Grove Ferry Inn

8.0
Excellent
(1331 reviews)

Grove Ferry Rd, Upstreet, Canterbury CT3 4BP, United Kingdom

+44 1227 860302

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Hotel Description

Located at Grove Ferry Rd, Upstreet, Canterbury CT3 4BP, United Kingdom, Grove Ferry Inn offers a charming escape in the tranquil countryside, surrounded by lush gardens and picturesque scenery. This pet-friendly and smoke-free property is a perfect choice for guests seeking a peaceful retreat. The inn is ideally situated with easy access to several attractions in the area, including the Wingham Wildlife Park just a 9-minute drive away, and the famous Canterbury Cathedral, a 19-minute drive away. Guests can enjoy the relaxing ambiance of the property, which boasts a serene garden, making it a perfect spot for picnics. The design of the Inn reflects a welcoming, traditional style, offering an atmosphere of comfort and simplicity, with the added charm of rural surroundings.
Grove Ferry Inn features cozy rooms equipped with all essential amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. The rooms are designed to offer guests a peaceful haven, with spacious interiors, comfy beds, and a restful ambiance. There are no air conditioning or fitness facilities, but the Inn offers Wi-Fi and a smoke-free environment, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your stay. Additionally, guests have access to an on-site restaurant, where they can indulge in delicious meals and a welcoming bar.
The Inn is also well-connected by public transport, making it easy for guests to explore the surrounding areas. The Grove Ferry Hill bus stop is a 7-minute walk away, and the nearby Grove Ferry train station offers easy access to London and other major cities. The property is also within a short driving distance to several local airports, including London City Airport, which is just over an hour away by taxi.
For families and guests traveling with pets, Grove Ferry Inn is a perfect choice, offering kid-friendly services and the option to bring along pets. Health and safety are a priority here, with safety protocols in place for guest peace of mind.
Nearby attractions such as Howletts Wild Animal Park, Dreamland Margate, Turner Contemporary, and the Wingham Wildlife Park are just a short drive away, making the Grove Ferry Inn a great base for exploring the area. The Inn is also close to a variety of restaurants, including the inn’s own restaurant, the modern European Quince, and The Goods Shed, a country food restaurant.
We warmly invite you to experience the calm, inviting atmosphere of Grove Ferry Inn, where relaxation, convenience, and exceptional service combine to create an unforgettable stay. Whether you are seeking a quiet getaway or a base to explore the surrounding sights, we are here to ensure your stay is both enjoyable and comfortable.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. Located in a peaceful countryside setting

2. Pet-friendly and smoke-free environment

3. Easy access to local attractions like Wingham Wildlife Park and Canterbury Cathedral

4. Traditional and welcoming design with serene gardens perfect for picnics

5. Spacious rooms with comfy beds and restful ambiance

6. On-site restaurant and bar offering delicious meals

7. Convenient transportation options including bus and train connections

8. Nearby popular attractions like Howletts Wild Animal Park and Dreamland Margate

9. Kid-friendly with pet accommodations

10. Health and safety protocols for guest peace of mind


6.6 Good

Location rating

Top sights

Canterbury Cathedral
19 min
Howletts Wild Animal Park
13 min
Dreamland Margate
21 min
Turner Contemporary
21 min
Wingham Wildlife Park
9 min

Nearest locations

Smugglers Retreat Table Table
10 min
The Dog at Wingham
11 min
Quince
16 min
The Goods Shed
18 min
El Sol Tapas Bar & Restaurant
18 min
The Refectory Kitchen
19 min
Marlowe's Restaurant
19 min
Bill's Canterbury Restaurant
20 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Check-in15:00
Check-out10:00
Location rating6.6
Nearest airportLondon City Airport
Travel time to airport1 hr 23 min

Nightly price (Only for reference price for sample day)

Check-in: Sat, Dec 07
Check-out: Sun, Dec 08
    Official Hotel

    $168

    Bluepillow.com

    $167

    Booking.com

    $168

    Agoda

    $168

    LateRooms.com

    $168


Location

Grove Ferry Rd, Upstreet, Canterbury CT3 4BP, United Kingdom

Airports:

Heathrow Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 57 min

Transit: 3 hr 25 min

London City Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 23 min

Transit: 2 hr 34 min

London Luton Airport

Taxi: 2 hr 6 min

Transit: 3 hr 20 min

London Stansted Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 41 min

Transit: 3 hr 36 min

London Gatwick Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 34 min

Transit: 3 hr 27 min

London Southend Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 37 min

Transit: 3 hr 19 min

Transit:

Grove Ferry Hill

Walking: 7 min

Post Office

Walking: 14 min


Nearby locations

6.6

Good Location

Top Attractions

Top Restaurants


Amenities and Facilities

Pets

Pet-friendly

Parking & transportation

Parking

Policies & payments

Smoke-free property

Food & drink

Restaurant

Bar

Breakfast

Wellness

No fitness center

No spa

Children

Kid-friendly

Internet

Wi-Fi

Pools

No pools

No hot tub

Rooms

No air conditioning


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

5.2

10 reviews

Wonderful
2
Excellent
1
Good
1
Below Average
3
Not Good
3
Cover Image for James Garland

James Garland

4/5
Had some food and a couple pints here the other day. The service was lovely. Staff were kind and friendly. We Wanted a steak of the day and a gluten free pizza however unfortunately they had run out of both so we went for the bear burger which I can quite happily say was beautiful. Absolutely loved it.Will definitely be returning.

