Dartford Hotels: Where to Stay in Kent

Dartford is a Kent town about 18 miles southeast of central London, beside the Thames estuary. Visitors come for the Dartford Crossing, Bluewater shopping, local history and quick trains into the capital. The best hotels in Dartford are a short list of chain and country house properties plus one historic coaching inn. We checked each place against several independent sources and dropped every claim we could not confirm. This guide covers where to stay in Dartford, what each hotel offers and which details you should confirm by phone before booking.

Compare Dartford, Kent, England hotels on Expedia

Where to Stay in Dartford, Kent

Hotels in Dartford: Our Short List

Dartford has four lodging options we could verify. Two are large modern hotels on the edge of town. One is a country house hotel with a spa in the village of Wilmington. One is a historic inn on the High Street. We found no motels in the American sense. British travelers use the word for roadside lodges, and the chain hotels below fill this role.

The old version of this page also listed a set of unnamed apartments. We removed the entry because no single property stood behind the description. If you want self catering, search the Expedia link above by dates and read each listing carefully.

Every hotel below lists parking, breakfast and spa access as separate items. Read the terms at booking. Several extras carry a fee, and the hotels set their own rules.

DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge: Hotels in Dartford for Business and Leisure

The DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge stands on Masthead Close in Crossways Business Park, DA2 6QF. Venue listings describe 185 guest rooms, free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and a fitness centre. A restaurant and bar sit on site, and the car park has electric vehicle charging. Another listing names Seasons Restaurant and the Court Bar and mentions a health club with indoor and outdoor pools. The two sources use different names for the dining rooms, so ask the hotel which one is open on your dates.

The hotel is about four miles from Bluewater shopping centre. One source places Ebbsfleet International station about five miles away, with Eurostar and high speed trains reaching London St Pancras in about 17 minutes. Self parking carries a daily fee, so confirm the current rate when you book.

We could not confirm check-in times, the phone number or any rooftop bar. The old page claimed a rooftop terrace with Thames views. No source we found supports this, so we dropped the claim. Call the hotel to confirm your room type and the pool hours.

Holiday Inn Express London Dartford: Where to Stay in Dartford on a Budget

The Holiday Inn Express London Dartford sits on University Way, DA1 5PA. Two listings agree on the address, a 3 PM check-in and an 11 AM check-out. One listing counts 126 rooms over four floors. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, a bar, a restaurant, a 24 hour front desk and luggage storage. Breakfast is included with some room types. Guests describe the breakfast as plentiful in some reviews and basic in others.

Parking costs extra, and one reviewer warned about paying at the car park before entering, which costs more. Ask at reservations how to pay. The hotel accepts pets for a fee per stay, which makes this a practical choice for travelers with a dog.

This hotel works well if you want a simple base near the M25. A bus or taxi reaches Bluewater, which one listing places about 2.4 miles away. Dartford Borough Museum, Central Park and Princes Park are each about a three minute drive according to the same listing. The old page mentioned a fitness center, but no current source confirms one. Ask before you count on a gym.

Rowhill Grange Hotel and Utopia Spa: Country House Hotels Near Dartford

Rowhill Grange Hotel and Utopia Spa sits on Top Dartford Road in Wilmington, just south of the town. The phone number is 01322 615136. Listings disagree on the postcode, so confirm the address before you drive. Three sources give check-in from 3 PM and check-out at 11 AM. One listing counts 38 rooms across two floors and describes 15 acres of grounds with walking trails.

The hotel has two restaurants, a bar and a garden. Utopia Spa offers massages, body wraps and facials, with an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna. Guests report mixed spa experiences. Some praise the treatments, and others say the area needs updating and day visitors fill the space. Spa access and breakfast carry extra charges, so ask what your booking includes.

The old page called the restaurant Michelin starred. We found no source confirming a star, so we removed the claim. One listing places the hotel about 15 miles from London. Joyden’s Wood lies about 1.3 kilometers away, a good option for a walk.

Check whether the spa and pool are fully open before you book a spa break. One source notes guest comments about maintenance, but no official closure notice appeared.

Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel: Hotels Near Dartford Town Centre History

The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel stands at 1 High Street, Dartford, DA1 1DU. Historic England lists the building as Grade II star. The inn dates from 1703 and served as a large coaching inn on the road from London to Canterbury and Dover. A glazed courtyard with first floor galleries sits behind the front range.

The Campaign for Real Ale entry lists 25 bedrooms, all with en suite facilities. The phone number is 01322 224415. The pub opens at 9 AM and serves food until 9 PM on most days and until 7 PM on Sundays. Another source describes the building as a working hotel with a bar and reception.

Local stories say the building has ghosts. We treat those as folklore, not fact. The old page described a courtyard and a fireplace, but we could not confirm those details. Confirm room standards and noise levels with the hotel, since a busy High Street pub can run late on weekends.

Things to Do Near Your Dartford Hotel

The town offers a mix of heritage, parks and shopping. Dartford Borough Museum on Market Street, DA1 1EU, covers local history and archaeology. The council lists opening times of 1 PM to 4:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 1 PM to 4 PM on Saturday. The museum is not listed as open on Wednesday or Sunday, so plan around those days.

Central Park in the town centre covers about 26 acres beside the river and hosts community events. Dartford Heath is the town’s other main open space. Darenth Country Park has paths, meadows and orchards, along with Saxon finds. Beacon Wood Country Park has woodland and wetland for hiking. The Darent Valley Path runs about 30 kilometers through the valley.

The Orchard Theatre in the town centre stages plays, musicals, comedy and music. A summer open air theatre also runs in Central Park. Bluewater shopping centre opened in 1999 just outside town, and Dinotropolis, a soft play center, sits inside.

History fans can read about Dartford Priory, founded in the 14th century. Henry VIII turned the site into a manor house after the Dissolution, and Anne of Cleves lived there for four years. The Rolling Stones also have strong ties to the town, since Mick Jagger and Keith Richards both come from Dartford.

Getting to Dartford and Getting Around

Dartford railway station sits in the town centre. Southeastern runs services toward London Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Victoria, and Thameslink runs between Rainham and Luton. Check the Southeastern site for live times and ticket types. Railcards give a third off most standard tickets.

By road, the Dartford Crossing carries the A282 across the Thames between Dartford and Thurrock. Two tunnels opened in 1963 and 1980, and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge opened in 1991. Northbound traffic uses the tunnels and southbound traffic uses the bridge. The charge applies from 6 AM to 10 PM every day. You pay online, by phone or by post, with no cash booths. Pay by midnight the day after you cross. Cyclists cannot ride across and can book a free transfer.

Most visitors stay near the M25 or close to the station. Match your hotel to your plan. Choose the Holiday Inn Express or the DoubleTree if you drive. Choose the Royal Victoria and Bull if you want to walk to the station and the High Street.

How to Choose Between Dartford Hotels

Start with your purpose. Business travelers and families often prefer the two chain hotels, since both have restaurants and sit near major roads. Couples seeking a quiet break should look at Rowhill Grange, where the grounds and spa set the tone. History lovers should look at the Royal Victoria and Bull.

Then check the extras. Parking, breakfast and spa access all cost extra at some hotels. Ask about pets if you travel with a dog, since the Holiday Inn Express and Rowhill Grange listings show different pet rules. Finally, confirm your dates by phone. Hotels change facilities, and the listings we read can lag behind.

What We Checked and What We Could Not

We checked each hotel against at least two independent sources, including booking sites, venue directories, the Campaign for Real Ale, Historic England and Dartford council pages. We found all four hotels open and listed. We found no closure notices.

We could not confirm the DoubleTree phone number or check-in times. We could not confirm any rooftop bar, a Michelin star at Rowhill Grange or a gym at the Holiday Inn Express. We also dropped the generic apartments entry, along with the old claims about Brands Hatch and a Thames cruise. We did not state any prices or drive times we could not source. Phone the hotel to confirm anything important to your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The best hotels in Dartford give you a practical base for London, Bluewater and Kent. Pick the DoubleTree or the Holiday Inn Express for road access, Rowhill Grange for a spa break, or the Royal Victoria and Bull for history. Confirm rates, parking and facilities by phone, then use the Expedia link above to compare dates. Where you stay in Dartford shapes your trip, so choose with care.

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