Days Out in Kent

The British Wildlife Centre is a peaceful, relaxing place to see over 40 different British wild animals.  Animals include harvest mice, otters, foxes, deer, badgers, stoats, weasels, owls and buzzards, to name but a few.  Animals are homed in large enclosures that reflect their natural environment. Much of the area is outside and you will see most of the animals, whatever the weather. The British Wildlife Centre was established in 1997 and is a not-for-profit organisation.  Your visit is likely to take from two hours to half a day, but their is no limit, and there are Keeper talks every half an hour to give you more information about the animals. Please click here for more information.

Indoor climbing centre and skatepark.  The climbing walls are suitable for both novices and experienced climbers.  The Skatepark has an indoor street course, ramp room and an outdoor mini-street complex.

90 acres of parkland where you can see tigers in glass fronted enclosures, gorillas, leopards, monkeys, rhinos and many more animals.

Set in 600 acres of parkland, Port Lympne is home to rhinos, tigers, elephants, lions, gorillas and many more animals. A safari will allow you to see giraffe, zebra and ostrich, or walk around the 15 acres of landscaped gardens.

High wire adventure at two locations in Kent, Leeds Castle and Bedgebury Forrest.  Climb trees, tackle rope bridges, cross planks, swing from tree to tree and return to terra firma via the zip slide.  Fun for adults and children.  Restrictions apply, including minimum age of 4 years.

Originally the site of a manor for the Saxon Royal Family, the site of Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold, residence to six medieval Queens, the palace of Henry VIII and a 1920's country retreat. Visitors can journey through 1000 years of history in the Castle, and walk through the 500 acre parkland of gardens and attractions including a maze, grotto, falconry, and aviary, which is home to over 100 rare and endangered species.  Leeds Castle also has 9-hole, par 33 pay and play golf course.

Birds & Beasts Roadshow 11th-19th February. Not for the faint hearted! Visit the marquee near the maze area and meet creepy crawlies up close. Enjoy a fantastic experience which is both educational and fun. With a range of animals, birds, spiders and snakes this is truly a wild experience. Three shows per day at 11am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm. An additional charge of £1.50 per child will apply (under 4s free). Children will also be able to have their face painted (small additional charge). 

As well as various animals for the children to see including, horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, poultry and birds of prey, there are also indoor and outdoor play areas, and a mower museum exhibiting 50 mowers dating back to the 1800s.

Return to 14th century England through the eyes of the Canterbury Tales. Visitors begin their journey at the Inn, where you will meet Chaucer and his pilgrims, then continue walk through the different tales before ending the journey at the reconstruction of the Shrine of St.Thomas Beckett, followed by a medieval market. Journey lasts around 45 minutes.

Heritage railway running steam and heritage diesel trains offering a hop-on, hop-off ten and a half mile service between Tenterden and Kentish Weald.  The dining train runs at certain times of the week, with occassional themed events, and for the children, Thomas the Tank and friends.

Family fun for all at this 400 acre farm with numerous attractions. As well as farm animals, including shire horses, there is an Aerial Sky Park with tight ropes and zip wires. For smaller children there is a soft play area, outdoor paddling pool and bouncy castle. A 9-hole golf course tests your putting ability and wartime vehicles on view in the museum.

Pirates and Princesses February Half Term Fun 11th-19th February. PThe Hop Farm Family Park kick off a fun, event-packed 2012 with the ultimate half term holiday event for energetic children - Pirates and Princesses Week!  

Near By:

Pubs & Restaurants: The George & Dragon, Speldhurst, Tonbridge

Located on the Kent and Sussex borders, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Bewl Water Reservoir is the largest stretch of water in the South East.  Activities include walking, cycling, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, rowing, fly-fishing, a woodland playground and a passenger ferry

Tenpin is the biggest chain of bowling centres in the UK, with centres across the South East.  General facilities include numerous bowling lanes, American and English pool tables, amusements, Cosmic Bowling and dining. Centres in Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Kent.

Bowlplex owns 18 bowling centres in the UK.  South East centres are in Brighton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth, Tunbridge Wells, Camberley and Oxford.  Facilities include numerous bowling lanes, American pool, dining, big screen TVs and video game arcades.

Learn to make your own chocolate in a real chocolate factory!  This family run business have been making chocolate for over 15 years. They make crumbly fudge, coconut ice, lollipops, chocolates and toffees.  Visitors can learn how to pour and mould chocolates and finally decorate them, before taking them home.  The company also run Children’s parties. Temper Temper supports Fair Trade. 

Heritage steam railway traveling for 3½ miles through the pictureque Wealden countryside from Tunbridge Wells to High Rocks, via the village of Groombridge.  The railway runs different events throughout the year including Fish & Chip Specials & Real Ale Trains, Santa Specials and A Day Out with Thomas.

