What's On in Kent

Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO® Bricks

Venue: The Historic Dockyard

Website: https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/brickwrecks

Beyond the LEGO® models, Brickwrecks offers interactive elements and multimedia exhibits that delve into the science of maritime archaeology, shipwreck exploration, and their environmental impact. Try...

Signs of Spring Family Trail

Venue: Emmetts Garden

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/emmetts-garden

Search for the seasonal signs of spring hidden among the flowers and wildlife. Can you find them all? £2 per trail including a spotter trail sheet and a sticker sheet featuring wildlife found at Emmetts...

VE Day 80. Children's Trail

Venue: Chartwell

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/chartwell

Discover more about Chartwell's wartime characters and celebrations in this interactive family trail round the gardens. Please pick up your trail sheet at our Visitor Centre.

Be Yourself, Be Amazing at Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts

Venue: Various locations

Website: www.pqacademy.com

Your child will get hands-on with professional filmmaking equipment in their Film & TV classes, and write their own monologues and comedy sketches in their Comedy & Drama module.PQA offer everyone the...

Capstone Farm Alpaca Experiences

Venue: Capstone Farm Alpacas

Website: www.capstonefarmalpacas.com 

Meet and Greets are only £6 per person and include getting up close during feeding time. This takes up to an hour and is suitable for all ages. Alpaca Trekking is £25 each and includes walking a resident...

Children's Parties

Venue: Mad Play

Website: www.madplay.co.uk

Book a party that the kids will never forget at Mad Play soft play centre. Party packages include play, a choice of hot and cold food, and entertainment! With a café and an extensive seating area, you...

Foal Farm Mini Market

Venue: Foal Farm Animal Rescue

Website: www.foalfarm.org.uk

Last Sunday of every month 1.30-4.30pm, entrance by donation. There are a wide variety of stalls including toys, bric-a-brac, plants, gifts, tea room, pet shop, emporium and charity shop.

Hastings Adventure Golf

Venue: Hastings Adventure Golf

Website: www.hastingsadventuregolf.com

Hastings Adventure Golf features three 18-hole courses. Each course is filled with surprises, including two magnificent pirate ships, cannon fire, explosions, splashes, talking tiki poles, landscaped gardens,...

Junior Zookeeper

Venue: Wildwood Kent

Website: www.kent.wildwoodtrust.org

Aimed at children with a keen interest in becoming a zookeeper or working with animals later in life. Participants will go behind the scenes for an introduction to the world of the zookeeper and will learn...

Kids for a Quid

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Any child (aged between 3-15 years old) can travel on the railway for just £1 with any fare paying Adult. This ticket would allow you to travel on the railway as many times as your like throughout your...

Mysterious Marsh Adventure Trail

Venue: Rare Breeds

Website: www.rarebreeds.org.uk

Negotiate wooden bridges, swing from the tyres, clamber around trees, fly through the air holding on to the ropes, and keep your cool as you tiptoe across balancing bars! Set in the woodland, this brilliant...

One-to-one Learn to Ride

Venue: Cyclopark

Website: www.cyclopark.com

These sessions take place in the sports zone, away from other areas of the park to give riders privacy to work with the in house coaches to get you riding in no time! Designed to give people of all ages...

Swimming Nature

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.swimmingnature.com

As soon as pupils understand that water is their friend, they’re ready to learn the correct mechanics of each stroke. Swimming Nature teachers are passionate about this and all trained the Swimming Nature...

Spring Butterfly Spotter Trail

Venue: Scotney Castle

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle

Venture on a Butterfly Expedition at Scotney Castle. This Spring, dive into the enchanting world of butterflies with an exciting spotter trail around the stunning Scotney Castle Gardens.This event is free,...

Walk to School Week

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.livingstreets.org.uk

The annual five-day walking challenge and takes place 19-23 May and this year’s challenge will see pupils take on The Great Space Walk, encouraging them to travel actively to school every day of the...

Pirates Love Underpants

Venue: Assembly Hall Theatre

Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Join this swashbuckling party of pirates on their quest to find the fabled Pants of Gold for the Captain's Treasure chest! Filled with music, puppetry and glittering pants of gold, arrr you ready to...

