Kent

2 miles from St Augustine's Abbey

St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent, is the ruins of a historic Benedictine monastery founded in 598 AD, notable for its extensive archaeological remains and historical significance as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors explore the outdoor abbey ruins, which reflect over 900 years of monastic history and royal connections.

2 miles from St Augustine's Cross

St Augustine's Cross is a historic stone memorial in Kent commemorating St Augustine's 597 AD mission to England. The cross features intricate Saxon and Celtic carvings and stands near Pegwell Bay and Pegwell Bay Country Park, marking a significant religious and cultural landmark.

Located in Ramsgate

Ramsgate is a historic seaside town in Kent, England, known for its coastline, marina, historic architecture and cultural events. It offers sandy beaches, maritime heritage, and a range of tourist attractions including deep shelter tunnels and annual regattas.

2 miles from Walmer Castle

Walmer Castle in Kent is a historic 16th-century artillery fort built by Henry VIII, now managed by English Heritage. Visitors can explore its well-preserved interiors with exhibitions on military and political history, enjoy extensive formal gardens including the Queen Mother's Garden, and dine at tea rooms within the castle grounds.

3 miles from Doddington Place Gardens

Doddington Place Gardens is a 10-acre outdoor garden located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty featuring diverse planting styles, rock and sunken gardens, champion trees, and panoramic countryside views, welcoming visitors with refreshments and accessible facilities.

3 miles from Autumn Spice Workshop

14 Oct (next Wednesday)

Participants make a seasonal herbal spiced tincture and discuss simple kitchen remedies, then explore the herb beds to discover plants for a home garden pharmacy.

2 miles from Old Soar Manor

Old Soar Manor is a small 13th century stone manor house in Kent, England, now owned by English Heritage and the National Trust, featuring historic rooms such as the solar, latrine, and chapel for visitors to explore.

2 miles from Walled Garden Tours

14 Oct (next Wednesday)

A guided tour of Ightham Mote’s walled garden, led by garden volunteers. Hear about its history, seasonal planting, sustainable growing and plans for its future.

Near Dreamland Margate

Dreamland Margate is a historic seaside amusement park in Kent featuring vintage rides including the Grade II* listed Scenic Railway wooden roller coaster, alongside modern attractions like a roller disco, live music venue, and children’s play areas. It offers both indoor and outdoor experiences, with food available on site, making it a family-friendly destination with a rich heritage and entertainment events.

Located in Margate

Margate is a historic seaside town in Kent, England, known for its sandy beaches, maritime heritage, cultural sites like Turner Contemporary art gallery, historic theatres, and attractions such as Dreamland amusement park. It offers a vibrant cultural and tourism experience with a walkable town centre accessible by rail and local public transport.

2 miles from Lamb House

Lamb House is an 18th-century writer's house museum in Rye, East Sussex, showcasing the home and garden of renowned authors like Henry James. Visitors can explore the historic interiors and the walled garden, enjoying both indoor and outdoor heritage experiences.

3 miles from Stoneacre

Stoneacre is a 15th century timber-framed yeoman farmer's house near Maidstone, Kent, featuring historic architecture and interiors restored to Tudor style by the National Trust. Visitors can explore both the house and surrounding gardens, orchards, and meadows.

2 miles from Godinton House & Gardens

Godinton House & Gardens is a historic country house in Kent featuring guided tours, extensive gardens, and seasonal events. Visitors can explore formal and walled gardens, enjoy homemade refreshments, and discover centuries of history through a rich collection of furniture and art.

3 miles from Deal Castle

Deal Castle is a well-preserved 16th century artillery fort in Kent, England, featuring stone bastions, a moat, and a historic keep. Built by Henry VIII to defend the Downs anchorage, it offers visitors both indoor historical exhibits and outdoor exploration of the castle grounds and fortifications.

3 miles from Penshurst Place and Gardens

Penshurst Place features 11 acres of historic formal gardens divided into unique themed rooms including an Italian garden and rose gardens, with facilities such as a children's play area and refreshments, offering visitors a rich outdoor horticultural experience.

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a historic spa town in Kent, England, known for its picturesque Pantiles, cultural venues, green parks, and convenient transport links including rail services. It offers a blend of heritage, shopping, and outdoor leisure for tourists.

