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
Parks & Walks
Ashenbank Wood
Woodland Trust ancient wood near Cobham with a waymarked circular trail, spring flowers and links to the Darnley Trail.
Dog Friendly
Free
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
Parks & Walks
Beacon Wood Country Park
Woodland country park at Bean with trails around old clay pits, a wetland viewing platform and picnic area. Car park opens 8.30am daily.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Forestry England pinetum and forest near Goudhurst with conifer collection, walking, cycling and running trails, Go Ape, a cafe and bike hire.
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Parks & Walks
Berengrave Local Nature Reserve
Former chalk pit in Rainham turned nature reserve, with woodland, a pond and waymarked paths. Lower paths can flood.
Family Days Out, Museums & Galleries, Parks & Walks
Betteshanger Country Park
Former colliery site turned country park with cycle tracks, mountain bike trails, a play area, cafe and the Kent Mining Museum.
Family Friendly
Free
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Bewl Water
Large reservoir on the Kent and Sussex border with a round-reservoir walking and cycling route, a cafe, soft play and watersports.
Family Friendly
Parks & Walks
Brenchley Gardens
Town centre gardens behind Maidstone Museum with a Victorian bandstand, the Cenotaph war memorial and the Royal Engineers statue.
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Brogdale Collections
Charity-run orchards holding the National Fruit Collection, with year-round self-guided orchard walks on an Orchard Pass, a cafe and a farm shop.
Family Friendly
Parks & Walks
Broomhill Park
Green Flag hilltop park in Strood with woodland, wildflower areas, sculptures, a play area and wide views over the Medway. Open every day.
Family Friendly
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Calverley Grounds
Formal 1830s town-centre park in Tunbridge Wells with Italianate gardens, cafes, free tennis courts and an all-abilities adventure playground.
Family Friendly
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Camer Park
45 acres of parkland in the Kent Downs at Meopham, with mature trees, woodland walks, a play area, cafe, toilets and parking.
Dog Friendly
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.