Kent
From ice-cream parlours to seafood festivals, the ‘Garden of England’ is meant for discovery.
Why we love Kent
There’s so much to explore in Kent. Just a short hop from London takes you to Margate, home of the Turner Contemporary gallery and Dreamland theme park. Tuck into delicious oysters in Whitstable or try bohemian Ramsgate for a weekend away. Relax among the candy-coloured beach huts of Broadstairs, or bring the past to life in the surrounds of Dover Castle, Leeds Castle or Canterbury Cathedral. Alternatively, sample sparkling wines on vineyard tours or explore Kent’s Heritage Coast — voted one of the world’s top regions to visit by Lonely Planet.
Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival
Fresh oysters, stand-up comedy and live music, right beside the beach. Is there a more perfect summer scene? Every year, the arty coastal town of Whitstable serves up seafood and entertainment galore, featuring a lively parade and food stalls in its pretty harbour.
Dreamland
Visit Margate’s refurbished seaside amusement park, home to a Grade II listed, wooden rollercoaster. There’s a packed events calendar too, which includes the Margate Pride festival.
Shell Grotto
Buried under the streets of Margate, discover this mysterious collection of more than four million shells, tightly packed into the walls of underground passageways.
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is jam-packed with things to do: from an adventure golf course and mind-boggling maze, to a bird of prey centre and outdoor art sculptures. Once a palace for Henry VIII, this 900-year-old castle is full of historic artworks and treasures. More than that, it offers open-air film screenings, Christmas light trails and spooky Halloween nights. It even has its own summer festival, the Leeds Castle Concert, featuring a Spitfire flypast and live music by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And if that’s not enough – you can also stay here.
Call the Midwife Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Nurse Trixie with a Call The Midwife Official Location Tour of Chatham’s Historic Dockyard, where it was filmed. Led by a costumed guide, discover how the hit series was made in the heritage site. The dockyard has also been seen on screen in Bridgerton, The Crown, Sherlock Holmes and many more.
Things to do in Kent
Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival
The Shell Grotto
Turner Contemporary
Dover Castle
Dreamland Margate
Joss Bay Surf School
Copper Rivet Distillery
Stark
Chapel Down Winery
Broadstairs Food Festival
Call the Midwife Tour
Leeds Castle
Margate Pride
Canterbury Festival
Knole Park
Canterbury Cathedral
Bluewater Shopping Centre
Angela’s of Margate
Mrs Knotts Tearoom at South Foreland Lighthouse
Hever Castle
Joe’s Bows
Dory’s, Kent
Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival
The Shell Grotto
Turner Contemporary
Dover Castle
Dreamland Margate
Joss Bay Surf School
Copper Rivet Distillery
Stark
Chapel Down Winery
Broadstairs Food Festival
Call the Midwife Tour
Leeds Castle
Margate Pride
Canterbury Festival
Knole Park
Canterbury Cathedral
Bluewater Shopping Centre
Angela’s of Margate
Mrs Knotts Tearoom at South Foreland Lighthouse
Hever Castle
Joe’s Bows
Dory’s, Kent
Featured things to do
Explore Kent’s vineyards
Enjoy a tour and tasting in the lush surroundings of one of Kent’s wineries or vineyards, renowned for their still and sparkling wines.
Find out more about Kent’s vineyards
Feel the love at Margate Pride Festival
Join in a celebration of love with this programme of summer events, including a festival in Dreamland, followed by a parade and an incredible town-wide after party.
Celebrate Margate Pride
Soak up some culture at Canterbury Festival
Dive into a two-week extravaganza of the arts. Expect an eclectic mix of opera, folk, jazz and classical, alongside circus, theatre, cabaret and visual arts.
Plan your visit to Canterbury Festival
Catch an exhibition at Turner Contemporary
This cutting-edge gallery on Margate beach was one of the driving forces behind the town’s vibrant regeneration. It hosts an ever-changing line-up of exhibitions and workshops that embody the town's creative spirit.
See what's on at Turner ContemporaryPlaces to stay in Kent
Margate
Home to the Turner Contemporary, Dreamland and the surreal Shell Grotto, this seaside town is packed with experiences, plus plenty of eateries to get your teeth into.
Canterbury
The walled city of Canterbury is more like a relaxed town. Explore the 11th-century Canterbury cathedral, as well as its many bars and restaurants.
Sandwich
With its chalk cliffs and beautiful winding streets, the port of Sandwich features medieval gems and a riverboat service along the River Stour, perfect for taking in the Kent countryside.
Explore nearby
Getting to Kent
Kent’s closest airports are two of the UK’s biggest international hubs, London Gatwick and London Heathrow. The journey time from both takes up to two hours by car or train, depending on which part of Kent you need to reach.
Kent is well connected to London by rail, with Southeastern offering services from London Bridge, Charing Cross, London Waterloo East, and Victoria. From London St Pancras International, the High Speed One train reaches Kent in less than 40 minutes.
Getting around
A vast network of roads, paths and train lines run across the county, making travel easy and leaving you with plenty of time to experience Kent’s cities, coast and countryside.
By bus
Buses serve routes across Kent. Check out Arriva and Stagecoach for the most frequently run services.
By train
Most train services in Kent are operated by Southeastern, with the exception of local trains which are operated by Southern. You can use National Rail Enquiries for tickets and route planners.
By bike
Kent is a cyclist’s paradise. From bike tours, such as the heritage-led Col’s Kent Bike Tours, to the Cantii Way or a host of other trails, cycling is a great way to experience what Kent has to offer.
Want to know more?
Check out Visit Kent for top insider tips and travel inspiration