More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Most of our favourite attractions across Kent have been forced to close their doors to visitors during lockdown, and are waiting patiently to reopen when government restrictions allow.
But KentOnline has been granted exclusive access to some of the county's biggest venues while their doors are shut, on what would usually be one of the busiest weeks of the year.
Here we take a look at the eerily quiet attractions looking forward to inviting us all back in.
They include the county's theatres, forced to close for much of the past year.
At the Orchard Theatre in Dartford, which has cancelled all its events until March 31, the foyer and bar, usually thronged with theatregoers, the dressing rooms for the stars and the stage all stand empty.
See our picture gallery of the theatre currently here:
Chatham Historic Dockyard is currently closed for the winter, but bosses are anxiously waiting to hear when visitors can return and events can begin again.
Its popular Festival of Steam and Transport will not be taking place this year, but there is hope for events later in the year, including the hugely popular Salute to the 40s, which is traditionally held annually in September.
The scene of filming for the BBC's Call the Midwife, the venue is taking bookings for its tours, run in association with Neal Street Productions from April.
Shrouded in a blanket of snow earlier this week, the site is deserted.
See our gallery of sites around the dockyard here:
Historic Leeds Castle near Maidstone is, under current restrictions, allowing socially distanced local visitors in its grounds, on a one-way system, but it is months since any had a glimpse inside the castle itself.
One of its biggest events of the year is scheduled to continue this year, after being forced to postpone last year, the Leeds Castle Concert in July.
See our gallery of how it looks here:
The county's wildlife parks have been hard hit during the pandemic, with animals still needing to be fed even when visitors are not coming through the gates.
At Port Lympne near Hythe, the site, which is run by the Aspinall Foundation, is closed, along with its sister site Howletts near Canterbury.
Managers say they are awaiting further government guidance and will work to reopen both parks to guests as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
See some of its deserted sights here:
