From spending the night next to lions to glamping in knights tents – here are five of the most unusual overnight stays you can do within a 90-minute drive of south east London.
You don’t need do drive far to enjoy some of the most unusual overnight stays the UK has to offer.
The nearby regions of Kent and Sussex have some of the most fun and unique overnight stays you can do from treehouse stays to spending the night in a 450-year-old windmill.
We’ve rounded up five of the most unusual overnight stays you can do in south east London within a 90-minute drive.
Spend the night with animals at Port Lympne Zoo
You don’t have to go to Africa to have an overnight experience sleeping next to your favourite animals, Port Lympne Zoo in Kent is a great UK alternative.
Port Lympne Zoo is a safari park set on 600 acres of land, offering an array of lodges, and is just an hour’s drive away from south east London.
They offer nine different short break experiences, with animal lodges and camping experiences that give you a chance to see your favourite wild animals up close in complete comfort.
Whether you want to see big cats like Lions, Tigers, Leopards or, yes indeed, Bears, you can stay in lodges giving you close views of the animals in their enclosures.
You can also come close with Wolves at Wolf Lodge, spot Rhinos at Rhino Lodge, or see deer at Hog Deer Creek.
Each lodge is different in its unique features, but they all have all the mod-cons including Wi-Fi and TV, as well as access to a golf buggy around the park and a welcome drink on arrival.
You could even wake up to see Giraffes with their Giraffe Lodge Camping experience.
However, they also have other stay experiences including their Treetop Bubble, giving you 360-degree treetop views along with access to a personal golf buggy.
Stay in a treehouse in 15th century farmstead
Elham For any of you not lucky enough to have your own treehouse growing up, this is the experience for you.
Not to be confused with Eltham, Elham in Kent offers a rustic treehouse experience set in the historic village of Elham, just over an hour away from south east London by car.
The treehouse offers guests a rustic glamping experience, with access to a BBQ and ladder access to reach the top.
You’ll feel as if you’re living in the set of a fairy-tale with its charming whimsical touches and stunning countryside views.
If you fancy exploring the historical town of Canterbury, it's a 20-minute drive away and offers so much to do from punting and shopping as well as its famous cathedral.
Glamp in a Knight’s Tent in the groudns of Leeds Castle
in the grounds of Leeds Castle Between April and September, you can stay within the grounds of Leeds Castle in Maidstone in Kent, in a knight’s tent themed after the old medieval knight’s tents they would have used.
Although, don’t worry, other than the setting your tent will be kitted out with a luxury four poster bed, wood burning stove and outdoor access to a BBQ.
Leeds Castle dates back 900 years and was the home of royalty before it became a party retreat for the wealthy.
The tents are located within the grounds of the castle in what was once the castle’s former vineyard.
Guests will have access to all the attractions the castle has to offer, including miniature golf, falconry displays, a maze, and beautiful landscaped gardens.
After a ‘knight’s rest’ you can also make use of the washing facilities at the Knight’s Cottage.
Stay in 450-year-old Windmill in Rye
If you fancy staying in a former working windmill, you take a 90-minute drive to the harbour town of Rye in Sussex and do just that.
You can stay in what was once a working windmill, dating back nearly 450 years.
Now it’s used as a cosy B&B offering 10 rooms, including two incredible suites in the windmill tower with breath-taking views of the Sussex countryside.
The B&B also offers an “honesty bar” to guests on the ground floor, as well as an outside terraced area.
Why not take a walk to the nearby town, which offers great independent shops, bars and restaurants, quaint streets to photograph, and has a long history in smuggling which you can find out about by visiting the Ypres or through a guided tour.
If you don’t drive, you can also travel by train from Ashford International to Rye Station, just a 2-minute walk away from the Windmill.
Spend the night in a 120 year old house on the grounds of Hever Castle
Once home to Anne Boleyn, Hever Castle is an idyllic spot to spend a night within an hour's drive of south east London.
Situated in the grounds of Hever Castle is Medley Court, a luxury 5* cottage dating back to 1903.
The cottage includes four bedrooms that can sleep up to eight guests, as well as a regal dining room with incredible views of the grounds.
Guests who stay can explore the small but incredibly interesting castle with its royal history, and can also have the chance to explore the grounds after closing time.
The grounds have a lot to offer including a rose garden, a Kitchen Garden and a stunning lake, which was used as a filming location in The Great.
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