10 Best Things to Do in Kent

Diggerland offers a unique theme park experience where kids and adults alike can safely operate real dumpers, diggers, and other full-sized construction machinery. With 20 different rides and drives, it’s great for a family or group outing.

Make sure to try the Spindizzy, the Skyshuttle and the Groundshuttle rides, where you get the chance to sit at the bucket of a JCB digger and be lifted and carried around. If you want rides where you’re in control, there are the Dodgems, Mini Landrovers, and Go-Karts for some driving fun.

Leeds Castle is set on 2 islands in a beautiful lake fed by the River Len. It looks like something straight out of a picture book with its majestic medieval structure, lovely formal gardens, a maze, and an underground grotto, all set in 500 acres of parkland. It’s known as the “Castle of Queens, Queen of Castles” for having housed 6 medieval queens throughout its 900 years of history.

There are several playgrounds in the premise, where children can have their fun, like the Knights’ Stronghold and the Squires’ Courtyard. If you’re interested in wildlife, the castle’s surrounding woodlands and large lakes are home to a wide variety of bird species.

Port Lympne Reserve is one of the largest wild animal parks in the country. You can see giraffes, black rhinos, wild cats, and primates roaming its 600-acre premise. It offers an authentic safari experience, with 100 acres of the reserve turned into a savannah just for the African animals. The reserve offers guided tours and bespoke safaris for a truly immersive experience.

The reserve offers some unique accommodation options if you want to stay overnight. You could have lions looking in through your living room window or rhinos for neighbours, depending on the room you choose.

The Royal Engineers Museum offers a riveting view of the history of British military engineering, complete with galleries, exhibitions, collections, and interactive displays. Discover how the Corps of Royal Engineers helped in ensuring the survival and victory of the British Army since the time of William the Conqueror.

Among the interactive displays available at the museum are opportunities for children to dress up in historic uniforms and try their hand at building a model fortress. Be sure to check out the military vehicles on display, which include the Harrier jump jet.

With 400 years of history, the Historic Dockyard Chatham has played a major role in the British naval defence in every war, including the Falklands dispute. The Dockyard offers a wide range of engaging activities, including an immersive walking cinema, hands-on exhibits of the key trades, and a walkthrough of HMS Namur, the ship beneath the floor. 

Don’t miss the life-sized model of HMS Victory, the flagship of Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar and an icon of the British naval power.

The Buckmore Park Kart Circuit offers a thrilling adventure for motorsports enthusiasts. Located in North Kent, it’s known as one of the best karting tracks in the UK and has been the breeding ground for budding drivers for over 50 years.

Whether it’s your first time trying out motorsport or you’ve been at it for a while, Buckmore has something for both children and adults. It offers 7 fleets of karts to suit different ages. If you want a more exhilarating adventure at breakneck speed, you can book a passenger ride with one of Buckmore’s instructors.

Chartwell House was the Kent home of Sir Winston Churchill, where he spent his time painting, writing, and entertaining. It still houses the largest collection of the English statesman’s paintings. The rooms have been maintained as they were when Churchill was alive, so that you can get a glimpse of his daily life, including his papers, photographs, books, and famous cigars.

After looking at the displays in the museum and exhibit rooms, take a stroll outside and explore the lovely family gardens and the surrounding lakes.

Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest cathedral in the UK after Canterbury. Founded in AD 604, the majestic architecture is a combination of Norman, Gothic, and Early-English Perpendicular – a combination that’s regarded as one of the finest in the country.

Stroll inside and admire medieval paintings on the walls, as well as the first genuine fresco painted in an English cathedral. There are interactive exhibits and interpretation panels inside where you can learn more about the cathedral 1,400 years of history.

The Home of Charles Darwin is a popular destination for those who want a glimpse of the life that the world-famous scientist lived. Located just 15 miles south of London, this Georgian manor was home to Darwin and his family for 40 years. Many of the rooms have been retained as they were when the family still lived here, including the study where he wrote On the Origin of Species.

The exhibit upstairs recreates Darwin’s voyage in HMS Beagle, including his cabin. Outside, you can explore the famed hothouses and sheltered gardens where Darwin devised his experiments and cultivated rare plant species.