Family days out in Kent
Get up close and personal with primates, wander through a wartime cottage, clamber aboard a submarine – Kent has a wide and varied list of attractions waiting for your visit.
Here are some of the My Kent Family favourites:
Described as ‘Kent’s fastest growing zoo’ the wildlife park near Canterbury also boasts play areas, places to picnic and hands-on encounters.
From big cats and penguins to reptiles and primates there is more than enough for an action packed day out.
Leeds Castle
A spectacular castle steeped in history, 500 acres of parkland just waiting to be explored and adventure play areas fit for every size of prince and princess.
Leeds Castle is a top choice for many families and with an admission ticket that allows you to visit as many times as you like during the year, it is easy to see why it really is ‘the loveliest castle in the world’.
Rare Breeds Centre
They say there’s so much to do you’ll need more than a day and with animals, tractor rides, pig races, soft play, woodland walks and falconry displays to name just a few you will certainly be cramming a lot into your visit.
The 100 acre farm in Woodchurch near Ashford was founded by The Canterbury Oast Trust, which provides homes and life skills on the farm and in other locations to people with learning disabilities and money raised by the centre helps the charity continue this work.
Kent Life
There are animals to cuddle, tractors to ride, play areas to run about in and a fascinating selection of historic buildings to explore.
And when you’ve finished all that there is a traditional Kentish tea room to relax in!
Kent Life provides a great day out in its 28 acre site, which gives everyone a guide to life in the county through the decades and what it meant to be a farmer, hop picker or blacksmith in Kent.
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Clamber over lifeboats, a warship and submarine, wander through historic buildings and museum galleries, inspect a collection of locomotives, visit the ropery and recharge with a picnic while younger members of your group visit the play area.
The dockyard is packed full of things to do that stretch far beyond Medway’s naval history.
Tickets are valid for 12 months giving you access to the site, all galleries and its programme of temporary exhibitions for a whole year.
Dover Castle
Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle from the Romans to the Cold War.
View medieval interiors, climb the Great Tower, understand the importance of the secret Wartime Tunnels and immerse yourself in the sounds and smells of an authentic underground hospital.
An action packed day out can be found within these castle’s walls.
Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks
The world renowned conservation charity, The Aspinall Foundations, runs two parks in Kent and both are extremely popular with Kent families.
Ninety acres of adventure can be found at Howletts in Bekesbourne near Canterbury while a vast animal reserve at Port Lympne aims to give visitors a unique African safari experience.
Both day and yearly tickets are available for the two sites.
Wildwood
Ancient woodland in Herne Common is taking care of more than 200 animals native to Britain.
The unique wildlife park is home creatures such as wolves, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, badgers, beavers and wild horses.
There is also an adventure playground, a ‘cute corner’ designed for pre-school children, picnic areas and restaurant.
Diggerland
A totally unique adventure park, Diggerland is where both the young and young at heart can get behind the controls of diggers and many other vehicles and types of machinery.
Visitors can ride, drive and operate the earth-movers without the need to even step foot on a building site.
Height restrictions do apply for many attractions inside the park, which should be checked in advance to avoid any disappointment.
Eagle Heights
One of the UK’s largest Bird of Prey Centres, Eagle Heights is home to around 100 raptors many of which can be seen in daily flying demonstrations.
The north Kent attraction also has a growing wildlife sanctuary with huskies, meerkats, lizards and snakes among those it also cares for.
Special animal encounter days also run during some months of the year. Check the website for further details.
Dickens World
Dickens World The Grand Tour is a 90 minute interactive guided tour experience that takes visitors back in time to Victorian/Dickensian England.
Experience the atmospheric sights and smells of the country’s streets and courtyards during that time and learn more about both the characters that roamed them and the author himself Charles Dickens.
Groombridge Place
Discover the beautiful award-winning gardens and the forest with its giant swings, wooden bridges, maze and zip wires. There are also deer, birds of prey and peacocks and a canal boat which can take you to and from the forest.
With plenty to explore and enjoy, a beautiful day awaits you.www.groombridgeplace.com
Hop Farm Family Park
The Paddock Wood park is packed full with fantastic new features, attractions and exhibitions to entertain the kids and fuel their imagination.
Big on fun for families and with plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions you can all enjoy your day out whatever the weather.
For more attraction details click here.
