Cafés
Duet Coffee
Independent coffee shop in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford, serving Lavazza coffee, sandwiches and pastries baked in store daily.
Verified Oct 2026
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
What's on here
Eat and drink in Dartford
Restaurants
Unico’s Mediterranean Restaurant
Independent Mediterranean restaurant on Dartford High Street: steaks, seafood, pasta, cocktails and a Sunday roast.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Stanhill Farm
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
Dog-friendly Shepherd Neame pub in Wilmington serving breakfast to dinner, Sunday roasts, live music, a monthly quiz and function hire.
Verified Oct 2026
Guides that mention Central Park, Dartford
GuideFamily Days Out
Family days out in North Kent and Medway: outdoor days and rainy days
Family days out across North Kent and Medway, split into outdoor days in parks and woods and rainy days at museums.
GuideBeaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
Riverside walks on the Thames and the Medway
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
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
Exhibition space in Dartford's library building showing emerging and established artists and exhibitions of local interest.
Free
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Darenth Country Park
Millennium country park above the Darent Valley with chalk grassland, an orchard of 150 fruit varieties, a Saxon burial site and a play area.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Free
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Hesketh Park
Dartford park best known for cricket, with tennis courts, a playground, formal flowerbeds, a wildflower meadow and orchard, and a dog activity area.
Family Friendly
Free