GuideCastles & History, Parks & Walks
Hawkhurst’s Moor, Bedgebury Pinetum and the villages around
Hawkhurst's Moor and St Laurence's Church, Bedgebury National Pinetum, and the Goudhurst, Kilndown and Sandhurst sites linked to local history.
Things to Do in Kent
Castles to explore, beaches to stroll and museums for rainy afternoons. Find your next day out in Kent, whether you've got an hour to spare or the whole weekend.
Guides
GuideCastles & History, Museums & Galleries
Cranbrook: St Dunstan’s, Union Mill, the museum and Sissinghurst
St Dunstan's Church, Union Mill and Cranbrook Museum in Cranbrook, plus Sissinghurst Castle Garden: what each offers and what to check first.
GuideFamily Days Out, Parks & Walks
Hythe, Lydd and New Romney: the canal, Port Lympne, Dungeness and the miniature railway
The Royal Military Canal, Port Lympne, All Saints Lydd, RSPB Dungeness, Prospect Cottage, the Romney railway and Romney Warren, with seasons and access.
GuideBeaches & Coast, Museums & Galleries
Folkestone: the Harbour Arm, the museum, the Warren, the Lower Leas, the artworks and Hawkinge
Folkestone Harbour Arm, the museum, the Warren, the Lower Leas, the public artworks and Mermaid, and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge.
GuideCastles & History, Parks & Walks
Dover: the castle, the White Cliffs, Samphire Hoe and the Battle of Britain Memorial
Dover Castle, the White Cliffs, Dover Museum, Western Heights, Samphire Hoe, Kearsney Abbey and the Battle of Britain Memorial, with access notes.
GuideCastles & History, Parks & Walks
Deal and Sandwich: the castles, the pier, Betteshanger, Richborough and the town museum
Deal Castle, Walmer Castle's gardens, Deal Pier, Betteshanger, Richborough Roman Fort, Sandwich Guildhall Museum and the Quay and Fisher Gate.
GuideFamily Days Out, Parks & Walks
Ashford and Tenterden: heathland, woods, nature reserves and the steam railway
Hothfield Heathlands, Conningbrook Lakes, King's Wood, Wye and Ham Street Woods reserves, plus Tenterden's steam railway, St Mildred's and Kiln Field.
GuideBeaches & Coast, Castles & History
Whitstable and Herne Bay: the castle, museums, harbour, pier, Reculver and the Oyster Bay Trail
Whitstable Castle, the museum, Horsebridge and harbour, then Herne Bay Pier, the Seaside Museum, Reculver and the Oyster Bay Trail.
GuideCastles & History, Museums & Galleries
Ramsgate: the Royal Harbour, the tunnels, Pugin’s church and the Manston museums
Ramsgate Royal Harbour, the tunnels, Pugin's church, Ellington Park, Pegwell Bay and the Manston museums, with the days each is open.
GuideFamily Days Out, Museums & Galleries
Margate: the gallery, the Shell Grotto, the caves, the harbour and Quex
Turner Contemporary, Dreamland, the Shell Grotto, Margate Caves, the Crab Museum, the Harbour Arm, Walpole Bay and Quex, with winter days.
Places to visit
Town
Type
Audience
Beaches & Coast, Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Barton’s Point Coastal Park
Forty-acre coastal park in Sheerness with a salt-water lake for crabbing, an adventure playground, cycle route and the Queenborough Lines monument.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Free
Beaches & Coast
Botany Bay
Chalk-cliff bay in Broadstairs, with chalk cliffs and stacks, rock pools at low tide and a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 2026.
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast, Family Days Out
Deal Pier
Free seafront pier on Beach Street with sea fishing, a cafe at the end and accessible toilets; open late at weekends.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Free
Beaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
East Cliff and Warren Country Park
Landslip coastline east of Folkestone with lawns, a playground, coastal walks, rockpools and a nature reserve at The Warren.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast, Food & Drink
Folkestone Harbour Arm
Historic stone jetty open for promenading, with food and drink traders, a lighthouse bar and a programme of films, markets and music.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast, Castles & History
Herne Bay Clock Tower
Grade II listed seafront clock tower of 1837, next to the playground and bandstand.
Beaches & Coast, Family Days Out
Herne Bay Pier
Seafront pier with a village of craft and gift huts, food court, helter skelter and fairground horses, run by a local charity trust.
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast
Joss Bay
Sandy surfing bay in Broadstairs with Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 2026, a cafe, rockpools and seasonal lifeguards.
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast
Kingsgate Bay
Quiet sandy bay with sea caves below Kingsgate Castle, reached by steep steps, dog-friendly all year but with no lifeguards or toilets.
Dog Friendly
Beaches & Coast, Family Days Out
Leysdown Beach
Shallow sandy family beach at the eastern end of Sheppey, looking out to the Red Sands Forts, in a small resort with shops and arcades.
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast, Castles & History
Margate Harbour Arm
Historic stone pier with a lighthouse, cafes, bars and galleries beside the sea, with Margate Visitor Information Centre in Droit House at its base.
Family Friendly
Beaches & Coast
Minster Leas Beach
Gently sloping sand and shingle beach on the north coast of Sheppey at Minster, with a wide promenade, outdoor gym equipment and estuary views.
Family Friendly
Sport & Fitness
Margate Yacht Club
A volunteer-run sailing club offering dinghy racing, social sails and training with RYA qualified instructors, plus a welcome for kayakers and paddleboarders. Beginners can start with RYA Level 1 and 2 weekend courses.
Gardening & Nature
Alpine Garden Society Mid Kent Group
A friendly group of alpine and rock garden enthusiasts who have met near Maidstone since 1977. Monthly afternoons alternate between illustrated talks, garden visits and a local plant show.
Running
Canterbury Harriers
A well-established running club offering speed sessions, track intervals, steady group runs and a Sunday long run in Blean Woods. Newer runners are pointed towards the Tuesday sessions to find their feet.
Looking for something on a particular date?
Markets, shows and family events are in What's On, with a date filter.