Explore a world of things to do with kids in Kent

The county of Kent is best known as the home of Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of the Church of England, but it also offers a world of places to explore and adventure for adults and kids alike. On family days out in Kent, you could find yourself visiting art galleries and museums, exploring zoos, hiking trails in national parks, walking the colourful streets of quaint seaside towns and having all manner of fun and adventure. When you book your holiday travels here, you won’t lack for things to do, and you’re sure to have a travel experience that will create memories to last for many years to come.

1. Explore outdoor adventure parks in Kent

As you explore the cities, parks and wildlands of Kent County, you’ll find plenty of excitement and adventure at a wealth of adventure parks across the county. From riding rollercoasters and eating amusement park snacks to trying out rope climbs and zip lines, you’ll find just about any kind of adventure that you could ever want for a family day out in Kent. Kent adventure parks include everything from riding go-karts and operating real construction vehicles to playing archery tag and just riding bicycles along the cycling trails for a refreshing and serene time outdoors with the family.

2. Ride the rollercoasters at Dreamland theme park

If you’re looking for a classic amusement park experience for a day out with the kids, it’s hard to go wrong with Dreamland. This park offers rollercoasters, thrill rides, roller skating, live entertainment events and even a soft play area for the littler kids. Even better, admission to get into this park is completely free, though the individual rides and areas may carry a fee to enjoy. You can also purchase an all-access wristband to do all the things all day long. That makes this a potentially budget-friendly outing that also carries an atmosphere of adventure and excitement.

3. Play archery tag at Betteshanger adventure park

Betteshanger adventure park, located inside of Fowlmead Country Park, offers a world of fun and adventure. You can get out on miles of cycling trails to enjoy serene and peaceful days out with the kids in Kent, or you can head for the outdoor play area to let the kids run, jump and climb. You can enjoy an archery tag event or look for a wide range of native animals like butterflies, kestrels, frogs, newts, dragonflies, water voles and even owls that inhabit the area. It’s free to enter on foot or by bike, though vehicles will need to pay a fee to access the car park area.

4. Race go-karts at Buckmore Park Kart Circuit

If you’ve never ridden a go-kart before, Buckmore Park is the place to look for things to do on a family day out. You can hit the track, put the pedal to the metal and race your way to victory. Kids as young as 4 years old can even enjoy the Buckmore Park Kart Circuit. It’s one of the most advanced venues for karting in the entire UK, offering 12 turns and over 1,000 metres of track. Some of the karts can even reach 80 miles per hour, depending on the driving experience you choose to undertake.

5. Operate construction vehicles at Diggerland

Diggerland, in Medway, offers kids something that every child loves: the opportunity to play in the dirt and dig holes. Here, you can watch your young ones get on board a dump truck, digger and Land Rover and even behind the controls of a robot to ride, operate and drive. Of course, the park doesn’t stop at construction vehicles. Kids here can also enjoy an indoor play area, dodge ’em cars and more traditional theme-park-style rides. Visitors who hold certain careers and kids under a certain height even get into the park free, with nominal fees for everyone else.

6. Ride a zip line at Grosvenor Hall

Grosvenor Hall at Kingswood offers a whole range of outdoor and indoor adventure. Here, your day out with the kids in Kent can be filled with laser tag, archery ranges, zip-line rides, a rope course, a freefall jump and even canoeing on the open water. This venue also offers a 2,323-square-metre indoor sports hall and an indoor swimming pool. You can sign up for a full-day pass or you can buy a 5-day booking to really let you get the full experience.

7. Check out historic adventures on family days out in Kent

Kent isn’t just a haven for theme parks. Family days out in Kent can also include brilliant opportunities to check out ancient buildings and castles that let you take a walk to the distant past. From Deal to Canterbury and beyond, you’ll find ruins dating to the 11th century, still-standing castles that reach to the 14th century and many other options for historic adventures. You can witness a real joust, explore warships and submarines and walk the footsteps of kings and queens of old.

8. Visit the Historic Dockyard Chatham

At the Historic Dockyard Chatham, family-friendly fun in Kent takes on a whole new meaning. Here, the kids can get on board and explore 3 authentic warships as they learn about naval battles and submarines. They can explore a steam and steel exhibit or ride a steam train, and they’ll love blowing off steam of their own in the outdoor play areas. This location is also the site of a wealth of festivals, workshops, entertainment events and hands-on activities that are sure to excite and thrill both adults and kids of any age.

