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Your friendly guide to everything Kent

Family Days Out, Parks & Walks

Central Park, Dartford

Family Friendly
Free

Dartford's town-centre park on the River Darent, with the Buccaneer Bay play park, summer water play, gardens, a cafe and visitor centre.

About Central Park, Dartford

Central Park sits beside Dartford Library and Museum, with the River Darent running through it. It is home to the Buccaneer Bay play park, with separate areas for under-fives and older children and a water play area that operates in summer. There are formal gardens, picnic benches, a wildflower meadow and orchard, and a cafe and visitor centre beside the water play area (cafe 01322 229949). The Darent Valley Path runs through the park.

The park unlocks at 6am. Locking starts at 5.45pm from November to January, with later times from February and through the summer.

Where it is

Details checked against the venue on 28 October 2026. Opening times change, so confirm before you travel.

What's on here

Eat and drink in Dartford

Farm Shops & Producers

Stanhill Farm

Based in Wilmington

Farm shop on Birchwood Road, Wilmington: farm-grown produce, click and collect, summer pick-your-own and an autumn pumpkin patch.

Verified Nov 2026

Pubs

The Horse & Groom

Based in Wilmington

Dog-friendly Shepherd Neame pub in Wilmington serving breakfast to dinner, Sunday roasts, live music, a monthly quiz and function hire.

Verified Oct 2026

Cafés

Duet Coffee

Based in Dartford

Independent coffee shop in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford, serving Lavazza coffee, sandwiches and pastries baked in store daily.

Verified Oct 2026

RestaurantsTakeaways

Peking Garden

Based in Dartford

Family-run Chinese restaurant on Spital Street, Dartford, serving Peking and Szechuan dishes to eat in, collect or have delivered.

Verified Oct 2026

Guides that mention Central Park, Dartford

GuideBeaches & Coast, Parks & Walks

Riverside walks on the Thames and the Medway

Last verified 29 Oct 2026

Riverside walks and waterfront parks on the Thames from Dartford to Cliffe and on the Medway from Rochester to Rainham.

GuideFamily Days Out, Parks & Walks

Parks, woods and walks around Dartford

Last verified 29 Oct 2026

Dartford's parks and walks by what you want to do: Central Park, the Darent Valley Path, Darenth, the Heath and Joyden's Wood, plus the museum for rain.

More things to do in Dartford

Museums & Galleries

Sir Peter Blake Gallery

Dartford

Exhibition space in Dartford's library building showing emerging and established artists and exhibitions of local interest.

Free

Parks & Walks

Darent Valley Path

Dartford

19-mile waymarked walk following the River Darent from the Thames at Dartford, through Central Park and the Kent Downs to Sevenoaks.

Free

Castles & History, Museums & Galleries

Dartford Borough Museum

Dartford

Free council museum in the Carnegie library building by Central Park, telling Dartford's story from the Stone Age to Kerr's draper's shop.

Family Friendly
Free

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