Broadstairs

Unspoilt seaside resort with sandy bays, old-fashioned bathing huts, and busy little harbour with fishing boats and yachts. Charles Dickens spent his summers here, at Bleak House, now a museum.

Bleak House Dickens Museum
(tel 01843 862224)
(open daily mid-Feb - mid-Dec & weekends in Jan)
Seaside residence of Charles Dickens where he wrote David Copperfield and planned Bleak House. Three rooms have been preserved as they would have been in Dickens's day, plus displays on smuggling and local wrecks.

Dickens House Museum
(tel 01843 862853)
(open afternoons only, Apr - mid-Oct)
Former home of Miss Mary Strong, on whom the character Betsey Trotwood was based in David Copperfield. Displays include Dickens's belongings, and the parlour furnished as it was in the book.

Canterbury

Britain's second most visited city, rich in historic and ecclesiastical sights with a well-preserved warren of medieval streets. Much of the centre is pedestrianised, and interesting guided walking tours depart twice daily from the Visitor Information Centre in St Margaret's Street.

Canterbury Cathedral
(open daily year round, limited opening on Sundays)
The first and the most important cathedral of the Church of England, Canterbury Cathedral is suitably impressive by day, and dramatically lit up at night creating a spectacular sight.. Dating back to Norman times and heavily modified over the years, its many rewarding features include the 235 feet high Bell Harry Tower, the shrine of Thomas a Becket, the Norman crypt with ornate carvings of strange animals and fascinating stained glass wall in the Chapter House. The precincts are entered through the ornate 16th century Christ Church Gate, from where fine views can be had of the Cathedral, and also on the approach from Queningate.

Canterbury Heritage Museum, Stour Street
(tel 01227 452747)
(open daily year round excl. Sun, Nov - May)
This imaginative interactive exhibition, housed in the medieval Poor Priests Hospital, reveals the city's colourful history making good use of latest display technology. Plus a gallery devoted to Rupert Bear, created by locally-born Mary Tourtel.

The Canterbury Tales, St Margarets Street
(tel 01227 454888)
(open daily year round)
Chaucer's characters are vividly brought to life using smells, sounds and celebrity voices.

Roman Museum, Longmarket
(tel 01227 785575)
(open daily year round excl. Sun, Nov - May)
Fascinating underground museum featuring mosaic floor, reconstruction of a Roman market and kitchen, and recovered Roman artefacts from the city's Longmarket area.

St Augustine's Abbey, Longport
(tel 01227 767345)
(open daily year round)
The Abbey occupies the site of the church founded by Augustine, who was dispatched by the pope to convert the British Isles to Christianity in 597. The remaining ruins date from the 11th century, when a much larger Abbey was built at the same time as the Cathedral.

St Martin's Church, North Holmes Road
One of England's oldest churches built on the site of a Roman villa or temple, and used by the earliest Christians.

Westgate Museum, junction of St Peter's Street and St Dunstan's Street
(tel 01227 452747)
(open Mon-Sat all year round, excl. Xmas week, closed 1230-1330hrs)
Only one of the seven city gates to have remained intact, dating back to the late 14th century. Interesting cells, medieval weaponry displays and good views from the battlements.

Chatham - Historic Dockyard
(tel 01634 823800)
(open daily Apr - Oct & Weds, weekends Nov, Feb, Mar)
Interesting 80-acre working museum set in Georgian dockyard, once the Royal Navy's major base. Highlights include the "Wooden Walls" gallery illustrating life as an apprentice in the 18th century, the Ropery complex featuring the incredibly long rope-making room, a RNLI display of 15 historic lifeboats and the Ocelot submarine, used in the Cold War, dating from the 1960s.

Dover Castle
(open daily year round)
(tel 01304 211067) EH
Extremely well-preserved Norman fortress featuring the original keep, huge towers, and deep well. Interesting views of the harbour from the battlements, plus complex of underground tunnels used in World War 11 to explore.

Dreamland Theme Park, Margate
(open daily Apr - Oct)
(tel 01843 227011)
This amusement park offers plenty of rides including dodgems, a log flume and roller-coasters.

Hever Castle & Gardens
(open daily Mar - Nov)
(tel 01732 865224)
13th century Hever Castle remains much the same as when Anne Boleyn lived here as a child, from the outside. However, inside, the rooms have been beautifully restored by the Astor family using antiques, furnishings and paintings from the 16th century. Highlights include a room dedicated to Henry V111's wives and exquisite collection of miniature houses furnished in period styles. Thirty acres of lovely gardens feature lakes, rose garden, Italianate garden, maze and adventure playground. Ideal for a family day out.

The Hop Farm Country Park, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6PY
(open all year)
(tel 01622 872068)
Whatever the weather, there is something for everyone at the Hop Farm Country Park. Open all year and with over 30 special events including motor events, wedding fairs, food and drink festivals, music events and themed holiday weeks there is always a great excuse to come back time after time! Set amongst the world's largest collection of Victorian Oast houses, this once working Hop Farm is now one of the South East's most popular family attractions. There is something for all the family, including children's play areas, animal encounters, interactive museums and the impressive Shire horses.

Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden
(please request timetable from railway for opening times)
(tel 01580 765155)
Steam trains run from Tenterden to Bodiam Castle in Sussex. The route offers lovely views of the Weald Countryside, and Bodiam Castle is a perfect picture-book castle offering a host of special events for children. A good family day out.

Leeds Castle
(open daily year round)
(tel 01622 765400)
Considered to be one of the loveliest castles in the country, Leeds Castle sits on two small island in the middle of a lake.
Built in the 9th century, it became a royal residence under Henry VIII and houses a superb collection of paintings, tapestries and furniture. An unusual collection of dog-collars is on display in the Gatehouse. The surrounding 500 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland feature a Mediterranean garden, grotto, maze and aviary. Special events are held throughout the year including open-air concerts. Good for a family day out.

Penshurst Place
(open daily Apr - Oct, limited opening in Mar)
(tel 01892 870307)
Home to the Sydney family for many centuries, this well-preserved medieval manor house features the huge chestnut-beamed Baron's Hall and a large collection of portraits and furnishings. Children will enjoy the toy museum and formal gardens with a woodland trail and adventure playground.

Reculver Towers & Roman Fort
(open daily Apr - Sep excl. Mon, cl.Tue in Sep, open Sun Oct - Mar)
(tel 01227 740676)
Country park enclosing two tall Saxon towers of former church on the mound above the beach, and remains of Roman Fort built in the 3rd century.

Sissinghurst
(open Apr - Sep, excl. am weekdays and Mondays)
(tel 01580 712850)
A timed ticket system is in operation at this famous garden created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicholson.

Hever Castle & Gardens

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Leeds Castle

Reculver Towers & Roman Fort

Romney Marsh Church

Wild bluebells in the Wealden countryside

Tunbridge Wells

The historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells was renowned for its restorative waters during Regency times. The centre of the town, known as The Pantiles, takes its name after the chunky Kent clay tiles used as paving during Queen Anne's reign. Here, the famous waters which come from the chalybeate spring, can still be sampled during the summer in the old Bath House. A colonnaded parade of elegant Georgian buildings, where once the gentry would promenade after taking the waters, now houses a variety of interesting shops.

A Day at the Wells, The Pantiles
(open daily year round)
(tel 01892 546545)
A vivid recreation of this spa town in Georgian times, using latest technology.

Tunbridge Wells Museum & Gallery, Civic Centre
(open daily year round excl. Sun, BH)
(tel 01892 526121)
Displays of ceramics, woodware, relics and local history.