Family attractions

1. BLUEWATER
Best known for its retail therapy, Bluewater also has plenty to offer those who would rather stay out of the shops. Parents with young children can rejoice as your buggy glides effortlessly across the smooth marble floors of the mall. Two laps of the lower concourse and they should drop off. For fresh air and a spot of sport, head out through the Winter Garden to the Pirate Cove Adventure Park. You’ll have to go a long way to find a better mini golf course in Kent and here’s a tip for busy periods – start at the 18th hole and work backwards.
Postcode: DA9 9ST
Contact: www.bluewater.co.uk or www.piratecove.co.uk

2. OAD STREET CENTRE, BORDEN
For those of you who enjoy afternoon tea, why not pay Oad Street Centre a visit? A choice of homemade jams, scones and cakes are the perfect tasty complement to the quaint surroundings transport you back to a time when life seemed far less stressful. And there’s more. The gift shop, selling everything from silk flowers to locally-produced ciders, wine and chutney, plus an arthouse gallery displaying paintings, wall sculptures and ceramics to name a few, deserves a look, too.
Postcode: ME9 8LB
Contact: www.oadstreetcentre.co.uk

3. CANTERBURY TALES
Ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era, at The Canterbury Tales you can do just that. Step into medieval Canterbury and accompany Geoffrey Chaucer’s colourful characters on their magical pilgrimage from London to the shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Along the way, their stories of love, romance, jealousy and trickery are vividly recreated with all the fun and excitement of Chaucer’s famous tales.
Postcode: CT1 2TG
Contact: www.canterburytales.org.uk

4. PENSHURST PLACE
Ideal for a fine day, a drive through some of Kent’s beautiful countryside surrounding Tunbridge Wells brings you out to this little gem. Penshurst is a pretty, unspoilt, village with quaint little tea rooms. At the top of a hill just outside the village is the Spotted Dog, a 15th century pub with beams and open fires, and breathtaking views over Penshurst Place and Gardens. The famous ancestral home once owned by Henry VIII is one for all the family as well as those interested in history. There’s also an adventure playground, gardens to explore and a restaurant.
Postcode: TN11 8DG
Contact: www.penshurstplace.com

5. SHEPHERD NEAME BREWERY, FAVERSHAM
Faversham-based brewery Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewer, so it must be doing something right. Find out more on an 80-minute tour – gaze into traditional mash tuns, taste natural mineral water from the brewery’s well, try malted barley, smell locally grown hops and see how traditional methods and state-of-the-art technology produce a great range of Kentish ales and speciality lagers. Afterwards experience an enlightening tutored tasting – audience participation is encouraged!
Postcode: ME13 7AX
Contact: www.shepherdneame.co.uk

6. ROMAN VILLA, LULLINGSTONE
One of the most outstanding surviving villas in the county. This example in the heart of the Darent Valley was begun around AD 100, and developed to suit the tastes and beliefs of successive wealthy owners, reaching its peak of luxury in the mid-4th century. Visitors can view the spectacular mosaics and rare wall paintings, a heated bath-suite and a ‘house-church’. A light show brings the villa to life, and galleries display Lullingstone’s collection of Roman artefacts. Kids will love trying on the Roman costumes and playing board games from the period.
Postcode: DA4 0JA
Contact: www.english-heritage.org.uk

7. MONKSHILL FARM, GRAVENEY
An idyllic working farm overlooking the coastline at Graveney, Monkshill Farm has the animals and playground to suit little ones. Not only that, the delicious homemade treats, cold drinks and fresh local produce create a climate in which adults can chill out, too. What’s more, it’s completely free! The Royal School for Deaf Children Margate bought Monkshill Farm in 1995 and it is now part of the John Townsend Trust. The farm, which rears cows, pigs, sheep and free range laying hens in the traditional way, is on the north Kent coast overlooking the Thames Estuary and the beautiful countryside in Waterham, between Faversham and Whitstable. It is now a successful working farm with a fantastic farm shop, which has been the best-kept-secret of many a parent in the local area - until now!
Postcode: ME13 9EH
Contact: www.johntownsendtrust.org.uk/monkshillfarm

8. BEWL WATER, LAMBERHURST
Hidden in picturesque countryside, straddling the border between Kent and East Sussex, Bewl Water Country Park is a hive of activity during the summer months. The reservoir, set in 1,000 acres of land, has a popular cycle path and loads of water sports including wind surfing, rowing and canoeing. Just off the A21 at Lamberhurst, 15 miles from Tunbridge Wells, there is also a cafe and bistro which offers breathtaking views of the reservoir. It costs £8 for a car of five people, any additional person is £2. Walk in and pay £4.
Postcode: TN3 8JH
Contact: www.bewlwater.co.uk

9. KNOLE, SEVENOAKS
Almost hidden away in the town centre, Knole offers a medieval deer park that is perfect for a family summertime stroll or a long, lazy picnic. Children love watching the deer run wild and it is a safe place for them to use their scooters, learn to ride their bikes or have a kickabout. History buffs can explore the former Archbishop’s Palace while art lovers can admire works by Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck as well as host of 17th century tapestries. Knole is managed by the National Trust and will soon be home to a bookshop cafe and a visitor centre.
Postcode: TN15 0RP
Contact: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

10. STANHILL FARM, WILMINGTON
There’s nothing quite like enjoying the fruits of your labour and that’s exactly what you can do at Stanhill Farm. Picking strawberries has long been a kids’ favourite and every year the excitement never seems to fade. The obvious perk, apart from being outside, is being able to eat on the job. Alongside the strawberries, they also have raspberries, blackberries, peas and beans on offer. So, pick the fruits, go to the farm shop and enjoy a picnic on the field.
Postcode: DA2 7HD
Contact: www.stanhillfarm.co.uk

11. CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE
Summer days will be crazy indeed at oddball Chiddingstone Castle and its gardens, out in the sticks near Tonbridge. Once safely in, (it’s closed on Saturdays) you can see Bonnie Prince Charlie’s drinks bill, terrifying samurai suits of armour and ridiculously important stuff taken from ancient Egyptian tombs. The astonishing collections were the work of eccentric Denys Bower, who was once slammed up in Wormwood Scrubs for accidentally shooting an ex-girlfriend. Oh, and by the way, this isn’t really a castle. To focus your giddy mind, you’ll need a sausage bun in the courtyard cafe.
Postcode: TN8 7AD
Contact: www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Check out the rest of the 68 summer days out

Free, fab and fun

Sporting days out Along the coast

Doing it for the kids

Where the wild things are

Parks and green spaces

Perfect places for a pint

Off the beaten track