List of tourist attractions in Kent facts for kids

Kent is a beautiful county in England, located in the southeast. It's often called the "Garden of England" because of its lovely countryside, orchards, and hop gardens. Kent has a long and exciting history, from ancient Roman times to famous battles. It's also home to many amazing places to visit, perfect for a fun day out or a longer adventure! You can explore old castles, wander through beautiful gardens, learn about history in museums, or even see wild animals.

Castles, Historic Homes, and Ancient Buildings

Kent is packed with incredible historical sites, from mighty castles to charming old houses. These places let you step back in time and imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago!

• Canterbury Cathedral: This is one of England's most famous and important cathedrals. It's been a place of worship for over 1,400 years and has an amazing history, including a famous murder!
• Chartwell: This was the much-loved home of Winston Churchill, a very famous British Prime Minister during World War II. You can explore his house and gardens.
• Chiddingstone Castle: A historic house with beautiful grounds, full of interesting collections from around the world.
• Deal Castle: Built by King Henry VIII, this castle has a unique shape and was designed to defend the coast.
• Dover Castle: One of England's biggest and most famous castles, sitting high on the cliffs above Dover. It has a long history, from Roman times to World War II secret tunnels.
• Hever Castle: This was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, one of King Henry VIII's wives. It's a beautiful castle with a moat and lovely gardens.
• Ightham Mote: A stunning medieval moated manor house from the 14th century. It looks like something out of a fairy tale!
• Knole House: A huge country house that was once a grand archbishop's palace. It has 365 rooms, 52 staircases, and 7 courtyards!
• Leeds Castle: Often called "the loveliest castle in the world," Leeds Castle sits on two islands in a lake. It has been a Norman stronghold, a royal palace, and a home for queens.
• Penshurst Place: A grand manor house with beautiful gardens that have been enjoyed for centuries.
• Fort Amherst, Chatham: An impressive set of Napoleonic-era fortifications, with underground tunnels to explore.
• Reculver: Here you can see the ruins of a Roman fort and the striking twin towers of a medieval church.
• Richborough Castle & Roman Fort: This was where the Romans first landed in Britain! You can explore the remains of their fort and imagine their arrival.
• Rochester Castle: A powerful Norman castle with one of the best-preserved keeps in England. It has seen many battles.
• Rochester Cathedral: Another historic cathedral, smaller than Canterbury but just as interesting, with parts dating back to the 11th century.
• St Augustine's Abbey: The ruins of a very important abbey founded in 598 AD, which played a big part in bringing Christianity to England.
• Scotney Castle: A picturesque ruined castle surrounded by a moat, next to a Victorian country house.
• Sissinghurst Castle Garden: Famous for its stunning and influential gardens, created by writer Vita Sackville-West.
• Smallhythe Place: A charming 16th-century house that was once the home of famous actress Ellen Terry.
• Squerryes Court: A beautiful manor house with lovely gardens, still lived in by the same family for over 300 years.
• Tonbridge Castle: A well-preserved motte-and-bailey castle with a large gatehouse.
• Upnor Castle: Another of Henry VIII's castles, built to protect the River Medway.
• Walmer Castle: Also built by Henry VIII, this castle later became a home for famous people like the Duke of Wellington.

Parks, Gardens, and Outdoor Adventures

Kent has many amazing outdoor spaces where you can enjoy nature, go for walks, or have a picnic.

• Bedgebury National Pinetum: A huge forest with a fantastic collection of trees from all over the world. It's great for walking, cycling, and even a treetop adventure course!
• Bewl Water: A large reservoir where you can enjoy walking, cycling, fishing, and water sports.
• Brockhill Country Park: A lovely park with woodlands, grasslands, and a lake, perfect for exploring.
• Capstone Farm Country Park: A popular park with trails, woodlands, and open spaces, great for a family day out.
• Emmetts Garden: A beautiful hillside garden with stunning views and a wide variety of trees and shrubs.
• Milton Creek Country Park: A green space along the creek, great for spotting wildlife and enjoying the outdoors.
• North Downs Way: A long-distance walking path that goes through some of Kent's most beautiful countryside, offering amazing views.
• The Hop Farm Country Park: A fun family park with animals, indoor play, and outdoor activities, all set around historic oast houses (buildings used for drying hops).
• White Cliffs of Dover: These iconic chalk cliffs are a symbol of England. You can walk along the cliff tops and enjoy breathtaking views of the English Channel.