3 miles from Camber Castle

Camber Castle is a 16th-century Device Fort built by Henry VIII near Rye, East Sussex, to protect the coast from invasion. It is a ruined concentric artillery fortress operated by English Heritage, open to visitors for guided tours. The castle is notable for its historic military architecture and coastal location.

Located in New Romney

New Romney is a historic market town in Kent with medieval origins, notable Norman architecture, and ties to the original Cinque Ports. Once a harbour town, it is now inland and serves as a cultural and tourist centre on Romney Marsh.

2 miles from Broadwater Warren

Broadwater Warren is a nature reserve set in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with heathland and woodland restoration, offering wildlife habitats for threatened species, scenic viewpoints, and accessible trails for visitors including wheelchairs and pushchairs.

3 miles from County Square

Ashford is a historic market town and transport hub in Kent, England. It features landmarks such as the 13th century St Mary's Parish Church, the Ashford Designer Outlet shopping centre, and the Green Corridor nature reserve. The town is served by Ashford International station with rail links to London and Europe. It offers cultural, sporting, and shopping experiences with leisure facilities like the Julie Rose Stadium and a range of amenities.

Located in Ashford

Ashford is a historic market town in Kent with a well-preserved town centre, strong railway connections including an international station, diverse shopping and dining options, and cultural venues including a medieval parish church repurposed for arts and entertainment.

3 miles from Wildwood Discovery Park

Wildwood Trust is a woodland discovery park in Kent featuring over fifty species of native British animals, ancient woodland trails, and conservation projects aimed at protecting and reintroducing native wildlife species.

Near The Big Cat Sanctuary

The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent is a specialised animal sanctuary focusing on big cats, offering limited public open days and experience packages like overnight stays and photography workshops, with enclosures designed to mimic wild habitats.

Near Bateman's

Bateman's is a 17th-century Jacobean house in Burwash, East Sussex, known as the home of Rudyard Kipling. Visitors can explore the house preserved as it was in Kipling's time, including his study and collections, as well as the garden and the historic water mill on the estate.

Near Monkey Puzzle trail at Bateman’s

23 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)

A family trail at Bateman’s inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Monkey Puzzle. Visitors explore the house and garden, helping Little Monkey find his mum through interactive games and challenges.

Near Wingham Wildlife Park

Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent features a diverse collection of over 200 animal species including birds, mammals, reptiles, and primates. Visitors can explore tropical houses, reptile exhibits, big cat enclosures, and a unique penguin pool. The park also offers indoor educational facilities, a café, and outdoor play areas designed for families and children.

3 miles from Dungeness

RSPB Dungeness is a vast nature reserve featuring diverse habitats including shingle, grassland, and freshwater pits, offering excellent birdwatching opportunities and historic World War 2 sound mirrors. The reserve provides accessible trails, hides, and facilities making it suitable for a family day out in nature.

2 miles from The White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover offer dramatic cliff-top walks with stunning views over the English Channel, historic WWII tunnels tours, and a striking Victorian lighthouse. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, a café with panoramic views, and a play area, making it suitable for families and history enthusiasts alike.

2 miles from Guided walks to South Foreland Lighthouse 2026

10 Oct (this Saturday)

Join a volunteer-led walk along the White Cliffs of Dover to South Foreland Lighthouse, hearing about the cliffs’ natural and human history and seeing wartime remains and coastal views. At the lighthouse, the guide gives a brief introduction before visitors can explore the grounds and make their own way back.

Near Penns in the Rocks

Penns in the Rocks is an early 18th-century historic house with artistic and literary heritage, featuring a garden with a dedicated temple and situated near natural sandstone rocks, offering visitors a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences.

2 miles from Smallhythe Place

Smallhythe Place is a Tudor-era historic house and theatre museum in Kent, dedicated to Victorian actress Ellen Terry, featuring her theatrical collection, costume displays, beautiful gardens, and an active barn theatre hosting numerous productions annually.

2 miles from The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House, and Gardens

The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House, and Gardens in Kent offers visitors a chance to explore a historic house with guided tours, extensive gardens, and a unique museum featuring wildlife dioramas and cultural artifacts from around the world. The venue is mostly wheelchair accessible and family friendly, with free parking and facilities for children.

Located in Deal

Deal is a historic coastal town in Kent, England, known for its maritime heritage, Tudor castles, and vibrant arts and cultural scene. It offers a walkable town centre, museums, a pier, and a seaside resort atmosphere attracting tourists.

