little trips and days out in Kent

moneylover

Hi
My son and daughter in law with 3 kiddies aged 4-1 are moving to Allington on the outskirts of Maidstone at the beginning of May
I would love to hear of any walks, good playparks, favourite trips that you can recommend if you live in or have visited the area. Anywhere in Kent really as they are keen to explore. Obviously we will pick up leaflets, buy a guidebook etc but its nice to have people's recommendations
Thank you very much

vikingaero

Buy admission to Leeds Castle and then admission is free to the grounds for a whole year. Same with Chatham Historic Dockyard.

For Soft Play there is Larkabout, at the Larkfield Leisure Centre, Polar Adventure at Mote Park Leisure Centre, Wear m' Out in Parkwood, Kidszone in Rochester, and Fun Drum in Gillingham.

The Library/Museum in Maidstone has loads of free kids activities during weekdays and outside of termtime.

Also the Museum of Kent Life is a nice place to visit when the weather is nice and again it's a pay once visit all year type of place I think.

Kynthia

I can't agree more about Leeds Castle. My partner and I bought one standard ticket each and couldn't believe we can return as many times as we like for a year! :j
There's a great maze, play areas, falconry, peacocks and other wildlife, gorgeous grounds and lots of events. This week I think they've got mini-archaeolgical digs for the children and do easter events.
The food festival was yummy and I got lots of quality presents at the Christmas craft fayre. I've been twice so far and haven't even been inside the castle itself yet!

Generali

The Kent and East Sussex Railway is loved by my two:
http://www.kesr.org.uk/

In the summer this pub is lovely for Sunday lunch and has a really nice garden:
http://www.wheatsheafatboughbeech.co.uk/location.htm

Manic Monsters is just up the road from there so you can sit and digest while the kids run off pudding:
http://www.manic-monsters.co.uk/

The British Wildlife Centre is a great zoo of British animals (none of yer foreign rubbish stinkin' of garlic in there!):
http://www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/

Knowle Park in Sevenoaks is very good. You could combine that with lunch at the Bullfinch, again it has a great and very large garden and is very child friendly while still selling decent grub - not just chicken nuggets and gravy from a packet.

There's loads of coastline to explore and masses of countryside. Mrs Generali and I just used to jump in the car and explore really. You come across all sorts of gems. Kent is very beautiful and I miss living there.

vikingaero

There's a leaflet here which lists some of the parks in Kent:

http://www.econet.org.uk/work/Kent%20Parks%20Leaflet%202008.pdf

You can also buy an annual car park ticket for £25 if you plan to do loads of visits.

mightymole

wildwood is always a good visit http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/

taken from thier website:

Wildwood Trust – Kent's Unique Woodland Discovery Park between Canterbury & Herne Bay. From owls to otters, badgers to beavers, and wild boar to wolves, experience close encounters with native wildlife in an environment that is close to nature.

As a registered charity Wildwood takes part in conservation programmes of many native species, such as the water vole, the hazel dormouse, the sand lizard, konik ponies, water shrew and the European beaver. So you can help save some of the most threatened native animals by supporting Wildwood with your visit.

i live nr there and have a membership

moneylover

Have given individual thanks but just to say 'keep the ideas coming'
Any more pub recommendations that are okay with children especially as moving just as summer coming and nice pub gardens good.

jenhug

Groombridge place is a must!

busiscoming2

Riverside country park in Gillingham and Rochester museum when they are a bit older.

j73

moneylover wrote: »

Have given individual thanks but just to say 'keep the ideas coming'
Any more pub recommendations that are okay with children especially as moving just as summer coming and nice pub gardens good.

A pub which is a must to visit with kids is The Hawkenbury Inn, Hawkenbury.
Bottom of Sutton Valance Hill turn right.

Fantastic food, real ales, great garden and a very friendly landlord.

nikiyoung

a bit further afield is the rare breeds at woodchurch a fab day out on the farm. Stay for the Pig racing its fab.
http://www.rarebreeds.org.uk/

Also in Folkestone there is the coastal park which is a fun play park have to pay for parking, but you can go for fab walks, picnicking. http://www.thisisfolkestone.co.uk/coastalpark.htm

A bit of shopping the Ashford Designer Outlet - has a play park there that the kids enjoy and a bit of retail therapy http://www.ashforddesigneroutlet.com/consumer.asp

KCC website http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/explore-kent/ has lots of activities to see and do.

Also have a look at this site some pub walks for free!
http://www.myfavouritepubwalks.co.uk/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=51&cat=Kent+Pub+Walks

HTH