Things to do in Kent

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I’ve booked a last minute 3 night break in Kent for next week.
I’m going with a friend and our 4 kids. The kids age from 8 to 15.

What are the must see/do in that part of the country? We are looking into Dover Castle but other than that what are your suggestions?

Where abouts are you staying? Kent is quite big.

Will you have a car or rely on public transport?
Where will you be based?

Depends where you are staying, but here are some ideas:
Shopping - Bluewater (restaurants & cinema, has outside spaces and activities)
Margate - For Dreamland/art/Beach, Shell Grotto & caves
Leeds Castle (just outside Maidstone)
Dover Castle

They are some of our favourites

Port Lympne and Howletts zoos are both good

A day in cheerful Broadstairs, ice cream in Morellis ice cream parlour, a cliff top walk to Ramsgate? 5 miles round trip. (Take scooters for the 8 year old)

We will be based in Headcorn. We will have our own transport and don’t mind travelling

Thank you for those. Margate sounds great. Like the idea of shell grottos and caves.

Sorry that should of been a reply to @MumVUnicorns

Cliff top walk sounds perfect. Fingers crossed for dry weather

There is a fantastic cliff top walk from Kingsdown near Deal to St Margaret’s Bay, quite spectacular and more wild than Broadstairs to Ramsgate. Then pop into Deal for Fish and Chips. Walmer Castle between Kingsdown and Deal is also excellent.

The Kent and East Sussex steam railway is at Tenterden, not too far from Headcorn. You can get the train to Bodiam where there is a castle owned by the National Trust and there is a nice river walk. Tenterden is a nice little town with independent shops and cafes.

There is also the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway (also steam) It runs from Hythe to Dungeness but a good trip is from New Romney to Dungeness where you can climb up the old lighthouse

The clifftop walk to the lighthouse near Dover is also fantastic.

I second Port Lympnenand Howletts, we have had annual memberships for years. Howletts involves far fewer steep hills to walk up, If that is a concern.

Canterbury is great - I really enjoyed punting on the river even as a non-tourist.

Folkestone has a revitalised harbour are with many food stalls, craft stalls and general hipsterness. (Although many stalls are only open on weekends). There are beach bars and many arty shops along the old high street. We go regularly.

For shopping (and any miserable wet days) the McArthur Glen outlet is good.

If you're in Headcorn it would be a shame to miss Leeds Castle, just up the road and a lovely day out with a lot of activities!

Ashford Outlet also good for shopping, and Folkestone v nice for poking around the market on the pier, quicker to get to than Thanet (Margate, Broadstairs etc)

Wildwood Trust (just outside Herne Bay) is fantastic
Wingham Wildlife Park
Hever Castle
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Quex Park just outside Birchington - loads of different thing to see and do here (may need to book as it’s half term) and if you’re still in the area on Saturday 4th they have a fabulous fireworks display.

Oh yes! Definitely Howletts or Canterbury!
There is the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury so maybe worth seeing if there is a show or something on?

Canterbury Museum Cathedral and ducking stool!

Oh yes, Leeds castle is fab. Large grounds though, so probably a whole day/most of the day. Great adventure playground for that age range. There is also a Go Ape outside the main grounds.

Another vote for Leeds Castle
Also Bedgebury is nice ( although may be in to East Sussex) but not far from Headcorn.

There is a go ape at Leeds castle and bedgebury (bit further out).
Is it howletts which tells you about all the keepers that have died there? Adds a slight danger feeling to the day.
There is another wildlife park at wingham too.

If you like history then Canterbury would be great - I’d visit:
Canterbury Cathedral
St Augustine’s
St Martin’s Church
Eastbridge Hospital
Franciscan Gardens
Roman Museum
and definitely a punt on the river.

Btw if you do go to Port Lympne definitely book the ticket with the Truck Safari included - there’s a lot of walking

Whitstable
Herne Bay
Broadstairs
It's East Sussex not Kent but Rye and Camber Sands are lovely

Rochester (Castle and High Street)
Chatham Historic Dockyard (visit the submarine and rope making demo)
Dover Castle (wartime tunnels and King's Hall)
Canterbury (cathedral and a punt on the river, crooked house)
Faversham (oldest brewery but quite boring for kids)
Whitstable (cafes, art galleries, artisan shops, beach)
Port Lympne (greatl out for all ages)

Thank you all 😊I will look through these properly tonight after work.

Whitstable
Margate
Canterbury
Faversham