National Numeracy Day

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk

A third of people in the UK give managing money as the reason for wanting to improve their numeracy.National Numeracy Day is on Wednesday 21 May. It will offer FREE helpful and friendly activities for...

The World of Peter Rabbit™ Storytime Trail

Venue: Knole

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/knole

Hop into this walkthrough experience and immerse yourself in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Little bunnies can crawl under the garden gate, hide in a watering can, and see their reflection in a mirror pool,...

Art Week 2025

Venue: Hever Castle

Website: www.hevercastle.co.uk

Unleash your artistic side during May half term at Hever Castle and Gardens. Further information to follow....

Fighting Faversham

Venue: The Alex

Website: www.thealex.org.uk

The Nazi German army is poised 21 miles away in France. They have a plan to invade Britain. What can you do to stop them! Throw rotten tomatoes at them! Send your horrible brother to frighten them! Hmm,...

May Half Term: Sock Monsters

Venue: Riverhill Himalayan Gardens

Website: www.riverhillgardens.co.uk

Join Riverhill during May half term for some silly socky fun! They provide the socks and bits and bobs, you bring the imagination. Drop-in activity, 10am-4pm.

May Half-Term Fun and Games at Dover Castle

Venue: Dover Castle

Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk

Visit the grounds of Dover Castle for hands-on activities this May half term. Enjoy family fun and games in the fresh air! Book early and save 15%

Open Air Theatre - The Handlebards present 'Much Ado About Nothing'

Venue: Riverhill Himalayan Gardens

Website: www.riverhillgardens.co.uk

Join The HandleBards at Riverhill for a bicycle-powered, laugh-out-loud production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. This is an outdoor production, so take a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic...

The Queen's Joust

Venue: Leeds Castle

Website: www.leeds-castle.com/events/the-queens-jousting-event

Join this medieval jousting event this May bank holiday for an exhilarating display of combat and action, elegant and unusual equestrian, and medieval living and feasting.This event is included with your...

Woolly Week

Venue: Rare Breeds

Website: www.rarebreeds.org.uk

Enjoy a flock of sheep-themed activities on the farm, alongside all your regular favourites! There’s something for everyone to enjoy, so stay tuned for more exciting details coming soon!

Medieval Magic

Venue: Lullingstone

Website: www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk

Step back in time to experience the authentic sights and sounds with 'living history' displays (including live firing of cannons and mock battles!), character dress, campfires, tents and medieval weapons,...

Square Pegs presents Shrek: Happily Ever After

Venue: Hazlitt Theatre

Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

See your favourite characters on their journey to 'Far Far Away’ as they pursue their very own happy endings in 'Shrek, Happily Ever After'. This adaptation is presented by Square Pegs Maidstone Young...

Top Secret – The Magic of Science High Voltage

Venue: Malthouse Theatre

Website: www.malthousetheatre.co.uk

Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that...

Free Family Tours

Venue: Canterbury Cathedral

Website: www.canterbury-cathedral.org

Take your little historians to Canterbury Cathedral to hear stories of Becket and the Black Prince, Monks and Miracles, Tombs and Towers. These tours are aimed at children aged 6 - 13 but are suitable...

Raver Tots Outdoor Festival

Venue: Mote Park

Website: www.ravertots.co.uk

The biggest and best family friendly festival is returning to Mote Park. Come and enjoy the State of the Art Production and Special Effects Show.Line up includes So Solid Crew - Romeo, Lisa Maffia, and...

Techzone Gaming On The Move

Venue: Kent and East Sussex Railway

Website: www.kesr.org.uk

This specially converted gaming carriage will allow participants to experience cutting-edge gaming technology while enjoying the picturesque countryside views This one-of-a-kind collaboration blends the...

Joe's Bows Falconry

Venue: Shorne Woods Country Park

Website: www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/kent-country-parks/find-a-kent-country-park/shorne-woods-country-park

Joe's Bows are going to Shorne Woods Country Park - join them for a fascinating talk and get up close with the birds of prey!

