30 amazing days out for toddlers in Kent

Experience an African adventure in Kent at Port Lympne Reserve – Kent's only authentic safari experience. Introduce your little one to a whole host of exotic animals, from gorillas and big cats to giraffes and rhino. It's a wild adventure like no other!

Toddlers will particularly love the UK's largest dinosaur forest: Marvel at the tremendous T-Rex, stare at the Stegosaurus, feel the terror of the Pterodactyl, and delight at the sheer size of the diplodocus!

See more

Home to an exhilarating 170-metre zip, Go Ape Bedgebury will have you navigating your way through a tunnel of greenery as you immerse yourself in this dense forest.

Take the family on the play trail – while you enjoy the calming ambience of the forest, the kids can clamber on the play furniture en route. There’s lots for them to discover including the shipwreck, the mighty tree house and the giant spiders' webs.

You can also take in the stunning Pinetum views with a picnic or while enjoying some refreshments at the Bedgebury café which serves a wide range of locally sourced food.  

See more

Swallows Leisure Centre has two fantastic swimming pools, including a teaching pool, which is ideal for families and developing water confidence.

Active Zone at Swallows is perfect for a fun packed family day out, with Clip 'n Climb for kids and adults, a HUGE soft play for toddlers and a cafe for refreshments too. They also do birthday parties!

There's also an on-site creche to use while you take advantage of the well-equipped gym, take a workout class or enjoy their sports hall and courts.

See more

Yes, in spite of the name, this epic castle is really in Kent! Not far from Maidstone.

There's a whole host of things to do at Leeds castle, from exploring the castle and gardens, to educational activities, a fun train to ride on, a hedge maze to get lost in, and even falconry displays!

There are often special events for kids, too, so check the website to see what's on this weekend.

See more

From indoor soft-play fun to a wonderful animal farm, there's endless entertainment at The Hop Farm in Kent.

Attractions include the ever-popular Giant Jumping Pillows, Driving School, Magic Castle, Outdoor Adventure Play Area and Children's Rides, plus live shows and discos in the Big Red Barn!

Big on fun for families and with plenty of indoor and outdoor entertainment, you'll all enjoy your day out whatever the weather!

See more

The original Diggerland is an adventure theme park where you and your toddler can ride, drive and operate REAL diggers, dumpers and other full- size construction machinery.

Test your skills on the Dumper Trucks. Find buried treasure. Knock down the skittles. Dig a giant hole with the dirt diggers. Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush on Spin Dizzy and take in the views from Sky Shuttle 50ft in the air.

As well as the Diggerland rides and drives, there are activities for children of all ages which include a digger sandpit, pedal power tractors, computer digger games and indoor ball pit.

See more

Experience 700 years of history at the romantic double-moated castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.

While the main attraction at Hever Castle is the splendid house and gardens, your toddler will love the Acorn Dell natural play area, featuring a giant sandpit, slide, climbing frame and much more!

Older kids can live out their fantasies as knights and princesses in the castle-themed Tudor Towers adventure playground.

There's also a Water Maze and the 100-year-old Yew Maze, plus a fascinating collection of Miniature Model Houses, a boating Lake and shops and restaurants for when you're ready for a break.

See more

The Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells offers a fun packed day out for all the family with steam and heritage diesel locomotives running between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge Station.

At each stop on the railway, there's tonnes to discover, from the Enchanted Forest at Groombridge Place, to exploring Tunbridge Wells itself. Though train-mad toddlers will probably love the journey itself most of all!

See more

Howletts Animal Park is home to more than 390 animals, including Kent’s only giant anteaters, the largest herd of African elephants in the UK, and more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county.

Explore a 90-acre adventure in beautiful ancient parkland that is ideal for great days out in Kent with the entire family. No gimmicks, no nonsense, Howletts Wild Animal Park is committed to one thing, the conservation, breeding and reintroduction of rare and endangered animals.

Join in our free animal talks, watch our animals being fed and visit our education centre, all included free with your entry ticket.

See more

Flip Out Ashford trampoline park brings all the bouncing fun you can possibly imagine to Kent, featuring 59 trampolines and two stunt areas.

Under-5s can enjoy a one-hour or two-hour session of unlimited jumping – perfect for burning off excess energy!

Flip Out also runs fun stay and play sessions where your little one can make the most of the great soft play area.

