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Kent’s best Mother’s Day treats, afternoon teas, wine tastings and days out

By: Sam Lawrie slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 02 March 2024

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and there’s truly no better time to show Mum just how much you care.

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to treat your mum over the weekend, we’ve got some great days out, from afternoon teas to wine tastings, to make sure she feels special…

Take a self-guided tour through the picturesque vineyards at Balfour Winery with your mum this Mother’s Day

BALFOUR WINERY, Tonbridge

Take in stunning views of the vineyard as you sip a glass of bubbly and share a sandwich or two with Mum. The winery in Staplehurst, near Tonbridge, is offering a sparkling afternoon tea experience this Mother’s Day, with sweet and savoury bites and a glass of sparkling Balfour wine. You can even make your day go further with a self-guided tour of the vineyards and oak woodlands.

Details: Saturday, March 9 at Blafour Winery in Staplehurst, near Tonbridge. Afternoon tea package costs £45 and can be booked online here.

Lots of local businesses, including the Flying Horse mobile bar, will be at the artisan market at Bluewater. Picture: UMPF

BLUEWATER, Greenhithe

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There’s a new artisan market coming to Bluewater, and it’s here just in time for Mother’s Day. The market, which will set up shop in the car park of the Greenhithe shopping centre, will have rows of stalls from local craft-makers, producers and small businesses. Treat your mum to jewellery from Maidstone’s Scarlet Ribbon or find something to spruce up the house with Dartford-based business Janet Interiors and, when you’re done shopping, head inside the centre for a spot of lunch or catch a film at the cinema.

Details: Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at Bluewater in Greenhithe, near Dartford. Entry is free, no need to book.

Godinton House will open early for visitors to celebrate Mothering Sunday. Picture: Godinton House and Gardens

GODINTON HOUSE, Ashford

This Mother’s Day, Ashford’s Godinton House will open its tearoom and gardens ahead of schedule to celebrate the special occasion. The early opening gives visitors a chance to explore the 12-acre spring gardens which will be filled with daffodils, along with the Walled Garden, Italian Garden and greenhouse. The tearoom will also be open and selling freshly baked scones, homemade cakes and hot drinks. The gardens officially open for the season from Tuesday, March 12 while the house will open from Friday, March 29.

Details: Sunday, March 10 at Godinton House and Gardens in Ashford. Tickets cost £8 and can be booked online here.

Take a walk through the grounds of Hever Castle followed by a two-course carvery. Picture: Hever Castle and Gardens

HEVER CASTLE, Edenbridge

Explore award-winning gardens and the historic childhood home of Anne Boleyn with a trip to Hever Castle. This Mother’s Day weekend, you can tuck into a delicious two-course carvery in the Guthrie Pavilion restaurant with views over the lake, including a complimentary drink. The daffodils are expected to be out in bloom over the weekend so make sure you take a moment to stop and admire them.

Details: Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at Hever Castle in Edenbridge. Meal packages start from £35 and can be booked online here.

Explore the 90-acre wildlife park at Howletts with the Mums Go Free offer. Picture: Aspinall Foundation

HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, Canterbury

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Discover 90 acres of parkland with Kent’s only herd of African elephants and adorable lion cubs - and, for once, Mum doesn’t have to pay. Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, just outside of Canterbury, is running a Mums Go Free offer over the weekend, giving one parent per booking a chance to visit the park completely free of charge. There are also animal encounters, picnic spots, play areas and the Animals of the Ice Age trail.

Details: Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, near Canterbury. Tickets cost £25 and can be booked online here.

There are lots of activities and entertainment at Kent Life for mums and their kids. Picture: Kent Life

KENT LIFE, Maidstone

Maidstone’s family farm, Kent Life, is putting on a day full of activities that visitors of all ages, from grandparents to toddlers, can enjoy. There will be plenty of live entertainment, including balloon modellers, magicians and children’s activities. You can also meet the farmyard animals and explore the site’s historic buildings during the day.

Details: Sunday, March 10 at Kent Life in Maidstone. Tickets cost £12.50 and can be booked online here.

