Kent with Children | Our Fairytale Family Holiday in the Garden of England 2025

On our summer trip to England, we also visited Kent with our children. Kent is affectionately called the Garden of England, and it becomes clear very quickly where this name comes from. Everything is simply green! The fields, the meadows, the hedges, bushes, and trees. This makes our hearts bloom, and we feel right at home here.

The journey from Oxford was already wonderful. We headed south past London, towards the English Channel. We turned right before the Eurotunnel and Dover, and reached Bonnington, where we would spend the next two weeks.

In the following post about the green county, I'll show you everything we experienced in Kent and what we did there with children. I should also mention now that we took two day trips to London from here, which I've already reported on in a separate post. But back to Kent, let's get started and have fun gathering inspiration.

01. Our Accommodation in Kent – A Villa in the Countryside

This time, our accommodation gets its own section because it was more than worth seeing, or rather, worth living in. 🙂 In the beautiful village of Bonnington, we rented a house where we all have enough space. This allowed us to set up rooms for the kids and even had two offices for working. That was perfect. Additionally, the accommodation was located in a very quiet area, and there was nothing else around but nature. There wasn't even a shop or store. For that, we had to drive about 10 minutes. This is exactly what we wanted this time.

The house itself was built in 1870 and served as a granary at the time. Of course, nothing of that can be seen anymore. Nowadays, it is a typical English villa with light carpeting and tasteful wood paneling. The garden was huge and, fortunately for us, plums (in the Saarland dialect: "quetsche"), red currants, and blackberries were ripe. Our kids, in particular, didn't know the latter and so we raided the bush daily.

A lap in the garden is 580 meters long, so I was even able to do my morning laps here. The neighbor's sheep watched me curiously. All in all, Bonnington was a great base for excursions in the surrounding area and, as mentioned above, even to London. The Eurostar, which travels from Paris to London, stops in Ashford. It's only a 10-minute drive from there, and you'll be in London in 35 minutes.

In the immediate vicinity, there are also a few nice little English pubs that seem to serve food every day except Sundays. Therefore, we only managed to go to the Walnut Tree Inn in the neighboring town in the end. However, the food there was super delicious. We observed that in other English pubs, people mostly just meet up to drink beer. That's probably what they're meant for.

02. Port Lympne Reserve – Safari Adventure in the Heart of Kent

Just a few kilometers from the coast, but also only a few minutes' drive from Bonnington, lies Port Lympne Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary. It belongs to the Aspinall Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to species conservation and the reintroduction of endangered animals.

With its over 240-hectare grounds, Port Lympne is no typical zoo, as everything is very spacious here. So it's practical that there's a safari. You absolutely must book your tickets online before you drive into the reserve. I had our tickets via Lovetovisit booked. On the platform, you'll often get 10-20% off for excursions.

The safari takes about 1 hour and is really worth it. 900 animals from around 75 species live in the park. While there are many kilometers of walking paths, some enclosures are only accessible by safari jeep. We spend a wonderful afternoon in the park. However, you can easily plan a whole day here.

In addition to the activities, there are also some great restaurants. We went to the Mansion Bar & Terrace, but only took a short break there, so I can't say anything about the food or service. Next door is „The Garden Room“ restaurant, which, according to the menu, offers slightly more exclusive dishes. If you like Italian food, you'll find everything your heart desires at „Babydoll's Wood-Fired Pizza.“ There are also the Bear Lodge and Pinewood Café, as well as the Basecamp Café and Lookout Café. So, you won't go hungry in the park.

03. COT's Rare Breeds Centre – Farm, Playground & Nature

Kent has a lot of farms that you can also visit. This time, we chose COT's Rare Breed Farm. A great place to explore Kent with children. It's about a 15-minute drive from our accommodation in Kent. COT stands for Canterbury Oast Trust, a charity from England.

On this farm, in addition to the usual suspects like sheep, cows, goats, donkeys, and so on, there are also rare breeds. A total of 26 in number. For example, Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs live here, which are considered highly endangered due to factory farming. Fattier pigs simply grow faster, and therefore hardly anyone breeds this old breed anymore.

In addition, there are ferrets, guinea pigs, and many birds that you can see here. Throughout the day, there are numerous activities such as pig races, ferret petting and even racing, as well as a butterfly house.

