The Bell House

Canterbury

4.62

(139 Reviews)

8 guests

4 bedrooms

6 beds

2 bathrooms

Property Overview

The Bell House is a beautifully presented 16th century cottage located in the village of Wickhambreaux in Canterbury. Situated opposite the village green and church, this four-bedroom holiday home is full of character and charm. Featuring original wooden beams, cast iron fireplaces and an eclectic selection of furniture, there is something to admire in every room.

;

Virtual Tour

Guest Reviews

4.62

(139 Reviews)

Lucia

04/11/2024

De keuken<br/><br/>Woonkamer te donker

Oliver

25/10/2024

Great place to stay. Great little village in beautiful surroundings. This is the real Kent <br/>Highly recommend booking. Good village pub and lovely area

Matthew

15/10/2024

Incredible historic building full of personality. Very comfortable with everything provided we could need. So much space, the garden was amazing too and went down to a little stream.

Aravinthan

02/09/2024

House looks like it's on a loop. Trippy architecture ?

Janette

17/08/2024

Lovely old cottage with a garden in pretty village. Because it is so old one must expect creaky floorboards and worn surfaces. <br/>I was surprised to be asked to pay an extra amount for insurance after booking. I also felt the rental agents sent too many messages, especially reminding me of the early check out time of 10. <br/>But it is a sweet cottage with lots of history.

Lucy

12/08/2024

Beautiful village and a lovely cottage. The garden was picturesque with a stream at the bottom of it.<br/>Bedding and towels clean no issues but a few cobwebs, to be expected with this style of house.<br/>Wonderful little pub across the road.

Hannah

08/08/2024

very comfortable stay in historic house in beautiful location. host and stay were very responsive. bathrooms and kitchens we clean and modern and there was lots of room for our family. wonderful stay at the bell house.

Bernard

06/08/2024

Good location, well equipped property, very nice and well maintained garden, good pub in front of the house (no noise, not disturbing)<br/><br/>the host, "Host & Stay" was sending several very threatening emails: 1. "you need to have a damage insurance in place before you receive the check-in details", 2. "for any damage that remains unreported during your stay, you will be responsible for covering the full cost of damage" (despite I had paid for their damage insurance proposal!), 3. "Any late departures are subject to additional charges as per our terms and conditions". The aggressive, threatening character of these email messages was inappropriate.

Joanna

29/07/2024

Such a beautiful house. We stayed here for a writing retreat and it was the perfect place for it! The architecture, the garden, and the atmosphere is fabulous. However, there was not enough toilet paper left in the house, no extra blankets, and no extra bin bags! Was surprised by this, and when I messaged the host I sadly didn’t receive a reply. Just a heads up - might be worthwhile bringing your own!

Alex

14/07/2024

Wonderful cottage in a beautiful little village near Canterbury. Very well appointed, with a large garden. I highly recommend it!

Victor

30/06/2024

nice

Chantal

27/06/2024

De geweldige mooie grote tuin!<br/><br/>Niets

Karl

17/06/2024

Just what we needed. Home away from home

Jon

22/05/2024

Charming historic cottage in an idyllic Kentish village. House has all the character you might want and was comfortable for our family of four. Just be sure to check out the floor plan and be prepared for tight staircases and squeaky floorboards.

Frances

06/05/2024

10/10! House is very comfortable, cosy and plenty of space for a group of couples. The garden at the back is beautiful and leads to a calm tranquil stream. Everything was clean and well presented, and we were all bowled over with how pretty the property is!<br/>The Rose Inn just a few steps away was also very welcoming to us having a few drinks in the evening. Cannot recommend this property highly enough, Wickhambreaux is beautiful!<br/><br/>Nothing to dislike.

Lucie

14/04/2024

Beautiful house in a picturesque village. Very peaceful and far enough from the big towns and cities that you could enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, but also very easy to get to Canterbury and other local bigger attractations for all the necessities and family fun days out. Would definitely recommend.

Hannah

02/04/2024

Wonderful stay, great house, lovely village.

Lawrence

04/02/2024

Lovely old house originating in 1535, opposite the Rose pub.<br/>Very spacious, fully equipped kitchen.

Strulovici

06/01/2024

Adorable maison, très cosy et charmante ! Bonne literie, la cuisine est très conviviale, le salon aussi ! Le pub en face est très sympa pour boire une bonne bière et on peut aussi y manger.

Kit

02/01/2024

Lovely home in a beautiful location. Everything was as described and all the logistics were easy

Anton-jan

17/12/2023

A beautiful and characteristic 16th-century house on the green of a picturesque little village. A large private garden with the Little Stour river at the back. Plenty of space for 8. Well equipped, also for families. Quiet. Easy free street parking. 15 mins from Canterbury. Pub across the street - they can serve food at the cottage, will pick up the dishes afterwards. If it wasn't for the heating problems (in winter) this would have been a magnificent, all-positive experience.<br/><br/>The heating and hot water supply was broken. We arrived in an ice-cold house (2°C). Couldn't reach the agency. Finally we could contact the owners, who instructed us to top up the water pressure. Even with the system active and the fireplace going the living room did not get above 16°C when outside temperatures were close to freezing. Had to top up the water pressure every day otherwise we would have people under a cold shower, and no heating. The agency came but couldn't do anything. They said they would send an expert but nobody came to fix it.

