10 Kent attractions to visit during the summer holidays, including Port Lympne, Leeds Castle and Dover Castle

Kent has many wonderful places to visit, from historic castles to beautiful gardens and muddy farms.

Looking for somewhere to spend time with the family this summer? We have 10 top locations for you that guarantee a great day out…

BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK, Deal

If you’re looking to get out and about with the family this summer, there are loads of fantastic outdoor activities to do in Betteshanger. From inflatable obstacle courses to army-style boot camps, cycle routes, forestry school and walking trails, the park is packed with challenges for all the family.

Details: Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6.30pm. Admission is free, but parking fees apply.

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BROGDALE, Faversham

During the six weeks of summer holidays, Brogdale Farm in Faversham is hosting a range of things for families to see and do. There’s outdoor cooking, juice workshops, mini-beast days, tractor trailer tours, pick-your-own-fruit weekends and orchard walks. And for the grown-ups, the annual Cider Festival returns for the August bank holiday weekend.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free, but individual events require tickets.

Dover Castle

Dover Castle is taking visitors back to the Middle Ages this summer. The Medieval Season is all about traditional activities and historical battles, including combat classes, archery, medieval games and immersive plays. There’s also the new Dover Castle Under Siege exhibition, featuring digital recreations of times gone by and a play area with interactive elements.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 6pm. Adult tickets cost £25.90 and can be booked online here.

FRAMPTON FARM, near Dover

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The owners of this working farm in Church Hougham, about 10 minutes outside Dover, have decided that now is the time to open their doors to the public. There are school holiday clubs that give children the chance to be a farmer for a day, while visitors of all ages can spend a day on the farm meeting the animals. You can even book afternoon tea with the alpacas!

Details: Open daily from 9am to 4pm. Adult tickets start at £20 and can be booked online here.

HEVER CASTLE, near Edenbridge

Take part in a range of hands-on activities with a time-travel outing. Visitors will meet a pair of ambitious adventurers who are stuck on their journey through space and time at Hever Castle. You can help them find their way home by solving riddles, defeating knights and using codes.

Details: Open daily from 10.30am to 6pm. Adult tickets cost £23.35 and can be booked online here.

HISTORIC SHIPYARD, Chatham

Visit one of Kent’s greatest maritime attractions and enjoy a slice of high seas history. As well as impressive naval vessels, submarines and the rope-making workshop, you can also become a detective for a day during the school holidays. Crack the codes to discover who sold the Royal Navy’s secrets and earn a reward for your help – and best of all, children get free entry to the shipyard all summer to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Adult tickets cost £28.50 and can be booked online here.

KENT LIFE, Maidstone

Get ready for some exciting live entertainment as Kent Life’s Big Top puts on a brand new show every week over the festive period. There will also be Olympic themed games, from relay races to sack races, and lots of animal encounters with the farm’s four-legged residents.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Adult tickets cost £12.50 and can be booked online here.

LEEDS CASTLE, near Maidstone

Make a whole day of it at Leeds Castle with just about everything you could want from a summer’s day. There’s a woodland trail, outdoor play areas, bird of prey displays, mini golf and even a chance to kick back and relax on the castle’s man-made beach.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 6pm. Adult tickets cost £31.50 and can be booked online here.

PENSHURST PLACE, near Tonbridge

Test your skills with archery, axe throwing and laser clay shooting at Penshurst Place. Set in 11 acres of Grade I listed gardens, the estate also offers plenty of entertainment for kids with storytelling, summer crafts, falconry displays, woodland trails and marshmallow making.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Adult tickets cost £15 and can be booked online here.

PORT LYMPNE HOTEL AND RESERVE, Hythe

Get up close and personal with Port Lympne’s incredible 900 animals. The vast wildlife park spans over 600 hectares and includes a safari experience where you can hop on an authentic truck and drive out onto the Kentish savannah to see giraffes, zebras and rhinos roaming the grounds. You can also explore the historic manor house, capture fantastic views of the countryside and stop for a meal in the Garden Room or Bear Lodge restaurants.

Details: Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. Adult tickets cost £32 and can be booked online here.

SHAUN THE SHEEP TRAIL, Maidstone

There’s still time to explore the new Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent trail, which opened in Maidstone at the end of June. Over 100 large and small sculptures of the much-loved cartoon character, all designed by talented artists, are dotted around the county town and you can download a free trail map to help you follow and find the sculptures.

Details: Open daily until Friday 30 August. The path is free to access.

WALMER CASTLE, near Deal

Walmer Castle is looking for keen explorers to join its summer quest. Follow the path through the castle gardens, which are in full bloom with seasonal flowers, and enjoy a nod to the monument’s history along the way. Once you’re done at the castle, you can always stop off at the beach, just a few minutes’ walk away.

Details: Open daily from 10am to 5pm. Adult tickets start at £16.