Staycation Trends for 2023

Industry operators’ research discovered that more than four in five people are opting for the “staycation” (holidaying in the U.K.), with staycations expected to boom in 2023. There’s really no need to go abroad to have a whale of a time. 

So if you’re wondering where is the best place to staycation in 2023 or seeking out romantic or family staycations, at Goodnestone Park and Gardens, we’ve got you covered. Book this winter to take advantage of our 10% staycation discount!

If you prefer day trips out, Goodnestone has more to offer than you might think. Adults and children alike will love meandering through the stunning Home and Garden taking in the rich history and glorious wildlife.

What’s around Goodnestone?

Perhaps you’re not local to Kent and still planning to visit us. In which case, welcome! We’d be thrilled to have you. Kent really is a gorgeous county in the South East and there are lots of things to do here.

But before you explore the surrounding area, feast your eyes upon the beautiful grounds at Goodnestone. The Goodnestone Gardens truly are a treat for the eyes, especially during warmer months! In springtime, our large greenhouse is bursting at the seams with seedlings and cuttings (after careful propagation!), ready to be planted in the garden or sold in our nursery. The Arboretums serve up a slice of history with the first Arboretum having been planted in the 1950s. It consists of different crab apples, mountain ash, ornamental cherries and birch. The second Arboretum was planted in 2001 to celebrate Lord Fitzwalter’s parents’ golden anniversary and many of the trees here provide a golden glow to the dappled floor below.

Adjacent to the Arboretum lies the Gravel Garden; home to ornamental grasses and plants which self-seed amongst the gravel and pebbles. Traverse to the lower terrace, and you’ll find a box parterre, planted to celebrate the Millennium – with avenues of yews running along both terraces. If you’re looking for wild nature, the Woodland Garden is a haven for nature lovers, providing a beautiful contrast to the more cultivated, formal gardens spanning the rest of the grounds. And don’t forget to visit the Walled Garden, featuring carefully-restored 12th Century walls to the church beyond.

Outside of Goodnestone, we’re surrounded by the English coastline, with Deal only a 30-minute drive away, Margate and Broadstairs only 40 minutes away, and Whitstable less than an hour away. For art lovers, Margate boasts of the internationally-acclaimed Turner Contemporary gallery, Henry VIII’s Deal Castle will be a hit amongst history lovers, and Botany Bay in Broadstairs is a hidden gem of beautiful chalk stacks views of white cliffs.

To get to Kent Downs (an Area of Outstanding Beauty) it’ll only take around 40 minutes in the car. Here, you’ll be spoilt for choice with walks to navigate, local farms to visit and arts and crafts to keep restless hands busy.

Book your visit to Goodnestone today and see why this early Eighteenth Century estate is one of the most popular places to visit in Kent. 

*Rates are discounted for 3-, 5- and 7-night stays for non-wedding bookings only.