Cover Image for Robert Birkholz

Robert Birkholz

3/5
It’s a pub in an amazing setting, but unfortunately, the food fell short and impacted the overall experience. The decor feels a bit 'tired,' as if the inn’s glory days were some time ago, which is a shame because the place has great potential. Prices felt steep for the quality provided, with the food looking and tasting like it came from the spoons. (Probably, they know it as I can't even rate it). Service was similar in quality.However, it’s not all bad—the surroundings are beautiful, especially with outdoor seating by the canal. I can imagine it being a true gem in the summer. The place is spacious, so you won’t feel cramped, and the large garden is fantastic for families with kids.Will we be back? Unfortunately, no.

Cover Image for Richard Knight

Richard Knight

2/5
A favourite old haunt but changes over the years.Took a while for staff to acknowledge our presence, almost walked straight back out.Food quality was good however a lengthy wait (30 mins+) to be served food after ordering and quite frankly the Nice & Spicy 8" Pizza & cheesy garlic bread left a lot to be desired in terms of value for money.Guess it will be another 10 years before I consider returning.

Cover Image for barbados boomboom

barbados boomboom

1/5
This used to be excellent for food, drinks and service. Unfortunately with the new owners/management it is no longer. Hopefully they may change.Great location, beautiful by the river, got plenty parking and it's nearly always sunny 😜.There's a slim chance that this was an "off" day for them.The saving grace was Saffron who dealt with the various issues professionally.Issues were...1. My burger was tasteless2. Wife's burger had sauce in it which we asked for none3. Accused of changing our minds regarding the sauce...and asked for proof that we had requested its removal by a receipt...which was never offered.4. Obviously had to wait 20 mins for wife's replacement burger.5. Wife ate a load of my chips whilst waiting.We did get a partial refund..not sure how much...£8?Burger in pic was £17/£18. I only ate it because I was famished.

Cover Image for Andrea Church

Andrea Church

1/5
So disappointed. Turned up and walked in. Bar staff behind the bar not one person acknowledged us or advised us how to order.Waited at an empty bar and then 3 staff turned up and still my husband was ignored.Eventually managed to order.When the food turned up it looked like it was all frozen and from Farm foods.Nothing fresh, homemade or delicious. We spent £60 on a lunch and felt utterly cheated.Definitely won’t be going back or would recommend.Amazing setting and they are definitely missing a trick by a very poor food offering, litter outside and kids as staff who couldn’t be less interested.

Cover Image for Tess Harper

Tess Harper

2/5
A disappointing visit, having visited before but quite a few years ago, I wasn’t expecting such a run of the mill pub grub menu (website not much use as only showing winter menu) fish & chips, burgers, hot dogs & pizzas plus a couple of salad options. One of our orders was wrong and we were asked to prove this (I’m assuming by the kitchen as the server started off fine about it) so we ate separately. Manager was off so was dealt with by a supervisor Savannah who was a lot more sympathetic when she was made aware of my intolerance allergy and did give us a partial refund.I’ll return if they get a chef rather than a short order cook and improve bar staff training regarding allergies

Cover Image for Chloe baterip

Chloe baterip

1/5
Took our friends here to have a catch up, haven’t been since it has changed to new management and wish we hadn’t have came, felt so embarrassed.1. No table service any more?2. Ordered at the same time and food came out all separately. We received our food and by the time we were finished our friends hadn’t received there’s.3. Staff didn’t know what they were serving to us.4. Didn’t tell us what wasn’t available on the menu.5. Didn’t ask how our food was.6. X4 halloumi sticks for nearly £12?7. My Chicken Caesar salad was chicken that came out of a packet you get from the cold meat section in somewhere like Asda.For a restaurant that have the prices they do for food, you would expect it to be table services.This has definitely declined and can honestly say I will not be visiting again.Absolute shambles of a so called ‘restaurant’

Cover Image for Sophie McGrath

Sophie McGrath

2/5
Need more experienced staff. This place looks lovely from the outside and the outdoor seating area is nice especially by the river. However, the service wasn't great. The staff were bringing out food and not able to state what it was when we asked they said 'I don't know' then 'shall I go find out' of which we could see when he went to find out, no one had a clue what was what.One of us had ordered all the food at the bar and checked it twice with the person we ordered from yet sadly a meal was forgotten and we had to wait for that to be sorted which came out after everyone had finished.The steak looked ghostly and the pizzas were a let down.The place itself needs some TLC and maybe some better rules for the campers nearby to not strip down in the communal area of the toilet. Kinda ruins the experience.

Cover Image for Vadim Grigorjev

Vadim Grigorjev

5/5
We enjoyed our stay at the Grove Ferry Inn! It's a dog-friendly place with great staff who were very pleasant and accommodating. The rooms could benefit from some updating, but that didn't take away from a good night's sleep, followed by a tasty breakfast. Overall, this inn is a little gem with wonderful surroundings any nature-lovers would enjoy!

Cover Image for Doris smith

Doris smith

5/5
incredible atmosphere attend this place often, love what the have done with the new decor and aware they have lots more improvements to do , we did miss the music though shame it’s on pause due to a a miserable, old selfish neighbour who made a noise complaint really hope the pub wins there music back.The barmaids are very polite and very helpful they greeted me and my husband with a warm welcome and a huge smile .The landlord has made the pub such a beautiful place where I regularly take my grandchildren for lunch , the landlord has such a lovely personality .The pub also is pet friendly meaning that after a long walk with your dog you can sit down and have a nice meal .the pub ask if you can keep your dogs on a lead which is completely understandable as some people might not want dogs running up to them as they enjoy there meal .