Maartje

22/10/2023

Een sprookjesachtige omgeving en dito dorpje. Een bijzonder charmant huis van alle gemakken voorzien: ook Baby bed en traphekjes en wat speelgoed en plastic servies voor onze kindjes. Fijne bedden ook. Allerlei wandelingen in de directe omgeving. Waanzinnige tuin. Een parel in Kent.

Betke

12/10/2023

We had a great stay at the Bell House! The house has a bit of a funny layout with 2 main bedrooms upstairs and 2 bathrooms downstairs, but it worked really well for us (2 couples with 2 babies). The rooms are very spacious and beds are really comfy. We were lucky enough to have some warm days in October and enjoy the beautiful garden. The pub next door is simple but nice and run by very lovely people. And there’s so many good places to eat in the area. But no need to go out cause the kitchen has everything you need to cook up a nice dinner. Gibson’s farm shop is close by and has some great local produce (and logs for the woodburner)

Michael

30/09/2023

Lovely house loads of character and charm

J Helen

25/08/2023

Great place to stay. Lovely area. Would<br/>Definitely book again

Jake

21/08/2023

We loved The Bell House! Don’t go if you are looking for pristine five-star luxury - but absolutely do go if you are looking for an incredibly atmospheric, historic place to stay! The listing doesn’t do justice to how quirky and ancient the place feels. It’s comfortable too though, with modern bathrooms and clean, comfy beds. The garden is idyllic. <br/>Wickhambreaux is a beautiful village and we were very impressed with how lively and friendly the Rose Inn across the road was. There is good walking in the vicinity and further afield there is loads to do - we were blessed with good weather so made the most of the seaside towns of Kent- all within about 30 mins drive.

Timandra

07/08/2023

Location was perfect for us - we have stayed here before. The garden is lovely which we would have loved to enjoy if the weather had been better.<br/><br/>Very creaky floorboards, to be expected in such an old house. <br/>The rental company sent an email with a link, asking for bank details and then the further link did not give access information. My bank thought this was a scam and stopped my card. I had to call a mobile number to get the code for the key safe. It would have been better to have just sent this information in an email, instead of asking me to click on a link, which didn't work.

Melissa

25/07/2023

Quiet location. Lovely garden, peaceful.<br/>Full of character and plenty of places to find and see in house when exploring. <br/>Pub opposite was great and bought food over to us. Very friendly.<br/><br/>Nothing. All great.

Lisa

24/07/2023

Quirky, house. Lovely original features and fabulous garden. Very clean with comfortable beds. Well equipped kitchen and spacious bathrooms. Beautiful village, such a lovely spot.<br/><br/>Unfortunately in our family group we have four people with reduced mobility. Both staircases are very steep and there is no toilet upstairs. Only one of the bedrooms out of four are downstairs. The two Grandma’s had to sleep on the sofas as they were too scared to negotiate the steep stairs in the middle of the night when they’d need the loo.

Amanda

09/07/2023

What a lovely house! With a 4-500 years history. We were very surprised. The photos didn't do it justice. The garden is amazing and big, with a stream running at the end. Very relaxing. Richard texted to make sure everything is ok. Thank you.

Jonathan

06/07/2023

lovely cottage with beautiful stream running at the bottom of the garden. amazing interior - you can imagine what it was like when it was built. clean and tidy and good facilities. however, it's the location that makes it the standout.

Suzette

02/07/2023

We chose this house for the garden as we had two small children with us. It was unusable- the lawn had not been mown in ages and we saw a large snake. <br/>The hot water system did not work after the second day. We spent hours communicating with the Blue Fox team to try and fix it- out in the garage for ages with a complex water heater. They should have sent a plumber and not relied on us. <br/>The windows were dirty and the household bins outside were disgusting and full of rubbish. <br/>The owner lives overseas and clearly neglects the house. This stay has discouraged me from using Airnnb again.

Kurian

25/06/2023

It was a great place to stay for the whole family. Great garden as well, lovely place to walk around in. Peaceful location.

Kristina

01/06/2023

We stayed in the beautiful Bell house for three nights, four adults and three children. We absolutely loved it! It is such a well kept and unique house and the surrounding areas are stunning. The garden is really lovely! I would love to go back some time.

Melanie

29/05/2023

A wonderful weekend spent in beautiful surroundings. The garden and river were spectacular. Spent most of our time down by the river. So relaxing. The photos don’t do it justice. The house is interesting with lots of hidey holes. Everything you could need is provided and it felt homely and comfortable. <br/>The area is pretty and lots of lovely walks around. Plenty to see and do.<br/>Richard was a great communicator and the check in and out ran very smoothly<br/>Would love to come back

Ariane

06/05/2023

Jolie maison dans la campagne du Kent. <br/>Très joli jardin à l’arrière qui donne sur un petit cours d’eau. <br/>La maison est bien équipée, et typique des cottages anglais. Balades à pied possible autour de la maison.