With arcade machines and a cafe on site, there's enough to keep your little one entertained all day long.

See more

Wildwood Trust Wildlife Park is a unique woodland discovery park. Home to more than 200 native animals including bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers plus many more.

There are also two separate play areas for under-5s and older kids, plus a cafe, picnic areas and shop – everything you need for a fun-packed family day out.

See more

Train-mad toddlers will love a day at Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, featuring plenty of locomotive exhibitions - including a 15-minute ride on a real classic train, plus a model railway that's so much fun for kids. Not to mention a tasty tearoom!

During the summer holidays a diesel train runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 11am, 12.00pm and 1.30pm.

Steam and diesel trains run on open days (the first Sunday of every month Easter to October) and special events. All Open Day and Special Event details can be found on the website.

See more

There's so much for you and your little one to do at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park.

Explore 28 acres of fun from hands-on activities for kids to age-old farming traditions that bring back memories from way back when.

You'll find animals to cuddle, tractors to ride, play areas to go wild in, fascinating historic buildings to explore and cafés to relax in.

See more

Maidstone Museum is a great way to kill a few hours with a toddler; and they might even learn something, too!

See a 2,500 year old Egyptian mummy; journey through time to when dinosaurs walked the Earth (and Maidstone), as well as the local history of Maidstone, archaeological and regimental history.

During the school holidays, the museum runs themed workshops and activities for kids of all ages, ranging from dinosaurs to explorers, and much more! Visit the website to find out what's coming up.

See more

Penshurst Place is a magnificent 14th Century manor house once owned by King Henry VIII, surrounded by 11 acres of stunning individual Elizabethan garden ‘rooms’.

Your toddler will particularly love the large wooden Adventure Playground, which has a dedicated toddler area, plus a zip line for older kids. If they still have energy left, try a wander through the beautiful neighbouring Woodland Trail – perfect for a family picnic.

See more

At Groombridge Place, you can enjoy award-winning gardens which overlook a beautiful 17th-century moated manor house.

There's so much happening at Groombridge Place, your toddler will be spoiled for choice! This magical world of mystery and intrigue includes pretty tree lined forest paths with water pools, giant tree swings, a raised board walk with zip wires and rope swings, wooden bridges, a maze and Crusoe’s World which has a recreated pirate ship from a major TV series. Visit Crusoes Pirate ship and mini treetop walkway too!

You can see some unusual animals at Groombridge including a Zedonk which is half donkey and half zebra. The birds of prey displays take place every day (except Mondays but including Bank Holiday Mondays) and the refurbished Peacock Bistro is the perfect vantage point for watching the peacocks which roam the gardens and terraces.

See more

Kent's only Roman Museum, Canterbury Roman Museum is a fascinating insight into life in Roman Britain, with plenty of surprises to keep your toddler engaged.

Your little one can try on a toga or suit up as a Roman soldier, and even make their own mosaic! Plus, every day the museum offers creative activities for kids, such as themed trails and Roman-inspired hands-on fun. Give them a ring to check what activities are happening when.

See more

Wingham Wildlife Park is Kent’s fastest growing wildlife park, nestled just outside the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury, in Kent.

They house the largest number of animal species out of all wildlife parks and zoos in Kent – which means that you’ve come to the right place; whether you’re looking for tigers, flamingos, bats, or even the adorable red panda.

Brave adventurers and inquisitive explorers beware – dinosaurs have returned to Wingham Wildlife Park. From the fearsome T-Rex to the massive Diplodocus, your toddler will get the chance to see more than 20 different dinosaurs in the dinosaur area – lovingly brought to life through high-quality models. There's a massive soft play, too!

See more

Explore atmospheric underground passages and marvel at walls covered with millions of shells – can you solve the mystery of The Shell Grotto? This unique attraction is sure to entrance your toddler!

In this remarkable subterranean enclave, winding tunnels snake beside 2000 sq ft of magnificent mosaics, made out of cockle, whelk, mussel and oyster shells. Nobody can explain who built this amazing place, or why, but since its accidental discovery, visitors from all over the world have been intrigued by the beautiful mosaic and the unsolved mystery.

In the museum room, you'll find plenty of interactive displays to entertain your little one, too: an original Victorian stereoscope to look through, a colouring table, and a shell magnet board is coming soon, where your toddler can make their very own shell mosaic designs.

