Dartford Golf Club sits on the eastern edge of Dartford in Kent, set within a course that borders the North Kent countryside. Families visiting the area for golf, nearby attractions like Bluewater Shopping Centre, or as a base for exploring the Thames Estuary and Kent countryside will find a solid cluster of accommodation options within a short drive. This guide breaks down the most practical family-friendly hotels near Dartford Golf Club, covering what each property actually delivers for families travelling together.
What It's Like Staying Near Dartford Golf Club
The area around Dartford Golf Club is suburban Kent rather than a tourist hotspot - quiet residential streets, green belt land, and fast motorway access via the M25 at junction 1b define the character here. There is no walkable hotel cluster immediately adjacent to the course; most family-friendly accommodation sits within a 10-15 minute drive, making a car essentially mandatory for this area. The Dartford Crossing and A2 corridor give families fast access to central London, the Kent coast, and major retail destinations like Bluewater and Lakeside, but the immediate surroundings are low on foot-traffic and evening entertainment.
Families prioritising space, parking, and quiet over urban proximity will find the trade-off worthwhile. Those expecting a walkable town centre experience may want to reconsider - Dartford town centre is around 20 minutes on foot from the golf club itself, and evening dining options near the course are limited without a car.
Pros:
Free or low-cost parking is standard at almost every hotel in this area, removing a significant daily cost for families
The suburban setting means genuinely quiet nights - no nightclub noise or early-morning street traffic
M25 access puts families within reach of multiple major attractions in under 30 minutes
Cons:
No hotel is within walking distance of Dartford Golf Club - a car is non-negotiable
Dining and evening options near the golf club itself are sparse without driving
The area has limited public transport frequency, which restricts movement for non-drivers
Why Choose Family-Friendly Hotels Near Dartford Golf Club
Family-friendly hotels in the Dartford Golf Club corridor tend to offer larger room footprints than equivalent London properties, with family rooms that genuinely accommodate two adults and two children rather than squeezing in a fold-out cot. Free parking is nearly universal across properties here, which alone saves families around £15-£20 per day compared to central London equivalents. The trade-off is that you are staying in a commuter and business-travel zone, meaning hotels are built around practicality - pools, fitness centres, and restaurant facilities are available at higher-tier options, but boutique charm is not the selling point.
The category distinction that matters most for families here is whether a hotel offers an on-site restaurant and leisure facilities. Properties with pools and family dining are significantly more self-contained, which matters when travelling with young children who need structured mealtimes and activities without requiring a car journey.
Pros:
Family rooms with genuine capacity for four guests are widely available without paying suite prices
On-site restaurants at multiple properties remove the pressure of sourcing family-friendly dining each evening
Several hotels include breakfast packages that simplify family mornings significantly
Cons:
Hotels here skew toward business travel infrastructure - meeting rooms and corporate aesthetics dominate over child-focused design
Pool access is only available at one property in this selection, limiting active options for younger children
Kids' clubs or dedicated children's entertainment do not exist at any property in this zone
Practical Booking & Area Strategy
Dartford Golf Club is located off Dartford Road in the DA2 postcode, and the most strategically positioned hotels cluster along two transport corridors: the M25/A282 Dartford Crossing corridor (where you will find the Holiday Inn Express and Best Western Thurrock), and the A2/Bexleyheath corridor heading northwest toward London. For families using Dartford Golf Club as a primary destination, properties on the M25 corridor offer the fastest return journey - under 10 minutes by car. The Bexleyheath and Eynsford options add scenic value and more distinctive accommodation but extend the commute to the course to around 20-25 minutes.
Booking at least 6 weeks ahead is advisable for summer weekends, particularly July and August when Brands Hatch race events and school holidays compress availability across the entire Dartford-Swanley corridor. Families visiting for a round of golf paired with a Bluewater shopping trip should note that the shopping centre itself is under 15 minutes from most properties listed here. The Darent Valley Path, Eynsford Castle, and the Lullingstone Roman Villa are all within 25 minutes by car and add meaningful day-trip options for non-golfing family members. Avoid booking the closest budget options during Brands Hatch event weekends - prices spike sharply and the road network around the A20 and M25 junction 3 becomes congested.
Best Value Family Stays
These properties deliver solid family room capacity, free parking, and on-site dining at rates that keep the overall trip budget manageable - without sacrificing the practical essentials families need.
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1. Ibis London Thurrock M25
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 68
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2. Best Western Thurrock Hotel
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 76
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3. The Royal Victoria And Bull Hotel
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Just a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 101
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4. Holiday Inn Express London - Dartford By Ihg
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 79
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5. Castle Hotel
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 230
Best Premium Family Stays
These properties add meaningful leisure and wellness facilities beyond the standard room - particularly relevant for families spending multiple nights in the area who need more than just a place to sleep.
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1. Holiday Inn London-Bexley By Ihg
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Hurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 105
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2. Delta Hotels By Marriott Bexleyheath
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 95
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3. Mercure Dartford Brands Hatch Hotel & Spa
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Rooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 60
Smart Timing and Booking Advice for Families
The Dartford Golf Club area follows two distinct demand patterns that directly affect family hotel pricing. The first is Brands Hatch race events - typically concentrated in May, June, and August - which fill properties across the entire Swanley-Dartford-Thurrock corridor and push rates up sharply with little last-minute availability. Book at least 8 weeks ahead if your dates overlap with any Brands Hatch race weekend. The second pattern is standard school holiday compression: July and August see families competing for the same family-room inventory across a relatively small number of hotels in this zone.
Outside of those peaks, the area around Dartford Golf Club is a low-tourist-pressure zone - late September through November delivers quieter roads, lower hotel rates, and the golf course itself in excellent condition as summer maintenance winds down. A two-night minimum stay makes the most sense logistically here: one night is rarely worth the travel overhead given that most meaningful attractions - Lullingstone, Eynsford, Bluewater, and the Thames Estuary path - each warrant a half-day minimum. Families planning a midweek stay in spring will find the best combination of course availability, hotel value, and road access without weekend traffic on the M25 Dartford Crossing.