Medieval Storyteller

Venue: Rochester Castle

Website: www.visitmedway.org

Join the Yarnsmith of Norwich as he transports you back to a long, long time ago. Enjoy silly stories and mind mangling riddles from medieval times. Tales of wise fools and foolish wise. Of lazy long-limbed...

Stone Week Activities

Venue: Canterbury Cathedral

Website: www.canterbury-cathedral.org

Help Gregory Gargoyle on his Stone Quest and try your hand at carving! Carve your initials into stone with the Cathedral stonemasons. Follow the Stone Quest trail map to explore different parts of the...

Rumble Wrestling

Venue: The Woodville

Website: www.woodville.co.uk

Rumble Wrestling return for another night of top class Family entertainment with a Half Term extravaganza including a TLC ( tables, ladders and chairs ) plus the return of Ladies action. There will be...

TWODS - Annie

Venue: Assembly Hall Theatre

Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Set in the vibrant 1930s, this heart-warming tale follows the indomitable spirit of a young orphan named Annie, who dreams of finding her family. With memorable songs like “Tomorrow”, “It's a Hard...

World of Wizardry

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Immerse yourself in the world of wizardry, as Horsted Keynes Station opens its doors to the magical realm of enchantment and wonder - tickets coming soon!

D Day Darlings

Venue: Hazlitt Theatre

Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

The D-Day Darlings present their explosive, brand new show, celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day! Selected dates will also include guest performances from The D-Day Juniors and The D-Day Darlings...

Frightening Faversham

Venue: The Alex

Website: www.thealex.org.uk/event/frightening-faversham-2

An Activity Workshop for Horrible Historians. Your guide: Neil Tonge co-author of ‘Terrible Tudors’ of the ‘Horrible History’ series. This is not going to be a nice romp through the past. We are...

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Venue: Malthouse Theatre

Website: www.malthousetheatre.co.uk

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s global smash-hit phenomenon comes to Canterbury this May. Packed full of sing-a-long hit songs, infectious choreography and dazzling colour, you don’t want to miss...

Messy Cathedral

Venue: Rochester Cathedral

Website: www.rochestercathedral.org

The free event returns for another year. There’s no need to pre-book. 1-3pm Activities, 3.15pm Worship, 3.45pm Picnic (Bring your own). A sensory breakout space with tents and self-regulating activities...

In the Night Garden

Venue: The Woodville

Website: www.woodville.co.uk

Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are back in their fun-filled live show Igglepiggle’s Busy Day!J oin Igglepiggle as he looks for his friends in the Night Garden by following their funny...

Junior Engineering Experiences

Venue: Kent and East Sussex Railway

Website: www.kesr.org.uk/junior-engineer-experience

Join this fun-filled experience, sure to enthral all young enthusiasts keen to learn more about the workings of railways. Chris Vine, author of the Peters Railway books, will lead the sessions, sharing...

The Worst Princess

Venue: Gulbenkian Arts Centre

Address: University of Kent

Website: www.thegulbenkian.co.uk

Full House Theatre’s new show is about to explode onto the Gulbenkian stage, bringing the bestselling picture book to life. The whole family will enjoy laugh-out-loud comedy, cool puppets, sing-along...

Spot's Birthday Party

Venue: Hazlitt Theatre

Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Based on the beloved Eric Hill classic Happy Birthday Spot, this brand-new adaptation is the perfect introduction to theatre for children – they’ll be encouraged to sing and dance along with Steve...

American SpeedFest 12

Venue: Brands Hatch

Website: www.speedfest.co.uk

Brands Hatch hosts its biggest family-friendly festival of the year with American SpeedFest 12. The full event line-up includes countless additional country music artists, American car displays, stunt...

Dinosaurs at the Railway

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Join Bluebell Railway for an epic adventure with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes at Sheffield Park, East Grinstead and on our Timetable C service Set A trains! This event is free for all travel ticket...

Brake's Kids Walk

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.brake.org.uk

Take part in Brake’s Kids Walk to learn important road safety messages and shout out for children to have the right to make safe and healthy journeys. Sign up to take part in 2025 and receive your FREE...

Adult & child gong healing session

Venue: The Alex

Website: www.thealex.org.uk

Join Lynne, a gong practitioner with eight years of experience, for a gong session designed for both adults and children. Lynne has worked with children with special needs and is now offering a session...

