Family days out in Kent costing under £10

Cyclopark at Gravesend

There’s loads of two-wheel fun to be had at one of the county’s most popular family attractions. The Cyclopark at Gravesend boasts children’s playgrounds and a large skate park as well as the mountain bike, BMX and road circuits for keen riders.

Just off the A2 at the Gravesend Central/A227 junction, the park is really easy to get to.
The cost to enjoy the children’s play areas is just £3 for a family, while youngsters can have two hours in the skate park for just £2.50.

The minimum age requirement to go unaccompanied on the track is eight. There is a car park on site as well as a cafe and toilets.

For further details visit www.cyclopark.com

Hucking Woods at Hollingbourne

Take your children traipsing through the woods with a visit to the Woodland Trust’s gorgeous site just off Detling Hill, near Maidstone.

The woodland is full of walks, wooden sculptures to find and unrivalled views of the North Downs if you walk far enough! And as days out go, this one can be super kind on the purse strings as parking at the site is free. Just remember that this isn’t a country park, so there is no cafe or refreshments available on site, so it is advisable to pack your own drinks, snacks or picnic.

However, the nearby pub and restaurant – the Hook and Hatchet – is always a popular spot and has plenty of outdoor space for the kids.

For further details visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Crabbing at Whitstable

For the cost of a line and bucket the kids can enjoy hours of fun fishing for crabs at any number of Kent’s coastal spots. Whitstable beach is always one of the most popular spots – and a good catch is almost guaranteed.

Many of the shops in the town sell everything you need to take on the job if you’ve come unprepared and of course once you’ve bought the equipment you can reuse it again and again.

Parking is best sought at any of the council’s pay and display car parks in the town or along the seafront – alternatively leave your vehicle on neighbouring Tankerton Slopes for free and enjoy a walk along the sea front into Whitstable in search of a jetty from which to hang your crab lines.

The only other thing you need to remember is some bait – a few scraps of bacon will do – and then you’re ready to go!

Children’s cinema screenings

If you’re looking for a quiet couple of hours – and maybe a bit of a rest – settle down in front of a popular kid’s film at a Kent cinema. Both Odeon and Cineworld chains offer children’s screenings during the school holidays with their own Kids Club or Movies for Juniors events with ticket prices often between just £2 and £3 a person.

The films shown will be suitable for all the family, have normally been released within the last 12 to 18 months, and seats can be booked and paid for in advance. This summer look out for films such as Beauty and the Beast and the Smurfs: The Lost Village plus Boss Baby which is showing in a number of Odeon cinemas in the county this week.

More details at www.odeon.co.uk or www.cineworld.co.uk

The Gruffalo Trail at Jeskyns Country Park

The Forestry Commission’s fantastic interactive Gruffalo Trail can be found at Jeskyns Country Park in north Kent. Simply download the app before leaving and head out onto the trail looking for the images to scan in order to bring owl, snake, mouse, fox and the Gruffalo himself to life.

Parking at the Cobham park on Henhurst Road is currently £1.50. There is a cafe and toilets onsite.

And when you’ve finished the trail there are a number of play areas and woodland walks to explore in order to make your visit last the entire day.

For more about the trail and Jeskyn’s itself visit www.forestry.gov.uk