We're spending a full day here, enjoying nature with a long walk through the beautiful forests. The kids are discovering interesting insects and plants everywhere. A highlight of the farm is the „Mysterious March.“ It's a kind of obstacle course through the forest. We parents have to join in too. It's quite adventurous for us and darn exhausting, but of course, also super fun.

In the afternoon, there's still a snack, and then we'll head home again. Many attractions in England, especially in the countryside, close around 4 or 5 PM. This is unusual, but not so bad, because then we also have some of the evening left.

Be sure to book a ticket online on the website to ensure you get access to the farm. Entrance is limited.

04. Leeds Castle – A Fairytale Castle in Southern England

Our absolute highlight in Kent was a visit to Leeds Castle. Especially if you visit Kent with children, there's no way around this great castle and above all the park. Because Leeds Castle is much more than just a castle. It is a sprawling park with the largest playground we have ever visited, as well as restaurants, a lake, a huge maze with a grotto, and so much more.

At first, I was a bit shocked by the entrance fee. Many attractions in England only sell annual passes. So, we bought a family ticket for €125, which allows us to visit the castle and the park for a whole year. Because of this, we were in the park for two days in total, as it then only costs half as much. 🤭 For locals, this pass is of course great, as there are many great promotions and events here in both summer and winter.

I have to confess, the entrance fee was totally worth it. We spent two wonderful days here and even met some friends from Barbados quite spontaneously, who happened to be in Kent at the same time. Our kids went to school together back then and did a lot together. The reunion was sensationally beautiful, and it seemed as if they hadn't seen each other for a few weeks. Even though a few years have passed.

Leeds Castle

The castle itself is incredibly well-preserved and looks more like it was built specifically for a movie set. Surrounded by a moat that glitters in the sun on the best weather days, the castle sits on small islands in the lake. It appears very elegant, peaceful, and with a touch of royal history.

It was built in the 12th century and later became home to several queens. Many rooms are accessible to the public. The kids were sure it was haunted somewhere inside, as the rooms were all old and opulently furnished for them, perfect for a noble castle ghost. By the way, we are always very happy that our kids enjoy museums and castles. That makes such a trip much easier.

Adventure at the Castle Playground

Just behind the castle, past a few bistros and restaurants, the children's paradise begins. The Knight's Stronghold Playground is the perfect place when you visit Kent with children. Inspired by real castles and fortresses, kids can climb, slide, run, and even have their own mini-battle here. For this, there are small wooden weapons and shields.

Our kids love the two ziplines side-by-side because they can have a race at the same time. We dads get to catch them on the way back and push them up for the next round, of course.

The playground is huge, multi-story, and equipped with bridges, towers, and nets. It's ideal for getting rid of excess energy. If your kids are under five, there's a beach right in front of the playground with buckets and spades for building sandcastles, as well as a smaller playground right next to it.

The Hedge Maze & The Underground Grotto

The labyrinth here is also huge. You really get lost here and have no chance of looking over the hedges. So it takes us a good 10 minutes to reach the center of the labyrinth. 2,000 yew trees, these soft fir trees, form countless paths and turnings, making it difficult to find the right way.

Having reached the center, we can look down at the labyrinth from above and see many desperate parents chasing their kids in the wrong direction. Much like we were doing, in a way. You want to help, but it's simply too big, so everyone has to find their own way.

Warning, spoilers: When you get to the middle, a grotto with many creepy but very detailed sculptures surprisingly awaits you. Underground, you walk through it within a minute, essentially under the labyrinth, back outside, and... you're free. 😄 What a great experience.

Mini Golf and Family Fun in Kent

On our second visit to Leeds Castle Park, we'll play a round of mini golf. Right next to the maze is the lovingly designed Adventure Golf Course, themed, of course, around the castle and the history of England.

Between small bridges, rivers, mini turrets, and knight figures, the kids and we „ambitious“ parents can demonstrate our golfing skills. It doesn't matter who wins (the main thing is that it's me!!), it's a lot of fun and, especially with such fantastic weather, a great way to spend family time and laugh a lot.

We'll cap off the day with a leisurely picnic in the park. Many English people seem to come here for that, because it's quite busy.

By the way, there are great events in the winter, for example, a magic forest with many light installations. I also imagine the Christmas season here would be fantastic. We could even get in a few more times „for free“ with our ticket.