Rachael

15/04/2023

Beautiful large historic cottage in a good location with a really special garden. We found it clean and comfortable and well equipped for our family group including some toys and games. We’d definitely be delighted to stay here again. Minor Improvements we’d suggest would be to provide more (and ground not instant) coffee, dishwasher tablets and we needed matches and more kindling for the cosy log burner. Parking was never a problem around the green and there were friendly neighbours and a good playground nearby too.

Flore

10/04/2023

Tout était parfait

Lucy

05/04/2023

The Bell House occupies a prime position in a picture postcard village near a good pub. <br/>It is very old with creaky boards and nooks and crannies and has a generous garden which leads down to a shallow stream. <br/>We loved its attractive quirkiness

Wild Yak

26/02/2023

Thank you for accommodating us!

Andrew

22/01/2023

Old house full of character. Plenty of space. Good bathrooms. Lovely garden. Quiet village location. Very well equipped kitchen. Central heating worked well and we enjoyed the log burner so we were very cosy even in frosty weather.<br/><br/>House manuals only found in a cupboard on the last day. One tea towel and one dishwasher tablet were not sufficient for a 3 night stay and 4 guests.

Monica

03/11/2022

The old unique charm of the place was amazing. Also liked the information book and how it gives the back story of the place.<br/><br/>Nothing really!

Ian

30/10/2022

good location for visiting all areas around Canterbury and the east of Kent

Jack

21/09/2022

Location was excellent in a beautiful village. The large garden with a stream at the end was a particular highlight. The house is old and full of character. We didn't use the fire place but in the winter that would have been welcome!<br/><br/>Some of the crockery and glasses were not fully clean - I think the dishwasher doesn't work very well. We couldn't figure out if / how they do any recycling and the one bin provided was not sufficient.

Clare

30/08/2022

The house is unique and as previous reviews have said - excellent for hide and seek! Myself, my husband, my mother and my three boys had a lot of fun playing there! <br/>The setting is very nice, with a huge garden that has a stream at the bottom and a pub just a stones throw from the front door.<br/>The house is very interesting and the sloping floors and back staircase made for a unique experience. The beds were very comfortable.<br/><br/>Much of the garden had overgrown parts which we lost all of our tennis balls in because we couldn't get into the bramble. The garden wasn't a comfortable space to use, for example - to be able to sit near the stream, the only option was a broken bench. Some comfortable seating in the garden would have made the space more usable.<br/><br/>The various holes in the floors were not popular with my spider fearing children ?<br/>The living room really needs a lick of paint and some new furniture as does the downstairs bedroom.<br/><br/>We stayed for two nights, we enjoyed ourselves and are glad we stayed. Two nights here was the perfect length of time.

Olly

07/08/2022

We had a fantastic time in Wickhambreaux - we rented the Bell House for an entire month in summer 2022, and found it totally charming: it has so much character and history with all its wonky old oak beams, low ceilings and quaint nooks and crannies; and the beautiful secluded garden with the Little Stour bubbling past its end was just delightful on long summer evenings. <br/>The house is a bit 'tired' in several aspects - worn carpets, peeling paintwork, stained sofa cushions, bin lid that wouldn't open properly etc - but overall well-equipped and comfortable. Check-in and check-out was dead easy (lockbox with combination on the side of the house) and the garden was lovely (but suffering from the dry summer, and generally in need of more attention than a few hours from the once-a-week gardener could provide - slight shame that the lawn and borders weren't better tended, as it has so much potential!) <br/>Meanwhile Wickhambreaux itself is absolutely charming - a perfect chocolate-box village with beautiful village green, church, ancient (but excellent) pub, and several impressively grand old houses - and surrounded by picturesque scenery which offers glorious opportunities for walking/running/cycling in every direction, as well as kayaking/SUP'ing/swimming in the Great Stour (from Grove ferry, literally a mere 5 minute drive away) or any of the beaches along the north coast. There's loads to see and do in the area as well - Canterbury, Whitstable, Sandwich, Wingham wildlife park, Howlett's zoo, Stodmarsh nature reserve are all well worth visiting, and all within 20-30 mins drive max; meanwhile Deal, Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate all have lovely beaches and offer a full taste of the quintessential British seaside experience.<br/>Things to note - which might be an issue for some visitors: <br/>The ceilings are quite low (wasn't a problem for us, but need to be careful if you're much over 5ft 7 or 170cm)<br/>The bathrooms are both downstairs, and the back stairs are a bit steep and narrow (but one bedroom is also downstairs, so any less mobile visitors don't have to negotiate them)<br/>There's only on-street parking (but was never a problem - we could usually park right outside the house, occasionally across the village green)<br/>There are no shops in the village - closest shop if you need an emergency pint of milk etc is ~2 miles away in Littlebourne.<br/>Finally, local recommendations:<br/>The Rose Inn, Wickhambreaux - lovely garden, 20m from your front door, fun relaxed vibe but slightly adventurous food offerings!<br/>The Duke William in Ickham (5 mins on bike, or 15 min walk) - excellent standard pub staples, nice garden, friendly and relaxed<br/>The Dog at Wingham (10 mins on bike or 30 min walk) - excellent food and drink, underwhelming garden, slightly pricier and more 'special occasion' than the above<br/>The Red Lion in Stodmarsh (10 mins on bike, 30 min walk) - really characterful, rustic pub with gorgeous secluded garden; weekend BBQ was good, but service a bit slow and felt like they hadn't quite nailed the execution of their local-produce-straight-to-your-table vision yet.<br/>Gibson's farm shop (outside WIngham) - great range, nice produce and very reasonable prices<br/>Recommended activities for families: kayaking/SUP at Grove ferry, horse riding at Trenley Park Liveries, cycling along the sea wall from Reculver to Minnis Bay, crabbing (eg Herne Bay pier, Whitstable, Margate)