3 miles from Sheffield Park and Garden

Sheffield Park and Garden is a large landscape and woodland garden in East Sussex, originally designed by Capability Brown. It features a significant collection of rare plants and trees, natural ponds, and extensive grounds for outdoor exploration. The garden remains a National Trust property and offers visitors a serene and historic natural environment.

3 miles from Autumnal Foraging Workshop with Megan Howlett

15 Oct, 3 Nov

Join professional forager Megan Howlett for a walk and talk through Sheffield Park’s gardens, exploring seasonal wild foods and learning about their folklore, history, uses and edibility.

3 miles from Goodnestone Park Gardens

Goodnestone Park Gardens is a diverse garden surrounding an 18th-century manor house featuring formal lawns, woodland gardens, walled enclosures, arboretums, and a greenhouse, with a café onsite offering produce from their no-dig vegetable garden.

3 miles from Hole Park

Hole Park is a renowned private garden in Kent featuring extensive formal and wild gardens including Bluebell Wood, wildflower meadows, and woodland. The 16-acre site offers seasonal displays of flowers and topiary with a café serving homemade teas and light lunches. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and courtyard.

Located in Tenterden

Tenterden is a historic market town in Kent, England, known for its charming High Street, rich Anglo-Saxon and medieval heritage, and cultural festivals. It features notable churches, a railway museum, and hosts popular events including a Christmas market and folk festival.

2 miles from Belmont House

Belmont House is a beautifully preserved Georgian neo-classical country house in Kent featuring impressive collections of clocks and furniture. Visitors can explore both the historic interiors and the surrounding gardens, with guided tours available and facilities including a cafe, picnic area, and events for children.

3 miles from Bayham Old Abbey

Bayham Old Abbey is a historic 13th-century Premonstratensian abbey ruins located near Lamberhurst, Kent. Now maintained by English Heritage, visitors can explore scenic outdoor ruins featuring ornate stonework and a nearby gatehouse, set within landscaped grounds enhanced by famous landscape gardener Humphry Repton.

Located in Wadhurst

Wadhurst is a historic market town in East Sussex with a well-preserved traditional centre, notable Georgian architecture, medieval church, and a history linked to the iron industry. It offers a range of local shops and churches, accessible by train and bus.

2 miles from Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a 600-acre wildlife park in Kent featuring rare and endangered species, safari tours, a large gorillarium, dinosaur-themed forest, and unique glamping accommodations, offering both indoor and outdoor experiences for families.

Located in Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne is an industrial town in Kent, England, known for its historical significance along the Roman Watling Street, industrial heritage in brickmaking and paper production, and tourist attractions including a preserved light railway and sailing barge museum.

3 miles from Farleys House & Gallery

Farleys House & Gallery is a former Georgian farmhouse that showcases an art gallery and sculpture garden, offering guided tours of the house and seasonal exhibitions. Visitors can enjoy tea and cakes onsite and explore gardens featuring permanent and contemporary artworks.

2 miles from Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle in Kent is a National Trust property featuring a medieval moated manor ruins and an early Tudor Revival country house surrounded by picturesque gardens with seasonal floral displays. Visitors can explore both indoor historic house spaces and outdoor gardens with historical and natural highlights.

3 miles from Michelham Priory House & Gardens

Michelham Priory House & Gardens is a historic Augustine Priory set on its own island in East Sussex, offering visitors immersive indoor historical displays and extensive outdoor gardens with family-friendly activities including a playground and a café.

3 miles from Great Dixter House & Gardens

Great Dixter House & Gardens is a renowned historic house and garden in East Sussex featuring Christopher Lloyd's renowned horticultural design, accessible grounds, a café, a shop, and educational tours, suitable for visitors interested in gardening and heritage.

3 miles from Horne's Place Chapel

Horne's Place Chapel is a late medieval timber-framed private chapel dating from 1276 near Appledore, Kent, noted for its exquisite architecture and historic significance as a Grade II* listed building. The chapel is open to visitors to view its interior, but the attached manor house remains private.

Near Northward Hill

Northward Hill is a peaceful nature reserve on a ridge above the Thames Marshes, featuring miles of trails, diverse wildlife including herons and owls, and beautiful seasonal plant life such as bluebells. It offers accessible paths and multiple viewpoints for wildlife watching in an outdoor setting.

Located in Rochester

Rochester is a historic port town in Kent, England, known for its Roman origins, medieval castle and cathedral, and strong literary connections to Charles Dickens. It offers a rich blend of historic architecture, cultural festivals, and riverfront charm.