See more

Discover an ancient Egyptian mummified cat, the original Bagpuss, and artworks from legendary Anthony Van Dyke to Pop Artist David Hockney, at The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in the heart of Canterbury.

The gallery is a major local venue for art, both modern and historical. For kids, there's something new on every day, from an interactive medieval mystery tour, to a chance for your toddler to try their hand at mummification! Check the website or give them a ring to find out what's on this weekend.

See more

Cascades Leisure Centre is a beach-style pool with a tropical 30 degrees water temperature.

This is no ordinary swimming pool; there are loads of special features that your toddler will love, including a small splash pool with elephant slide for babies, cascading water fall, water jets, mushroom fountain, wave machine and two water slides – Typhoon & Twister. There's also a poolside cafe to refuel after your adventures.

You can book swimming lessons for babies or older kids, or even host your child's birthday party here!

See more

Looking for the perfect picnic venue? From the level brow of Fort Pitt Hill, Victoria Gardens, Chatham slopes to the north-west, overlooking Chatham Reach and the town centre.

There are wide paths lined by chestnuts and limes, and plenty of space for your little one to run around and enjoy nature.

But what your toddler will really love is the play area, plus unique stone arches that are sure to fuel their imagination!

See more

Kingsmead Leisure Centre is the area's number one health, fitness and Leisure Centre.

Take your splash-happy toddlers to the Kingsmead Fun Time sessions and win all the fun-parent points! These special sessions feature an inflatable island, rafts and inflatable rings.

Your toddler will also love the Play Gym sessions where you can supervise your child on the bouncy castle, cars, balls and soft play equipment.

See more

A day at Knole Park, with its thousand acres of parkland, beautiful deer and atmospheric house, is an unforgettable family experience.

Just minutes from the High Street in Sevenoaks, Kent, you enter a landscape hardly touched for hundreds of years, free to all who walk in.

More and more areas of this National Trust house are being opened every year, many of them free to enter: before deciding to get a ticket for the house, you can enjoy the exhibitions in the Orangery, the activities and information in the Park Experience Room and the stories of Knole estate workers in days gone by in the Estate Office, all for free. And there’s also the National Trust shop for pocket money gifts and a Brewhouse Tearoom, entered from the park.

See more

Is your toddler mad about cars? The Dover Transport Museum has road vehicles of all types from bicycles to buses.

There's a large model railway and tramway with hundreds of models, plus the Maritime Room, Bygone shops and 1930's garage.

The Tram Stop café serves light refreshments including delicious bacon rolls and homemade cakes. .

See more

The Kent Firefighting Museum is a must-visit for any mini firefighter fans!

Featuring a real fire engine that you and your little ones are free to sit inside and play on, plus a whole host of historical firefighting equipment to explore, and a cafe where you can enjoy a bite when you're done.

See more

Gather around, secret agents! We need our best spies on the streets for this self-guided mission. The clues take you through the historic centre and green parks, passing many attractions of this UNESCO World Heritage City. You’ll even uncover fascinating stories from Canterbury’s ancient past.

The Canterbury Spy Mission Treasure Trail features:
- A self-guided spy-themed walking Trail around Canterbury.
- Ideal for kids aged 6 – 106!
- 2-mile ‘loop’ Trail (takes 2 hours to complete at your own pace).
- Text message service with clues if you get stuck.

See more

Merry Go Round Sittingbourne is a large, fun, play area for children up to the age of 12.

Your toddler will love the area dedicated to under 5s, with a slide, tunnel, mirror, up and over staircase - plus, of course, plenty of great toys to play with.

Merry Go Round soft play also offers stay-and-play sessions, plus a cafe offering hot food and drinks.

See more

Does your little one love to paint? Little Potters is the perfect place to indulge their creative side!

From a fun mug or plate, to a complete ceramics set, you and your toddler can have hours of fun making unique personalised gifts for all those special occasions.

It's suitable for all ages and no experience is necessary; the staff can even help with some ideas!

There's also a small soft play (free to use if your child is painting), plus a cafe serving tasty snacks and hot and cold drinks.

See more

Faversham Activity Centre has a whole host of equipment and activities to keep your toddler occupied.

The amazing soft play area is full of climbing equipment, soft equipment and large slides. There's also a specific under-2 area which is ideal for toddlers.

They also offer gymnastic classes for toddlers upwards - a great way for your little one to make friends, keep fit and improve their key skills like balance and co-ordination.

See more