Peter

01/07/2022

This is an extraordinary place to say, in a fabulous setting. The gardens are exquisite, the appliances and beds are up to date, but the old style atmosphere is unbeatable.<br/>The pub across the street is outstanding - cuisine in a country village - as is the one in nearby Ickham. The walk to the grocery story in Littlebourne is pleasant if you take the church yard to church yard footpath.

Julia

24/06/2022

Lovely quiet setting in a pretty village. Beautiful garden and seat by the river. The house is very old with lots of character. Anyone talk needs to be aware that the ceilings are mostly low upstairs. Relaxing holiday which was very convenient for visiting the area

Will

29/05/2022

Very pretty village with a great pub. the house had all the amenities we needed (including for a few toddlers). <br/>Check in info was simple and efficient and the house had great character. <br/>Would reccommend.

Kathryn

23/05/2022

Lovely house

Karl

07/05/2022

It was fantastic stay and just what we wanted. Can recommend to anyone who wants to experience the quiet life on the English countryside.

Albert

09/04/2022

I would recommend coming to this amazing house, it's like stepping straight into Tudor times! The facilities were great, surprisingly fort this type of house, shower worked a treat and heating as well. Location is fantastic, very close to Canterbury and less than half an hour drive from various coastal towns. Plenty of attractions nearby.

Frances

05/04/2022

As an extended family group, we were very comfortable in all corners of this quirky property, despite the uneven floors and some of the tired-looking furnishings. The kitchen was a pleasure to cook in with all the utensils and crockery you could possibly want and the bathrooms were excellent. Lovely to have the wood-burning stove in the evenings, and the garden was a delight at all times.<br/><br/>We expected a warmer welcome and more basic provisions, which the manager was quick to put right when notified. When we arrived it felt like no-one had been in the house for a while. It was clean but cold and the radiators needed bleeding so our first night was a cold one.

Rachel

04/04/2022

Such a lovely stay in an idyllic setting. We loved every part. <br/>The wife wasn’t working for our stay, but this is a very small comment. Just something to check for future guests.<br/>Thanks for a wonderful stay in a beautiful cottage.

Paul

30/03/2022

Pretty, characterful house in small village, a good location for exploring Kent. Handy pub across the village green. Best value for large groups: it could fit 6+ comfortably. <br/>Good booklet describing the house on the kitchen table. <br/>Nice wood burning stove: very good on chilly nights.<br/><br/>1. There were no firelighters for the provided firewood so I had to make a trip to a supermarket anyway the first night. There's not much point providing wood without lighters. <br/>2. The stove was great, but needs servicing: a) the fabric lining/seal is nearly detached from the bottom of the right door so every time you try to close it it gets in the way; b) the booklet describes an adjustable opening for air on the top-right of the stove-front, but this seems stuck; c) the interior roof was half-off its supports, but this could be put back by hand. <br/>3. Blue Fox Rentals, managers, sent me another customer's details by mistake. <br/>4. A "mind your head" sign above the doorway leading from kitchen to living room would be handy. Ouch! and again!

Sam

14/03/2022

Richards place is a lovely country house, with lots of character. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The only caveat to that is you may need to be carful if you are upstairs and 6ft plus, as the nature of an old house is low clings and sloped floors- we bumped our heads a few times.

Anna

28/02/2022

Lovely home in a beautiful village. Simon at Blue Fox went above and beyond to help get the heating sorted when we first arrived and we were very grateful. We were very comfortable and it was a perfect size for 7 of us for the weekend.

Catriona

20/02/2022

Lovely house but needs a bit of TLC

Hannah

14/02/2022

A great place for a weekend away!

Jonathan

23/01/2022

Traditional, cosy and charming cottage located on a village green, with a pub (The Rose) right next door. The property is spacious and is kitted out with everything you would need (cooking, making tea etc).<br/>There are quite a few enjoyable runs, walks and pubs in the area which are well worth checking out.

