Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

The 14th century moated castle at the end of the Kent and East Sussex Railway will host a team of archaeologists building a medieval French castle from scratch.

The group will be using only 13th century tools and techniques and will be at Bodiam in authentic costumes to give talks and displays each day. Children can design and paint their own medieval shield to take home.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Bank Holiday Monday.
Cost: Adults £6.10, children £3.05, two adult families £16.20, one adult families £10.10.

Address: Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA
Contact: 01580 830196 or www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiamcastle

Brands Hatch

The car that won Damon Hill the 1996 Formula 1 world championship will be the star attraction at the Masters Historic Festival.

Damon won eight Grand Prixs in his Williams-Renault FW18, on the way to the title and the car will race around the track at the West Kingsdown circuit.

His tenure at Williams will be forever associated with his rivalry with Michael Schumacher and a range of cars celebrating his Benetton team from that period will also be on track.

There will also be F1 cars from the 1960s to the 1980s, World Sportscar Masters, as raced at Le Mans and stunning E-Type Jaguars.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Bank Holiday Monday
Cost: Adults £17, under 12s free
Address: Fawkham, DA3 8NG
Contact: 0843 453 9000 or www.brandshatch.co.uk

Buckmore Park, Chatham

Turn up and drive sessions run on selected dates during half-term at the outdoor go karting circuit at the top of Blue Bell Hill.

There are 5mph electric karts for four to seven-year-olds to race around the mini GP circuit, right up to 40mph petrol karts for adults to tear around the 600m national circuit.

The Bambino School will train budding six- to seven-year-old racers while an under 17s Go Driver Training Scheme will teach racers how to get over the tarmac quickest.

Open: The main day is Bank Holiday Monday but call ahead for times of different courses throughout the week

Cost: From £15 per session.

Address: Buckmore Park Karting Ltd, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9QG

Contact: 01634 201562 or www.buckmore.co.uk

Dickens World, Chatham

Roll up for the Circus of Light who will put on their family show throughout half-term.

The Time Travellers' Guide to 1850 sees some of Dickens' best-loved characters performing at the circus with fire, magic and the ringmaster.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Friday, June 3

Cost: Adults £13, concessions £11, children £8, under fives free

Address: Dickens World, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME4 4LL

Contact: 01634 890421 or www.dickensworld.co.uk

Dover Castle

Children will be whisked back to the Second World War as the castle has a weekend dedicated to what life in wartime Britain was like.

From air raids to rationing, all will be revealed by costumed characters.

Children can try a drill and obstacle course, get hands-on with uniforms and make their own gas mask box to take home.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Bank Holiday Monday

Cost: Adults £13.90, concessions £11.80, children £7, families £34.80

Address: Dover Castle, Harold's Road, Dover CT16 1HU

Contact: 0870 333 1181 or www.english-heritage.org.uk

Finchcocks Musical Museum, Goudhurst

Get those garden gifts and picnic goods at the Finchcocks Garden Fair and

Music Festival.

There will also be a cookery demonstration and a series of informal recitals

by the Broadway Band on the museum's keyboard collection, giving a

sophisticated jazz feel to the event.

Open: Sunday, May 29 and Bank Holiday Monday

Cost: Adults £5, children £2

Address: Finchcocks, Goudhurst TN17 1HH

Contact: 01580 211702 or www.finchcocks.co.uk

Hever Castle

The Merrie England Weekend kicks off a week of Tudor-themed activities at Anne Boleyn's childhood home.

Crafts from the Tudor period will be taught by costumed characters. A jeweller, pin maker, pewter caster, leatherworker and tailor to the court will all ply their trades and visitors can find out about arrow making or fletching.

During half-term, families will be able to have a go at archery and see the castle's usual attractions.

Open: Merrie England Weekend from Saturday, May 28 to Bank Holiday

Monday. Spring half-term events from Tuesday, May 31 to Sunday, June 5.

Cost: Adults £14, seniors £12, children £8, families £36

Address: Hever Castle, Hever, Nr Edenbridge TN8 7NG

Contact: 01732 865224 or www.hevercastle.co.uk

Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood

It's Superheroes Week with children invited to dress up as their favourite crimefighter to enter a best dressed competition all week.

Party games include superhero corners and pass the kryptonite. Children can make their own superhero mask before taking on the obstacle course challenge and battling in a daily water fight.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 5

Cost: Adults £14.90, children £12.80, seniors £8.80, families of four £47.50, families of five £60.30

Address: The Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge TN12 6PY

Contact: 01622 870821 or http://www.thehopfarm.co.uk/

Leeds Castle

Mounted knights will use medieval weaponry in jousting tournaments in the grounds of the 900-year-old castle.

There will be falls, fights and galloping horses in the twice daily jousts. Families can also try their hands at archery and medieval crafts in the marquee.

Henry VIII will wander the grounds to pose in pictures.

Open: Jousts take place from Tuesday, May 31 to Sunday, June 5.

Cost: Adults £18.50, concessions £16, children £11, under fours free. Tickets valid for a year.

Address: Leeds Castle, Maidstone ME17 1PL

Contact: 01622 765400 or www.leeds-castle.com

Penshurst Place

Throughout half-term children can make their own bugs and flowers to take home at the estate, which has stood on the banks of the River Medway since the 14th century.

On Sunday, May 29 and Bank Holiday Monday they can learn about wildlife in a discovery zone and play a butterfly name game. Aardvark Productions will also perform Wind In The Willows.

On Sunday, June 5 there will be storytelling sessions looking at the tales of Beatrix Potter.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 5

Cost: Adults £9.80, children £6.20, families £26, cyclist families £22 or £1 off normal admission per person

Address: Penshurst Place, Penshurst, near Tonbridge TN11 8DG

Contact: 01892 870307 or www.penshurstplace.com

Snowdrop, Sellindge

The giants of steam will be in action for the Sellinge Steam Special.

As well as tractors and commercial vehicles there will be heavy horses giving demonstrations. Models, stationary engines, vintage cars, motorcycles and military vehicles will also be on show.

Big kids can take a 4x4 driving course.

Open: Saturday, May 28 to Bank Holiday Monday

Cost: Adults £7, concessions £6, children £3

Address: Snowdrop, Swan Lane, Sellindge TN25 6EB

Contact: 01303 812293 or 07887 918458

Wildwood, Herne Bay

Children will be flocking to Wildwood over the holidays to tackle the newly opened vertical drop slide, the tallest in Kent.

The adventure play park also has a twisting tube slide and treetop towers for children to conquer. Families can come nose to nose with animals from the British countryside including wolves, foxes, deer, badgers, owls, wild horses, lynx, beavers, wild cats, bison, squirrels and wild boar.

There are more than 300 animals to be seen in semi-natural enclosures in 40 acres of ancient woodland on the edge of the Forest of Blean.

Open: Throughout half-term from 10am to 6pm

Cost: Adults £9.95, seniors £8.95, children £7.95, families £32.50, under threes free

Address: Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ

Contact: 01227 712111 or www.wildwoodtrust.org