Castles & History, Parks & Walks
Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park
Free woodland country park on the site of a former gunpowder factory, with surfaced paths, a visitor centre and wetland wildlife.
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
Places to visit
Town
Type
Audience
Beaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
Oare Marshes
Kent Wildlife Trust grazing marsh reserve with bird hides and level paths, open at all times; charged car park.
Museums & Galleries
Old Brook Pumping Station
Historic pumping station in Chatham run by the Medway Industrial Archaeology Group, with its engines on show. Free, first Saturdays.
Beaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
Oyster Bay Trail
Flat 8.1 mile coastal route for walkers and cyclists between Whitstable and Reculver along the Herne Bay promenade, mostly traffic-free.
Castles & History, Museums & Galleries
Paddle Steamer Medway Queen
The 1924 Dunkirk Little Ship at Gillingham Pier: a visitor centre and guided tours on board on Saturdays. Under 16s free with an adult.
Beaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
Pegwell Bay Country Park
Free-to-enter country park on Pegwell Bay with a circular sea wall path, bird hide, play area and cafe, and the way into the nature reserve.
Family Days Out
Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, Lympne
Wild animal reserve in 600 acres near Hythe with a truck safari, Dinosaur Valley, gardens and cafes. Adult day tickets £32.73 to £40.
Castles & History, Museums & Galleries
Powell-Cotton Museum and Quex House
Natural history museum, Regency house and gardens at Quex Park, Birchington. One ticket covers all three. Check winter opening before you go.
Castles & History, Museums & Galleries
Prospect Cottage (Derek Jarman’s cottage), Dungeness
Derek Jarman's cottage and garden at Dungeness. Cottage visits by timed ticket on set dates (£22); the garden can be visited without a ticket.
Castles & History, Museums & Galleries
Quebec House
National Trust house in Westerham, childhood home of General James Wolfe. Check the National Trust page for winter and Christmas opening.
Beaches & Coast
Queenborough Harbour
Harbour on the North Kent shore where the Thames, Medway and Swale meet, run by Queenborough Harbour Trust, with an all-tide landing used by boat trips.
Parks & Walks
Queendown Warren
Kent Wildlife Trust chalk grassland and woodland reserve near Hartlip, known for orchids, with cattle, sheep and ponies grazing year round.
Books & Writing
Rochester Library Book Club
A relaxed monthly reading group at Rochester Library, run by Medway Libraries for adults who enjoy talking about books. It is an easy way to discover new titles and meet fellow readers over a morning chat.
Running
Maidstone Harriers Run & Tri Club
A busy run and triathlon club offering structured sessions through the week, from track nights to swim coaching and spin classes. Sessions cater for all abilities, and the club runs 0 to 5K courses for new runners.
Arts & Crafts
Rochester and West Kent Art Society
A friendly art society, almost a century old, for local painters and art lovers, with monthly evening meetings and member exhibitions. All are welcome to come along, whether you paint yourself or just enjoy seeing what others create.
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Markets, shows and family events are in What's On, with a date filter.