Ali

09/01/2022

This beautiful country home was a real treat to spend the weekend out of the city. It is well equipped, located in a beautiful little town, and with a lovely pub just next door.<br/>Richard and team are attentive hosts and ensured that nothing was missing. Would love to come back soon!

Elizabeth

03/01/2022

Very unique home with lots of charm and history. Incredible food at the Rose pub right next door so perfect for a few days away. Heaps of space. Note there is no cooking oil provided. <br/>Only let down was check in / check out times - these are relatively out of step with other properties (check in at 4pm and check out at 10am is a very wide window). <br/>We contacted the host company a few days before to enquire about earlier check in and later check out as we were checking out on a public holiday. They happily agreed to an earlier check in but said we should contact closer to the time to confirm a later check out. I did so but then had to follow up a number of times only to be told no extension time as they couldn’t contact the cleaners. <br/>We knew the check out time going in but the lack of communication was frustrating, particularly as we knew nobody was going to check in and they had indicated that if this was the case we could potentially check out later (flexibility being one of the key selling points of Air bnb!)

Nicola

01/01/2022

Lovely pretty village. Great location for running/ country walks. The cottage has lots of character & was cosy and relaxing for 3 couples. The Rose Inn pub opposite has very friendly staff and we enjoyed our time there. We also had a special meal at the Fordwich Arms to celebrate my birthday. A short drive to the coast for a beach walk in Whitstable.

Eli

30/12/2021

Atmospheric and well located next door to the friendly pub

Jeremy

13/12/2021

Lovely old house, lovely location. Been coming here over 10 years and suits us for long walks. The Rose pub seems to have lost a lot of trade since Covid, we remember having a great night in a packed pub Jan 2020 with the locals and this time only a couple of people in there both nights which is a shame. <br/>Great log burner in the house and always very warm.

Sally

11/12/2021

Poor safety on the rear stairs with loose carpet.

Fatimah

29/11/2021

I like the garden , every thing I need was there , also the cottage was clean and safe.<br/><br/>Nothing

Don Pierre

03/11/2021

tres jolie maison, très bien placée dans le village et à 15mn de Canterbury. <br/>tout y est parfaitement organisé.

Gill

24/10/2021

A very unusual property, a unique getaway.

Sue

27/09/2021

A lovely old cottage in a great location lovely garden too.

Zachary

04/09/2021

The house is incredible and the garden is big with a beautiful stream at the bottom. But it is managed through a 3rd party company who aren't good at responding to questions and make you do a separate sign up. This should be clear before the house gets rented

Sofia

31/08/2021

Characterful house in a beautiful village.

Paul

21/08/2021

Accurate listing of charming 16th century cottage complete with lathe & plaster walls, timbered roof and character. Well-equipped kitchen & good-spec bathrooms. The garden with its access to the little Stour stream is a gem when the sun is shining. While it's on-street parking, we didn't have a problem finding slots for our three cars. The host (company) was very responsive to resolve minor challenges. Recommended !

Tom

07/08/2021

Awesome and interesting house. Stunning garden. Lovely location.

Lucky

24/07/2021

Lovely house in a beautiful village. The garden is stunning and perfect for kids to explore. The house is a great base for exploring with most beaches within a 30min drive and so many great villages surrouding. We stayed as 2 families with 2 1-4year olds each and the house was a perfect size and well equipped. The pub right across the road was also a great bonus! We would definitely stay again, highly recommend!

Ben

04/07/2021

A really lovely place to stay in the heart of a lovely village. The cottage of full of old charm with low ceilings and wonky floors. Equipped with everything we needed comfy beds and a beautiful garden to enjoy, if the weather is kind.

Mark

19/06/2021

Good olde worlde house with several unusual features e.g. no upstairs bathroom. Lovely long and large garden. Good sized rooms. Large kitchen/dining area. Pub nearby.

Jos

03/06/2021

What a fabulous hone in a perfect location. The very shallow stream running at the bottom of the garden is picture book perfect and provides great fun for all! Only good things to say- wish we had been able to stay longer. Well equipped and lovely!

Kate

31/05/2021

This beautiful house located in a quiet village was a great setting for a bank holiday weekend. We enjoyed eating meals at the table in the garden, day trips to the coast and exploring the countryside. The village itself is quiet but we particularly enjoyed visits to The Red Lion in Stodmarsh for food and The Ivy Barn in Littlebourne for cakes and coffee. Thank you for having us!

Nina

26/05/2021

Magical! If you are lucky to find an available date you should book it. Amazing for family holidays.

Lizzy

18/05/2021

We had a great time at the cottage - charming and lovely!

