Top 10 winter days out in the heart of Kent
As winter approaches there is still plenty to do at many of the attractions around the Heart of Kent so wrap up warm and have some winter fun by visiting some of the suggestions below.Lapland UK
For the ultimate Christmas experience, Lapland UK at Bewl Water Estate in Lamberhurst offers a green alternative to flying to Lapland. The snow covered village has a real ice rink, toy factory, gingerbread house, a log cabin restaurant offering a two course meal which is included in the ticket price as are gifts and a personalised private audience for your family with Father Christmas in his snowy woodland home.
Visit laplanduk.co.uk. Date: 10 November - 24 December. Tickets to the four hour experience are £55-£85 pp including parking.
Leeds Castle
From 1 December to 4 January Leeds Castle will become a fairytale winter wonderland. The rooms in the Castle will be transformed into scenes from The Nutcracker Suite, complete with vignette performances by young dancers. Visitors can also book evening tours which include a magical walk through the illuminated wood garden and a tour of the Castle where dancers come to life in each room. Delicious festive treats are also included.
Date: 1 December – 4 January decorated Castle. Evening tours 15, 16, 17 and 22 December 4pm – 6pm Pre-booking is required. Tickets: Adults - £15 Children - £10. Visit leeds-castle.com for more information.
Tonbridge
On 30 November families can enjoy an evening of festive fun at the Tonbridge Christmas Festival. The town will be illuminated as the Christmas lights are switched on followed by a Christmas procession down the High Street before a beautiful display of fireworks explodes over Tonbridge Castle. On 29 November from 10am to 4pm the Watergate will be bustling with shoppers buying their Christmas presents early from stall holders selling seasonal gifts and local produce whilst Tonbridge Philharmonic Choir perform throughout the day.
Festival date: 30 November. For more information log on to tmbc.gov.uk. Watergate date: 29 November, 10am – 4pm.
Hever Castle
This December Hever Castle will be beautifully decorated with traditional Christmas trees and seasonal decorations, and as night falls the grounds will be lit up with hundreds of lights so visitors can enjoy a romantic evening stroll. There is even a chance to experience the grounds on an exciting Husky dog ride, unique to Hever Castle! Gift shop open.
Date: 4 - 21 December: decorated Castle. Advance booking for Husky rides. Date: 6 – 21 December at weekends between 11am - 3.30pm; £10 per two person ride, minimum age of eight years for children. Visit hevercastle.co.uk for more information about other evenings at the Castle.
Royal Tunbridge Wells
On weekends all through December The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells will be filled with shoppers taking advantage of the boutique shops, numerous cafés and the sparkling Christmas markets. Each week visitors will be entertained with new attractions including Father Christmas visits and Christmas carols sung by the Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir.
Dates: Markets 6-7 December 10am -4pm; 13-14 December 10am -5pm and 10am-4pm; 20-21 December 10am-4pm.
Events: 7 December - TW Orpheus Male Voice Choir 12-2pm. 13 December – Nick Weller Band 12-12:45pm, 2-2:45pm. Bath Square: Gracie Spoon entertainer – 12:15 - 12:45pm, 3:30 – 4pm. Mr Mistletoe 1:30 – 2:40pm. Outside TIC: Mr Mistletoe 12 – 12:45pm, Gracie Spoon 2 - 2:30 pm. Corn Exchange: Christmas Kids Craft 11am –1pm 2-4pm. 14 December – Second Wind Orchestra 12-1pm 2-4pm. 20 December - Corn Exchange: Santa Claus visits 10am-4pm. 21 December - Rozak Singers – Carols 2-2:40pm 3:15-4pm.
Log on to visitheartofkent.com for more details.
Chiddingstone Castle near Sevenoaks
From 10am until 3pm the Great Hall and White Rose Room of Chiddingstone Castle will be filled with stalls displaying unique gifts including home and garden accessories, jewellery, clothing, artwork and local produce. When you have finished shopping, it is well worth taking a look at the fascinating Egyptian and Japanese collections on display in the Castle’s rooms which are being especially opened for visitors to the Christmas Fair. Graysons Restaurants will be serving light lunches and snacks from the Castle’s café during the day and Chiddingstone School Choir will be singing carols.
Date: 13 November. 10am – 3pm. Admission: £2.50 pp including admission to Castle and exhibitions.
The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood
The Hop Farm will be transformed into a twinkling winter wonderland with exciting treats for families from 29 November to 23 December. Children can feed their favourite reindeer and meet Father Christmas in his grotto. New for this year the Hop Farm has a beautifully restored carousel and England’s first ever magic factory.
Date: 29-30 November; 6-7 December; 13-14 December; 20-23 December. Open 10am – 5pm daily. Tickets: Advance Child and senior £7, Gate – £9. Family (2 adults 2 children) advance – £25, Gate - £33. Family (2 adults 3 children) Advance £30, Gate £38. Visit to Santa including quality gift £5. See thehopfarm.co.uk for more information.
The Kent and East Sussex Railway
For those who want to do a little something different this year why not head down to Tenterden Station and enjoy a unique Christmas themed train ride. Guests are greeted by a traditional steam train seasonally decorated that takes them on an hour’s train ride. On board there will be drinks and chocolate for the children and port or sherry with a mince pie for grown-ups whilst Father Christmas meets every child with a special present, all included in the ticket price. Once back at the station guests can make full use of the free Victorian Carousel, ideal for smaller children, and the delicious food on offer.
Dates and price: 6-7 and 13-14 December £10.50 standard £13.50 first class; 20-24 December £15.00 standard £18.50 first class. Time: 6–7 December trains leave every 45 minutes between 11:30am – 4:00pm; 13-14 and 20-24 December trains leave every 45 minutes between 10:45am – 4:45pm. There will be a gift shop open on the days of Santa Specials. See kesr.org for more information.
The Museum of Kent Life
The Cobtree Christmas Fayre is an exciting new free event for this year taking place at The Museum of Kent Life on 29 and 30 November. Families can enjoy free entry to the museum and a wide variety of Christmas stalls. Children can visit Father Christmas in his grotto and see the museum’s very own living nativity in a farmyard. There will also be a wreath making class.
Date: 29 – 30 November. For more information visit kentmuseum.co.uk.
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
This year on 6 December Bedgebury has an arts and crafts day for children from the ages of 4 to 12. Children can enjoy an afternoon of fresh air as they hunt on the forest floor in the Pinetum for treasures of the forest to use to make Christmas cards.
Date: 6 December 10am-12noon: 4-6 years, 1pm-3pm: 7-12 years. Tickets: child - £5.
The Heart of Kent tourism partnership has been promoting Kent to tourists as a short stay destination and providing days out and attraction information to the residents of Kent for the past twenty years. Their website offers a free one stop shop to the county – see visitheartofkent.com.
