Top Things to do in Kent
Top Hotels in Kent
- 1. One Warwick Park Hotel
- 2. Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel
- 3. Crescent Turner Hotel
- 4. DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge
- 5. Hythe Imperial Hotel
- 6. Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa
- 7. Chandos Premier Folkestone Channel Tunnel Hotel
- 8. The Falstaff Hotel, Canterbury
- 9. Howfield Manor Hotel
- 10. Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
10 Things to do in Kent That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Kent, United Kingdom including Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, The White Cliffs of Dover, Leeds Castle, Royal Military Canal, The Shell Grotto, Viking Coastal Trail, Whitstable Town Centre, Lower Leas Coastal Park, Howletts Wild Animal Park.
Restaurants in Kent
1. Canterbury Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,899 reviews
The first Church of England, this historic gothic-style cathedral dates back to 597, which served as a rich and powerful monastery of Benedictine monks in the 12th century.
Reviewed By ianhB1787OH - Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
Visited to explore the grounds and the interior, booked one of the local guides to take us on tour and this added such a nice insight into the history and fabric of the magnificent building. 100% enjoyable and well worth the charge, its a must for anyone visiting this part of the UK.
2. Dover Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,108 reviews
The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover's White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the 20th century, in an action-packed day out.
Reviewed By TEK1904 - St Ives, United Kingdom
We have just returned from an absolutely phenomenal weekend staying in the grounds of Dover Castle. From the tunnel tours to the Great Tower steeped in history, to the views across the English Channel and the access to the grounds before and after hours we were totally blown away and awestruck. A special mention to all the staff throughout our stay who were friendly, informative, helpful, enthusiastic and passionate about such an incredible place . Not forgetting Lesley the housekeeper who ensured our stay was spot on. An absolute credit to English heritage and Dover Castle. We will most definitely be returning. Highly recommend.
3. The White Cliffs of Dover
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,851 reviews
Reviewed By nigel567
We had lovely walk along the top of the cliffs great views of the ferries and the harbour on a bright sunny day
4. Leeds Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,860 reviews
Considered one of the most romantic castles in England, this historic site was originally the stately home of the Saxon royal family during the reign of Ethelbert IV in 856-860.
Reviewed By aw1955 - London, United Kingdom
Absolutely lovely all round, the staff are very polite friendly and knowledgeable, the gardens and grounds are beautiful, the castle is very interesting there's a visual display showing how it was and how it changed over the years, the falconry/bird show is very good then you can go face to face with the birds behind the maze, the children's play areas look good but we did not have kids with us so didn't go inside them, boat ride and train ride ok, less mobile folk will love the land train from car park to near the castle.
5. Royal Military Canal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By JudithTintern - Yeovil, United Kingdom
We visited 3 parts of the canal. We put our kayak in at Hamstreet - the bridge near the garden centre and paddled to Bilsington and back. Lovely peaceful stretch of the canal. We visited Hythe Lock and walked a fair bit of the canal. A good, free car park and stunning views. We also parked in Hythe and walked a stretch. Really lovely. The bottom line - its quite stunning to walk by and kayak on. For kayaking you have to have a licence from Hythe Lock to Seabrook which is why we explored further up - glad we did.
6. The Shell Grotto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,231 reviews
Pre-booking essential. The Shell Grotto is one of the world’s most mysterious places: a series of underground rooms and passageways covered by 2000sqft of exquisite mosaic created with 4.6 million shells. Discovered in 1835, nobody knows who created it, when, or why. “The grotto is simultaneously haunting and homely. It could be a lost pagan shrine or have ‘A Present From Margate’ picked out in the shells - it wouldn’t matter. It’s still magical, mysterious and (once it’s in your head) impossible to forget.” Far From the Sodding Crowd: More Uncommonly British Days Out, Penguin Books.