Joel

15/05/2021

This house is simply stunning - when you first walk in it really has a wow factor like no other Airbnb I've stayed in before. It will take a day for you to feel truly settled as the layout is very unique with two staircases on either side of the property. It is 500 years old but very well maintained throughout, super clean with great parking facilities. Each room is great in size too. The garden is absolutely beautiful with a river at the end, it's perfect for yoga/meditating as a group. In terms of location, it's situated a 15 minute drive from Canterbury town centre where you'll find everything you'll need for your stay and there's a number 11 bus that runs outside the house to Canterbury during certain times of the day. The village in which the house is situated is very quiet (please note there is no local shop in the village), very secluded with a small play park 4mins walk from the house. We couldn't recommend staying in this property enough! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their stay.

Jonathan

07/05/2021

A beautiful old house in z privilegrd location- lovely quaint village green at front (with pub!) And a small safe river at thd end of the long garden. The house is 16th century so dont expect gold taps, even floors or high ceilings. But if you want a quirky but safe gem to explore, this is it. Two very nice double bedrooms; two smaller twins. Ideal for most family combinations. We loved it...

Natasha

03/05/2021

Richard’s place was very beautiful and unique. Both the inside and garden were very charming and it was a great place to stay. There were some minor issues with the cleanliness in the kitchen and barbecue, and some essentials were insufficient or missing (oil, salt, toilet paper, etc.) however I would still return given how lovely the home was.

Paran

17/04/2021

Lovely cottage in quaint village.<br/>Great links to beaches and Canterbury town

Rachele

14/04/2021

The Bell House was the perfect family getaway! The stream and idyllic garden kept our son entertained for ages, the village is very sweet with some great pubs nearby. It has all the quirks and charm of an old house but with the mod cons you need, hot water on demand, decent pressure, modern well equipped kitchen, lots of sockets. The beds and linens were comfy and the WiFi worked well. Plenty of space for the 4 of us to spread out. The ceilings are low in places and the floors and stairs are wonky as you would expect in a house of this age, but the downstairs twin bedroom ‘suite’ is suitable for the less mobile or very tall if needed. Our only disappointment was the village pub closure. We really hope it opens up again soon, as we are 100% coming back!

Dot

04/04/2021

Really lovely house in a beautiful village. Great communication.

Nicolas

20/02/2021

A fantastic place

Laura-Rose

30/12/2020

Fantastic 16th Century cottage. It’s exactly what it says on the tin. A 16th century cottage with a lot of original features, creaky floorboards, low ceilings and beautiful open fires in all rooms. We had a brilliant stay, it was home away from home as we were able to relax in the living room and play games with the fire roaring and likewise cook together and sit down for meals in the large open kitchen. Exactly what we needed before the new year. Key collection/drop-off was all contact free so very covid secure. Also great location for explorative walks around Kent either in the countryside or by the coast.

Paul

27/12/2020

We all had an amazing time at Richard's cottage! Couldn't fault it and would definately stay again. So cosy and comfortable

Ahmed

06/12/2020

Good place highly recommended

Isabelle

24/10/2020

A cottage with real personality and an amazing garden! Wish we had stayed there in the summer to take more advantage of the garden. Location is also very convenient to visit the area... and there is a pub across the street!

Lynsey

21/10/2020

Lovely quirky place to stay, very homely and great location! Pub over the road is a big bonus!

Victoria

18/10/2020

The house and garden are truly special and the house has been beautifully arranged for a short or long stay, it felt like home from the start. Two sets of stairs and a proper pantry, great furniture. The whole area is attractive and we had a very easy time of sight-seeing and local shopping. Would definitely come again.

Ben

05/10/2020

A very cosy, authentic space with lots of thoughtful touches - we loved the long backyard that lead to a stream, and were lucky enough with the weather to enjoy a barbecue outdoors. The house is very well located (and next to a pub) but given that, it was surprisingly quiet. Recommended!

Louise

02/10/2020

Great house, amazing garden! Close to great pubs and walks. Loved the location

Taryn

26/09/2020

Lovely well equipped rustic property, great garden for children.

Amelia

21/09/2020

What a wonderful little cottage this is! The garden is insanely huge and the little stream at the end is the sweetest, we felt like we had been transported to an Enid Blyton novel. A quaint little village as well, Richard has provided a welcome book with all local information and history to boot! Comfortable beds, cosy common areas. A very well stocked kitchen (pots and pans etc) and the biggest pantry I've seen in a while. All in all a lovely weekend and just what the doctor ordered when you live in a tiny flat in London! Thanks Richard :)

Freya

17/09/2020

The Bell House was perfect for our family holiday. A gorgeous big garden leading out to a stream and a spacious kitchen for cooking <br/>Would definately stay again <br/>It started to feel like home

Sarah

31/08/2020

We’ve just returned home with so many happy memories, we have never stayed anywhere so old and quirky, so much history take a minute to read the book , there’s so many books and different stairs the kids absolutely loved it , beds are so comfortable kitchen was the heart of our weekend and were in love with the pantry, the icing on the cake was the kids paddling in the stream thank you bell house we have left with so many good memories highly recommend staying there if you like quirky oldie worldly for a change

Lucia

28/08/2020

We really loved staying at the Bell House with our children (aged 6 and 4) and their grandparents. The house itself was very special, with lots of space for exploring, and the two staircases and bathrooms were also useful. As the house is really old it is pleasantly "wonky" in the right ways and sensitively restored whilst being really functional too.<br/>The garden was wonderful and the stream at the end just right for paddling. Location was also great for exploring different parts of Kent, from walks from the doorstep and beaches. Thanks so much to the hosts for their welcome folder which was really helpful. We felt lucky to stay in this home which has been in the same family for many generations.

