherry orchards and red-brick farmhouses could have floated out of a storybook about Merrie England, while Vita Sackville-West’s (of the Bloomsbury Set) gardens at Sissinghurst Castle look particularly romantic in spring.

Under a mile’s stroll away, The Milk House is a genteel refuge with impressive gardens of its own. Start on the sunny terrace with a glass of Chapel Down wine and a small plate of crispy squid. The menu is excellent: seasonal, well thought through and sourced from within 20 miles of the restaurant. On our visit, searing chimichurri sauce ladled generously over a blushing steak particularly stood out. It’s so popular with locals that early tables have to be given up within an hour and 15 minutes, so be sure to book from 7.45pm onwards if you want to linger.

The Dairy is our pick of the four luxurious bedrooms. A contemporary four-poster draped in creamy cotton, gentle lighting and original period features such as a 16th-century fireplace combine to dreamy effect. In fact, the only thing that will entice you out of bed is the smell of crispy bacon emanating from the flower-filled dining room. Doubles from £80.

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