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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Kent - where to stay, what to do

32 replies

Todayissunny · 27/02/2023 18:58

We are travelling Calais to Dover in July and planning to stay a few days in Kent.
We are me, DH, DSs (16,16 18). Where would be a good place to base ourselves? What are the best things to do (culture, nature, history, anything adrenaline/fun for the DSs)?
Thank you.

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 27/02/2023 19:26

One good option would be in or around Sittingbourne. It’s just off the A2 which will take you straight down to Dover, and it’s also between Leed’s Castle (a great day out with Go Ape, maze etc…), Chatham Historic Dockyard and Whitstable (nice big beach and a great town for ice cream and fish and chips!).

Ladyofthelake53 · 27/02/2023 19:29

Dover, Kearsney Abbey, Dover castle and Deal is close by which is a nice seaside town

Ladyofthelake53 · 27/02/2023 19:29

Theres a nice walk along the cliffs at Dover too

Ladyofthelake53 · 27/02/2023 19:31

Also Walmer castle not far from Deal and i forgot Deal Castle also

FrownedUpon · 27/02/2023 19:31

Leeds Castle, Hever Castle. Canterbury is good for the day. Ashford outlet for shopping. Deal, Broadstairs, Margate & Folkestone for seaside. Folkestone has lots of food & drink stalls down by the harbour with seating. Bewl Lake-you can hire bikes. Chatham Dockyard is interesting & has a submarine you can explore.

MindatWork · 27/02/2023 19:33

Canterbury would be good - lots to see and do in the city (annd great restaurant/ cosmopolitan vibe) and you’re only a short drive from Whitstable.

It’s in the edge of the Kent Downs so lots of lovely walks

Doyouthinktheyknow · 27/02/2023 19:44

The Kent coast is lovely. Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate and around to Whitstable. All lovely places for a wander. I love the walk from Margate to Ramsgate along the coastal path.

Margate has the amazing but weird shell grotto which is worth a visit.

Original poster
Todayissunny · 27/02/2023 20:14

Loads of great tips. Thank you.

OP posts:
custardbear · 27/02/2023 20:23

I was going to say Biggin Hill air show but I can't see it being advertised, there is a Battle of Britain air show if that's your kind of thing (not been myself) 1st July weekend, it's in Headcorn.

Sharpbridge · 27/02/2023 22:11

I would definitely make sure you see Leeds Castle, fab history and the teens can do go-ape and segway there. And definitely also do Chatham Dockyards with its toboggan run, maybe also the ski slope and go in its submarine. But don’t base yourself in Chatham cos it’s not a pretty town at all. Rochester or Canterbury would be better.

Keep an eye on Lullingstone Farm near Sevenoaks, as you might be here in Lavender season and their lavender fields are stunning.

Hever Castle is fab with fascinating history but nowhere near as impressive as Leeds.

StillSmallVoice · 27/02/2023 22:35

If you are in Canterbury a punt on the river is great. Canterbury punting company is the best of the three. The Cathedral, obvs.

Dover Castle is more than just the castle. There's a whole lot of World War Two tunnel stuff going on which I think is genuinely interesting.

Food at Dover Castle is expensive and grim. If you have a car head towards Deal and stop at an Indian restaurant called Namaste which is in an unassuming hotel for people getting ferries in the morning. The decor is downmarket wedding reception venue, and every time we have been at lunch we have pretty much had the place to ourselves. I gather it's lively in the evening. The food is terrific. They do dhosa, really well.

Deal, Broadstairs, Sandwich and Margate have a lot to see. If you like art the Turner Contemporary routinely puts on outstanding shows. You can also pretend to be a Viking in Margate and go axe throwing. (In truth, it looks a bit like darts, but with axes.). Also mentioned upthread the shell grotto. Just. Hard to describe.

In the other direction Folkestone also has a lot going for it.