Ashley

12/08/2020

What a lovely getaway from London. The garden is a dream. Really enjoyed our stay.

Saasha

23/03/2020

Was exactly as described and we loved it. The garden was great for the kids and we did the walk suggested in the book. We were going to book again before the lockdown!

Yasmin

07/02/2020

The Bell house was perfect for a family holiday, complete home away from home. It’s everything described and more

Samir

02/02/2020

Beautiful home. Wonderful experience. Great hosts.

David

27/01/2020

A fabulous time

Hélène

05/01/2020

Notre séjour à The Bell House a été très agréable, qu’il s’agisse de la maison (son charme typique, son emplacement idéal, ses équipements...) et des alentours (Wickhambreaux, son pub, la proximité en voiture de Canterbury...). Idéal pour un week-end cosy et pittoresque !

Natalie

02/01/2020

We had a lovely stay at the Bell House. The place is beautiful, as is the surrounding village. We were a family of 9 (including a toddler) and found that the house had everything we needed. The log burner and basket of logs was a lovely touch. Would definitely stay again.

Cedric

30/10/2019

Charmant endroit au calme. Déco typique des vieilles maisons anglaises... on a adoré... ça nous a donné envie de revenir...

Eslie

20/10/2019

The Bell House in Wickhambreaux was amazing! Lovely home with great quality bedrooms, the Rose Inn opposite the house is a wonderful pub!

Richard

10/10/2019

Highly recommended. Right in the heart of the village and close to the pub and green. A beautiful period house that is perfect for family and friends

Roselyne

25/08/2019

A fabulous old English house in an old English village. Very charming and clean. We had a great time with our kids.

Elise

18/08/2019

Heerlijk ruim huis met veel karakter op een prachtige locatie. Lekker in de tuin hangen, fietsen, lekker eten en drinken in de plaatselijke pub, met de trein naar Londen of een bezoek aan Canterbury, het kan allemaal vanuit The Bell House. Een aanrader, om echt even het Engelse dorpsleven te proeven. Het enige waar je rekening mee moet houden, als je lang bent. Het is op veel plekken laag (lage deurposten) en scheef, waardoor je snel je hoofd stoot.

Cheryl

08/08/2019

Lovely old house in pretty village, with very handy buses into Canterbury.

Gilles

19/07/2019

Very cute and old little house with beautiful big garden in very small quiet pretty village!!<br/>The pub aljust outside is very handy and serves good food.<br/>Recommendation if your keen for an older vibe and a quiet place.

Karle

08/07/2019

We loved the location of The Bell house , enjoyed lovely evenings at the Rose . Beautiful garden and great for picnics at the river.

Sarah

26/06/2019

This is an interesting house with a lovely garden – but our stay was marred by poor cleanliness, and a lack of information in the listing description.<br/>The dishwasher was dirty inside, and had a very bad smell. Practically all the crockery and cutlery was covered with a film of dirt (presumably a result of the dishwasher problems), and we had to wash it before using it. There were numerous cobwebs, the living room smelled musty and the windows were dirty. It turned out that the letting agents were aware of the problem with the dishwasher, but they hadn’t checked that it had been resolved before our arrival — or even warned us. <br/>There were also issues with the description – some of these have now been put right, but not all of them. The house has two staircases, neither of them particularly easy for elderly people or anyone with mobility problems, but the one which is not shown in the photos is much more difficult – steep, narrow, and with an awkward turn. This is the only way of getting from one of the twin bedrooms to the nearest bathroom. (The route from it to the other bathroom, which is also downstairs, involves a long walk, part of it through another bedroom.) Our party included two people over 80, and for us this was a big problem.<br/>At the time we booked there was no mention of the stairs in the description, though this has been added since, after we raised the issue.<br/>There was also no mention that the upstairs twin bedroom can only be reached by going through another bedroom (either the master bedroom or the downstairs twin) – and this still isn’t mentioned now. This wouldn’t be a problem for everyone, of course, but it is something that prospective guests should be told, so that they can make up their minds on the basis of complete information.i<br/>Communication from the letting agency was quick but at some points inaccurate – I was told, twice, that there was an upstairs bathroom when both bathrooms are downstairs, though I did then receive a message telling me they had got it wrong. <br/>On the positive side, it’s a really interesting house with a lot of history, in a great location. The garden is lovely, the bathrooms well fitted, with good showers, the rooms big, and the beds comfortable. It has lots of interesting nooks and crannies, and would be a great place to play hide and seek in.<br/>I can only hope that the management of the let is improved so that others don’t have the problems we did.

