Cheap days out in Kent

Raising a family is an expensive game, particularly when it comes to needing to amuse them!

But a family outing shouldn’t need to break the bank.

Here are some suggestions for enjoying days out in the county on a budget.

Country parks

Country Parks are a great place to enjoy the great outdoors without making a great dent in your pocket.

With walking routes, places to picnic, outdoor and adventure play areas for children and in some cases cafes and restaurants for refreshments there is plenty on hand to help you enjoy an outing.

Admission is free, although some do charge a small fee for car parking.

Kent County Council own and run nine country parks in Kent.

Medway council is responsible for those which stretch across Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham.

The Forestry Commission is also responsible for the running of both Jeskyns near Cobham and Bedgebury Pinetum.

English Heritage/National Trust membership

Taking out an English Heritage or National Trust membership will give you access to a huge number of major attractions, stately homes and grounds.

Memberships involve a one-off fee to the organisation, which will then allow you to visit the properties in its care as many times as you like for the duration of your membership.

Dover Castle, Rochester Castle and Walmer Castle and Grounds are among those cared for by English Heritage while Knole Park, Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell, Ightam Mote and Scotney and Sissinghurst Castles are among those run by the National Trust.

Although the initial outlay may be more expensive than the price of a family day-out it will give you a pass to utilise as many times as you like or can, enabling you to always offer your family an outing even when money is tight.

Yearly/season tickets

Aware of the squeeze on Kent families a number of attractions in the county will give you 365 days of entry for the price of your one-day ticket.

Leeds Castle and The Historic Dockyard at Chatham are two attractions which enable you to make as many return visits as you like for the cost of the one-day entry ticket.

Meanwhile many others offer the option to buy a season ticket or membership pass, which for an additional cost on top of your one-day ticket price, will give you the option to return as many times as you like over the next 12 months.

Wingham Wildlife Park, Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks, Kent Life and Dreamland are among those currently selling yearly tickets.

Parks

Swings, slides and a climbing frame can often be all you need to keep children amused for a few hours and Kent has some excellent parks and open spaces on its patch.

While many neighbourhoods will have a local spot to spend an hour on the swings, there are some large parks in Kent with extensive play areas, water-related activities, picnic areas, cafes and restaurants which are definitely worth a few hours of your time.

Mote Park in Maidstone, Cobtree Manor Park in Aylesford, Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells and The Strand in Gillingham are among those popular with families.

Offers/vouchers

Travelling with Southeastern trains can entitle you and your family to a 2 for 1 entry deal to a large number of both Kent and London attractions.

You need to present at the attraction’s ticket desk your valid train tickets for that day, which show you have travelled by train on the day of your visit and to one of the attraction’s closest mainline stations.

You will also need to download and complete a registration form to go with your application, or in the case of London attractions, fill out a paper form available in 2FOR1 booklets at train stations.

There are hundreds of attractions and places of interest on the list.

Visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk for more.