22 Fun Things to Do in Kent: A Local’s Guide

I’ve lived in Kent for more than 30 years, and this guide is what I’d tell a friend coming to visit; the places I still recommend without hesitation, and the ones I keep returning to myself.

Between the coastline, the castles, and more independent farms and vineyards than you could visit in a year, Kent earns its Garden of England nickname many times over.

It’s also one of the largest counties in England, so no single list can cover everything, but these are the 22 experiences I’d point a visitor toward first.

Here are 22 of the best things to do in Kent.

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🏰 Castles and history

1. Spend the day at Hever Castle

📍 Address: Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG

⭐ Best for: Tudor history

🕰️ Opening times: Castle daily 12:00 to 17:00, gardens 10:30 to 18:00, varies by season – check the website

🎟️ Prices: From £17.15 for gardens only online, to £61.10 for a family ticket to castle and gardens on the day

Hever Castle was Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, right on Kent’s western border, and it packs an enormous amount of Tudor history into a compact, beautiful site. I have very fond childhood memories of getting lost in the yew maze here.

Depending on when you visit, you might catch a jousting tournament, row on the lake, watch outdoor theatre, or get soaked in the water maze.

The gardens alone, clearly the work of a dedicated team, make this one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kent.

2. Immerse yourself in the history of Dover Castle

📍 Address: Castle Hill Rd, Dover CT16 1HU

⭐ Best for: WW2 history

🕰️ Opening times: Daily 10:00 to 17:00

🎟️ Prices: Adult from £23.60, child (5 to 17) from £14.50, concession from £20.90

Owned by English Heritage, Dover Castle spans 900 years of history, and I’m always bowled over by the sheer variety of it.

Don’t skip the cliff tunnels, used as a headquarters and hospital during WW2, and on a clear day you should be able to spot France from the clifftop.

👉 Book your Dover Castle admission ticket in advance.

3. Marvel at the splendour of Leeds Castle

📍 Address: Leeds Castle, Maidstone ME17 1PL

⭐ Best for: History meets adventure

📅 Opening times: Castle daily 10:30 to 17:30, grounds and gardens daily 10:00 to 18:00

Often called “the loveliest castle in the world,” Leeds Castle spans 900 years of history across 500 acres of parkland, complete with a maze leading to a secret grotto. There’s plenty for children too, from themed playgrounds and adventure golf to a land train and boat.

If you want something more adventurous, take a hot air balloon ride over the grounds, or try the Go Ape high ropes course on site.

👉 Book your Leeds Castle admission.

4. Pay a visit to Canterbury Cathedral

📍 Address: Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH

⭐ Best for: An iconic cathedral and a university-city atmosphere

Canterbury Cathedral carries 1,400 years of history and is quite breathtaking, making it one of the best destinations in Kent for a romantic city break.

The wider city, with its medieval streets and boutique shops, can easily fill a couple of days. Don’t miss Westgate Gardens for a picnic or a punt down the river in summer.

While you’re in the area, I’d really recommend a visit to The Pig at Bridge Place if you’re after a delicious meal. 

👉 Book a guided walking tour to make sure you see all the highlights, or discover my favourite afternoon tea spots in Canterbury.

5. Visit The Historic Dockyard in Chatham

📍 Address: Main Gate Rd, Chatham ME4 4TZ

⭐ Best for: Naval history

📅 Opening times: Daily 10:00 to 17:00, April to October; 10:00 to 16:00 in the shoulder months; closed December and January

Even if you’re not a naval history buff, The Historic Dockyard has plenty to offer, including three very different ships to explore: a Cold War submarine, a WW2 destroyer, and a Victorian sloop. 

It’s also a well-known filming location for shows like Call the Midwife and Mr Selfridge – and I know that because I was a regular extra on the latter back in my university days!

👉 Book a themed tour if you want to spot the filming locations for yourself.

🌊 Coast and nature

6. Hike around Botany Bay

📍 Address: Marine Dr, Cliftonville, Broadstairs CT10 3LG

⭐ Best for: Coastal hiking trails

⏰ Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

So few Kent residents seem to know Botany Bay exists, which is remarkable given the landscape here: orange sand set against chalk cliffs and sea stacks.

