Do you need to escape routine or are you merely searching for concepts for day journeys near London? Why not plan a day trip in Kent, the southeastern county generally referred to as ‘The Backyard of England’? Since our transfer to Kent, our native adventures have included driving by way of the wealthy countryside and visits to farms, castles, oast homes, vineyards, orchards, and seashores. We’re eager to share these with our readers and supply itineraries for enjoyable days out with family and friends.
For those who’ve missed our life replace sequence about our transfer from London to Kent, try: How We Moved To a New Residence in Kent.
A lot to see in Kent!
Whereas we miss with the ability to hop on a prepare and be in Central London inside 25 minutes, we’re having fun with the tradeoff – being nearer to the British countryside and all its hidden and not-so-hidden charms. We fortunately declare Kent as our ‘yard’ and sit up for seeing as a lot of it as we will.
Spring and autumn are typically our favorite seasons of the yr and this inexperienced county simply matches our enthusiasm for the colors which can be related to each. Whether or not it’s purchasing for groceries and contemporary produce at native farm retailers, driving by way of miles of countryside, strolling alongside the coast, stopping for treats at small village cafes, dancing between rows of manicured vines, or selecting apples from native orchards, every tour all the time introduces us to one thing new.
Kent provides a spread of experiences for all ages and talents. We’re blissful to share our ‘discoveries’ and encourage our readers to attempt a few of them. Weekends and Financial institution Holidays shouldn’t be boring!
We all know how costly household journeys might be. A lot of the points of interest featured on this itinerary supply household reductions. Mix these with weekender prepare tickets and off-peak railway journey for much more financial savings!
HDYTI
Planning your day trip in Kent
All of our excursions have been by automotive. This makes it so much simpler to maneuver at our personal tempo and schedule. Nevertheless, if you don’t drive, this itinerary might be accomplished utilizing a mixture of trains from London and taxis from Kent stations and between points of interest.
To maintain issues easy, we’ll focus the itinerary on two essential points of interest with the choice of a 3rd. The very last thing we wish is so that you can really feel exhausted by the top of your day trip in Kent!
For these travelling by prepare, the start line for this itinerary shall be Sevenoaks Station as a result of smaller stations like close by Borough Inexperienced might not have taxis. Your quickest and most direct connection to Sevenoaks shall be from London Bridge station (roughly 25 to half-hour). From Sevenoaks, you’ll then must take a taxi to your first cease within the village of Ightam.
HDYTI Tip: That is Britain we’re speaking about, so you should definitely put together for rain. A small umbrella or a water-proof rain jacket ought to suffice. Put on comfy strolling sneakers and carry a refillable bottle of water.
Ightam Mote – The 14th Century Medieval Manor Home with Gardens
The Nationwide Belief has over 20 protected heritage websites positioned in Kent. For this itinerary, begin your day trip in Kent with a go to to Ightham Mote, (pronounced ‘eye-tem-moat’) an enthralling half-timbered medieval manor home with a surrounding moat.
This property dates again to the 14th century and spans a number of cultural and architectural eras and house owners. For those who take pleasure in visiting historic buildings and listening to all of the tales hidden behind their partitions, wandering by way of lush gardens, and lovely countryside walks, you’ll take pleasure in visiting Ightam Mote.
Ightam Mote has a wealthy historical past and has been dwelling to knights, courtiers to King Henry VIII, and Victorian excessive society. There’s loads to discover on the grounds, and the positioning provides kids’s actions as nicely.
Throughout our go to, we joined a free volunteer-led group tour (these are run at set instances all through the day) and later took a stroll across the manor and explored the orchard and gardens on our personal time. You possibly can seize some tea and low and a few mild meals from an onsite cafè.
HDYTI Tip: Test their web site for opening hours (typically between 10 am and 4 pm). The manor home is normally open from March and could also be closed within the winter. Entry (as of March 2024) prices £16 for adults and £8 for youngsters. Household reductions can be found. Parking prices might differ.
Lunch and take a river cruise in Tonbridge
Residence to historic cities, no day trip in Kent is full with out visiting no less than one in all them. Once we did this itinerary in late summer season, from Igtham Mote, we headed to the medieval market city of Tonbridge to go to our subsequent attraction (roughly 23 minutes drive).
After parking the automotive, we wandered in direction of the River Medway which cuts by way of the Tonbridge city centre. Tonbridge River Journeys provides boat hires and skippered cruises alongside the river. Skippers will share insights into the wealthy historical past of the city and level out river wildlife alongside the best way. Once we visited, passengers have been allowed to carry their very own snacks and drinks onboard.
HDYTI Tip: As of January 2024, riverboat journeys have been priced at £10 for adults and £5 for youngsters below 16. Journeys final round 55 minutes.
Opting to take pleasure in a stroll alongside the Medway River as a substitute, we finally discovered an idyllic spot at Verdigris, a good looking riverside restaurant, wine, and cocktail bar serving British and Mediterranean fusion delicacies. We particularly loved their contemporary seafood and the possibility to style domestically sourced gin and ale as we watched rowers float up and down the river.
Go to the Eleventh-century Tonbridge Fortress
It was solely a brief stroll from the restaurant to the 900-year Tonbridge Fortress. This well-preserved instance of a ‘motte and bailey’ fort was initially constructed as a Norman fortification within the Eleventh century however has modified house owners and goal many instances since then.
HDYTI Tip: Test the Tonbridge Fortress web site for listings of seasonal actions reminiscent of live shows, artisan markets, and their annual “Castlemas” Christmas occasion. As of January 2024, grownup tickets value £9 whereas youngster tickets value £6.50. Household reductions can be found.
We picked up some audio guides on the entrance and took a self-guided audio tour. Be ready for surprises round each nook! Our go to coincided with a late summer season live performance taking place on the fort grounds which meant we have been in a position to take pleasure in some free out of doors leisure as nicely!
HDYTI Tip: For those who select to start out or finish your ‘Time out in Kent’ itinerary in Tonbridge, trains between London Charing Cross Station and Tonbridge take round 45 minutes.
Go to the UK’s largest lavender farm in Shoreham
We all know that manors and castles and layers of historical past aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, so we’re together with one final cease as an possibility. Alternatively, you could possibly make this your sole exercise to your day trip in Kent.
As an exercise, we advise testing the Fortress Farms lavender fields at Shoreham. There was a farm (run by the identical household) at this location since 1892!
A go to to Fortress Farms is good for individuals who want to spend extra time outside and in nature. In spite of everything, what’s to not like about wandering by way of limitless rows of superb purple and inhaling the calming scent of lavender?
We now have but to go to the however will you should definitely publish one thing on the weblog about our expertise once we do.
HDYTI Tip: Taxis can be found from stations at Orpington or Sevenoaks. The Lavender season runs between June and July. For a list of occasions and tickets, try their web site at castlefarmkent.co.uk
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Disclosure: This itinerary initially appeared as an Instagram marketing campaign that we delivered for Go to Kent.
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