With the price of a pint on the rise, a day out with the family might end up costing you less than a drop of your favourite craft beer.
According to a survey by the Morning Advertiser, the average price of a pint in the south east of England will now set you back £5.43 – and we’ve got 20 family days out that will cost you less than that right here in Kent.
BEDGEBURY NATIONAL PINETUM AND FOREST, Goudhurst
The stunning collection of conifers at this beautiful country park is worth a visit alone. There’s more than 12,000 specimen trees, rolling hills with views of the High Weald AONB and valleys teeming with nature. You can follow the walking, running and cycling trails, visit the play area with the kids and stop for tea and cake at the on-site cafe.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and it’s £4 to park for an hour.
BLUEWATER SHOPPING CENTRE, near Dartford
Children can meet their favourite cartoon characters as they visit Bluewater during the school holidays. The shopping centre will welcome Bluey and Bingo, Peppa Pig, Paddington and more, and it’s completely free to meet them – all you need to do is become a member of rewards scheme Plus+.
Details: Entry is free, you can book your slot by signing up to Plus+ here.
BROCKHILL COUNTRY PARK, near Hythe
Our reporter recently took her kids to burn off some energy at this country park, where they enjoyed a paddle in the stream on a hot day. There are roaming sheep, shady picnic spots, a vegetarian cafe, walking trails and a large playground with swings, a roundabout and a climbing frame.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and it’s £2.50 (or £3.60) for park for the day.
CAPSTONE COUNTRY PARK, Gillingham
This sprawling park has spectacular views of the surrounding countryside if you’re willing to trek uphill. If not, you can spend some time in the playground, go for a wander around the lake, spot wildlife hiding in the woodland or take a break for lunch in the cafe.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and it’s £2.50 to park for the day.
CHATHAM SNOWSPORTS CENTRE
This sports centre – which is located inside the previously mentioned Capstone Country Park – gives you a chance to try out some winter sports, even in the height of summer. You can have a go at tobogganing for just over a fiver, but you’ll have to splurge and spend £6 if you want to have a go at sno-tubing.
Details: Tobogganing costs £5.20 for one ride. Book online here.
ELMLEY NATURE RESERVE, Sheerness
Explore the 3,300-acre reserve and take in views of the sweeping marshes and out to Swale, all while spotting the 40 or more species of birds that breed here. There are marked nature trails to follow and picnic areas where you can stop for a bite to eat.
Details: Entry is free for Friends of Elmley members, which costs £3.10 a month. You can book online here.
FOLKESTONE HARBOUR ARM
The big screen at Folkestone’s seaside tourist destination is showing films and sporting events throughout the summer, and it’s completely free. You can also catch live music most weekends, and the marketplace will be bustling with local traders and street food stalls.
Details: Entry to the harbour is free, you can find the full list of summer events here.
KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY, Tenterden
Enjoy a scenic journey through the Kent countryside aboard an authentic steam engine – and the best part is, kids go free. Throughout the summer, passengers under 16 can join the fun without charge, including events such as a hands-on toy train play zone, the Tenterden bus rally and the model railway exhibition.
Details: Free tickets for kids runs until Saturday, August 30. Book online here.
KENT MINING MUSEUM, Deal
This museum, in Deal’s East Kent coalfield, which was in operation for almost 100 years, features underground exhibitions and historical artefacts. It’s located inside Betteshanger Country Park, which has plenty of outdoor cycling and walking routes for families to enjoy.
Details: Entry to the museum and park is free, no need to book.
LOWER LEAS COASTAL PARK, Folkestone
This huge seaside park is where you’ll find the southeast’s largest outdoor play area, so it’s great for kids who are full of beans. The main play area has tube slides, net tunnels and towers, with a further five smaller play parks surrounding it. There’s also a pirate-themed playground with a shipwreck and climbing walls, a sand digger and rocking boats.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and parking starts from £2.50.
MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
With more than 600,000 global artefacts, including art, natural history, geology and Ancient Egypt, this museum is home to one of Kent’s largest collections. The museum boasts some new exhibitions such as Titanic Honour and Glory, a touring exhibition displaying artefacts from the 1912 wreckage.
Details: Entry to the museum is free, no need to book.
MARGATE CAVES
These underground caves were originally used as a chalk mine in the 18th century, and were then rediscovered and turned into a tourist attraction in 1863. After a 15-year closure and refurbishment, the caves reopened again in 2019 with new exhibitions, as well as a cafe and gift shop.
Details: Entry tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Book online here.
MOTE PARK, Maidstone
This 450-acre Green Flag park is nestled in the heart of the county town and boasts woodland, a 30-acre lake, a huge playground, a skate ramp, a miniature railway and walking trails. Our reporter recently visited with her family, who loved that there was plenty of open space to play football and lots of ducks and geese to feed.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and it’s £3 to park for six hours.
QUEX ADVENTURE FARM PARK, Birchington-on-Sea
Meet the animals, get lost in the maize maze and hop aboard a tractor-trailer ride at this seaside park. There’s plenty to keep the kids busy, including a large playground with zipwires, giant sandpits, climbing frames and bouncing pillows. You can even pay a few extra quid for an animal experience. It’s cheap for adults – but be aware, this is one of the few places where kids’ tickets are on the pricier end.
Details: Entry tickets cost £3.50 for adults and £13.45 for children. Book online here.
QUEX GARDENS, Birchington-on-Sea
A visit to the Powell-Cotton Museum might push you slightly over budget (it’s £7.50 for adults), but the surrounding gardens come in well under the price of a pint. The space is influenced by the Regency, Victorian and Edwardian eras and includes lawns, flowerbeds, borders, terraces, glasshouses and a woodland walk.
Details: Entry tickets cost £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. Book online here.
THE STRAND, Gillingham
After a £248k refurbishment, the Strand Lido and Leisure Park reopened earlier this year with a new splash pad and a 300m lazy river. There’s also a beach-themed play area, six 25m swimming lanes and an outdoor leisure pool. You can send the kids there on a budget, but you’ll have to throw in some extra pennies if you want to join them.
Details: Entry tickets cost £7.80 for adults and £5.15 for children. Book online here.
SOLLEY’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR, near Deal
This is no ordinary ice cream parlour. At Solley’s, you’ll find walking trails, farmyard animals, and a pub with a decent beer garden. It’s up to you how much you spend on ice cream and pints, but the walking trail is completely free. It takes you past the pond, through the fields and into the farm.
Details: Entry to the farm is free, no need to book.
SPITFIRE AND HURRICANE MUSEUM, Ramsgate
Admire a collection of 1940s Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, learn about the pilots who flew during the Second World War and discover how Manston played a part in Britain’s wartime past. You can also have a go on the exhilarating flight simulator, however, this comes at an additional cost.
Details: Entry to the museum is free, no need to book.
WEST BLEAN AND THORNDEN WOODS, near Herne Bay
If you’re looking for a country walk with a twist, these woods are home to a herd of eight bison, thanks to the Wilder Blean Bison Project. There are various walking routes you can follow to find the animals, and if you’re lucky, like our reporter, you might even be able to get a sneak peek inside at Wildwood animal park along the way.
Details: Entry to the woods is free, and it’s £2 to park on weekdays and £2.50 on weekends.
WESTGATE PARK, Canterbury
After a stressful day of shopping in the city, you can let the kids loose in the Toddler’s Cove play area. Tucked away inside Westgate Park, the adventure playground has a Roman-themed climbing frame, slides, swings, zipwires and picnic tables. The gardens and river are particularly pretty in the summer, too.
Details: Entry to the park is free, and it’s £1.90 per hour.