Stefanie

13/06/2019

We had a wonderful stay at Ians cottage. Especially the garden is amazing!

Ingrid

03/06/2019

Heerlijk huis, grote tuin, fijne keuken met grote gezellige eettafel. Slaapkamers zijn ruim en hebben fijne bedden

Laura

27/05/2019

Garden is excellent. Pub next door was nice. Overall had a lovely time.

Nicky

22/04/2019

I fully recommend this beautiful, comfortable house as a perfect stay. Ideal for soaking up the Kent countryside as well as being very close to all the charms of Canterbury. The pub next door is very friendly and very popular. You may not be able to park outside the cottage when the pub is busy but there was parking space a little further up the hill. The garden that leads down to the river is lovely. You can't go wrong if you book Nell House.

Molly

18/03/2019

An absolutely beautiful cottage, only a short drive away from Canterbury. The house is incredibly cosy and the log fire is a fantastic touch. Perfect for unwinding after a long days exploration, or even to spend the day inside if it’s raining!

Jessica

19/02/2019

This charming & beautiful house in the delightful village of Wickhambreaux was one of the greatest finds. It's perfect for exploring all the beautiful villages such as Goodnestone, Ickham and Wingham. We stayed ro be near family and the house was perfect. The house was extremely clean, very quirky & comfortable. To arrive with three young children to a warm house with lots of old world charm.. the first thing we did was have a cup of tea and take in the character of the house & garden. It was heavenly.

Tom

15/02/2019

Fantastic place, we’d definitely go back

Koen

04/02/2019

Prachtige cottage - even terug in de tijd. Ligging is perfect !

Katy

06/01/2019

Excellently located, in a pretty Kent village. The bus stop outside the adjacent pub was useful to get to Canterbury, without the worry of parking. The house was clean, warm and full of history. We had a wonderful stay and highly recommend.

Sharon

02/01/2019

A lovely old character house in a superb location. Would recommend highly.

Francesca

19/12/2018

This is such a unique and beautiful house. Staying there felt like going back in time and yet had very good modern amenities. The house has such a happy atmosphere and cannot wait to stay again.

Ky

01/09/2018

We really enjoyed staying at The Bell House. It's a lovely cottage in a wonderful location lots to do for families within a 30 minute drive and easy commute to London. The stream at the end of the garden is pretty, there's a great park around the corner and a brilliant pub, Duke William, within walking distance. The letting agents were great - responded quickly and were very helpful. <br/>The house could do with a bit of maintenance and a deep clean, but we would definitely recommend it to friends.

Mark

30/07/2018

Great location, with a nice stream running at the end of the garden

Mark

23/07/2018

Lovely, well-equipped old house which feels friendly and cosy and boasts a good, long garden down to the Little Stour. Convenient for the Rose Inn pub - close but not too close.

Wayne

20/07/2018

Lovely house, great response from host

Laura

15/07/2018

Beautiful, large garden with ample free parking. The large central room and kitchen were perfect for large gatherings, and the many smaller bedrooms had fresh linens and plenty of closet space. It was important to empty the small drawer of water that builds up in the fancy dryer, if washing a lot of clothes. We particularly enjoyed eating in nearby Ickham, as the excellent pub/b&b in the center there has both an outdoor sports bar area and a children's play area, right next to a large open field.

Stephanie

30/05/2018

Charming house in a perfect location for exploring the local area.

Ype

08/05/2018

It is a beautiful house in a lovely little town.

John

30/04/2018

Both wonderfully old and fabulously modern and convenient. The oldest house we have ever stayed in. Excellent central heating, first class kitchen facilities, comfy beds, fascinating garden, fluffy new towels, mysterious passages, good reading. WiFi untroublesome. A pub across the street. Handy to Canterbury and holiday and tourist spots.

Daniel

19/02/2018

Ian's place was perfect for a group weekend away. The village is lovely, friendly and quiet.<br/>The house has retained it's (very) old rustic charm but was well maintained with some newer amenities like the renovated bathrooms. The kitchen is a really nice big space. The yard looked great (especially for winter) and backs onto a little stream at the end.<br/>We had 8 of us stay and it was more than enough space. <br/>We loved our weekend away there. I would recommend the Fordwich Arms for dinner and also the Duke William in Ickham for a Sunday roast or a few beers in the outdoor area.

Constanza

12/02/2018

a beautiful house full of charm and detail. a “fairytale” garden. super comfortable beds. the owners were very kind and willing. a house full of history in a beautiful place from where you can enjoy many trips to very beautiful places. 100% recommended

Denis

02/01/2018

We had a lovely New Year celebration at the Bell House with our family - it was ideal for 8 of us. While the building is old and charming it is also very well equipped - from the heating system and kitchen electronics to the variety of plates, dishes and cutlery. The house is in the centre of a very small village, there are plenty places to walk around and it is only 15 min by taxi from Canterbury.

Still have some questions?

Speak to a member of our team