Park on the cliff and walk down for a good stretch of the legs, with plenty to imagine among the smugglers’ history.

Check the tide times before you go, since it’s possible to get cut off, and it’s well worth exploring the rock pools while you’re down there.

At the end of your adventure, try the delicious fare at The Botany Bay Hotel.

7. Experience the eerie landscapes of Dungeness

Dungeness is one of the strangest places in Kent, a sprawling shingle beach scattered with abandoned boats, rusting machinery, and the nuclear power station looming behind it all.

It feels like somewhere abandoned in a hurry, and it’s one of the best spots in the county for photography and bird-watching.

You’ll often see it called Britain’s only desert, but that’s a myth the Met Office debunked back in 2015 (Dungeness gets nearly three times the rainfall needed to qualify).

What is true is that it’s one of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe and a nationally important nature reserve, home to hundreds of plant species that shouldn’t really survive here.

Look out for Prospect Cottage, or head up the Grade II listed Old Lighthouse. Stop for a coastal walk and a bite at The Pilot Inn, or the Snack Shack in summer.

8. Explore the seaside town of Whitstable

Whitstable is a working fishing town as much as a pretty one, and it’s particularly famous for its oysters.

Wander the narrow lanes lined with boutique shops and oyster bars, walk the shingle beach, or watch the fishermen bring in their catch at the harbour.

If your visit coincides with the annual Oyster Festival, it’s well worth joining in. Whitstable is one of the best UK foodie breaks you can take.

🍃 Nature & gardens

9. Stay amid wilderness at Elmley Nature Reserve

This 3,300-acre reserve on the Isle of Sheppey is about as far from the hustle of urban life as Kent gets.

Stay overnight in a shepherd’s hut or bell tent and wake up to wetlands, birdlife and the distant call of wild creatures, including avocets, lapwings, hares and, if you’re lucky, a short-eared owl.

10. Visit the lavender fields at Castle Farm

Castle Farm is home to some of the most photogenic lavender fields in the county, at their best from late June to late July. But there’s plenty to enjoy here outside that short window too.

The farm shop sells their own lavender oil, honey and seasonal produce, and the café is a nice stop whatever time of year you visit.

If you do time it right for the lavender, book one of their lavender field massages for something a little different, or simply wander the rows with your camera.

Castle Farm is one of the best things to do in the Sevenoaks area, and well worth a look year-round rather than saving it for July alone.

11. Explore the fairytale ruins of Scotney Castle

📍 Address: Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells TN3 8JN

⭐ Best for: Castle ruins and picture-perfect gardens

🕰️ Opening times: Estate and gardens daily 10:00 to 17:00 (or dusk if earlier); house and old castle Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 17:00

🎟️ Prices: Adult £15.50, child (5 to 17) £7.75, family (2 adults, 3 children) £39

Scotney Castle is one of the most photogenic spots in the whole county. It’s a moated 14th-century ruin set below a Victorian country house, surrounded by gardens designed specifically to show the old castle off at its best.

Car park bookings are essential here, so plan ahead rather than turning up on the day. Combine it with Sissinghurst nearby for a full day among some of Kent’s finest gardens.

12. Wander the celebrated gardens at Sissinghurst

📍 Address: Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Biddenden Rd, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook TN17 2AB

⭐ Best for: One of England’s most influential gardens

🕰️ Opening times: Daily, with seasonal variation; last entry 16:45

🎟️ Prices: Adult £15.50, child (5 to 17) £7.75, family (2 adults, 3 children) £39

Created by the writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson in the 1930s, Sissinghurst is one of the most influential gardens in England.

The White Garden alone draws visitors from around the world. Climb the Elizabethan tower for a view over the whole garden before exploring it at ground level.

It’s only around 20 minutes from Scotney Castle, so the two pair naturally if you want a full day among some of Kent’s finest gardens.

👉 You may enjoy my Kent and Sussex gardens road trip itinerary.

🦁 Wildlife

13. Go on safari at Port Lympne Animal Reserve

Run by the Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne lets you get up close and personal to rhinos, tigers, lions and giraffes on an authentic safari through the reserve. I’ve stayed here twice, and both times were unforgettable.

My favourite accommodation options are the Leopard Creek Wigwam and the Giraffe Lodge.