Fancy something a bit different?  Horizon Sea Safaris offer the amazing experience of watching seals in their natural environment. The rib boat takes visitors to one of two destinations for the Seal Encounter, either to Goodwin Sands or the Nature Reserve on the Stour Estuary. The boat is located at Ramsgate but also sails from Broadstairs and Margate during the summer months.

Found by accident in the 19th century whilst digging a duck pond, the Shell Grotto is 2000 sq ft of winding underground passages, covered with 4.6 million shells in mosaic symbols leading to an oblong chamber.  It remains a mystery as to what this place is and why it was created. There is also a shop, museum and café.

There's so much new to do at Kent's premier heritage farm attraction. Twenty-eight acres of fun including improved family activities, exciting new indoor and outdoor play area, traditional breeds, discovery trails and a brilliant new hands-on Pet Corner. Plus year round events galore, from school holiday fun to the Cobtree Country Fayre, Beer & Hop Festival, Apple & Cider Festival, Halloween experience, Bonfire & Fireworks spectacular.
 

British Maritime History going back 400 years.  Set in 80 acres, the dockyard is home to 100 buildings and structures, most of which were built between 1704-1855.  As well as museums, historic maritime ships and submarines to see, there are also 17 RNLI vessels that have been used over the years to save lives.

Unique adventure park where children and adults can drive real diggers. Children can take a ride on and drive different types of construction machinery including mini and giant diggers, and dumper trucks.  There are rides and “Joyrider” allows 9-17 year olds to drive a 4x4 Mitsubishi Shogun around a pre-set course.

Locoated on the Kent and Sussex borders, this indoor climbing centre has a 360 square metre climbing area.  Bouldering, leading, top roping and an abseil tower are some of the climbing facilities available.

Moated castle dating back to the 13th century and childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Later acquired by William Waldorf Astor who created the spectacular gardens, and a house of beautiful furniture, paintings and tapestry. The Yew Maze, a miniature model house exhibition, and an adventure playground are other attractions at this historical castle.

Described as the grandest and most perfectly preserved example of a fortified manor house in England.  Staterooms, tapestries, furniture, portraits and armour on display.  In addition to the manor house, there are 10 acres of gardens, a toy museum and a venture playground.

The beauty of Groomsbrigde has attracted movie makers and can be seen in Pride & Prejudice.  Traditional gardens created 300 years ago and developed to their present magnificence.  The Enchanted Garden can be entered through a gate, where stunning gardens are on view, along with a children's playground, activities, and animals such as deer, can be seen wandering the land.

Buckmore Park has a 1200m international outdoor kart circuit suitable for anyone aged 4 upwards.  They have the largest fleet of hire-karts in the country. The circuit caters for all, whether it be an individual child or a corporate group of 280, with karts, quad bikes, Argocats, Argocats, Powerturn buggies and Laser Tag.

Dover Castle sits high about the white cliffs, with magnificent views over the Channel, and has been pivotal to England’s defence since its early fortress days dating back to Roman times. The Castle was built by Henry in the 12th century and was later modified by Henry VIII, and the Dunkirk evacuations were overseen from the extensive network of tunnels built into the cliffs beneath the castle. Visitors can walk the secret tunnels, tour the underground hospital, see the Command Centre from where Sir Winston Churchill watched the Battle of Britain.

Order old fashioned sweets from the UK online sweet shop, Handy Candy!  With a huge range of old fashioned sweets, sweet hampers, unique pick & mix service, chews, candies, lollies, bars, infact nearly every kind of sweet - you are spoilt for choice!  Choose sweet hampers, wedding sweets, party bags, sweet jars Easter Goodies and so much more!  To find out more click here!

Drama, comedy, exhibitions, talks, dance and music are all staged at the Theatre Royal, Margate. The theatre dates from 1787 and was radically altered in 1874 by Jethro T. Robinson (father-in-law of Frank Matcham, the famous and prolific theatre architect who along with his two protégés are responsible for more than building 200 theatres before 1915). It is listed Grade II* and is sited within a conservation area. The Theatre Royal, sited at the north east corner of Hawley Square, was part of the planned expansion of the small town and port of Margate during the mid Georgian period. It was built to vie as a facility for the entertainment of the upper classes with the Assembly Rooms, Cecil Square (1770s), and the Circulating Library, Hawley Square (1786), both now demolished. The 1874 conversion marks the transition of the theatre from a Georgian boxed Playhouse into a Victorian Theatre. The stage was shortened and a second floor 'gallery' level added to the expanded auditorium. As well as welcoming some of the greatest acting 'stars' of the Victorian era, the theatre was the site of the first drama school in the country, the School of Acting opened by Sarah Thorne in 1885, and attended by a young Edward Gordon Craig, who went on to become the undisputed father of modern theatre design and was arguably the most important theatre practitioner to come out of Britain since Shakespeare.