Anywhere good near M25 Kent?

[costagirl]

Am always looking for somewhere to meet not too far off M25 in Kent, as it's half way between us and lots of family. Anywhere good to take kids? A fab castle or park would be great - Leeds castle a bit too far over. Anywhere with room to run around/picnic area/cafe. Have done Old Macdonald at Brentwood several times, but a bit pricey. Any ideas?

Hever Castle, Penshurst Place, Groombridge Place, Knowle House and Park, Lingfield Race course have family days, Godstone Farm.

Chislehurst Caves

I immediately thought of Groombridge Place too.

Penshurst Place was fantastic. Amazing adventure play park, fabulous gardens to explore, ok cafe with nice food, house to look about if it rains that was the perfect size / length of time to keep my dd's (5&3) occupied, and toy museum. If I lived closer I would get a season ticket!

Stour Valley Arts (Kings Wood, Challock). Not that near, but an excellent installation on at the moment [vested interest emoticon]. Lovely for a picnic on a nice day.

Hever Castle is fab in the summer - it has a water maze... and assorted events on the weekends.

I really enjoyed Penshurst Place with the kids too. They had a great time in the adventure playground.

Godstone Farm also fab.

Am now trting to think of some other places...

Bedgebury pinetum is just as close to M25 as Penshurst/groom.

Alto nr Leeds Castle The Museum of Kent life is interesting.

Eagle Heights in Eynsford

The not-so-new-now play area at Penshurst is terrific isn't it
It's not NT though so that might dent your budget a bit
Agree that Groombridge is also one of the nicest destinations in the Weald
Depending on the age of your children, there are also some nice waymarked walks around the pretty village of Ide Hill

And if you are doing Eynsford you cannot beat faffing around in the Darenth with a fishing net for sticklebacks - then a stroll to the Roman Villa (maybe that's still closed at the mo)
The M25 came VERY close to running right through the Darenth Valley we had friends in Shoreham at the time so my parents were involved in the campaign to get it rerouted
And along with Bedgebury there are walks round nearby Bewl Water, which is full for a change

Wellington Rocks in the middle of Tunbridge Wells on the common is a lovely place to go for a picnic. Or you could walk to the pantiles for lunch (about 15 mins)
[[http://www.friendsofthecommons.org.uk here is a map, you can park for free if you go up fir tree road, opposite the cricket ground, you will see the rocks from thereIts about 10 mins away from groombridge.

oops

Ooh ooh Lullingstone

It has a Roman villa just been re something or othered so it's fab

And a Tudorish castle

And the world garden set up by this bloke

Fab day out