The daffodil walk at Leeds Castle will be in full bloom on Mother’s Day. Picture: Leeds Castle

LEEDS CASTLE, Maidstone

If your mum is a keen gardener, she might enjoy a trip to Leeds Castle for Mother’s Day. The castle’s Darling Daffodil Walk kicks off at the start of the month and runs until the end of April, so it’s the perfect time to stroll through the acres of grounds and soak up the sights of spring. The daffodils will be dotted all over the gardens, and you can follow the signs around the grounds to make sure you don’t miss any of it.

Details: Friday, March 1 to Tuesday, 30 April at Leeds Castle near Maidstone. Daffodil walk is included with an entry ticket, costing £30. Book online here.

The Mother’s Day afternoon tea at Port Lympne includes entry to the park. Picture: Aspinall Foundation

PORT LYMPNE SAFARI PARK, Hythe

Take a seat inside Port Lympne’s historic mansion or the stunning orangery for a luxurious afternoon tea. The safari park, near Hythe, is pulling out all the stops for Mother’s Day, serving up finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones and clotted cream, delicate pastries, loose-leaf tea and a glass of fizz. Mums will also be treated to a complimentary box of macaroons to take home. The afternoon tea package includes entry to the park for the whole day, so you can walk off your food as you explore the park’s 900 rare and endangered animals.

Details: Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 10 at Port Lympne Safari Park near Hythe. Afternoon tea package costs £65 and can be booked online here.

The family can enjoy crafting workshops and decorating classes at Penshurst Place. Picture: Penshurst Place

PENSHURST PLACE, Tonbridge

There’s a whole range of activities that both parents and kids can enjoy as Penshurst Place opens for the spring season. The grand estate will be filled with crafting workshops that the whole family can get stuck into, such as creating and decorating a Mother’s Day plant pot collar, making your own Mother’s Day cards or giving your mum a ‘superwoman’ makeover with face painting sessions. If you take part in the plant pot collar workshop, you will get 50% off plants from the Penshurst Place Plant Centre to help finish off the perfect gift for Mum.

Details: Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at Penshurst Place in Tonbridge. Activities are included with an entry ticket, costing £15. Book online here.

Mums can experience what it’s like to be behind the wheel of the train. Picture: Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

ROMNEY, HYTHE AND DYMCHURCH RAILWAY, New Romney

What’s better than travelling on an authentic steam train? Being able to drive one yourself! Mums are being given the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of a light locomotive from Hythe Station and take it to the outer limit of the station, with the help of the railway’s experienced drivers. Then, after all the excitement, you and your family can sit down to an afternoon tea at Hythe or a ploughman’s lunch at Dungeness.

Details: Sunday, March 10 at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in New Romney. Meal packages start from £39.50 and can be booked online here.

Choose from the railway’s afternoon tea or Kent Cheese Train over the weekend. Picture: Spa Valley Railway

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, Tunbridge Wells

There’s not one, but two, special experiences to celebrate Mother’s Day at the Spa Valley Railway. You can choose from either the afternoon tea train, which departs from Tunbridge Wells and includes a hamper of freshly made sandwiches, scones and cakes brought to each table on board, or the Kent cheese train with four hand-picked local cheeses to be paired with chutney, crackers and a drink. Both trains take passengers on a relaxing journey through the Kentish countryside with views of the stunning scenery.

Details: Sunday, March 10 at the Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Meal packages start from £35 and can be booked online here.

Tuck into a three-course lunch paired with specially selected wines. Picture: Westwell Wines

WESTWELL WINES, Charing

To help launch their spring season, Westwell Wines are treating Mums and their families to a tasty three-course lunch. The meal will be inspired by seasonal flavours and local produce, and will be accompanied by a wine tasting with Westwell’s experts. Your day also includes a tour of the vineyard and a limited edition Westwell Wines print for parents to take home.

Details: Sunday, March 10 at Westwell Wines in Charing, near Ashford. Wine tasting costs £60 and can be booked online.

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