For museums, The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is the place, with a range of services under one roof, uniting art, heritage, books, ideas and information, plus a visitor centre. Head into Canterbury for more collections at The Canterbury Roman Museum and the Lilford Gallery. Or check out the WW2 military museums in Dover.
For a comfortable and bijou independent cinema experience, try Curzon Cinema in Canterbury. Feed the lions and tigers at Wingham Wildlife Park and enjoy up-close-and-personal animal encounters with penguins, meerkats and otters. Or take a four-mile trip taking in pretty villages and rolling countryside on the East Kent Railway.
Find a good kids’ play area at The Toddler’s Cove near Canterbury. Or travel to the best play areas of all – unspoilt beaches on the East Kent coast that include Hythe, Folkestone, Margate and Dover. Or Go Ape on the high ropes, plus stepping stones and wobbly bridges, at Leeds Castle.
Take a historic Canterbury River Tour by boat and see the country’s oldest Franciscan Chapel, the King’s Bridge and the Dominican Priories. Or if you’re feeling brave, how about a ghost tour run by a mysterious character in top hat and cloak? Wipe away any nightmares with Druidstone Park’s woodland walks and friendly farm animals.
Keep up with your classes at the gym at Lifestyle Fitness in Canterbury, go rock climbing at Chimera Climbing Canterbury, or karting at Maidstone on the exciting Buckmore circuit, bequeathed to his family by motorbike and F1 world champion John Surtees. Or blast some clay pigeons at The Big Shoot.
Take a group tour and wind up in the shop at Chartham Vineyard or buy a bottle and sit in the lovely courtyard. Or enjoy quintessential English Pinot Noir wines at Barnsole Vineyard. Enjoy lessons and hacks with Bursted Hill Stables in the Pett Bottom Valley. Or solve the puzzles and get out in 60 minutes at Escape Kent.
Play golf at Broome Park, a good test on a 6500-yard parkland course on a pretty 268-acre estate. Or walk without the hassle of hitting balls along the private path running through the woods on the estate towards Bossingham and Stelling Minnis and beyond. Fish for trout at Stowting, a two-acre, spring-fed lake beneath the South Downs.
Punt along the River Stour in Canterbury, or take to the water on paddleboard, kayak or canoe with Folkestone Sea Sports. Chill out at The Pig spa in Bridge Place with a hot stone massage or restorative facial. Or get historical, with trips to Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle or Dover Castle.
Surveys show that 92.6% of hens and stags never leave their holiday home. Okay, we made that up, but it certainly might apply at Hedone House, home to a fabulous heated outdoor pool, six-person hot tub, cinema room with 85” TV, farm livestock, woodland walks through 15 acres, tennis court, croquet on the lawn and poolhouse bar.
That said, for the 7.4% who do wish to venture beyond these rich pastures, there’s plenty on offer. Try go-karting at the fantastic Buckmore circuit opened by F1 champion John Surtees. Cull some clay pigeons with The Big Shoot. Or tour lovely English vineyards at Chartham and Barnsole.
Ride horses on site or off at Bursted Hill Stables, enjoy a golf day at impressive parkland course Broome Park. Enjoy hot massages and fantastic facials at The Pig spa in Bridge Place. Or become a mixology maestro with My Cocktail Masterclass at The Hill Top Tap Bar in Sidcup.
Canterbury’s a good call for a night out. Attractions include Houdini’s Magic Bar, where resident magicians pull off close-up magic tricks while you neck cocktails. Try Tokyo Tea Rooms for a boutique late-night cocktail-bar experience with guest mixologists and creative performance. Or enjoy three nightclub experiences at Club Chemistry.
