More on KentOnline
36. REVOLUTION SKATE PARK AND CLIMBING CENTRE, BROADSTAIRS
If your kids love their summer days packed with thrills and spills then this is the place for them. Challenging without compromising safety, the centre has a variety of attractions including driverways, roll-ins, flat banks, deathbed and a massive vert quarter-pipe for skater boys and girl. The climbing zone is also fun and there’s a testing set of boulder walls. There is a beginner’s fun area, plus you can book skate boarding lessons.
Postcode: CT10 3JJ
Contact: www.revolutionskatepark.co.uk
37. BADGERS HILL FARM AND CIDERY, CHILHAM
There are emus, ducks, llamas, alpacas, soay sheep, mara and other animals roaming the paddocks for children to meet and an outdoor play area. For the adults, the shop sells its own homemade cider and jams. The perfect place as part of a day out, or a quick stop off for lunch if you’re heading towards Canterbury.
Postcode: CT4 8BW
Contact: badgershillfarm.co.uk
38. THE STRAND, GILLINGHAM
Pack a picnic, swimsuit and sports gear for an action-packed day out at The Strand - just down the road from Riverside Country Park. This gem of an attraction has undergone a massive revamp and its open-air pool is perfect for cooling off. A large pool with lazy river, water jets and pink elephant slides will keep the family entertained. There’s also a miniature railway, sandpit, paddling pool, playground, pitch and putt, crazy golf, bouncy castle and inflatable slide, FootGolf and five all-weather sports courts. A day fun pass – £10 for ages 15 and under, £12.50 adults – is all you need to enjoy all the activities.
Postcode: ME7 1RJ
Contact: www.medway.gov.uk
39. KENT AND SUSSEX LIGHT RAILWAY, TENTERDEN
You’d be hard pushed to find a finer day out than this. Savouring the glorious sight, sound and smells of smoke and steam on Britain’s finest rural light railway as it sways through the cress and crayfish beds between Tenterden and the magnificent 14th century moated castle at Bodiam. True, you have to steam across the East Sussex border for the final few miles along the Rother Valley, but Kent has no better day out for all-age entertainment, from two-year-old Thomas the Tank Engine fans to great-grandmas and granddads relishing the nostalgic displays at Tenterden Town Station and the medieval castle.
Postcode: TN30 6HE
Contact: ww.kesr.org.uk
40. OUTDOOR POOL, FAVERSHAM
Forget Ibiza or the Maldives. On a hot summer’s day, there is no better place to while away the hours than Faversham’s outdoor lido. For a couple of quid, spend the day in the 33-metre outdoor pool or catching some rays and lolling on the lawn with a picnic. Either steal a few hours for yourself or take the family – with a fun pool and toddler’s area for the youngsters and three diving boards for the daredevils in the group, there’s something for everyone. There’s a cafeteria and an ice cream kiosk, or stroll into Faversham for restaurants and pubs.
Postcode: ME13 8PW
Contact: www.favershampools.com
41. WATER MAZE, HEVER CASTLE
Best visited on warmer days, anyone can enjoy the Water Maze in the immaculate castle grounds. Situated on Sixteen Acre Island at the 700-year-old double-moated castle – once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn – the maze has stepping stone walkways over water, which send out jets of water at odd intervals. The aim is to reach the stone grotto in the centre without getting wet. Under fives must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t forget the towel!
Postcode: TN8 7NGContact: www.hevercastle.co.uk
Check out the rest of the 68 summer days out
Sporting days out Along the coast