GuideCastles & History, Parks & Walks
Sevenoaks: Knole, the wildlife reserve, Shoreham and Kemsing Down
Knole, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, Shoreham Aircraft Museum and Kemsing Down, with the winter changes to hours and opening dates.
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
GuideBeaches & Coast, Parks & Walks
Minster, Leysdown and Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey
Minster Abbey, Minster Leas and Leysdown beaches and Elmley nature reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, with dog rules, parking and opening notes.
GuideMuseums & Galleries, Parks & Walks
Maidstone’s museum, parks and days out
Maidstone Museum, Brenchley Gardens, Whatman Park, Mote Park and Cobtree, then Kent Life and Leeds Castle for a longer day out.
GuideCastles & History, Museums & Galleries
Hever Castle, Eden Valley Museum, Chartwell and Quebec House
Hever Castle and Eden Valley Museum near Edenbridge, then Chartwell and Quebec House at Westerham, with dated winter opening.
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.
GuideMuseums & Galleries
Museums and galleries in North Kent and Medway
Museums, galleries and collections across Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Dartford and Eynsford, sorted by what you want to see.
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.
GuideFood & Drink
Eating and drinking in the Medway towns
Pubs, cafes, restaurants and local food producers in Rochester, Chatham, Strood, Gillingham and Rainham: what each serves, where, and when it opens.
GuideFood & Drink
Eating and drinking in North Kent
Pubs, cafes, restaurants and a brewery taproom in Gravesend, Dartford, Northfleet and Swanley: what each serves, where, and when it opens.
GuideCastles & History, Parks & Walks
Walks and green spaces in Strood
Strood's walks and green spaces: Broomhill Park, Rede Common, the Town Centre Trail and the Knights and Kingfishers Walk from the station.
Places to visit
Town
Type
Audience
Castles & History, Parks & Walks
Great Lines Heritage Park
About 70 hectares of open grassland between Chatham and Gillingham, home to the Chatham Naval Memorial and looking out over Fort Amherst.
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park
Free Victorian park in Tunbridge Wells designed by Robert Marnock, with a lake, nature reserve woodland, play area, cafe and sports facilities.
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.
Parks & Walks
Joyden’s Wood
Woodland Trust wood of 333 acres on the Dartford and Bexley border, with two waymarked circular walks including the Faesten Dic Trail.
Castles & History
Kit’s Coty House and Little Kit’s Coty House
Free English Heritage site: remains of two Neolithic burial chambers on the slopes of Blue Bell Hill above Aylesford, about 500 metres apart.
Castles & History, Museums & Galleries
Lydd Town Museum
Free local museum in Lydd's old fire station, with a restored horse-drawn fire engine. Closed December to February.
Family Days Out, Museums & Galleries
Maidstone Museum
Free council museum in Chillington Manor with Ancient Egypt, Japanese art, natural history and the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment collection.
Family Days Out, Parks & Walks
Milton Creek Country Park
Swale Borough Council country park on a former landfill site by Milton Creek: meadows, scrub and ponds, a natural play area and a free car park.
Museums & Galleries
Nucleus Arts Centre
Community arts centre on Chatham High Street with gallery space, artist studios and workshops, free to visit.
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.
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
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.
Games & Hobbies
Margate Chess Club
Going since around 1928, this welcoming club plays in the Thanet and East Kent League and runs plenty of in-house competitions. Beginners and seasoned players alike can drop in, and the first session is free.
Arts & Crafts
Gravesend Art Group
An amateur art group for painters and sketchers of all styles from across the borough, meeting on Friday evenings to draw, paint and share ideas. Members also take part in group exhibitions and themed still life sessions.
Walking & Rambling
Ashford (Kent) Ramblers
A friendly walking group that leads countryside rambles across Kent and East Sussex most Sundays. There are also occasional shorter Saturday and evening walks for anyone who wants a gentler outing.
Looking for something on a particular date?
Markets, shows and family events are in What's On, with a date filter.