Adventure Island (amusement park)

Near Northey Island

Northey Island is a remote coastal island in the Blackwater Estuary, Essex, accessible only by a tidal causeway at low tide. It is known for its historical significance as the oldest recorded battlefield in Britain and as a peaceful wildlife haven with saltmarsh habitat and a waymarked walking trail. Visitors should check tide times before visiting due to causeway accessibility restrictions.

Located in Maldon

Maldon is a historic market town in Essex known for its maritime heritage, annual festivals, and scenic riverside location on the Blackwater Estuary.

2 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.

Near 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 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.

Located in Rochford

Rochford is a historic market town in Essex, England, characterized by its historic buildings, churches, and leisure trails, with convenient train and bus access.

2 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.

3 miles from Northey Island

Northey Island is a tidal island in Essex's Blackwater Estuary, accessible by causeway at low tide. It is a nature-rich site managed by the National Trust and known for its historical significance in the Battle of Maldon.

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.

3 miles from Kit's Coty House

Kit's Coty House is a Neolithic chambered long barrow near Aylesford, Kent, part of a unique regional group of prehistoric megalithic monuments known as the Medway Megaliths. The site, managed by English Heritage, is open year-round and offers visitors a view of ancient stone structures set in a rural landscape.

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.

Near Great Comp Garden

Great Comp Garden in Sevenoaks is a renowned garden known for its outstanding collection of salvias, beautiful seasonal displays, and themed garden areas. Visitors can explore its Italian Garden, enjoy the formal lawns, attend events, and relax at the tearooms.

3 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.

3 miles from Danbury Common

Danbury Common is a large biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Essex featuring heathland, woodland, ponds, and uncommon species, with areas managed by the National Trust and Essex Wildlife Trust.

3 miles from Ray Island

Ray Island is a 40.5-hectare nature reserve in Essex featuring saltmarsh, rough grassland, and a shingle foreshore, known for its wildlife and multiple environmental designations. Visitors access the island by boat, exploring its unique natural habitats and birdlife in an outdoor setting.

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.

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.

Located in Minster

Minster is a historic town on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent known for its ancient abbey, coastal location, and fossil-rich beaches, offering cultural and natural attractions for visitors.

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 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.

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.

2 miles from Ray Island

Ray Island is a protected wildlife haven in Essex known for its rare saltmarsh plants and breeding water birds, with no public footpaths or visitor access on foot to preserve the natural habitat.

Located in West Mersea

West Mersea is a historic seaside town on Mersea Island in Essex with Roman roots, a lively maritime heritage, and a range of local cultural and leisure amenities including sailing, regattas, and a museum.

2 miles from Copt Hall Marshes

Copt Hall Marshes is a wildlife-rich working farm on the Blackwater Estuary, offering visitors outdoor experiences including walking trails, bird watching, and nature conservation in an important breeding area for farmland and coastal birds.

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.

Near 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.

2 miles from Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood is a large natural reserve featuring ancient woodland, heathland, and historical military sites. Visitors can enjoy diverse wildlife, scenic walking trails, and explore the rich heritage of this Essex ridge-top location.

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.

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.

2 miles from Lakeside Shopping Centre

Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex is a large indoor retail complex featuring over 250 shops, numerous dining options, a cinema, and a leisure area including a lake with a diving school. It offers extensive parking and direct public transport links, making it a major regional shopping and leisure destination.

Near Hylands Estate

Hylands Estate is a large Grade II* public park featuring a Neo-Classical house, formal gardens, ancient woodlands, and an accessible children's playground. Visitors can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities including house tours, art workshops, adventure courses, and seasonal events, with food and drink available on site.

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.