3 miles from Mount Ephraim Gardens

Mount Ephraim Gardens features extensive Edwardian gardens with diverse plant collections and a Grade II listed Victorian manor house. Visitors can explore both outdoor gardens and indoor areas with café facilities. The site is family-friendly, pet-friendly, and accessible, with various event options including weddings and group visits.

Located in Faversham

Faversham is a historic market town in Kent with rich Roman heritage, medieval landmarks, a vibrant market, notable brewing history, and scenic riverside setting.

2 miles from Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle is a 14th-century moated castle in East Sussex, England, known for its distinctive quadrangular design with towers and battlements. Set in a landscaped environment with an ornamental moat, it showcases medieval architecture and history. The castle is a ruin open to the public under the care of the National Trust and has been featured in films and television.

2 miles from Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle

10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)

Families can follow a magical, Halloween-themed trail around Bodiam Castle, making potions, discovering spells and taking part in activities. On weekends, visitors can also enter a spooky best-dressed costume competition in the castle courtyard.

3 miles from Stone House Country Estate

Stone House Country Estate offers a blend of Tudor and Georgian architecture with services for weddings and private events, featuring indoor drawing rooms and extensive gardens for an exclusive visitor experience.

3 miles from Moat tour with a costumed medieval character

9 Oct, 16 Oct…

Join a costumed medieval character for a guided tour around Bodiam Castle’s moat, hearing about the castle’s construction, landscape and past inhabitants.

3 miles from Autumn Colour Early Morning Self-Led Photography

14 Oct, 21 Oct

Visitors can enter Sheffield Park and Garden before its normal opening hours to enjoy the autumn colours, walk around the lakes and take photographs.

2 miles from St John's Jerusalem

St John's Jerusalem is a National Trust property in Kent featuring a 13th century Knights Hospitaller chapel and a garden moated by the River Darent, with historical medieval buildings and landscaped grounds accessible to the public.

Located in Dartford

Dartford is a historic market town in Kent, England, with a rich industrial and religious heritage, accessible by rail and serving as a cultural and shopping hub for visitors.

3 miles from St Mary's Church, Reculver

St Mary's Church, Reculver, is a historic ruined Anglo-Saxon church founded in the 7th century on the site of a Roman fort in Kent, England. Although the church was mostly demolished in 1809 due to coastal erosion, the iconic twin towers remain as a landmark for shipping. The site offers visitors a glimpse into early Christian architecture and monastic history, with archaeological remains and connections to Kentish kings and Viking attacks. Managed by English Heritage, it is an outdoor heritage site showcasing ruins and a rich narrative of medieval religious and community life.

3 miles from Chevening

Chevening offers visitors access to historic gardens set around a Palladian country house, featuring lawns, a lake, maze, parterre and woodland walks. The gardens are open seasonally with limited visitor numbers and are mostly accessible to wheelchair users. The house itself is not open to the public as it serves as a country retreat for Foreign Secretaries.

Located in Maidstone

Maidstone is the historic county town of Kent, with a rich history from Neolithic to modern times, situated on the River Medway, offering diverse cultural attractions, shopping centers, parks, and accessible public transport, making it a vibrant tourist destination.

3 miles from Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent is a renowned historic garden created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, featuring an influential series of garden rooms, including the iconic White Garden. Located on Tudor-era estate buildings, it showcases a vast collection of old garden roses and other plants, attracting large numbers of visitors and managed by the National Trust.

3 miles from Howletts Wild Animal Park

Howletts Wild Animal Park is a renowned zoo near Canterbury, Kent, home to significant breeding groups of rare and endangered species including gorillas and African elephants, offering an outdoor wildlife experience focused on animal conservation and education.

2 miles from Blean Woods

Blean Woods is a natural woodland reserve featuring traditional coppice, high forest, heathland, and glades which support diverse wildlife including woodpeckers, nightingales, and rare butterflies. Visitors can explore multiple waymarked trails and enjoy peaceful outdoor walks, with facilities including a car park and picnic area. Dogs are allowed on a specific trail, but there are no indoor facilities such as cafes or toilets on site.

2 miles from South Foreland Lighthouses

South Foreland Lighthouses are a pair of historic Victorian lighthouses in Kent, England, known for pioneering electric light and Marconi's radio experiments. The Upper Lighthouse is owned by the National Trust and open for public visits including museum exhibits, while the Lower Lighthouse is privately owned and not accessible.

