Fodor's Expert Review ABode Canterbury

This glossy boutique hotel inside the old city walls offers up-to-date style in traditional Canterbury, with good-size rooms—modern but not minimal—classed as Comfortable, Desirable, Enviable, and Most Enviable. The latter have the most space and extras like wood floors, sitting areas, and freestanding roll-top baths, but even Comfortable rooms are nicely designed with soft bedding in neutral colors (although most have no view). There's also a Fabulous suite, with a sun-trap terrace offering sweeping cathedral vistas. Back downstairs, the superb County Restaurant serves Modern European cuisine, while the beam-ceilinged Champagne Bar serves afternoon tea every day. The hotel can also arrange private "chef's table" dining events (including a view of the action inside the kitchen).