Magdala Cottage, Broadstairs

Magdala Cottage is a small terraced house a few streets back from the sea in Broadstairs, and it is set up for dogs rather than merely tolerating them. The property advertises itself as dog friendly, and the detail that matters most is the enclosed garden at the back, a rare thing in a seaside town house and the difference between a dog that can be let out last thing at night and one that needs a walk in the rain. Guests with dogs, including young puppies, pick the garden out as the reason the stay worked.

Inside it is compact, clean and comfortably furnished, with everything a self-catering week needs and beds that get good marks. The location does the rest: the Broadstairs beaches and coves are within walking distance, the cliff-top paths above them make an easy year-round walk when the sands are busy, and shops and takeaways are close enough to reach on foot. A bus stop for the seafront is a minute or two away.

Parking is the one thing to plan for, and it comes up in guest feedback more than anything else. There is no dedicated space: parking is on-street, much of the surrounding road is restricted, and spaces fill up, so people often end up some distance away and leave the car put for the week. With a boot full of dog kit that is worth knowing in advance. Unloading outside the house is possible but the road is narrow enough that you will hold traffic up, so it pays to be quick.

A couple of smaller notes: the house can feel cold on arrival out of season, though the heating instructions are clear and it warms up quickly, and the outdoor seating has attracted wasps in late summer. Best suited to dog owners who want a comfortable, walkable seaside base with its own garden, and who are relaxed about parking a few streets away.