Plain old fashioned seaside day out for friends and family. Easy parking (April). Friendly people. Plenty of places to sit, eat and drink. A nice seaside Cafe, a Fish and Chip Shop and pub on site. Playground and small amusement arcade. Easy access to beach and dog friendly.

Nice to have a walk past the stalls. However, very pushy vendors with no prices on clothes. He told me 120 for a jacket that obviously is worth 50 quid and not as he says from the west end, haha A lot of products with inflated prices that have been purchased from Temu This was not all vendors, just some of them

Had a caravan on hutleys for years, hadnt been back for years. Market is so much better than the car boot years ago. 👍🏻

The market is only small, but there is a playground for the kids and you can also take a walk along the prom.

Was a nice variety of stalls, kids stuff, women's clothing, make up and jewellery. Was no social distancing or mask wearing tho! So be aware! I have to be as my husband is on chemotherapy, thankfully we always wear a mask but out of 200+ people we were the only ones!

Attended the market today. It was busy with a good choice of stalls offering things such as clothing, household items, electrical items, sweets, toys and footwear. At weekends fresh fish and meat is also available

Very nice clean beach. I enjoyed my evening walk there. Will definitely recommend to family and friends.

Plain old fashioned seaside day out for friends and family. Easy parking (April). Friendly people. Plenty of places to sit, eat and drink. A nice seaside Cafe, a Fish and Chip Shop and pub on site. Playground and small amusement arcade. Easy access to beach and dog friendly.

Nice to have a walk past the stalls. However, very pushy vendors with no prices on clothes. He told me 120 for a jacket that obviously is worth 50 quid and not as he says from the west end, haha A lot of products with inflated prices that have been purchased from Temu This was not all vendors, just some of them

Had a caravan on hutleys for years, hadnt been back for years. Market is so much better than the car boot years ago. 👍🏻

The market is only small, but there is a playground for the kids and you can also take a walk along the prom.

Was a nice variety of stalls, kids stuff, women's clothing, make up and jewellery. Was no social distancing or mask wearing tho! So be aware! I have to be as my husband is on chemotherapy, thankfully we always wear a mask but out of 200+ people we were the only ones!

Attended the market today. It was busy with a good choice of stalls offering things such as clothing, household items, electrical items, sweets, toys and footwear. At weekends fresh fish and meat is also available

Very nice clean beach. I enjoyed my evening walk there. Will definitely recommend to family and friends.

Lovely place, nice park, cafe (may be better to take cash as card machine was playing up). Lovely walk along the beach kept my 5 yo and 7 yo entertained for more than 2 hours. Be careful on the war bunker the 5 yo missed a step and has a bruise on their hip. Overall definitely worth a visit. Parking is a bit pricey but guess it goes towards the upkeep which is therefore worth it.

Beautiful place for a walk just off the beach. Lots of benches to rest. Quite a bit of history to refresh on. Wonderful play area.

We walked to Cudmore Grove Country as we were staying nearby. It was lovely and quiet as not many visitors. We walked past the Ww2 Pillbox and along the coast path to the Brightlingsea ferry landing. You have to book this in advance, we hadn't. We walked around towards Pyefleet channel but had to turnback as marshland. We then decided to walked to see the Strood crossing. We ended up walking 6.5m . When we got to the Strood the tide was in and we watched as it wenf down. We then walked back to accommodation.

Lovely open space with great views. Children's play area, cafe and toilets.

Very peaceful (on a term-time weekday). Not even the sound of the water, just birds singing.

Lovely day for a trip to the cove. A fun park for the kids and seaside walks.

A great space for dogs and children, kids have an excellent activity area. The beach is interesting with the possibility of finding fossils. - Watch out for the low, eroding cliffs. But charging for disabled drivers?? I don't know about that.

Sons wedding. Absolutely wonderful place 10 stars. So relaxed and friendly. Can't praise this venue enough. A hidden gem and a wonderful family that run it. Nothing was too much trouble. I totally recommend not only the cafe which is gorgeous if you are having a wedding or thinking about here you won't regret it. The team there made us feel like family and are clearly experienced

Lovely little vineyard. Park here and go to the cafe, the food is pretty good (only had a jacket potato- but it was lovely and everything else I saw looked great too). Have a shop around in the cafe for the local produce. We had the wine tasting ensemble (for£5), and the island gold ale - non too my personal liking (but that's just my taste), bought a few others to try later too. Definitely recommended

Visited here for the Easter beer festival which was excellent! Great range of beers, really good food options and fun music, all in a lovely setting overlooking the vines. I really think there should be a summer festival or a harvester festival as well, they are really missing a trick to make a killing here!