Though if you have the budget, the Lion and Tiger Lodges with their floor-to-ceiling windows are worth the splurge for a special occasion.

You’ll get a golf buggy to explore the site during your stay, which is a super fun way to get around.

14. Visit The Big Cat Sanctuary

The Big Cat Sanctuary, familiar to fans of the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries, does important conservation work.

It’s not somewhere you can just turn up to, aside from open days, so book an experience in advance. Whether that’s a photography workshop, an overnight safari, or a Paul Hollywood afternoon tea in the conservatory.

15. Trek with alpacas at Alpaca Annie

Alpaca Annie lets you trek with wonderfully docile, friendly alpacas across the distinctive Romney Marsh landscape.

It’s close to Camber Sands, Greatstone Beach, and the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, so it pairs well with a wider day out on the marsh.

🤩 Adventure

16. Get the adrenaline pumping with a Dover Sea Safari

A Dover Sea Safari combines the iconic white cliffs with a solid dose of adrenaline, and the odd curious seal along the way.

Choose the speedboat if you want the thrill, or the cruising yacht for something more sedate.

17. Go scrambling at High Rocks

High Rocks is a national monument, and the landscape is unlike anything else in the county. 

Your ticket covers a two-hour wander, and it’s worth checking opening times before you visit, since the rocks are sometimes closed to the public.

🎡 Family fun

18. Revel in the nostalgia at Dreamland in Margate

Dreamland is vintage funfair magic by the sea. It’s home to the Scenic Railway, one of the UK’s oldest rollercoasters, alongside classic waltzers, live music and food stalls.

It’s a little quirky, and that’s exactly why I love it.

19. Escape from Prison Island in Maidstone

Prison Island is an escape-room concept with around 25 different cells, each taking just one to five minutes to solve using brains or brawn.

There’s also adventure golf, AR darts and shuffleboard if escape rooms aren’t quite your thing.

20. Explore Knole Park in Sevenoaks

Knole Park is a vast deer park covering 383 hectares, managed largely by the National Trust alongside Knole House itself. It changes character through the year, from a summer picnic among hazy grasses to a snowy walk through a winter wonderland.

The house is worth exploring too, particularly the showrooms and the Gatehouse Tower.

🍷 Food and drink

21. Go wine tasting at a Kent vineyard

Kent is squarely in the heart of England’s wine country, and Chapel Down Winery in Tenterden is one of the best-known names, with everything from a simple vineyard walk and tasting to a deluxe three-course experience.

I’d also recommend Mount Vineyard in Shoreham for excellent wine tastings and some of the best pizza you’ll find at a vineyard.

If you’d like to explore further afield, I’ve put together a full guide to wine tasting in Kent covering more of the county’s vineyards in detail.

22. Go beer tasting on a Shepherd Neame Brewery Tour

Established in 1698, Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewer, and its guided tour covers the traditional mash tuns, the aroma of the old hop kilns, and a tasting session of classic and contemporary brews at the end.

It’s a surprisingly interesting way to spend an afternoon even if you’re only a casual beer drinker

Suggested day groupings

Insider tips for visiting Kent

FAQs

How long do I need to see the best of Kent?

A weekend covers a good cross-section of castles, coast and food, but a full week lets you explore at a relaxed pace without rushing between areas.

Is Kent a good day trip from London?

Yes, many of Kent’s highlights, including Canterbury, Whitstable and Leeds Castle, are under two hours from London by train or car, making them realistic as a day trip if your time is limited.

What are the best family-friendly things to do in Kent?

Leeds Castle, Dreamland Margate, Port Lympne Animal Reserve and Prison Island in Maidstone are all strong choices for families with children of most ages.

Is Dungeness really Britain’s only desert?

No, this is a popular but debunked myth. The Met Office confirmed in 2015 that Dungeness receives far more rainfall than the threshold used to classify a desert, though it remains one of Europe’s largest shingle expanses and an important nature reserve.

Continue planning your trip to Kent

Kent packs an enormous amount into one county, and I’m sure I’ll be back with more recommendations before long.

For more inspiration, discover the best coastal towns in Kent, my guide to the best things to do in Eastbourne in neighbouring East Sussex, or my pick of the best spa hotels in Kent if you fancy a relaxing getaway.