Reviewed By Choxbird - Norfolk, United Kingdom
This is only a very small attraction but well worth a visit .. Had to prebook ticket due to the Covid-19 situation ... Amazing and mysterious display of shells lining a tunnel and underground room .. Friendly staff and nice gift shop .. Well worth a visit when in Margate :-)
7. Viking Coastal Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By stewartc640 - Chatham, United Kingdom
We decided to walk part of the Viking Coastal Trail between Minnis Bay to Reculver and back on a mid-week morning in April. The walk is about 3.7 miles in each direction and is fairly level throughout and with a good walking surface. We had originally tried to park at Reculver and start the walk from there however the car parks there were full and so we ended up at Minnis Bay and in hindsight we thought this was the best option. We found ample free car parking along the front and additionally, there is a large ‘pay & display’ park should the free spaces be unavailable. At Minnis Bay, you will find cafes, a public house and public toilets. We also noticed a cycle hire shop who also seemed to do four person bikes which is an alternate way to enjoy a ride along the coast. We started our walk toward the Reculver towers which can be clearly seen in the distance, passing some colourful beach huts some of which were being prepared by their owners for the forthcoming summer season. There is a good wide footpath on the seawall to follow for the whole route but note that this is also shared with cyclists. On the way, the walker can enjoy the views out over the Thames Estuary towards Essex and on a clear day the wind farms and also some of the Thames forts can also be seen with the naked eye. On the other side may be seen farmland punctuated with small steams and waterways. If you own a pair pf binoculars we would recommend taking them on this walk. Along the way we noted several types of birds including swans, ducks, sparrows and the occasional Kestrel as well as gulls. On our return journey we even got to see a grey seal sunning itself on the shingle beaches. Arriving at the ruined church at Reculver, there is much to see here and there are also cafes and a public house close to a grassed area if you are looking for refreshments. There is a visitors centre (not open on the day of our visit due to covid restrictions), and public toilets. There are two reasonably sized pay and display car parks and public busses also serve the area if you are not intending to walk onward (or back). The remains of the Church itself is well worth a look around, there are some explanatory signs to help if you are unaware of its history. After taking refreshments at Reculver, we started back to Minnis Bay along the same route leaving the towers of the church behind us. I personally think that this direction gives the better views as you approach Minis Bay with the bay stretching out before you. Arriving back at Minnis Bay we enjoyed a well-deserved drink before driving home after what had been a thoroughly enjoyable coastal walk.
8. Whitstable Town Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 896 reviews
Reviewed By 06ttrip - Herne Bay, United Kingdom
Whitstable is a great place to go shopping so many independent shops, lots of lovely boutiques and gift shops, plenty of places to stop for a lovely lunch or coffee and cake. There is also the Harbour Village Huts selling artisan goods, art and food.
9. Lower Leas Coastal Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 998 reviews
New measures have been introduced by Folkestone & Hythe District Council in response to the sheer numbers of people visiting the Lower Leas Coastal Park. These measures include: Banning barbecues in the Coastal Park with immediate effect. BBQ pods have been removed. Refreshing the double yellow lines along Radnor Cliff Road. Installing a lockable barrier on the Coastal Park car park and close this overnight from 8pm - 8am to discourage groups from staying late into the evening. We are unable to release any vehicles over night. Installing additional signage and exploring the use of large electronic signage located at various points in the district/access points to the park areas. Increasing the amount of enforcement and advisory officers to give a higher visual presence. We will be issuing warnings - and potentially fines - to anyone acting in a way that negatively impacts on others.
Reviewed By clottieYorkshire - North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
This park is along the cliff and under cliff of Folkestone and provides a lovely green walk between the town above and the sea below. It is a pretty Victorian experience - an amphitheatre with the sea as a backdrop; attractively planted flower beds; a zig-zag path up the cliff through the the trees to the bandstand on the esplanade above. And all the time, the sea and pebble beaches stretching out to give lovely views. What a treat - and all for free. I wonder if the funicular railway/lift works in the summer to complete the back-in-time experience.
10. Howletts Wild Animal Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,975 reviews
Howletts Wild Animal Park is a 90 acre adventure in beautiful ancient parkland that is ideal for great days out in Kent with the entire family.
Reviewed By terrybZ4274LC - Gillingham, United Kingdom
We and our two grandchildren one 11 and one 4 all had an amazing day full of fun with things to do,plenty of pit stops around the park drinks icecreams donuts and food,amazing how close some of the big cats came towards you,total fun watching the monkeys chasing each other.
