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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Days out in/near Kent please

31 replies

bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 14:15

We are going away for 4 days with three children (3,7 and 10), any ideas for days out or places to go?

Thanks

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nickelbarapasaurus · 06/08/2012 14:20

you could visit meeeee!
Grin

seriously , though, there are loads of great places - leeds castle, sissinghurst, north downs, howletts wild animal park, dover castle,
huge listee here

i like howletts :)

RedWhiteAndBlu · 06/08/2012 14:23

Howletts is brilliant, so is Port Lympne.
Nice seaside places: Broadstairs.
Castles: Dover or Walmer

What sort of things do you like doing?

bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 15:29

Been to Dover Castle which the children loved last time!

I looked at Howletts and it was a bit pricey as was Leeds Castle.

Looking for good open space/playground for sunny days and any indoor recomendations if its raining (which I am praying it doesn't as we are in a tent!).

Will definately go to the beach oneday so will have a look at Broadstairs.

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RedWhiteAndBlu · 06/08/2012 15:45

Yes, Howletts is v expensive, but the tickets last for a year.
Boradstairs is a lovely old-fashioned seaside resort with a nice beach, but it will get crowded on a sunny day. Minnis Bay is a lovely beach. Camber sands is nice - just over the border in Sussex.

IceCubes · 06/08/2012 17:07

Wingham Wildlife park is amazing- the 'King Julians' will sit on your head and you can get incredibly close to the penguins. My DH has seen them walking baby tigers on leads there too apparently! My kids love it.

Farming World is also a nice day out and has a great adventure play area and tractor rides etc.

Museum of Kent life is popular with my 7 year old, although I've not been myself!

LIZS · 06/08/2012 17:17

Battle/Pevensey, Ashdown Forest (Pooh Bridge nr Hartfield), Bedgebury, Canterbury

Pascha · 06/08/2012 17:26

Rare Breeds Centre is a lovely day out. Its not far from Tenterden where the Kent & East Sussex steam railway is. Also in Tenterden there's a nice leisure pool with flume etc and a good childrens playpark very close by.

You could try the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch light railway as well.

shattereddreams · 06/08/2012 18:17

Bedgebury pinetum is a MUST
You pay to park about £8 then the rest is free to roam. You can take own bikes or hire
Or just follow play trail - about 6 different playgrounds set throughout the pinetum.
There is a very reasonable cafe and it's great for kids.
Mine are 5 and 2 and love it.

It's def suitable for them all.

Don't bother with hop farm. It's crap.

Whereabouts in Kent?

Also love hythe dymchurch railway or the tunbridge wells groombridge steam train, but the enhanted woods isn't that great at groombridge. We just prefer a pub lunch.

Museum Kent life is ok ish but your oldest would prob be bored.

You don't need to pay to walk through Leeds castle, there are a maze of public footpaths. Look up George pub in Leeds village and just do a circular walk and pub lunch

Maidstone mote park has good playground inc sandpit. Also lake and pitch putt. Picnic tables etc and the swimming pool is right next door and excellent for children. We go swim early Sundays and then picnic in park and finish them off on playground.

bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 18:29

We are staying in Faversham.

Thanks very much for ideas, am scribbling them all down!

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bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 18:30

I did read a few reviews about Hop farm and they alone put me off shattereddreams!

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bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 18:31

Icecubes, wildlife park sounds fab.

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IceCubes · 06/08/2012 18:38

Faversham has a nice little museum for a rainy afternoon - Fleur de lis? Also the pool there is the best around.

shattereddreams · 06/08/2012 18:42

There is another zoo just past Canterbury not the howlett one and I can't think what it's called but it's much cheaper and still very good.

Canterbury itself is ok, if weather is good you can take
Boat trip up river and have lunch there. Lots of cobbles and wonky building to admire. Lack of playground through.

Pinetum is a long drive from faversham. If you don't mind the drive, and your kids are the outdoorsy type it would be worthwhile.
My fave is actually the tree tunnel opp cafe left side of lake on top of the hill.

If weather is favourable then crab fishing at minnis bay is good. And broad stairs is best beach. Nightmare to park though so go early.

bitsnbobs · 06/08/2012 19:05

Crab fishing sounds good, will get some nets. And am packing trunks incase weather is rubbish so indoor pool is a good idea.

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doinmummy · 06/08/2012 19:07

Eagle Heights near Eynsford is a fab day out.

RedWhiteAndBlu · 06/08/2012 20:06

I think you do have to pay to get into the grounds of Leeds Castle!

RedWhiteAndBlu · 06/08/2012 20:09

ah - unless you park in the village, not at the gates to the grounds, and then fnd the spot on the road, somewhere on the A20, where the public footpath starts, and then you are supposed to stick carefully to the public footpath.