9. See a joust at Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle offers expansive gardens, an onsite maze for kids to navigate and even a wildlife exhibit where the kids can see animals up close. It’s all on the site of a real castle that has stood here for 9 centuries. Events and festivals are held here all year long, including live jousting tournaments where kids can cheer for their favourite knights as they compete in the horse, the sword and other history-themed entertainments. Kids can then hit the adventure play area and pretend to be knights themselves, or you can catch a falconry display where magnificent birds of prey take flight.

10. Walk back to the 11th century at Dover Castle

If you’re looking for an indoor adventure experience that’s still full of centuries-old history, it’s hard to beat Dover Castle. This 11th-century structure has been described as the ‘Key to England’ because it’s been such an important structure throughout the country’s history. It’s the largest original castle still standing in the country, and inside is a living museum with an underground hospital, the royal court of King Henry II and a maze of medieval tunnels to explore. It’s also a designated heritage site and members get in free, although others pay a nominal fee that helps to pay for the upkeep of the building.

11. Explore the former home of Anne Boelyn at Hever Castle

Hever Castle and Gardens is a heritage site that offers worlds of wonder on your days out with the kids in Kent. Upon entry, you can see the entire castle, still decorated in authentic Tudor fashion and style, which is the site where Anne Boelyn grew up. You can also explore the outside where the grounds offer a hedge maze, a water maze, peaceful and colourful gardens and even a calm lake. What really sets this attraction apart, however, are the costumed characters, including King Henry VIII himself, and a lively and realistic jousting tourney. There is a small entrance fee for non-members,

12. Walk the 14th-century ruins at Scotney Castle

The ruins of Scotney Castle offer a 2-for-1 experience for things to do with kids in Kent, the first being the ruins themselves, which are surrounded by a moat and unspoilt wilderness parkland. The second is the Victorian manor house on the grounds, which you can explore for an admission fee. You can spy from a priest hole in the castle ruins or check out a secret door in the house, which still features authentic Victorian decor. You can find a fossilised footprint of an iguanodon in the quarry garden and plenty of options for a natural play area for the kids to run.

13. See the wildlife at Kent animal experiences

What kid doesn’t love going to the zoo or getting up close and personal with new furry friends at an animal experience or nature reserve? In places like Wingham and all across Kent, you can find a wide range of options to pet animals, learn about their ecology and even see creatures you don’t get to see every day, like a real, live gorilla. Plan family days out in Kent by checking out exciting, interesting and thrilling animal experiences.

14. See leopards and tigers at Wingham Wildlife Park

You can create some truly unforgettable memories on days out with the kids in Kent with a visit to Wingham Wildlife Park. You’ll see mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, carnivores, herbivores and omnivores, hunters and scavengers and others. The zoo even offers a dinosaur exhibit where you can interact with ultra-realistic models of the T-rex, velociraptor and other species of ancient monsters, all larger than life. Throughout the year, you can choose from regular workshops, talks and feeding times to educate and entertain your whole family.

15. See a rhinoceros at Howletts Wild Animal Park

If you’re looking for a wide range of wild animals, Howletts Wild Animal Park brings you face to face with over 400 species. Not only can you see creatures like wolves and monkeys here, but you can see tigers, leopards and even rhinos spread across 40.5 hectares. One of the premier attractions at this animal park is an experience that allows you to learn all about creatures of the ice age. Other thrills for kids include a treetop rope course and the chance to interact with some of the interesting animals you’ll see.

16. Get face-to-face with local wildlife at Wildwood Discovery Park

Wildwood Discovery Park in Herne Bay lets you get face-to-face with British Wildlife from throughout history. Over 200 native animals are on display here, spread over 16 hectares of forested land. Besides enjoying all of the animals on display, you’ll find plenty more things to do with kids here, including trying one of Kent’s biggest drop slides. Other activities in the adventure playground include a tube slide, wild fort jungle gym and even treetop towers. Kids also get discounted entry into the park.

17. Meet an alpaca at Haguelands Village

Haguelands Village in the Romney Marsh area offers the opportunity to meet and pet an alpaca up close, as well as a range of other things to do with the kids in Kent. Here, you can dig for treasure, head for the bouncy castle and jump up and down or even play a game of Giant Jenga. This park is full of adventures and games, such as wandering your way through a maize maze (that’s corn) from July through early September every year. The cost to attend varies depending on the activities you try out.

