Kent Things to Do

  Broadstairs Food Festival, Kent, UK.
by planxty
 
  • Broadstairs Food Festival, Kent, UK.
      Broadstairs Food Festival, Kent, UK.
    by planxty
  • Turner's view of Margate
      Turner's view of Margate
    by bumpychick
  •   Things to Do
    by TheLongTone
  • Punting Canterbury
      Punting Canterbury
    by ashlez1
  • Low tide in the Harbour
      Low tide in the Harbour
    by St_Vincent
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Scotney Castle

by Mariajoy

Scotney Castle was home to the Hussey family since 1778 and given to the National Trust in 1970. The property is situated just off the A 21 at Lamberhurst. The New House is built from sandstone which was quarried from the estate (now landscaped gardens). Its ground floor is open to visitors and one can wander the grounds, buy refreshments in the walled garden, see the old 18th century Scotney Castle, and admire the lakes and beautiful gardens.For details of opening times/ticket prices/special events etc visit the National Trust website. Entrance is free to National Trust members.

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Hever Castle

by ChrisnJan

The childhood home of Ann Boleyn, second wife of Henry viii, this is one of my favorite places to visit locally to where I live. The oldest part of the castle, the gatehouse, dates back to 1720. Having passed through centuries of ownership by Tudor Royals and various wealthy families, the castle fell into a bad state of disrepair during the 1700's. In 1903 William Waldorf Astor bought the castle and poured a lot of time and money into restoring it. He also built the Tudor village as well as the superb gardens that surround the property. The castle itself is very impressive from the outside and from the minute you cross the drawbridge, pass through the gatehouse and into the courtyard, you can get a real feel of times gone by. Furnished with many Tudor portraits, furniture and artefacts, this place has so much atmosphere it really is easy to visualize Tudor queens sauntering past you in...

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Hever Castle Gardens

by ChrisnJan

These gardens are absolutely superb anytime of year. The Italian Garden was designed specifically to display Lord Astor’s collection of Italian sculptures and the flowerbeds are crammed with colour. There is an information kiosk, tea rooms bars and restaurants in the grounds, although personally I feel this is a perfect place for a picnic on the lawn. Ther is also a large lake where you can hire boats during the summer months. Discounted admission into the gardens can be bought if you do not intend going into the castle and dogs are allowed into the gardens but must be kept on leads at all times.

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Downderry Lavender Nursery

by Mariajoy

This lovely nursery in the heart of Kent near Tonbridge, grows a vast array of different types of lavender and offers excellent advice to anyone who is interested in growing lavender.There is a very small shop selling all kinds of lavender products from books to bags, from soap to mugs and with varying prices.

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Headcorn

by Jenniflower

Further into Kent and another interesting name for yet another interesting village!It is very close to Biddenden, and we ventured here in search of a cream tea, when the recommended tea place in Biddenden proved to be closed! But we were glad we came here as the tea was superb, as was the scone (have a look at my restaurant tip re it!).Headcorn has a rather interesting history! It started out as a 'den' or clearing of land, where pigs lived. Later on, this land was given to the Maison Dieu at Ospringe, near Faversham the King Henry III. From then on, a weekly market started and the village grew from there.Under King Edward III the weaving industry flourished in this village, and Headcorn's prosperity can be attributed to this era.It is by no means a large town, but it is small and bustling, with a life of its own. Plus the tea and scones are divine!

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Hever Castle

by Jenniflower

We love castles, and needed to go and see one with some friends of ours.Taking into account their age, a castle like Warwick Castle was off limits due to the many steep steps there are, so we had to go to a castle that wasnt too far out of London, plus that was small enough for them, plus with not too many steps!In Hever Castle we found this! We were delighted.It is essentially a fortified home, with stunning gardens and a man-made lake too. This was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn in 1505AD, who later married King Henry VIII in 1533AD. He himself stayed here and his is a very masculine, timber-filled room. Hers is a smaller room, with a large fireplace. Her original headboard for her bed is there still, with her name carved into it. In the library next door are ancient books they read, and I particulalry liked a little blue book that was beautifully printed by one of the first...

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Hever Castle gardens

by Jenniflower

Hever Castle has a large garden surrounding it.This section of the garden is to the front and side of the castle. The more formal, Italian Garden, is to the rear of the castle, where the 35 acre lake is found.As mentioned in my other garden tip, 1000 men worked on these gardens for a few years, creating a beautiful and rolling garden out of what was essentially marshland. It has taken many years to mature and is reaching that maturity only now.The contained rose garden contains over 3,000 plants alone.There is a Yew Maze, and a water maze (built on Sixteen Acre Island), which is very popluar with the children!I have taken quite a few photos of the gardens and will upload them shortly into travelogues on my Kent page.

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Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

by ChrisnJan

This beautiful garden was created by Vita Sackville-West & Harold Nicolson in the 1930's on the site of an old manor house. The old manor house was allowed to fall into ruin and an impressive brick mansion was built to replace it, of which the long front range still survives today. Between 1560 and 1570 Sir Richard Baker built a magnificent Elizabethan house on the site. In 1756 was rented by the government and used as a prison camp for French prisoners of war. The property is now owned and maintained by the National Trust.Being National Trust members and living so close we visit this property regularly. The garden is beautiful and worth visiting any time of the year, but personally my favorite time to visit is spring.

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Dungeness - More than just the Power Station?

by Mariajoy

Built in 1965 the Dungeness power station in Kent is situated on a shingle headland which is also a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and nature reserve and RSPB bird sanctuary. As well as holiday accommodation, the locals live in this thriving little community of fishermen, artists and people just seeking the quiet life - and it really couldn't get any quieter. Just the eerie *thrummmmmm* of the power station 24-7 can be heard over the sound of the sea and the wind, and it is VERY windy here!There is a shell-fish shop, a pub (The Britannia) and a few of the houses sell *free range* (no sign of any chickens) eggs, and veg - you just leave the money in the tin outside. I bought some - but am having second thoughts about eating them!! There is plenty of car parking available here too.It seems like a strange place, and why anyone would choose to live here is beyond me... it is just...

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Dungeness Lighthouse

by Mariajoy

This was closed on the day we visited - but I'm sure it was a boon to sailors when it was erected as this stretch of coast was (is still) notoriously treacherous and has saved many seafarers from a watery grave.Please see the website for further details.

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Fun things to do in Kent

Top 3 Hotels in Kent

The County Hotel  Canterbury

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Premier Inn Dover - West  Dover

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Grand Burstin Hotel  Folkestone

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250 Hotels in Kent
 
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Reviews and photos of Kent attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Kent sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Kent
  1. Canterbury Things to Do
  2. Dover Things to Do
  3. Folkestone Things to Do
  4. Tunbridge Wells Things to Do
  5. Maidstone Things to Do
  6. Broadstairs Things to Do
  7. Margate Things to Do
  8. Rochester Things to Do
  9. Hythe Things to Do
  10. Chatham Things to Do
  11. Ramsgate Things to Do
  12. Dartford Things to Do
  13. Sevenoaks Things to Do
  14. Sissinghurst Things to Do
  15. Tonbridge Things to Do
  16. Deal Things to Do
  17. Sandgate Things to Do
  18. Shoreham Things to Do
  19. Farnborough Things to Do
  20. Lympne Things to Do

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Questions and Answers

collegeprof profile photo

Q:  My husband and I are planning a visit to Kent for several days to tour the lovely gardens in early June. Which would you... 

rexvaughan profile photo

A: I can't respond to all your questions, but can tell you that Sissinghurst is a magnificent garden. We were there in early September and loved it. We took the train from... 

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