We were heading to visit Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent, England and decided to use the opportunity to spend a few days in this south-eastern region, a county known as the ‘garden of England’. There are endless green fields and miles of coastline, lots of completely open skies, but also some cute market towns and historic cities to explore. Parts of Kent are also pretty close to London, so it makes a good day trip from the city. Here’s my take on where to go in Kent with kids, if you’re visiting for the first time.
Where to go in Kent with Kids
Port Lympne and Howletts
Port Lympne isn’t a zoo, but a wild animal reserve set on hundreds of acres of the Kent countryside. It’s a real safari experience where you can get up close to exotic animals, including gorillas, giraffes, rhinos, lions, monkeys and more. Their sister site, Howletts, is great for younger kids as it’s much smaller, with easier-to-spot creatures.
Canterbury
A historic city centered around Canterbury Cathedral, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England here in the UK.
History buffs will love the tudor architecture here, but we loved visiting the city’s art museum, Beaney House, which is heavily geared towards kids with lots of interactive exhibits.
Deal
This is a really cute seaside town, known for its gorgeous antique shops and pretty quaint cottages. It’s a lovely place to walk around with the kids, stopping for great coffee and having brunch on the end of the pier at Deal Pier Kitchen.
Broadstairs
One of the few sandy beaches in Kent (most of them are pebbly), this is one of our favorite vacation destinations for a long weekend. It’s known for being the spot where Charles Dickens wrote many of his books, so there’s lots of Dickens-related activities for history or literature fans. Top tip: skip the busy crowds at Viking Beach and head to the hidden cove around the corner, St Mary’s Bay Beach (above), where you’ll often have the beach to yourself. Don’t miss a trip to Morellis, the retro ice cream parlor which overlooks the bay.
Where to Stay in Kent with Kids
- CABU – these elevated beach huts sit on an almost-deserted stretch of the Kent coast. Hire beach buggies for the kids to cycle up and down the beach, and visit the nearby RSPB nature reserve for bird spotting.
- Treehouse Hotel at Port Lympne – just like an African safari, you can stay right on the site of Port Lympne to experience the sounds of the safari when you wake.
- The Victory Residence – a sea-side family cottage in Deal, with a kids bunk room and great cycle routes along the beach.
Where to Eat in Kent
- Five Bells Inn (near Hythe) for a historic country pub experience, complete with oak beams and horses parked up in the yard.
- Samworth & Mee (Broadstairs) for great crab sandwiches and Sunday roasts!
- Jetty (Broadstairs) for burgers overlooking the beach.
- The Beacon (Tunbridge Wells) garden kitchen with beautiful views.
More Things to do in Kent with Kids
This is a historic part of the country, with lots of notable manor houses, castles and stately mansions that are dripping in English tradition. Take the kids to one of these if they’re interested in kings and queens or knights and dragons!
- Leeds Castle – once the home of King Edward I, a castle has stood on this site since 857.
- Hever Castle – the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, this castle has fantastic kids workshops and trails in the school holidays.
- Chartwell – the family home of Sir Winston Churchill.
Plan your Family Vacation to Kent
- Team up a trip to Kent with your next London vacation – it’s around 1 to 2 hours away by train depending on what area you want to visit.
- Stay in Kent on the way to the UK from Paris (you’ll cross the border into Kent if you drive from France to England).
- Unless you’re visiting a larger town like Deal or Broadstairs, you’ll need a car rental to explore as there’s very little public transport in the rural areas.
- Book a tour guide or a group trip to some of the more well-known attractions to save you planning time.
Browse all our family vacation homes in the English countryside for more green and pleasant lands or discover all our family friendly destinations on Kid & Coe.
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/deal/the-victory-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/the-cotswolds/the-old-vicarage
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/the-cotswolds/the-burford-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/aldeburgh/the-white-cottage