Head just beyond London and you'll find a wealth of quaint villages with cosy pubs nestled between the rolling hills of Kent, Surrey and Essex. This Kent village is particularly attractive to Londoners looking to escape the rat race, as it's only two hours from the city centre. The quaint village of Ickham, home to fewer than 500 residents, also boasts a rather glitzy claim to fame.
Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are rumoured to have stayed here during the filming of World War Z, with Brad even making an appearance at the local pub. But even without the star-studded visits, Ickham is a gem in its own right. It's no stranger to accolades, having been featured on Muddy Stilettos' top 10 best places to live in Kent last year.
The Daily Telegraph recently named it one of the "10 prettiest villages in Kent", highlighting its charming gabled and clapboard cottages, the historic 13th-century St John the Evangelist Church, and picturesque meadows and chalk streams. The Duke William pub is the epitome of festive charm with its Christmas decorations and lights, twinkling reindeers included. It's a real gem for a seasonal visit – imagine settling down to a cosy lunch after a brisk country walk, warmed by a roaring log fire.
The establishment isn't just a spot for a meal; it offers four snug and stylish rooms for an overnight stay too, reports Kent Live . The Daily Telegraph has praised the inn, full of "dyed-in-the-wool locals" enjoying a pint with their dogs loungin.
