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Holidays

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

Holiday in Kent. Howletts OR Port Lympne OR both...???! Plus other suggestions please

42 replies

misspollysdolly · 27/06/2008 15:03

Going on holiday in Kent with DH, DD(8), DS1 (3) and DS2 (6months). Staying near Sittingbourne but obv will have car so can travel around easily.

Going with the intention of going to Howletts and/or Port Lympne. Is it worth going to both, or is one better then the other? Also suggestions of the best beaches/places to visit/eat, etc would be v gratefully received.

Also, what's Diggerland like?!

Many thanks.

OP posts:
Heated · 27/06/2008 15:06

I've never been that impressed with Howletts I'm afraid, the most interesting bits are reading the plaques dedicated to the keepers eaten by the animals

Anna8888 · 27/06/2008 15:13

Port Lympne is fantastic.

Never been to Howletts.

Camber Sands is best beach for children.

SixSpotBurnet · 27/06/2008 15:17

DH used to audit both and thinks Port Lympne is much better.

He took DS1 & DS2 there (not to do an audit!) last year and they had a good time.

Mercy · 27/06/2008 15:23

Agree with Anna re Camber Sands.

Has Port Lypmne improved then?

gillybean2 · 27/06/2008 16:24

Will baby be in a buggy or a carry pack or combination?

Hever Castle is great if it's a nice day. Presume you're going with two adults? Your older daughter will be fine exploring the mazes on her own, but you will probably need to have an adult with the 3 year old and they're not suitable for buggies. The wooden maze wouldn't be suitable for a baby in a carry pack either though and has a side at the end! But the water maze and traditional one would be fine as they're on one level.

The rest of the gardens are fine for a buggy and lots of room to run about and explore for the older two.

Make sure you have plenty of spare sandwiches. My son fed most of his to the fish in the ponds. Also take a towel as you can get wet if you take a wrong turn in the water maze!

Gilly

RubyRioja · 27/06/2008 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PortAndLemon · 27/06/2008 16:28

Port Lympne is bigger and there's more to see.

My niece reckons Diggerland is really for age 7-8 minimum, so your DD might like it if she's into diggers but it would probably be too old for your DS1 even if he is.

Groombridge Place is very good.

Dover Castle is good if you're over that way.

happystory · 27/06/2008 16:28

The Museum of Kent Life (or something!) sounds dull but is really good, outdoor for the most part and at weekends they often have events like sheepdog trials. Near Maidstone iirc

TheMARGOnator · 27/06/2008 16:32

Ah yes - Groombridge was lovely. DD1 still talks about the enchanted forest.

Gilly - where's the wooden maze at Hever?

Happy Story - Is that the hop farm at Paddock wood? They have lots of events for children - they had Peppa Pig over Easter (I didn't go so I don't know what it was like)

Mercy · 27/06/2008 16:35

Bedgebury Pinetum?

(I haven't been for donkey's years, but have fond memories of it)

Countingthegreyhairs · 27/06/2008 16:37

Don't eat at Port Lympe - the rest good though!

lucyellensmum · 27/06/2008 16:52

I am honestly that people don't like Howletts, i love it. The Gorrillas are enchanting and often have babies there, i could watch them for hours. It is a conservation park so if the animals don't "perform" tough titty.

IF you are staying near sittingbourne, might i suggest that you pop over to the isle of sheppy and go to leysdown. Don't get out of the car, just drive though, its quite amazing .

Wingham bird park is worth a visit, on the canterbury to margate road, its cheaper than howletts and you can be more hands on with the animals, its more of an animal park than a bird park now. Lots for the littlies to do.

WHERE is bedgebury pinetum?? sounds lovely.

It is worth a drive down to broadstairs and margate for some fantastic beaches, joss bay, viking bay, all lovely clean sandy beaches.

Its quite a drive from sittingbourne but the Romney hythe and dymchurch railway is really good. It takes you to dungeoness powerstation, which used to have a brilliant visitor centre, if you don't mind being tested for radiation levels on the way out. Fantastic beach, its like another world!

So much to do, so little time

Farming world, really good for the little ones, especially this time of year as it will be just past lambing so lots of baby sheep - might be a bit late for that. Lots of indoor and outdoor play areas for the little ones. Check first if you happen to be pregnant though.

ENJOY !!

lucyellensmum · 27/06/2008 16:56

I wouldn't go to both port lympe and howlets and with the little ones i would opt for howletts, there is as much there but its less spread out.

RubyRioja · 27/06/2008 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mercy · 27/06/2008 17:03

I love Dungeness LEM!

Bedgebury Pinetum It's in Goudhurst

happystory · 27/06/2008 17:07

Margo, no, have looked it up now, it's the Museum of Kent Life, at Sandling near Maidstone.

charliecat · 27/06/2008 17:25

I have kids for a quid vouchers for port lymphne/howletts. Dya want one?
Groombridge is as is bedgebury.
Wellington Rocks on the common in Tunbridge Wells, possibly while you go to the town centre for some shopping, leaving dad with the kids, highly recommended.

lucyellensmum · 27/06/2008 18:01

ruby there is a greater proportion of staffordshire bull terrier to people ratio than anywhere else in the country

Josephnia · 27/06/2008 18:11

The Hop Farm near Maidstone is great. Horses, animals to pet, playground, arts and crafts etc. I second Hever Castle. Chatham Dockyard is interesting and has a soft play area - if the kids like boats. I last went with my sister when our kids were 8, 5, 1 year and 4 months and had a good time. Farming World has lots of animals big and small and an indoor play area. For beaches, the ones on the North Kent coast are great and maybe nearer than Camber Sands - particularly Joss Bay between Margate and broadstairs. BStairs itself used to have donkey rides on the beach and a great seafood stall. If you go towards Camber there is the Lighthouse at Dungeness and the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway which is great fun - mind you absolutley years since I did that....Oh yeah someone mentioned Wingham Bird Park - we went lots of times when Dd was little as we lived nearby. Goats to feed and chickens to chase....

MingMingtheWonderPet · 27/06/2008 18:25

Bedgebury is great

Joss Bay lovely

Not so keen on The hop Farm myself. Lots of things seem to cost extra once you are in there.

Rare Breeds Centre is lovely

buzzcocks · 27/06/2008 18:43

Port lympne is on a very steep hill. I prefer Howletts.

buzzcocks · 27/06/2008 18:44

Port lympne is on a very steep hill. I prefer Howletts. Ashford swimming pool is really nice also. Do Not go to DEAL Pool it is rank.

RubyRioja · 27/06/2008 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Josephnia · 27/06/2008 19:20

Does that mean you're from Deal RR? That's where we used to live...I used to like the pool and me and dd went most sundays. Ot is Buzzcocks referring to the outdoor paddling pool?

Eddas · 27/06/2008 19:39

places like Leeds Castle and The Hop Farm often have events so you should check their websites for the dates you'll be around and see what's on.

Port Lympne is hilly so not so good for your 3 yo. Howletts is good but there is a lot of monkeys. Different types but lots of them when we took dd(3) she was all 'another monkey' [bored expression] bless her!

I didn't think much of farming world TBH.