Lovely café with tasty food and fascinating wines

Great service, scrummy food, peaceful settings. Couldn't find fault with this little gem. We had been to the water park across the road (I say road, country track!) and had a great time and we wanted to eat before we walked back into West Mersea. Really nice food, good sizes and we laughed and laughed - we must have been enjoying ourselves. Thankyou. (Staff are beyond lovely - attentive, but not in your face. Smiley and enjoying their work. Just feels like a nice place to be.)

A good menu of home cooked food at good prices. They do not serve breakfasts. The food is excellent in regards of quality and quantity. Staff always very pleasant and efficient. It is getting so popular that even during the week tables are being reserved. They do a very popular Sunday Roast and you will have to reserve a table, but well worth it. Ample parking and suitable for the disabled persons.

We have eaten at Maria's a few times when on the island and I can honestly say we have never had any problems whatsoever, the food is always fresh and the cooked hot, cakes are great one portion tends to feed both of us! Staff and atmosphere are pleasant and welcoming. Prices are reasonable, happily go back again when we are on the island.

The Shell Grotto is definitely a unique and interesting place to visit - I just wish it was a little bigger/there was a little more to see. Fascinating series of passages and small rooms beautifully decorated with shells. And how and why it was done is still a mystery. I enjoyed reading all the history and info. Recommend. Only a 10/15 min walk from the old town (and we also saw a lovely Tudor house).

Visited the Shell Grotto and really enjoyed it. The staff were very friendly. And there's a nice selection of items you can buy in the shop. Definitely worth seeing. It was quite busy when we went in Sunday, but you can explore it in about 15 min. A short but very interesting experience.

Interesting place to visit and cheap activity. It takes approx 10 mins to walk around you can make it longer if you really want to inspect the design. But it is very small so if you area bit wary of tight spaces be aware this may not be for you. They have some interesting facts before you head down to the grotto. The team are friendly and the gift shop is lovely if a bit small when there are lots of people. Definitely worth a visit

Much smaller than expected but still very interesting with a little bit of history and alot of skill. I feel the entry price is far too expensive for something that took me 5 minutes to walk around, but for someone particularly interested in the artwork and fancy something different to look at, its still good. The gift shop is a must see as has plenty of gorgeous seashells and a few other pretty items for sale. No toilets or parking, if your lucky you can find free street parking nearby.

Visiting the Shell Grotto was an unforgettable experience. The moment I stepped inside, I couldn’t believe my eyes — every surface is covered in intricate patterns made entirely from seashells. It’s both mysterious and magical, and truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. This is absolutely a must-see destination for anyone. After exploring the grotto, I enjoyed browsing the charming gift shop, which offers a wonderful selection of seashells and other unique treasures to take home as souvenirs.

Stunning place decorated with many shells. Definitely worth a visit. There is also a shop to buy all sorts of small things. Not far, 3-4 minutes walk, there's a carpark with a pound stretcher, there the parking is free for two hours.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely mesmerizing! The Shell Grotto is one of Margate's hidden gems and a truly unique experience. From the moment you descend into this mysterious underground tunnel, you're transported into something magical. The intricate shell mosaics covering every surface are breathtaking - it's incredible to think that millions of shells were carefully arranged to create these beautiful patterns and designs. The craftsmanship is extraordinary, and the fact that we still don't know who created it or exactly when adds to the mystique. The audio guide is excellent and really helps you appreciate the history and theories surrounding this fascinating place. The lighting creates a wonderful atmospheric experience that makes the shells shimmer and come alive. Perfect for families, history buffs, or anyone looking for something completely different. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the gift shop has some lovely souvenirs. Don't miss this incredible piece of Margate's heritage - it's unlike anywhere else in the world! Well worth the visit and the ticket price. Highly recommended!

Dropped by Turner Contemporary during a day trip beach day to Margate and really enjoyed it. It’s free, super clean, and well looked after. I only had a quick wander before closing but it was still a really nice visit. Being right by the water is an added bonus. Worth checking out if you’re in Margate!

We spent a lovely couple of hours wandering through the galleries. All very well curated. Great for school groups. No entrance fee. Just donations requested. Small but interesting gift shop with pottery that reflects Turners key work.

I am always excited to see what's going to be on display next. The presentation is always top class with such attention to details. My daughter and I are frequent visitors.

