what to do on hols in kent?

[nicolakc]

we have booked a hol for end of aug near canterbury, i have a 6 year old and a 1 year old, i was wondering what the best things to do around this area. I have looked at howlets zoo and seen that broadstairs beach is meant to be amazing?? what else is there? any advice if u been before or live near, i would be grateful. Actually also seen a boat trip round cliffs of dover but wondering if suitable for 1 yr old?? thanks in advance x

Hi, I live in this area, can definately agree that broadstairs is lovely for the beach and quaint shops, it doesn't have loads of chains etc. Howletts is great and if you were thinking about coming back within the year the ticket you get is valid all year (and at the Port Lympne park near Folkestone too). Wingham bird park is lovely too.

Margate has unfortunately fallen foul of the huge westwood cross shopping development outside broadstairs and so the town is quite empty and sad looking but having said that there is a great old town with an amazing cupcake cafe and also lots of seaside shops and amusements. There is also a great crazy golf out of margate in westbrook. Talking of crazy golf the one in broadstairs is pretty good too and great value.

We have a new art gallery - the turner contemporary which is free to browse and worth having a look.

Canterbury is a lovely historical city, the museums have lots of free events for children to do and the cathedral is lovely too. Lots of shops and cafes etc in canterbury.

Leeds castle is close by an very pretty and dover castle is good too with some great caves etc to explore. There is an old town jail in dover too which is a cheap way to waste an hour. I don't know about the boat trips unfortunately. They are advertising something on the radio at the moment for leeds castle where you can picnic/explore in the day and then there is a film on a big screen in the evening that you can watch, can't remember what it is called though, sorry!

Deal is close to dover and again has a quaint town with a shingle beack with amusements and a great cafe at the end of the pier which do an amazing breakfast!

Ooops, just realised this is long, there is loads to do. If you need anything else feel free to PM me. Hope you enjoy it, it is an amazing part of the country just wish I realised it sometimes!

Go to the beach at whitstable, walk round the pretty shops and have fish n chips

Camber Sands or Broadstairs for the beach ( if not at lovely whitstable)

Rye is a lovely town for a wander round

Think sparkle has everything else covered!!

There is a park in Folkestone called Lower Leas Coastal Park which is great for a day out - it has a few different 'stations' of play equipment - pirate ship on one, large climbing frame on the next, large activity / sensory type puzzles and things. It also has the advantage of being free! www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200701/194/

We've just been in Broadstairs with admittedly older children (2 10 year olds and a 12 year old) We literally spent every day on the beach at Stone Bay, or Viking Bay might suit better with younger children. Even when it was grey and coldish we had a lovely time just being there and loads of cafes and restaurants/Tesco etc. Exciting tides coming in after lunch, low tide before lunch lots of rocks to explore and rockpools. I think the beach was enough to hold their interest, day after day, and we were there 7 days...There is also a Hornby museum near Broadstairs, on the way to Margate.

Leeds castle and hever castle are good.

Canterbury is a lovely town

Numerous beaches - broad stairs, joss bay , Margate

Dymchurch - beach and steam railway

Howett zoo

Ashford outlet shopping centre

Bewl water

Bedgebury - good for cycling

Rare breeds near Ashford is one of our favourite haunts and we also like Farming World near Faversham. Lower Leas Coastal Park is fab as are Folkestone's two sandy beaches. Faversham also has an outdoor swimming pool and is generally a lovely place...

Ah, thanks for the lower leas link martis, i think we are to go there soon!!

Broadstairs, fab beach, just a lovely lovely town. If the weather is pants, head up to rochester, we went there last week, there is a castle, and a museum which is free and really great (kids will like this, they have a "boat" for them to walk around). Good shops, riverside walk.

Whitstable - just lovely, some great crabbing to be had off the jetty, stoney beach (much better than sand if you ask me)! The harbour has a market at the weekend, a bit expenevie and pretentious, but nice to stroll around.

Herne bay is good if you like amusements and cheap and cheerful type places.

Margate - i love margate, yes, its a bit run down but the old town is good, it has a great beach, give it a chance.

Howletts and Port lympe are EXPENSIVE, as they charge £20 each because its a yearly ticket, so only really any good if you want to visit more than once. They are good zoos and their apes and gorrilas are enchanting.

Canterbury itself is a great CITY and definately worth a visit, not that much for the kids really, there is a rupert bear museum and canterbury tales museum (my DD too scared to go in though).

Wingham Wildlife Park is fab

Tides swimming pool in Deal if its raining, if its sunny then deal has a lovely outdoor paddling pool on the sea front. If you are lucky the on some Sunday afternoons there is a band playing on the green (the strand).

Whitstable is worth a wander, and at that time Faversham has its Annual Hop Festival which is lots of music and morris dancers and can be reached via train.
Leeds Castle is good but again expensive.
The Marlowe and the Gulbenkian theatre have things on that are child suitable too which can be fun if the weather is pants.
And you need to visit Nickel's shop in Sittingbourne..........she often has people reading in her shop.
You could go to Bluewater?
Maidstone has a canal boat that goes up and down and is very sweet.
Romney Hythe and Dymchurch is a definite, my kids love it.
Also you could go to wildwood
Minnis Bay
Brogdale Farm
Grove Ferry River Trip
Wingham Wildlife Park

Hope that gives you some ideas

Thanks everyone, you have def helped me :-), loads to do wish we were going for 2 weeks!! Leaving for sunny (hopefully) kent tomorrow. We all love the look of howletts, wildwood,dover castle,broadstairs and witstable. And will see what we fancy doing for the couple days left. Thanks for heads up on indoor pool in deal, we are staying very close to there so good to know for rainy day.

I live in Deal and its fab, the weather has been glorious, lots to do around here as already said. Not mentioned is Sandwich, sweet little boat trip to see the seals from the Quay! Enjoy :)