# Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church

> Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church

For anyone with a love of Charles Dickens this church is an unmissable experience. The churchyard of St James was his inspiration for the opening chapter of Great Expectations, where our hero Pip meets Magwitch. Here, you can find ‘Pip’s Graves’ – the forlorn gravestones of 13 babies that Charles Dickens describes as “little stone lozenges”. The site is dramatic – on the Hoo Peninsula with marshes stretching north to the Thames estuary. Settle down in the church with a pork pie and some brandy or visit Rochester during the Dickens Festival, held each year in June.

Inside, the church is light and spacious. There is a 500-year-old timber door that still swings on its ancient hinges – even though it now leads to a blocked north doorway! Another quirky feature is the nineteenth-century vestry – its walls are lined from top to bottom with thousands of cockle shells – the emblem of St James. The monuments in the church walls and floor are a fascinating record of those who once lived here.

They include a slab with a brass effigy of Feyth Brook, who died in 1508 and was the wife of Lord Cobham, of nearby Cooling Castle. Charles Dickens fans should also visit St Mary’s in Higham, the village where the novelist ended his days while writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

- Type: Place to stay
- Location: Rochester, Cooling, Medway, England
- Area guide: [Kent](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/discover/regions/kent)
- Booking: Book online on HolidayFox
- HTML page: https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-GgXrBGaT2mO-/cooling-kent-st-james-church
- Live availability (JSON): https://www.holidayfox.com/api/agent/availability?id=dest-GgXrBGaT2mO-

## Stay types

- [St James' Church](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-GgXrBGaT2mO-/cooling-kent-st-james-church/accommodations/acctype-RHXzGhvl9fsX/st-james-church) — sleeps up to 4. Inside, the church is light and spacious. There is a 500-year-old timber door that still swings on its ancient hinges – even though it now leads to a blocked north doorway! Another quirky feature is the nineteenth-century vestry – its walls are lined from top to bottom with…

## Amenities and facilities

- Toilets

## Suitable for

- Baby and Toddler (0-3)
- People
- Champing
- Organisations
- Children or Kids (3-10)
- Family
- Groups
- Retired
- Teens (13+)
- Tweens (11-13)

## Nearby stays

- [King Charles Hotel](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-Zho-vzWKsPKI/king-charles-hotel)
- [Inn on the Lake](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-oWLa3KYYBrbe/inn-on-the-lake)
- [Kits Coty Glamping](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-3S7y1JcJWjvu/kits-coty-glamping)
- [LeoBay](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-HucQe97m-4PQ/leo-bay)
- [Barleylands](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-jqvKdy0k0Ru2/barleylands)

All stays nearby: https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-GgXrBGaT2mO-/cooling-kent-st-james-church/near-by-accommodations.md

## Nearby things to do

- [Arethusa Climbing Centre](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-rhIan6pcgJmQ/arethusa-climbing-centre)
- [PYO Pumpkins](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-K9ESu3J4vzuQ/pyo-pumpkins)
- [ODEON Chatham](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-6l83mYYFOx1q/odeon-chatham)
- [Monkey Bizz](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-obT72Nrhp0JE/monkey-bizz)
- [Kent Police Museum](https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-KfOQbx29u1LS/kent-police-museum)

All things to do nearby: https://www.holidayfox.com/en/e/dest-GgXrBGaT2mO-/cooling-kent-st-james-church/near-by-experiences.md

## Questions and answers

### Are open fires allowed at St James' Church in Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

No, open fires are not allowed at St James' Church.

### Is smoking allowed at St James' Church in Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

No, St James' Church is non-smoking.

### What time can I arrive at St James' Church in Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

You can arrive from 16:00.

### What time do I need to check out by at St James' Church in Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

You need to check out by 10:00.

### Where is Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church is in Rochester, Cooling, Medway.

### What can I book at Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church has one stay type: St James' Church.

### What facilities does Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church have?

Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church lists Toilets.

### What is there to do near Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

Experiences listed near Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church on HolidayFox include Arethusa Climbing Centre, PYO Pumpkins, ODEON Chatham, Monkey Bizz and Kent Police Museum.

### How do I book Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church?

Choose your dates and guests on the Cooling, Kent – St James’ Church page on HolidayFox and book online.


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Generated 2026-11-07T21:50Z from HolidayFox data.