3 miles from Owletts

Owletts is a historic Grade II* listed country house near Cobham, Kent, known for its 17th-century architecture, connection to architect Sir Herbert Baker, and gardens designed partly by Gertrude Jekyll. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public on a limited basis.

3 miles from Pashley Manor Gardens

Pashley Manor Gardens offers 11 acres of beautifully maintained English country gardens surrounding a historic Grade I listed manor house. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays of flowers including tulips, roses, and dahlias, art exhibitions, and a café with garden views. The site provides good wheelchair accessibility and facilities including accessible parking and toilets. Admission is free for Historic Houses members, with fees for others, especially during the annual Tulip Festival.

Near Bateman's Park Mill in action

7 Oct, 14 Oct…

Visitors can meet the millers at Bateman’s Park Mill, watch them demonstrate traditional grain grinding, and ask questions about the flour-milling process.

3 miles from One Tree Hill and Bitchet Common

One Tree Hill and Bitchet Common is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Kent, featuring ancient mixed woodland and diverse habitats with rare flora and fauna, located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and accessible via public footpaths.

3 miles from The Pikachu Art Adventure at Ightham Mote

7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)

Explore 30 illustrated Pikachu trading cards around Ightham Mote, learn facts about the character and design your own Pikachu card as part of an indoor and outdoor art trail.

3 miles from Temple Manor

Temple Manor is a Grade I listed historic house in Strood, Kent, originally built by the Knights Templar around 1240. It features a stone vaulted undercroft supporting a first-floor hall and has been restored and preserved by English Heritage. The manor is open to the public on weekends during the season and offers an indoor historic experience showcasing medieval architecture and history.

Located in Gillingham

Gillingham is a historic town in Kent, England, known for its rich naval heritage, diverse cultural attractions, and its role as a regional retail and community hub with extensive sports and leisure facilities.

Located in Rye

Rye is a picturesque historic town in East Sussex, known for its medieval streets, cobbled lanes, and rich maritime history as a former Cinque Port. It offers a vibrant arts scene, cultural festivals, and local seafood specialties, making it a popular tourist destination.

3 miles from Lullingstone Roman Villa

Lullingstone Roman Villa is an archaeological site and museum featuring a Romano-British villa from the 1st to 5th century AD, notable for its early Christian chapel murals, intricate mosaics, and marble busts. Visitors can explore both the villa ruins and the surrounding grounds, gaining insight into Roman Britain's history and early Christianity.

Located in Swanley

Swanley is a market town in Kent near London, known for its park, shopping centre, historical churches, and good rail and bus connections.

2 miles from Coldrum Long Barrow

Coldrum Long Barrow is a Neolithic chambered long barrow ruin located near Trottiscliffe in Kent, England. It is part of the Medway Megaliths and features stone burial chambers from the Early Neolithic period. The site is open year-round without charge and hosts both archaeological interest and modern Pagan activities.

Located in Crowborough

Crowborough is a historic market town in East Sussex, notable for its picturesque setting on the edge of Ashdown Forest, outdoor recreational opportunities, and cultural heritage including ties to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

2 miles from Petts Wood and Hawkwood

Petts Wood and Hawkwood is a large woodland area near London offering peace, wildlife, and scenic walking paths with historical memorials. Visitors can explore diverse natural habitats and enjoy organized events focused on nature.

2 miles from South Foreland Lighthouse

South Foreland Lighthouse, located on the White Cliffs of Dover, is a Victorian lighthouse famed for its role in maritime safety as the first with an electric light. Visitors can explore the lighthouse via guided tours, enjoy the vintage-themed tea room, and take part in family-friendly outdoor activities including games and nature art. The site offers striking views of the English Channel, the French coast, and surrounding countryside.

2 miles from Emmetts Garden

Emmetts Garden is an Edwardian estate featuring six acres of arboretum and gardens on a high sandstone ridge near Ide Hill, Kent, offering expansive views and a rose garden next to a Victorian house, though the house is not open to the public.

2 miles from Stranger Folk Digital Adventure at Emmetts Garden

9 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)

A family digital folklore adventure at Emmetts Garden, designed for children aged 7–12 and imaginative adults to play together. Using the Stranger Folk app, participants follow a character through magical tasks to find the Stranger Folk and heal a rift between the human and spirit worlds.