20 Quirky Family Days Out In Kent, Sussex & London This Easter
The Easter holidays are here and we all look set to be spending a lot more time outdoors. So we've taken a look at some great things to do with the family locally.
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London Zoo Overnight Stays
In the heart of London Zoo, why not spend the night in one of The ZSL London Zoo Lodges inside the Land of the Lions exhibit, enjoy an exclusive tour, which all take place when the zoo is closed to the public. Wake to “the sounds of roaring lions, singing gibbons, honking flamingos, and neighbouring native wildlife”. Your stay – in one of the nine beautifully-decorated lodges – includes a complimentary drink upon arrival, two exclusive after-hours tours of the zoo at sunset and after-dark, one exclusive tour in the morning after breakfast, including a meet and greet with a keeper, overnight stay in a private lodge, a two-course dinner and buffet breakfast, free entry into ZSL London Zoo for two days either side of your night's stay (you are also welcome to visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo on your second day), free car parking, 15% discount on the Meet the Animals experiences, and a 10% discount in the gift shop and restaurant.
• Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY, www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/london-zoo-lodge
The Cartoon Museum
Branded the “the only museum in London where you’re encouraged to laugh out loud!” The Cartoon Museum’s aim is for you to leave keen to head home and try drawing yourself. Dedicated to preserving the best of British cartoons, caricatures, comics and animation, there you will find a collection of over 6,000 original cartoons and comics, as well as a library of over 8,000 comics and books to explore, dating from the 18th century to today. They also offer a diverse programme of exhibitions, events, education programmes and competitions.
• 63 Wells St, London W1A 3AE, https://www.cartoonmuseum.org
Penshurst Place
There are 48 acres of grounds at the beautiful Penshurst Place, including the 11 acre formal Grade I listed gardens which are among the oldest in private ownership. With early records dating back to 1346, they are considered to be one of the most beautiful in England. Children can enjoy having some outdoor fun in the Adventure Playground and explore the Woodland Trail, or get crafty in The Old Coach House. When it's time for some refreshments, head to The Porcupine Pantry Cafe which is open from 9.30am-5pm.
• Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8DG, www.penshurstplace.com
Drusillas Park
Widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country, Drusillas has created “an animal and child friendly environment where the focus is always on fun finding out”. There are a wide variety of animals to meet on your visit including red pandas, giant ant eaters, armadillos, servals, fruit bats, monkeys and of course meerkats, plus so many more. They also have walk-through exhibits including Lemurland, the Sloth and Bat House, Lory Landing with their friendly flock of rainbows lorikeets, plus there are also penguin feeding talks. As well as the animals there is plenty of fun to be had at this top day out for kids, including Go Wild!, the outdoor adventure play area, the Get Wet! splash pad, Go Safari!, The Rainforest Adventure, SPARK, Amazon Adventure soft play, Mungo's Adventure Maze and lots of children's rides which are all free once you have entered.
• Alfriston Road, East Sussex BN26 5QS, www.drusillas.co.uk
Hever Castle
Discover the magnificent award-winning gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds at Hever Castle. Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, there is much history to uncover on a family day out. Plus there are lots of activities to enjoy too, including the Tudor Towers Adventure Playground, Acorn Dell Play Area and boating on the lake, plus have fun navigating the water and yew mazes. And don't forget to check out the Miniature Model Houses, the KSY Military Museum and the gift shops. Plus throughout the summer there are a range of events including jousting!
• Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG, www.hevercastle.co.uk
Wingham Wildlife Park
Visitors to Wingham Wildlife Park have the chance to see hundreds of animals from all over the globe – take a trip to the wolf enclosure or visit the moon bears and wallabys or why not head to the flamingo enclosure? There are always plenty of exciting animals for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Plus brought to life through high-quality models, visitors can meet more than 20 different dinosaurs in the dinosaur area, from the fearsome T-Rex to the massive Diplodocus.
• Rusham Road, Wingham, Canterbury CT3 1JL, www.winghamwildlifepark.co.uk
Leeds Castle
With unique displays to uncover in the castle and exhilarating programme of events, there's lots of family fun to be had on a day out to Leeds Castle. Enjoy a spectacular birds of prey display, visit the Dog Collar Museum and explore the stunning gardens and 500 acres of parkland there. For adventure, kids can tackle the obstacle course, or you can all pop on the Black Swan Ferry and voyage across the Great Water. Plus once you pay for a day you can visit for the rest of the year for free!
• Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL, www.leeds-castle.com
Great Comp Garden
A paradise for garden lovers, explore their wonderfully quirky garden showcasing seven acres of beautiful and rare plants surrounding a 17th century manor house. This hidden gem of a garden is home to an Italian Garden, romantic ruins and enchanting woodland walks. Enjoy some locally sourced treats at The Old Dairy Tearoom when you need to refuel and head to Dyson's Nurseries if you want to take some beautiful plants home with you.
• Comp Lane, St Mary's Platt, Sevenoaks TN15 8QS, www.greatcompgarden.co.uk
Knockhatch Adventure Park
Knockhatch Adventure Park in Hailsham is the ideal family day out in Sussex come rain or shine! For those who like adventure there are experiences such as Sherlock Holmes, the Wave Runner and the Lost World Playbarn slides. Next up head to The Jungle Splash – a huge wet play area. Then spend some calmer time petting and feeding a variety of farm animals, plus they have daily Owl Displays where the birds swoop over your heads and land on their keeper’s gloves. For those who love being outdoors, head to one of the playgrounds or the boating lake, plus there are more outdoor activities to enjoy. And it doesn’t have to be raining to stop off at one of their large indoor adventure play areas including Froggies Soft Play Area, the Lost World Playbarn, Tommy Tractor Playbarn and the Cannon Arena, as there is fun to be had whatever the weather. New attractions are being added all the time, so there is always something different to explore. There are online discounts when you book in advance.
• Hailsham Bypass, Hailsham, Sussex, BN27 3GD, https://knockhatch.com
Blackberry Farm Park
Open all year round, Blackberry Farm is a family-run farm park set in the beautiful East Sussex countryside with a huge selection of outdoor play, farm animals and exciting rides for the whole family to enjoy. On exploring the farm you will meet their larger animals including llamas, alpacas, Highland cattle and more, while you can get up close and personal with some of the smaller furry friends in the Small Animal Barn. A must on your list of things to do is head to one of the Animal Handling sessions, where children can cuddle a rabbit or guinea pig, plus the tortoises can be handled upon request. There is much to explore outside including trampolines, swings boats, climbing walls, forts, zip lines, sand pits and more. For indoor play there is Clucky’s Play Barn, while Chirpy’s Play Barn offers a space for the much smaller visitors. When it’s time to refuel there are a range of food outlets where you can buy some treats or take a break at the outdoor picnic areas. Annual Membership is available and allows unlimited visits 361 days of the year. And a handy tip is you can save 50p by pre-booking online.
• Blackberry Farm, Whitesmith, Lewes, Sussex BN8 6JD, https://blackberry-farm.co.uk
Diggerland
For an action, fun and a thrill-packed family day out in Kent, head to Diggerland in Strood. There guests of all ages can ride, drive and operate real diggers in a safe and family-friendly setting. Rides and drives include Spindizzy, Mini-Tractors, Groundshuttle and Dig-a-Round, as well as Go-Karts and Dodgems. There is fun to be had whatever the weather, with indoor and outdoor play areas, coin operated rides and more. There is also a cafeteria offering a wide selection of hot and cold snacks, meals and beverages. As well as indoor eating facilities they have an outdoor picnic area. Plus if you pre-book and pre-pay online you can save money on your entry.
• Medway Valley Leisure Park, Roman Way, Kent ME2 2NU, https://www.diggerland.com/days-out-in-kent-diggerland/
Fishers Farm Adventure Park
The perfect day out for families and friends, this award-winning family-run farm park set in the beautiful West Sussex countryside offers a huge selection of indoor soft play, farm animals and exciting rides for the whole family to enjoy. Open 363 days of the year from 10am-5pm, there are live animal encounters, outdoor rides, theatre shows and thrilling attractions – this really is an action-packed day for all ages. Plus, for when you get peckish there are a range of food outlets on offer as well as outdoor picnic areas.
• Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, Sussex, RH14 0EG, https://fishersfarmpark.co.uk
Tilgate Park
At Tilgate Park you will find stunning lakes to go boating on, lawns and gardens where you can sit back and enjoy a picnic and miles of woodland and bridleways to explore. This Green Flag award-winning park is also home to Tilgate Nature Centre where you can all see a variety of animals, a tree trail, walled garden with a fun maze and themed gardens, as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes when you need refreshments. Plus for the more adventurous, walk through the tree tops at its Go Ape! attraction.