18. See a live gorilla at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park

A trip to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park lets you plan family days out in Kent with thrilling wildlife experiences. You can see real-life giraffes, lions and even gorillas. The wild animal park offers 90 species and over 700 different animals. If you opt for the safari experience, you can even enjoy hands-on experiences to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that. Children get discount tickets and as a tip, it’s a good idea to book online – you’ll save a bit of cash when you do.

19. Other outdoor and indoor adventures across Kent

Of course, there are plenty of things to do – both outdoors and indoors – with kids in Kent, from Maidstone to Chatham and beyond. These allow for fun, exciting and even pulse-pounding adventures to be had. Want to introduce your kids to paintball but think they’re too young? Think again, because attractions here allow them to experience the thrill. You can ride bumper cars or hit the bouncy castles to try aerial tricks. You can even go crazy golfing on a Seven Seas-themed pirate adventure course. You’ll find Nerf wars, canoeing, racing and so many other experiences to make memories on your family days out in Kent.

20. Drive bumper cars at Hop Farm Family Park

The Hop Farm Family Park is an iconic destination for days out with the kids in Kent. This spot features not only animals but entertainment attractions and indoor and outdoor rides to enjoy all year long. The kids can visit with and pet the animals, or they can try their hand at a driving experience, ride thrill rides, enjoy jumping pillows and have fun on bumper cars. Live shows are put on all year long, and a soft play area is on offer for the little ones. It’s a full-featured, all-in-one entertainment experience with a set fee for entry and some activities carrying additional costs.

21. Get strategic at Force 10 Paintball

Hit the battlefield with all your friends and family, including the kids, at Force 10 Paintball in Chatham. Many adults love paintball but are concerned about the safety factor for their kids. Here, you don’t have to worry about that at all. In fact, you can book specialised sessions just for kids so your family days out in Kent will be completely focused on family. The course spans 10 hectares of land and has special zones to challenge grown-ups and kids alike. So set your strategy, split up into teams and test your mettle against your friends and family by pelting them with paintballs.

22. Burn off some steam at Kent Life

Kent Life is a wild and wonderful option for days out with the kids in Kent. At Kent Life, you can run wild in the open outdoor play area, get on pedal tractors and burn off your steam, do flips and tricks in the bouncy castle or even put the kids on the back of a donkey for a ride. You can get up close and personal with farm animals like alpacas, rabbits, goats, horses, pigs and sheep. Entry costs vary, with peak times costing a bit more than off-peak times. Whenever you go, it’s sure to be an experience the kids will remember for years.

23. Jump, flip and dodge your way around Soar Trampoline Park

If you’ve never been to a trampoline park, Soar Trampoline Park in Gillingham is a brilliant choice for your first visit to one. You can spend hours bouncing up and down on a range of different trampoline types, throw balls around and let the kids run and jump in events just for them. You can even access specialised toddler events for the younger kids on your trip. The sky truly is the limit for kids of every age here to fly, flip and let loose. The cost varies between peak and off-peak times, and online booking might save you a few pounds.

24. Try your hand at the rock wall at the Chimera Climbing Centre

If you want to get your exercise in during your days out in Kent with the kids, head for the Chimera Climbing Centre in Royal Tunbridge Wells. You can enjoy outdoor and indoor climbing adventures with climbing walls and bouldering that are sure to challenge climbers of every skill level. Newer climbers can tackle easy walls with helpful advice, while advanced climbers will have plenty to test their skills here as well.

Best of all, though, you don’t need to book in advance. You can even hire a chalk bag and shoes onsite. The minimum age for this one is 5, so it may not be the ideal option for families with toddlers.

25. Take a ride on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

For a unique and more sedate journey that’s sure to instil wonder to your days out in Kent with the kids, try a ride on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. This trip offers a historical experience on steam and diesel locomotives that have been running since the 1920s and take you along 13.5 miles of track between Hythe and Dungeness at a National Nature Reserve. Throughout the year, regular entertainment events are held that are geared towards kids.

26. Get your game on at Hollywood Bowl

Bowling is a time-honoured family-fun event, and when it comes to ideas for things to do with the kids in Kent, Hollywood Bowl in Rochester offers a great day out. You can hire shoes and pick up balls right at the lane. Try your hand at strikes and spares, and between games, the alley offers up a ton of arcade games to keep the fun going. It’s consistently ranked as among the best bowling experiences in Kent. Charges are per game, so bowl as little or as much as you like.