More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
There’s relaxing in front of the television on a cold winter’s day – and then there’s snow tubing. Betteshanger Country Park in Deal is staging the fun sport this winter from Thursday, December 21 through to New Year’s Day, when visitors can speed down the 18m-long manmade slope on a large inflatable ring. Suitable for ages five and above, all safety equipment is provided but under-eights must be accompanied by an adult. It costs £5 for three goes. Visitors can also clamber and crawl through over 100m of specially created snow caves under the ski slope. The caves are also suitable for ages five and over and take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, costing £5. To book for either of these, visit betteshanger-park.co.uk
ASHFORD DESIGNER OUTLET
From now through to the New Year a host of activities will take place at McArthurGlen Ashford, including a German-themed pop-up bar and the opportunity to see Father Christmas’s reindeer who will visit with an owl friend on selected dates. Details at ashforddesigneroutlet.com.
HOWLETTS WILD ANIMAL PARK, NEAR CANTERBURY
There are time slots to meet Santa and his elves with gifts for children every half hour from 10am until 4pm. The magic will be on this weekend and from Thursday, December 21 to Saturday, December 23. Entry to the grotto is £10 per child, including a gift, and free admission for adults. To book visit aspinallfoundation.org/howletts.
HEMPSTEAD VALLEY, GILLINGHAM
Santa will be in his grotto daily until Christmas Eve to visit at a cost of £5 per child, including a gift. Children can also post letters to Santa in the post box and collect their free personalised reply from the elves. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for a posted reply The last posting date is Wednesday, December 20.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
The annual ice rink in the amphitheatre will be open until New Year’s Day, plus festive food and drink, music and shopping. There will also be nights of live music with The Forum including Kung Fu Slipper and Saethesae on Sunday, December 17. Skate tickets for main sessions cost £14 and for children £9.50, including skate hire. Tickets are on sale at tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com. Father Christmas will also be in his log cabin until Christmas Eve on selected dates. To book call 01892 523693 or visit thelittleboxoffice.com/darrylcurcherevents.
RARE BREEDS CENTRE, NEAR ASHFORD
At the centre in Woodchurch, Santa’s elves are ready and waiting to welcome visitors at weekends until Saturday, December 23, along with the short show The Naughty Snowman. All the children who meet Santa will come away with a present. To book call 01233 861508 or visit rarebreeds.org.uk.
REINDEER CENTRE, BETHERSDEN
Santa will be in his grotto, which has seven animated scenes over 150ft, until Christmas Eve. Visitors can meet and feed the reindeer and other animals including llamas and meerkats after meeting Santa. No booking online, just pay on entry. More details at reindeercentre.co.uk.
EASTWELL MANOR, NEAR ASHFORD
Guests who take to the new ice rink this Christmas will be following in the footsteps of Queen Victoria, who it is believed skated on the frozen lake. The rink, opened by former England and Arsenal footballer David Seaman and his Celebrity Dancing on Ice wife Frankie Poultney, is open until Tuesday, January 2, from noon to7pm. Entry is £14.50, with under 12s £9.50. For details visit eastwellmanor.co.uk.
KENT LIFE, SANDLING, MAIDSTONE
Meet Santa on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17 and from Thursday, December 21 to Christmas Eve. Tickets include all day admission to Kent Life, a gift from Santa, and a festive farm ride with the head elf. Visitors can also meet reindeer and have a go at gingerbread decorating. To book go to kentlife.org.uk.
WILDWOOD, NEAR HERNE BAY
Visitors can see Santa in his grotto and the reindeer every weekend this month and during the school holidays. It costs £12 per child. To book, or for more details visit wildwoodtrust.org or call 01227 209621.
MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
There’s lots of festive treats at the museum in St Faith’s Street on Saturday, December 16 with a chance to meet Santa at his fireplace and receive a present while grown-ups browse the Christmas mini market. Events are open from 10.30am to 3pm. Children between four and 11 can also enjoy festive craft activities from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It costs £6 per child to meet Santa and £10 per child for the crafts. For details and to book go to maidstonemuseum.org.
