064 FAMILY DAYS OUT Leeds Castle
Explore 500 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens, while discovering almost 900 years of history. Enjoy the maze, the falconry displays, go punting on the moat, or let off some steam at the adventure playgrounds, plus there’s the Gatehouse Exhibition and the Dog Collar Museum. • Visit
www.leeds-castle.com
enter the medieval royal palace to get a taste of court life. There are also many independent attractions to visit such as Penshurst Place with its adventure playground and Toy Museum, Chiddingstone Castle with exotic treasures, and Hever Castle with stunning gardens, adventure playground and water maze for the children, as well as the chance to take a boat trip on the lake. Britain’s oldest cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, is a popular tourist attraction and while you are in the area pop along to The Canterbury Tales, which brings to life five of Geoffrey Chaucer’s best- loved stories.
While further inland, the spa town
of Tunbridge Wells mixes traditional and modern, with The Pantiles at one end and the bustling shopping centre at the other. Family attractions include The Historic
Go Ape at Bedgebury
Dockyard, Chatham, which celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2018. Home to docks full of historic ships, step aboard the Three Historic Warships at the site where Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory was built. If you want to get up close with
nature then a trip to Port Lympne Reserve (or its sister park Howletts Wild Animal Park) offers the chance to climb aboard a safari truck to journey through 600 acres of wildlife. To enjoy the beautiful countryside while taking a relaxing approach, hop on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. If you enjoy that experience, then
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KENT IS
TRULY AN
INSPIRATIONAL LOCATION WITH MANY FAMOUS FACES HAVING ENJOYED ITS CHARMS
at Tenterden you can board the Kent and East Sussex Railway, the country’s finest example of a rural light railway Arts and culture are also very much at the heart of Kent. Head to the Turner Contemporary in Margate, the cultural landmark which has just celebrated its fifth birthday, or to the Creative Quarter in Folkestone. You can take in a show at the Marlowe Theatre or Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury, and while you are there pop along to The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge. Other attractions in the county include Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery as well as the
Powell-Cotton Museum at Quex Park, Bewl Water at Lamberhurst and Buckmore Park with its go kart racing. Dreamland has recently relaunched with vintage rides, gardens, music and more. Kent is truly an inspirational location, with many famous faces having enjoyed its charms. From Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin and Geoffrey Chaucer to Sir Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming and Tracey Emin – and of course the many kings, queens and Tudors that found a home in the historic castles.
Kent also enjoys many annual events, so get outdoors and enjoy the Kent County Show in Maidstone and the War and Peace Show in July. Enjoy jousting at Leeds and Hever castles in August or head to food and drink festivals in Canterbury in September and Broadstairs in October.
Fancy a day of family fun swinging through the trees while enjoying jaw-dropping views of Kent’s arboretum? Then head to Go Ape at Bedgebury where you can enjoy a tree top adventure. It is a centre for international conservation, being one of the most complete collections of conifers on one site anywhere in the world, so explore it by spending two to three hours in the trees taking on zip wires, swings, rope ladders and crossings. • Visit
www.goape.co.uk/days- out/bedgebury
Spa Valley Railway
The Spa Valley Railway, with “a destination at every station” will offer plenty to keep all ages occupied. Journey through the wonderful High Weald countryside where there are plenty of local attractions to visit as the train makes stops at Eridge, Groombridge, High Rocks and Tunbridge Wells. They also run many themed experiences to enjoy such as a Driver Experience, Fish and Chip Suppers, plus Afternoon Teas! For the children there are also Days Out with Thomas and Peppa Pig. • Visit
www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk
©Visit Kent
©William Bray
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