Father's Day Weekend: Stomp Rocket Making (and launching)

Venue: Riverhill Himalayan Gardens

Website: www.riverhillgardens.co.uk

Stomp rockets: make then, personalise them, launch them. Perfect for kids….big and small! Drop-in activity, all welcome, and no additional charge after usual entry fee.

Father’s Day at the Museum: Dino Day

Venue: Maidstone Museum

Website: https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk

Join Maidstone Museum for the Big Weekend and an early Father's Day special. Explore this free museum, and take part in the various Dinosaur related crafts. Face painting by Busy Bodies for £3 per child....

Father’s Day Weekend – Cars at the Castle

Venue: Hever Castle

Website: www.hevercastle.co.uk

Show your dad just how much you love him with a wonderful family day out to Hever Castle on Father’s Day Weekend for the Cars at the Castle event. Please note that not all car displays will be on site...

The Gruffalo

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Venturing out from the deep dark wood, the mythical and much-loved monster will be making its way around Bluebell Railway this June at Sheffield Park. Test your nerves, put on your brave face and seek...

World War II Weekend at Dover Castle

Venue: Dover Castle

Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk

Step back in time and experience the atmosphere and action of the 1940s at Dover Castle at War. Visit for a Father’s Day special as they commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of...

Wind in the Willows - Outdoor Theatre

Venue: The Festival Theatre At Hever Castle

Website: www.illyria.co.uk/shows

Mole yearns to explore the wide world. Badger enjoys peace and quiet. Rat likes just messing about in boats. Their idyllic lives on the Riverbank are turned upside down when Toad reveals his latest obsession:...

In The Night Garden Live

Venue: Assembly Hall Theatre

Website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends are back in their fun-filled live show Igglepiggle's Busy Day! Join Igglepiggle as he looks for his friends in the Night Garden by following their funny...

Alice In Wonderland

Venue: The Alex

Website: www.thealex.org.uk

In this magical, fifty-minute stage version of the tale you’ll journey down the rabbit-hole with Alice as she meets the Mock-Turtle, the Queen of Hearts, the Mad March Hare, the grinning Cheshire Cat...

Hever’s Home Front 2025

Venue: Hever Castle

Website: www.hevercastle.co.uk

Step back in time to wartime Britain at Hever’s Home Front at this 1940s event. Experience the sights and smells of the time with authentic cooking along with displays of military vehicles. Browse stalls...

Bubble Rush

Venue: Mote Park

Website: www.demelza.org.uk/support-us/events/bubble-rush-maidstone-2025

Join Demelza for a sudsy spectacle in June with your friends and family. Bubble Rush is back for it's 10th year in Maidstone. Burst through a rainbow of bubbles up to four feet high in this frothy fun...

Armed Forces Day

Venue: Historic Dockyard Chatham

Website: https://thedockyard.co.uk/

Enjoy colourful military parades, displays, bands and singers celebrating the bravery of those who have answered the call of duty. Prepare to be captivated by a range of immersive experiences – from...

Matilda the Musical Jr.

Venue: Hazlitt Theatre

Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an...

RSN Family Drop-in Workshop: Illuminated Leaf Motif

Venue: Canterbury Cathedral

Website: www.canterbury-cathedral.org

Create your own beautiful leaf motif with Royal School of Needlework Tutor, Helen Stevens, inspired by the illuminated leaves of the James I Charter issued to the City of Canterbury. Free with admission....

Kent County Show

Venue: Kent Showground

Website: www.kcas.org.uk/kent-county-show/visit

The region’s showcase event for farming, agriculture and countryside life. For three days a year, animals, horses, vintage vehicles, retail stands and much more converge on the stunning surroundings...

Maidstone Pretty Muddy Kids

Venue: Mote Park

Website: www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org

Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The young fundraisers climb, crawl and slide their way around the course at their own pace, accompanied...

Schools Triathlon Days 2025

Venue: Hever Castle

Website: www.hevercastle.co.uk

On 8–10 July pre-registered primary schools are being given the chance to bring students along to take part in a unique cross curriculum day of sport and history. Students will have the opportunity to...