Museums and Learning Centers

If you love learning about history, science, or local culture, Kent has some fantastic museums to explore.

• Ashford Borough Museum: Learn about the history of Ashford and the surrounding area.
• Chatham Historic Dockyard: A huge and fascinating site where ships were built and repaired for hundreds of years. You can explore historic warships, submarines, and workshops.
• Dover Museum: Discover the history of Dover, including its Roman past and the famous Bronze Age Boat.
• Kent Battle of Britain Museum: Dedicated to the brave pilots and events of the Battle of Britain during World War II.
• Kent International Airport (formerly London Manston Airport): Home to two aviation museums where you can see historic aircraft.
• Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery: A large museum with collections ranging from ancient Egypt to local history and art.
• Ramsgate Maritime Museum: Learn about Ramsgate's important role as a port and its maritime history.
• Royal Engineers Museum: Discover the history of military engineering, from ancient times to modern warfare.
• Willesborough Windmill: A historic working windmill where you can learn how flour was made.

Ancient Monuments

Kent has some very old and mysterious stone monuments, showing how people lived thousands of years ago.

• Coldrum Stones: A group of ancient standing stones, part of a Neolithic burial chamber.
• Julliberrie's Grave: A large Neolithic long barrow, an ancient burial mound.
• Kit's Coty House: A famous Neolithic dolmen, a type of burial chamber made of large stones.
• Medway megaliths: A collection of ancient stone monuments found in the Medway valley.

Historic Railways

Step aboard a heritage train and experience the golden age of steam travel!

• Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway: A charming narrow-gauge railway in the countryside.
• East Kent Railway: Ride along a historic railway line through lovely Kentish scenery.
• Kent & East Sussex Railway: A beautiful heritage railway that winds through the Rother Valley.
• Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: A famous miniature railway with tiny steam trains that run along the coast.
• Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway: A historic industrial railway that once served paper mills.
• Spa Valley Railway: Enjoy a scenic journey through the Kent and Sussex countryside on a heritage train.

Wildlife Parks, Zoos & Farm Attractions

Get up close with amazing animals from around the world or learn about farm life.

• Howletts Wild Animal Park: Home to a wide variety of rare and endangered animals, including gorillas, elephants, and big cats.
• Wildwood Trust: Focuses on British wildlife, both past and present. You can see wolves, bears, lynx, and many other native species.
• Port Lympne Zoo: A large safari park with animals from Africa and Asia, including giraffes, rhinos, and gorillas. You can even go on a safari truck ride!
• Wingham Wildlife Park: A popular park with a huge range of animals, from tigers and lions to penguins and reptiles.

Other Fun Places to Visit

Kent also has many other exciting attractions, from shopping to theme parks!

• Bluewater Shopping Centre: One of the largest shopping centers in Europe, with hundreds of shops, restaurants, and a cinema.
• Dickens World: A themed attraction bringing the world of famous author Charles Dickens to life.
• Diggerland: A unique theme park where you can drive real diggers, dumpers, and other construction machinery!
• Dreamland Margate: A historic amusement park with vintage rides, rollercocoasters, and live entertainment.
• Romney Marsh: A unique and historic area of flat, open land with a fascinating landscape and ancient churches.
• Shell Grotto, Margate: A mysterious underground tunnel decorated with millions of seashells, its purpose still unknown!
• Turner Contemporary: An award-winning art gallery in Margate, showcasing modern and contemporary art.