05. Hamilton Airfield Tearoom – Cream Tea with a View

Far from the main tourist trails, Hamilton Airfield is located in idyllic Kent. A perfect place for a getaway. Situated in the middle of the countryside, on the grounds of an old airfield, you can eat delicious cream tea or a tasty lunch here. We tried both and were delighted.

The location is wonderfully decorated like a small airport, even with a control tower next door. In fact, Hamilton Airfield was once a real airfield. During World War II, some farms were repurposed. Especially here in Kent, as the route to Normandy is short and you didn't have to fly across the whole country. Some airfields were just decoys, but at Hamilton Airfield, planes really took off.

Private planes still take off from here today. We watch some small planes taking off and landing, and even a few gyrocopters lifting off here. Those are those Lego... I mean, those helicopters that are only single-seaters and that only gain lift from the wind and the rotor at the back. They can't hover in the air like real helicopters.

It was still fun to watch, and we also had a lot of fun walking through the tall grass to the runway. The whole thing was rounded off by the two large swings that were mounted in the trees. The kids had so much fun there.

If you're in the area, definitely check out the Airfield. It's a hidden gem for your stay in Kent with children and therefore couldn't be missed in my Kent travel report.

06. Folkestone – Coastal Air with Creative Flair

One of our favorite beaches in Barbados is called Folkestone Beach. As many names in Barbados are of English origin, we simply had to see the port town of Folkestone for ourselves. First observation: Although it's high summer, it's chilly here compared to Caribbean Barbados. Nevertheless, the temperatures don't bother us at all and we spend a wonderful day here.

The city itself appears classically British, with a beach, promenade, and plenty of seagulls. On second glance, however, it surprises. For it is a hotspot for artists. Old warehouses have been converted into galleries, cafes, and small boutiques. The old harbor wall, for example, is a collection of good restaurants and food stalls.

After a delicious lunch at the harbor, we'll also take a look at the city itself. An extremely steep street leads up the hill. Lined with picturesque cafes and countless shops with handmade goods. Here you can let your creativity run wild. We stop at a small cafe that has a lush library. Our eldest loves libraries because she devours books. She has already read more books than I had by the end of my studies.

Back at the harbor, we notice that the sea level is now several meters higher. This is funny and unusual, as we are not used to this in Malta. I doubt whether the pebble beach in Folkestone can compare to our beloved Folkestone Beach in Barbados. At least both places are right on the water and even on the same sea. One on the cool English Channel, the other in the paradise-like Caribbean part of the Atlantic.

07. Canterbury – Cobblestones, Cathedrals, Royal Stories

Canterbury is one of those English cities that convey an incredible amount of history. The narrow streets, the car-free old town, full of cobblestones and dotted with numerous cafes, old half-timbered houses, and not least the canal that runs through the city.

Once, Canterbury was an important trading center, located between London and Dover. This brought many pilgrims to the city. They left behind a lot of money and brought life to the city. It wasn't long before Canterbury was among the richest cities in England.

We learned a lot about Canterbury's history during a short boat tour through the city. Fortunately, our rower, who was also our guide, had studied English history. Therefore, it was a very exciting and informative excursion. However, it must also have been quite exhausting for the poor guy to ferry us tourists through the city on the River Stour.

We're still strolling through Westgate Gardens and enjoying the great English weather. As already mentioned in another post, we didn't even have a handful of rainy days on our eight-week trip through England.

Canterbury was our last excursion on our trip to Kent with children. We are heading towards Devon and Cornwall the next day.

Trip tips Kent with kids

05. Conclusion: Kent Travel Report

Visiting Kent with children was simply wonderful. The county is so green and spacious. We met great and friendly people, immediately felt at home, and were able to enjoy nature.

All in all, we're thrilled with Kent and the many excursions we were able to take here at short distances. Country living, like in the little village of Bonnington, feels a bit like someone turned back time. Village life here is down-to-earth, and people meet for a pint after work at the pub. Daily! At least, that's what I observed.

Kent is excellent for family holidays. Everything is child-friendly, and there's a huge range of excursions that the whole family will enjoy. You can even get to Kent quickly from the mainland with the Eurostar. Just travel under the sea.

Have you been to Kent with children before? What did you like best there? What should we see there next time? What else are you missing in my Kent travel report? Let me know in the comments.

Kent Photo Gallery with Children

It's turned into a lot, a lot of pictures this time 😉. Originally, Wandernotizen was my private blog with pictures. It still is, in part, today, which is why there are sometimes 260 photos in my galleries. Have fun!!!