Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

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 Westwood Cross

Westwood Cross is a pedestrianised shopping centre in Westwood, Kent, featuring over 40 stores, leisure facilities like a casino and cinema, and ample parking. It is housed indoors across three floors and offers a modern retail and leisure experience.

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 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 Priory Meadow Shopping Centre

Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings is a large indoor retail complex featuring numerous stores and a notable cricket-themed statue outside, offering a typical shopping experience with extensive parking.

Located in Hastings

Hastings is a historic seaside town and borough in East Sussex, England, known for its medieval old town, fishing fleet, cultural events, and coastal landmarks like Hastings Castle and Pier.

3 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.

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 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 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 Dymchurch Martello Tower

Dymchurch Martello Tower is a historic coastal defence tower in Kent, England, now serving as a museum showcasing the history of Martello towers. Visitors can explore the restored tower and learn about its role in protecting the coastline during the early 19th century.

3 miles from 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.

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.

Near Swingfield Preceptory

Swingfield Preceptory, also known as St John's Commandery, is a historic 13th-century Knights Hospitaller priory near Folkestone, Kent, featuring a surviving chapel and historic farmhouse architecture under English Heritage care.

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.

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 New Ideas and Old Loves: Sissinghurst and Italy

26 Sep 2026–6 Jun 2027 (another 240 days)

An exhibition exploring the influence of Italy on Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, featuring objects, love letters, photographs and multimedia experiences.

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.

Near Faversham Stone Chapel

Faversham Stone Chapel is a unique medieval chapel built atop a Romano-British mausoleum, combining Roman architectural remains with historic church features in Kent. The site presents both indoor historical structures and an outdoor setting for visitors to explore.

3 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.

3 miles from Whitefriars Shopping Centre

Whitefriars Shopping Centre is a large indoor shopping mall in Canterbury, Kent, featuring over 70 shops across three floors and a large multi-storey car park. The centre combines modern retail with historical significance, located on a former monastic site and includes specialized shopping arcades.

Near 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.

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 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 Captured by Caricature: Max Beerbohm and Henry James

9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…

An exhibition exploring the connection between Max Beerbohm and Henry James, featuring Beerbohm’s caricatures of James alongside sketches by William Rothenstein and John Singer Sargent.

2 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.

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 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.

Located in Folkestone

Folkestone is a historic coastal town in Kent known for its harbour, cultural arts scene, Edwardian architecture, and connections to maritime and religious heritage. It offers a walkable town centre, beaches, scenic promenades, and links to major transport routes including rail and the Channel Tunnel.

Near 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 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.

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 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.

2 miles from Book of the Month

9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…

Visitors can discover a featured novel inspired by or connected to Lamb House and the history of its notable residents. The featured book changes monthly.

Near St Augustine's Conduit House

St Augustine's Conduit House is a medieval archaeological site in Canterbury featuring a historic water supply system for St Augustine's Abbey with surviving 12th century structure and tunnels.

2 miles from St John's Commandery

St John's Commandery is a 13th-century medieval chapel and hall with notable architectural features, open for external viewing during daylight hours and internal visits by appointment. It offers a glimpse into the history of the Knights Hospitallers and later farmhouse conversion in Dover, Kent.

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 Styling Smallhythe: From the functional to the unconventional

7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…

A display at Smallhythe Place traces changes in women’s fashion from the late 1800s into the 1900s, using clothing, photographs and paintings to explore changing attitudes and the lives of some of the house’s residents.

Located in Hythe

Hythe is a historic market town on the edge of Romney Marsh in Kent, England, known for its medieval architecture, maritime history as a Cinque Port, and unique local attractions like the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.

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.

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.

2 miles from Sutton Valence Castle

Sutton Valence Castle is the ruins of a small 12th-century Norman keep offering dramatic panoramic views over East Sussex and Kent. Visitors can explore outdoor historic remains with free entry during daylight hours, though access involves a steep path with steps. Dogs on leads are welcome and parking is available nearby on Broad Street.

2 miles from Object of the month

7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…

Visitors can discover collection items linked to the history of Smallhythe Place and Ellen Terry, including theatre props and historic pub objects from the 1800s. The items are rotated monthly and displayed inside the house.

3 miles from Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre

Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre is a historic Roman site featuring reconstructed timber gateways, ruins, and an interactive museum showcasing Roman Britain history. Visitors can climb the gateway for views, explore earthworks, follow family trails, and enjoy an immersive audio tour.

3 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.

Near 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 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.

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 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.

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.