Top Kent Attractions
Kent, situated in the South East of England, is a county that has something to offer those of all ages and walks of life.
Bordered by the River Thames and the North Sea to the north, the English Channel and straits of Dover to the South and with miles of green farmland and countryside (sometimes referred to as England’s garden) in between; Kent makes for an attractive holiday or weekend break destination.
Whether you want to explore the ancient architecture of the cathedral cities of Rochester and Canterbury (featured in Geoffrey Chaucer’s much loved book “The Canterbury Tales”), wish to visit one of the many spectacular castles in the area or just want to experience the English countryside at its best, then this is the place to come to.
If you get chance to visit Kent then don’t miss:
Howletts Wild Animal Park (Bekesbourne, Canterbury): If you fancy a walk on the wild side, then why not visit this spectacular attraction. Set in over 100 acres and home to many rare and endangered animals such as: Western Lowland gorillas, black rhino, snow leopards, a herd of African elephants (one of the largest in the UK) and much more.
Canterbury Cathedral: Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral is one of the most famous – and oldest – Christian structures in England (and it of course appeared in the Canterbury Tales).
There has in fact been a cathedral on the site since 602AD; although the current building received major renovation in the 1830′s.
Visitors can pay to enter the Cathedral (including the fascinating Crypt) and will also find a shop selling local produce, craftwork and souvenirs.
Down House (Orpington): Once home to the famous Charles Darwin, and the place at which he researched and authored much of his work; Down House has now become a museum of Darwin’s ideas and research.
With an fascinating exhibition covering the evolution of his ideas and workings, interactive multimedia tours and a life size replica of his cabin aboard the HMS Beagle (on which he spent 5 years), there’s certainly lots to keep you occupied.
Music on the hill (Kings Hill, West Malling): If you happen to be visiting the area in June, try to make sure your trip coincides with this music festival, which takes place towards the end of June each year.
Featuring a whole weekend of performances from international artists, it’s one of the biggest events Kent has to offer and proceeds go to the Demelza Hospice Care for Children and The Children’s Development Trust.
Biddenden Vineyards (Biddenden, Ashford): Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard (established in 1969) and set in 22 verdant acres on a south-facing slope in a sheltered valley; making it an excellent site for wine production and apple harvesting for the companies delicious cider (just make sure you don’t need to drive afterwards!).
Visitors can stroll through the fields of vines and a picnic area and café provides somewhere to have a spot of lunch with your family (and a glass of wine or 2…).
This article was supplied courtesy of moneysupermarket.com, where you can compare quotes on travel insurance and compare UK breaks.
