rainy day kids in kent

[Derbybound2022]

We are visiting Kent and are looking for any fun rainy day activities for our 4yo and 6yo now that the weather is so wet!Please can anyone recommend anywhere special - any fun museums or indoor attractions. I don't think they are interested in the cathedral.

Hever Castle. Most of the good stuff is in the grounds, but you can do the castle first if you like... Pack towels and dry clothes in the car, the kids will fall into the water at the water maze anyway and they'll be fine running around afterwards (adamantly refusing to get dry if mine are any example). Clogs instead of trainers.

If you're going to be wet, you may as well have fun doing it!

Same for kayaking on the Medway. Embrace it!

Canterbury gymnastics centre. They usually have two sessions per day.

Faversham little rascals role play centre.

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch light railway

There's a big model railway to play with upstairs above the cafe on New Romney Station and the train ride is quite fun too.

There are some amazing beaches to go fossil or sea glass hunting in Kent. Obviously you would need to be prepared to get a bit wet and watch the tide times, we have been a few times over the last month and been there for hours then finished up with a cafe trip before getting back in the car

Hop Farm https://thehopfarm.co.uk/visit/attractions/indoor-activities

Which area of Kent? The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway is fun. Port Lymne Animal Park is ok in the rain. Or there's the Kent and East Sussex Railway from Tenterden to Bodiam Castle. Dover Castle is interesting and Walmer Castle is great, both English Heritage.

Also when are you coming to Kent? The weather is looking good from midweek next week!

we are here now and staying in canterbury

Buy some plastic ponchos and go to WildWood Trust in Wealden Forest just outside Herne Bay. It’s great and there’s a good playground too. Weathers looking ok from Sunday onwards.

Wellies on and go to Wildwood / Wingham.
Tides swimming pool in Deal.
There are some good bits on at Bluewater at the moment - some massive Haribo sponsored ball pit and a scientist activity thing. Plus the trampoline park and huge soft play.
Flip Out in Ashford
Thanet- Clip and Climb or Elevate or mini golf in Margate arcades.

I'm not sure when you're here till but next week looks okay.

I think the cathedral usually has some kids activities on during the holidays (become an archaeologist/stone mason/stained glass window designer, whatever)

If the dc need to burn off some energy then https://www.u1rcanterbury.com/ is the best soft play (its just outside of canterbury in chartham). Or if they are partial to enormously giant bouncy castle https://canterbury.inflatenplay.co.uk/ then is amazing at getting them tired out.

https://www.chimeraclimbing.com/ is awesome climbing wall place (they often have groupon offers on)

The beany museum and library (on the high street) often have holiday activities on, like treasure hunt worksheets or lego clubs.

My favourite place when the dc were that age was Wingham wildlife park, its a zoo but has dinosaurs and indoor soft play https://winghamwildlifepark.co.uk/ so good for a day with sunshine and showers.

I think dover castle have their special pirate weekend on (although id go on the Sunday as weather wet and windy tomorrow).

can anyone recommend a smaller soft play ? I can't stand the bigger ones, especially on a rainy day!

Amusement arcade in Broadstairs followed by an ice cream in Morellis Ice Cream Parlour.

A bit of time on the sandy beach if you get a long enough window of dry.

The Jungle @ Quex Park Birchington. In fact go there for everything. The indoor and outdoor play, visit the Powell-Cotton Museum, do the crazy golf and go to the Quex Barn farm shop and Felicity’s cafe. Maybe walk an Alpaca too - there’s loads at Quex Park, you may need to book some of it in advance.

I would head down to Folkestone- it's not too far by car or train ( if they're running) and head to the Lower Leas Coastal Park. There's an adventure playground there and there's also the beach further up and Hythe is also nice just along the coast.

One in Margate brewers pub is small and cheap. You can have food and a drink too whilst they play!