THE MALL, MAIDSTONE
Santa’s elves will be busy at the Mall’s Grotto up to Christmas Eve. Staff will also be collecting gifts for children less fortunate, with the return of The Mall’s Giving Tree. Buy an extra gift and drop it off at the Ask Me Point in the centre, to be delivered to the Homeless Care Day Centre in Knightrider Street. There will also be seasonal children’s activities until Saturday, December 16. For details go to themall.co.uk/Maidstone.
GRAVESEND FROST FAIR
The theme for this year’s festive events in the town centre in the run up to Christmas is frost fairs, with this weekend’s also being All Things Christmas.
Frost Fairs date back to the 1400s when in the bad winters the River Thames would freeze and people would take to the ice for carnival-style activities. There will be reindeer, snowmen and ice performances this Saturday, December 16.
DREAMLAND, MARGATE
As part of the Frosted Fairground activities, there is an ice rink, elves, crafts and a sing-along with Father Christmas, topped off with a gift for each child. Tickets are available from dreamland.co.uk/events. The park will open every day from Saturday, December 16 until Wednesday, January 3 except Christmas Day.
DOVER
An ice rink is the central attraction in the Port of Dover’s Christmas event at its cruise terminal. It will be open up to New Year’s Day Thursdays to Sundays and every day from Thursday, December 21 except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Santa will be dropping in, plus there will be children’s attractions. Details at whitecliffschristmas.co.uk.
LEEDS CASTLE, MAIDSTONE
The last of the castle’s Christmas markets will be this Saturday and Sunday. The market on the Cedar Lawn overlooking the castle will feature seasonal gifts and food and drink, plus live music. Visitor are advised to bring cash as not all stallholders can take card payments. Details at leeds-castle.com.
Father Christmas and his elves will be at Bewl Water on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17 and from Thursday, December 21 to Christmas Eve. Youngsters will also also have the chance to go on a treasure hunt onboard the Santa Express land train. Tickets cost £16 per child, including a gift, and £8 per adult. Book via bewlwater.co.uk.
Santa will be in his grotto by the lakes at the West Village until Christmas Eve. Help Mr Crumb, the Christmas Chef make a gingerbread man before heading to Mrs Claus’s craft room to make a tree decoration, before meeting Santa and getting a gift. Child entry is from £10. The rink, near Zizzi’s, will run until Sunday, January 7. To book for either activity, go to Bluewater.co.uk.
WALMER CASTLE, NEAR DEAL
See the castle after hours during special Christmas tours, between 3pm and 6pm on Thursday, December 21, when you can see the castle’s interior in its full festive glory and hear about Christmas at the Tudor fortress. Between 10am and 3pm, the Second World War Home Front Christmas also runs at weekends until Sunday, December 17. For details call 0370 333 1183 or visit english-heritage.org.uk/walmercastle.
EMMETTS GARDEN, NEAR SEVENOAKS
The Boise family trail, which leads from the visitor centre, runs until New Year’s Day, between 10am and 4pm, but is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It costs £1 each and is suitable for up to age 11. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden.
SCOTNEY CASTLE, LAMBERHURST
Follow the family woodland trail with natural sculptures until Thursday, January 4 between 10am and 4pm, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Visitors can also make decorations to take home. The trail costs £2, with normal admission charges. Go to nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle.
KNOLE, SEVENOAKS
A Christmas deer trail runs at the site until Wednesday, January 3, between 11am and 3pm (but not Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). Follow the trail and help Father Christmas deliver his presents with a prize at the end. It costs £5 and is suitable for 10s and under. Details at nationaltrust.org.uk/knole.
There will also be Christmas crafts and workshops in the learning centre, including making spangled baubles on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17 between 10.30am and 12.30pm and then 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