• Tilgate Drive, Crawley, Sussex RH10 5PQ, https://crawley.gov.uk/culture/parks-and-open-spaces/gardens-and-parks/tilgate-park
Kent Life
There is lots to see and do on a family day out at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park. The 28-acre working farm and visitor attraction is situated in Maidstone, Kent on the site of the original Sandling Farm. Open throughout the year, Kent Life tells the Kent farming story and provides a fun family day out discovering more than 200 farmyard animals, indoor and outdoor play areas, and Kentish gardens and orchards. Visitors can step back in time to experience Kent’s farming heritage in the Vintage Village, which is made up of reconstructions of original rural Kent buildings that have been re-built brick by brick. The attraction also hosts a series of seasonal special events throughout the year.
• Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU, https://kentlife.org.uk
Paradise Park
A visit to Paradise Park in Newhaven will not only be an exciting fun-filled day out for all the family but educational too. At the Planet Earth Museum you can “follow the remarkable life story of planet Earth, from its earliest beginnings to the present day” with a unique collection of fossils, minerals and crystals some dating up to 500 million years old. If you head outdoors you will find the Sussex History Trail which winds through the gardens and The Planthouses offering a variety of styles. Kids can let off some steam in the Playzone with indoor and outdoor play areas as well as try out the nine-hole crazy golf course. When you need refreshments, there is a coffee shop as well as a coffee pod within the play zone.
• Avis Road, Newhaven, Sussex BN9 0DH, https://www.paradisepark.co.uk
Howletts
Kent's original wild animal park, Howletts’ beautiful 90-acre site is home to more than 390 animals including the largest herd of African elephants in Kent, as well as more gorillas, leopards and monkeys than any zoo in the county – meeting these rare and endangered animals makes for a memorable day out for all the family.
• Bekesbourne Lane, Bekesbourne, Littlebourne, Canterbury CT4 5EL, www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts/
Sheffield Park and Garden
Owned by The National Trust, Sheffield Park and Garden is an informal landscape garden originally laid out in the 18th century by Capability Brown, and further developed in the early 20th century by its then owner, Arthur Gilstrap Soames and is home to the National Collection of Ghent azaleas. With acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, it is surrounded by historic parkland and woodland, with lots for you all to explore.
• Sheffield Park, Uckfield TN22 3QX, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
Wildwood Trust
Wildwood Trust opened in 1999 as a centre of excellence for the conservation of British wildlife, and was established as a registered charity in 2002. It currently runs two wildlife parks – this one in Canterbury and another in Devon. Wildwood Trust has over 200 native animals, past and present and both parks are set in beautiful ancient woodland where visitors can see bears and bison, red squirrels, otters, wolves and beavers, plus many more.
• Wealden Forest Park, Canterbury Road, Herne Common, Herne Bay CT6 7LQ, www.kent.wildwoodtrust.org
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway offers a great day out for all the family while getting to see the beautiful sights Kent has to offer. Known as “Kent’s Mainline in Miniature”, the world famous one-third full size steam and diesel locomotives make their way along 13½ miles of track from the Cinque Port town of Hythe, terminating in the National Nature Reserve in Dungeness. There are four stations in between, offering lots of opportunity to explore this unique corner of Kent and a bonus is that they are all within walking distance of a beach. When you are in need of refreshment there are also catering facilities available at some stations, plus be sure to visit the ever-popular Model Railway Exhibition, use the play parks and pop into the station shops.
• New Romney Station, 2 Littlestone Road, Littlestone, New Romney, Kent TN28 8PL, https://www.rhdr.org.uk
Pashley Manor Gardens
At family-owned Pashley Manor Gardens’ award-winning gardens, set on the border of Sussex and Kent, you will discover 11 acres of beautiful borders and vistas. All the ingredients of the English Country Garden are present – sweeping herbaceous borders, well-maintained lawns, a rose walk, historic walled garden, inspiring kitchen garden and the Grade I listed house as a backdrop. The gardens are a haven for wildlife and Pashley is also renowned for fantastic displays of tulips, roses and dahlias.
• Pashley Road, Ticehurst, Wadhurst TN5 7HE, www.pashleymanorgardens.com
Family sun protection
With the UK summer temperatures at an all time high, it is wise to follow expert advice to keep the whole family adequately protected during family days out. According to the NHS most people do not apply enough sunscreen. As a guide, adults should aim to apply around 6-8 teaspoons of sunscreen if you're covering your entire body. Take extra care to protect babies and children – their skin is much more sensitve than adult skin, and children under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.
Look for star rated sun screens with UVA and UVB and with at least SPF30. A high quality sun care product at a low cost is Delph Sun Lotion, at under £7 for 150ml, the brand provides long lasting water-resistant formula, that is dermatologically tested to medical grade standards, making it ideal for the whole family.
• You can find Delph Sun Lotion at delphsun.co.uk
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