East Kent is quite a deprived part of the UK, but is really interesting in a lot of ways. I'm sure others will pile in with all the things I've missed.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 27/02/2023 23:34

Are you in English Heritage? Diver castle is wonderful. Lots of other EH properties nearby too. Deal castle has a good tunnel.
As mentioned before, the Shell Grotto in Margate is great. I went there regularly as a child and love it now. It's not very big but worth a look. Margate caves are good too. Dreamland? The scenic railway is fab. Margate worth a day... And of course a great beach!

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 27/02/2023 23:35

Dover castle not Diver!

PoppityBoo · 27/02/2023 23:42

We have just come back from 5 days staying near Canterbury. Did a day at Canterbury and Whitstable, a day at Dover castle and then a day at Deal castle and Walmer castle. If castles are your thing then might be a good idea to join the English heritage as visiting all the three mentioned would cost more than just paying for a years membership.

IneedanewTV · 27/02/2023 23:45

St. Andrews lake - paddle boarding, canoes and they now have new lodges on the lake.to stay.

I work in sittingbourne I wouldn’t stay there.

bluewater - hangloose, cinemas, restaurants, gravity, crazy golf.

Dungeness is weird but kids love it and great pub;
Hythe - rowing, on the canal;
Margate - Turner gallery, escape rooms, caves, Dreamland
Folkestone is great now - crazy golf on the beach, lots of fun places to eat;

so many wonderful places in Kent now.

bellabelly · 28/02/2023 00:01

If you're visiting West Kent, Bedgebury Pinetum link is well worth a visit - lovely walks / bike hire and there's also Go Ape for the kids.

National Trust places near here include Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens, Scotney Castle, Batemans (Rudyard Kipling's home).
Dover Castle is FABULOUS - definitely go there!
Canterbury is beautiful.

sleepingdragon · 28/02/2023 00:02

I would stay near Folkestone- it has F51, an indoor skatepark and climbing centre, and also a high ropes assault course (like a go ape) at Folkestone Leisure Centre for fun activities, plus a huge cultural scene, lots of quirky shops, nice places to eat, the Harbour Arm and an arts trail around the town.

There is a spectacular walk along the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover. As others have said, Dungeness is an interesting place to visit, and Dover Castle too.

Original poster
Todayissunny · 28/02/2023 18:10

Thanks.
We are thinking about getting the tunnel, so folkestone could be a good place to stay.
Are there beaches to swim around folkestone?

OP posts:
TaRaDeBumDeAy · 28/02/2023 18:20

Visit sandwich, it has a private beach and a lovely little town? Village?

Also, go to the corner house in Minster or Canterbury.

There's a hornby trains place and a spitfire museum you can visit in Margate.

Give dreamland a miss, its overpriced shite.

Original poster
Todayissunny · 28/02/2023 18:21

Reading through this I'm quite excited now. We don't live in the UK and I was feeling a bit down about summer holiday in the UK (DMs 80th birthday). Its always been wet and cold when we've been over and we've done home (Norfolk) to death. We always pass through Kent. I'd forgotten that there is so much history there.

If anyone can recommend a simple hotel or airbnb I would love to know.

OP posts:
Original poster
Todayissunny · 28/02/2023 18:22

The DSs would love the spitfire museum.

OP posts:
ApplePippa · 28/02/2023 18:43

The spitfire museum is tiny - more of a place to drop in to for an hour rather than a day out kind of a place.

mumonthehill · 28/02/2023 19:03

Penshurst place, Hever Castle, Chartwell and Chiddingstone to vist the Chiding stone, has a good pub too and is a national trust village.

springlike · 28/02/2023 19:14

The Spitfire museum is cool and run by lovely volunteers. You can book to fly a simulator. Lots of interesting things to see. Could go there and also cover Margate or Broadstairs for lunch / beach afternoon. Lots of other beautiful quieter beaches too that would be worth a visit.

MindatWork · 01/03/2023 20:10

If you stay in Canterbury you could stay in Canterbury cathedral Lodge hotel which is actually inside the walls of the cathedral. They have a self contained 2-bed flat for around £250 a night, I stayed in it a few years ago and would recommend www.canterburycathedrallodge.org/

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