Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Goudhurst

The National Pinetum is home to a world leading collection of conifers and is a centre for International conservation. It also provides a beautiful setting for peaceful walks and picnics. Bedgebury Forest features an adventure play trail, Go Ape, and miles of trails for family cycling, mountain-biking, walking, and running. The café at the Visitor Centre café enjoys panoramic views across the Pinetum.

Bewl Water, Lamberhurst

Bewl Water, near Hawkhurst, offers a multitude of things to do. There are walks and cycle rides, fishing, watersports and many family-friendly activities, plus a range of great events throughout the year.

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells is a busy town with some lovely buildings, including the Pantiles, which is a Georgian colonnade filled with shops and restaurants. There are three theatres and a music venue, as well as several lovely parks. The town exists thanks to the Chalybeate spring, which was discovered in 1606 and still forms a central part of the Pantiles.

Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden

The picturesque line weaves between Tenterden and Bodiam for 10.5 miles. Experience travel and service from a bygone age aboard beautifully restored coaches and steam locomotives dating from Victorian times.

Cycling in Kent

The two-wheeled action available ranges from fast-paced mountain biking to family friendly routes. You can hire bikes at Bedgebury National Pinetum, where there are tracks for all levels of ability. Bewl Water is great for rough, muddy riding round the lakeside. The Royal Military Canal, near Rye, is a favourite destination for many families, with long traffic-free sections making it safe and user-friendly. The Crab and Winkle Way is an old railway line between Whitstable and Canterbury – at 7.5 miles it’s an enjoyable mix of woodland, country and seaside.

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

An integral feature of the Romney Marsh landscape since the 1920s, the narrow gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is one of the region’s most popular visitor attractions and a charming way to explore the distinctive coastline in this remote, south-east corner of Kent.

Leeds Castle

The classic “English” castle, in the midst of a huge lake-cum-moat; it may appear familiar from many films that have featured its medieval splendour. All the appropriate trappings are thus in-situ, from magnificent tapestries and fine furnishings to paintings and centuries-worth of ephemera, including a collection of dog-collars (canine!). Add a range of themed gardens, a maze, falconry displays, concerts, adventure playgrounds, and a vineyard and the heady mix is complete.

Headcorn Aerodrome

Headcorn Airfield is the place to head for pleasure flights across the Weald, Downs and coast. Alternatively, you can take a trial lesson with an experienced instructor, either flying a light aircraft or even a small helicopter. The Lashenden Air Warfare Museum is also based here, with much WW2 ephemera and a V1 flying bomb.

Chatham Dockyard

Set sail on a voyage of discovery through the Age of Sail at one of Britain's leading maritime heritage destinations. Explore this award-winning maritime heritage destination with the largest concentration of iconic buildings, historic ships, museum galleries and attractions in the UK.

Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden, Eynsford

The house was altered extensively in Queen Anne's time, and has fine state rooms (open events days & Bank Holidays) and beautiful grounds. The 15th-century gate tower was one of the first gatehouses in England to be made entirely of bricks. The fascinating World Garden combines plant heritage with cutting-edge horticulture.

Port Lympne Wildlife Reserve, Hythe

The late John Aspinall's animal park occupies a 600-acre site in the grounds of a 1920s mansion, now a hotel. It promises a great family day out and claims a serious conservation role in protecting and breeding endangered animals, where possible returning them to the wild. See big and small cats, primates, gorillas and the largest herd of black rhino in the UK. Luxury lodges backing onto enclosures too.

Hever Castle & Gardens, Edenbridge

This romantic 13th-century moated castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Much of what you see today is thanks to the efforts of William Waldorf Astor, who used some of his vast fortune to restore and extend the castle in the early 20th century. Amazing attention to detail in the restoration paid off magnificently, with splendidly furnished interiors and spectacular gardens, including the famous maze, a military museum, lake walks and the Tudor Towers Adventure Playground.

Groombridge Place Gardens & Enchanted Forest

Award-winning gardens, full of colour and interest all year round, from carpets of bluebells and spectacular wisteria, to roses, herbs and cherry blossoms. The Apostle Walk features twelve drum yews, thought to have survived from the original 1674 planting. Crusoe’s World has tree houses linked by rope bridges and a viewing tower, and there’s an impressive selection of aerial walkways, tunnels and giant tree swings – this is a great place for kids. Flying displays too - eagles, owls, hawks and falcons.

Faversham

Pretty port and market town full of listed buildings, where pilgrims lodged on their way to Canterbury. Wooden pillars support the 16th-century Guildhall and market. Chart Mills claims to be the world's oldest existing gunpowder factory. Weekend food and antiques markets and good walking along Oare Creek.

Margate

Bracing traditional resort with generous sands and a bustling funfair at Dreamland theme park. Now a trendy, up-coming place to visit and live with significant regeneration thanks to the new Turner Contemporary Art Gallery on the seafront. Expect an arty vibe, independent cafes and bakeries and a thriving restaurant scene.

Broadstairs

Broadstairs is brim-full of nostalgic, old-world, seaside charm with an impressive seven sand-filled beaches and bays. Head to Joss Bay to learn to surf, or rural Botany Bay to saunter amid towering chalk stacks. At the town's main beach, Viking Bay, discover children's rides, beach huts, surfing, a harbour and cliff-top promenade.

Dungeness

A stark, wild landscape at the southernmost point of Kent, Dungeness is renowned for its unique beauty, a vast shingle headland overlooked by imposing Dungeness Nuclear Power Station.

Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone

Rural life in bygone Kent is brought to life in old farm buildings and fields at this 28-acre site beside the River Medway. You'll find oast-houses, old Kentish buildings, hop gardens, livestock/farmyard area, an adventure playground, workshops, shops and tearooms, and other family attractions.

Ballooning over Kent

Take to the skies on a hot air balloon ride over Leeds Castle, one of 8 launch sites across Kent and drift effortlessly across the Garden of England - expect to see vineyards, orchards, rivers and charming villages.

Wildwood, Herne

Come nose-to-nose with British wildlife past and present at this woodland discovery park near Canterbury. Over 200 native animals set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland, from deer, badgers, otters and wild boar to wolves and brown bears. Amazing adventure playground for the kids too.

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