Lucyellensmum99 · 06/08/2012 20:53

Whitstable, great for crab fishing, two pebble beaches, the harbour has a real buzz at the weekend and has open air cafe, craft huts and retail sheds. Some good fish resturants but stupidly expensive. The weatherspoons in whitstable is cheap and new, not rough and full of pissheads like others. There is a good playground in the castle grounds on Tower hill, but it really only any good for under 8s (free though) There is a cafe in the castle (expensive) so you will be better crossing the road to the tea gardens. The town is good, but it is PACKED at weekends so visit in the week if you go. Other good beaches are broadstairs and the bays between there and Margate. Margate is great too, the old town is fab and there is the Turner Gallery - free :) Lots of arcades and the rest of the town is pretty run down but its up and coming. Tracy Emin was rumoured to have bought one of the flats in the high rise (you can't miss it). Id make a passing through visit to margate, not plan a whole day - broadstairs is my favourite beach, it does get packed but its great and you can walk just around the bay and find deserted beaches.

Bedgebury is a loooong way from faversham (over an hours drive) but it IS great there. It also has go ape if you are mad brave, but that is EXPENSIVE. There are quite a few nice woodland walks between whitstable and canterbury., those are free, however no playgrounds! Thornden woods has woodland art and sculptures on a circular walk, free but the car park is a bit small.

Rochester is good - the guild hall museum is excellent if your kids are into boats as it is done out inside on three floors like the inside of an old boat - and its FREE to get in. Rochester castle good, you don't have to pay to walk around the grounds, not really worth paying to go in castle as its just a shell, and bloody high!

Just outside faversham is Oare Gunpowder works - its more interesting than it sounds, again, free! here definately worth a visit, would be a half day visit which you could look around faversham town the rest of the day - LOTS of pubs and id avoid the weatherspoons (RAF - rough as Fuck!) it is the home of the oldest brewery in the country, where they brew spitfire, so if you like beer......

Most of the zoos are really pricey because they sell mainly on yearly tickets. If i were to choose one, id choose Wingham Wildlife park (outside canterbury) as its not too big, can get up close to the animals and even handle the snakes and spiders, which the kids always love.

Canterbury is worth a visit, there is the cathedral but you have to pay to go in. It is a NIGHTMARE to park though and parking is stupidly expensive. There is a cinema which has cheap showings at 11am every day of the holiday (£2.50 per child adults go free) if it rains. There are a few museums in canterbury, not sure about the entry prices.

Dymchurch and new romney are great, id recommend the light railway which will take you to dungeoness, nuclear powerstation - you can visit (or at least you used to be able to) and its cool, although a bit disturbing when you have to be tested for radiation, id avoid if pregnant. Dungeoness beach is defiantely worth a visit its desolate (or at least it was) but now many of the fishermens huts have been turned into homes of some archetectural interest. Some people converted railway carriages. It is a long way from faversham though so im not sure id bother if i were only visiting for a few days - its over an hours drive.

Im sure i'll think of more places :)

CaseyShraeger · 06/08/2012 20:56

Wildwood, between Canterbury and Herne Bay - mostly native UK species on a woodland trail, plus a fantastic adventure playground.

GangstaGranny · 06/08/2012 21:08

I would follow up on 3 points already made.
Canterbury: Yes, parking is diabolical. There are 3 park and rides which cost about £2.50. Pretty good value for a days parking and bus ticket.
Farming World: 3YO will probably enjoy it. IME very tired park which may not engage 10YO
Hop Farm. Been there twice recntly, we all enjoyed it. Think you caan pay with Tesco vouchers

shattereddreams · 06/08/2012 22:41

If you fancy Leeds Cadtle then PM me
And I'll explain where to park and walk via public footpath. As a local I am aghast at their prices. We wander in all the time Grin

shattereddreams · 06/08/2012 22:42

Yes wildwood
Thats the zoo I couldn't remember the name of.

BooToYouToo · 08/08/2012 10:00

How about Diggerland. Near Rochester. Fab day out.

The 3 year old may get in free (based on height) the 7 yr old will love it and your 10 yr old will probably be tall enough to drive some of the trucks on their own.

Take plenty of layers, it is on a bank above the river so can feel cooler than elsewhere.

goingundertheradar · 08/08/2012 21:55

Digger land is great - my 5 year old was tall enough to ride most herself and even drove a jcb - 12 year old was thrilled to drive a real car. They accept tesco vouchers if you change them over (?)

Bedgbury is awesome. Tenterden not great for children tbh - Ashford outlet is FAB for shopping and has a climbing frame for children

Rare breeds is good, as is Leeds castle - Chatham dockyards is another good one but all are expensive.

I'm on the east Sussex border so don't know north Kent very well - if you come further south camber is a lovely beach and rye a pretty town for a meander.

Have a lovely trip

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