It's free so always worth popping in if you're in Margate anyway. Quite surprised and a bit disappointed that there is literally just the one lonely Turner there. The other exhibits were a mixed bag really, two beautiful sculptures as you enter but the rest were bafflingly naive. Personal taste of course with any exhibition.

Enjoyable gallery. Airy and great light. However there is not a great deal to see. An hour and you have easily. seen everything on display. We went to see the Bridget Riley exhibition which is well layed out and displayed. Nice shop and coffee shop on site.

Always enjoy visiting the Turner no matter what the exhibition. It’s light,airy, has a great gift shop and cafe, entertainment for kids and decent toilets. We could easily spend a day here when the kids were small but now they are older it tends to be a couple of hours.

Hi all just been to the turner exhibition only one painting by him which we found unusual in the turner center lol The shell girl was good and the paintings and pictures buy the kids and teenagers of the area where good the sunken ship couldn't get my head around the chess piece where ok and the undersea world was ok .

This beach by the seaside is next to the harbour. We didn't go down to the sand, but there didn't seem to be too much rubbish on it. When it's low tide you can see the Antony Gormley Another Time Statue. There are restaurants, shops and amusement arcades around. The weather was overcast and windy when we visited, but it must be nice to enjoy fish and chips in better weather. There's different parking options around. Street parking is generally more expensive than some of the big parking garages. It's a bit of a walk from the train station to this point, but not too far.

Lovely sandy beach. The tide pool is super useful during low tide ( but be careful is super slippery to get in and out). Also beware of the mob of seagulls ...they will swoop and steal your food 🫣

If you don't actually want to sit on the silky soft sandy beach but still want a quick swim, or paddle along the shore, then go to The Kings Steps. These are situated along the promenade, where you can sit down have a picnic, munch a freshly cooked pizza or some local fish and chips (I strongly recommend that you don't feed the seagulls as this will start a seagull frenzy). During the Summer months as the night draws in The Kings Steps is one of the most memorable, amazing and tranquil places to be. As a local I'm probably prejudice to the fact that you will experience some of the most beautiful Sunsets looking out towards Margate's Harbour Arm.

I love this sandy windy beach. I don't get the chance to be here often, but when l do, on goes the trunks and a plunge into the sea. Walking distance to public toilets, shops and cafes, as well as train station. Near galleries and markets, lots of choices of where to eat.

Lovely beach but town questionable lot of homeless drunks in open park , hopefully one off

Wonderful fantastic day out lots to do for adults and children as well as a diverse range of eateries at down to earth prices. Margate is the new in place to go. Full of history and culture and a very diverse community.

Beautiful beach for both rock pools or just clear sand. Clean huge expanse, a harbour to walk around, a fabulous 👌 seafood and oyster hut, a superb array of restaurants with seating inside and outside to sit and watch beautiful 😍 sunsets 🌇.

Me and a friend turned up a little late for the last tour of the day, however thankfully we were let in anyway. Both tour guides Luke and Martin were very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour to anyone in the area, tour ticket prices are about £9 per adult and well worth it !

We did the tour of Ramsgate Tunnels. Our tour guide was Gill. The tour was brilliant. It was done at a nice pace, very informative and with humour. You really get a flavour of what life was like during war time. The history of the tunnels was fascinating . The staff are all volunteers. I highly recommend this tour. Thanks Gill, you are a star!

Ramsgate Tunnels is a significant attraction with a rich historical background mainly due to its contribution during World War II. The tour lead, who was a very knowledgeable guide, was absolutely brilliant where we were told about the vast history behind the plan and its execution and the role it played to protect thousands of families during the war. The temperature inside the tunnel remains at steady 11C throughout. The tour takes roughly 1 hour 30 mind and advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointments. We visited on 7th September where the British railways had numerous displays of 200 year history of the railways which we were so keen and excited to have a look. This is worth to visit and know about its history, significance as well as enjoy the genuine beauty of the well preserved site.

My sister and I paid a visit to the secluded war time tunnels in Ramsgate, we booked our places on the tour about an hour before. Then went for a walk. We paid £9 per adult which I think was a reasonable amount. The tour starts with a short video. Clive our main guide/volunteer was very informative with a sense of humour and the other 2 volunteers (I think were Trevor and ?Kevin?) were extremely patient & helpful, pointing out markings on the walls, lighting up areas with their torches so we could get better photographs . The tour was approx. 2 hrs. I would advise sensible footwear as in places it was a bit wet & slippery, some mats/boards were down so that your feet wouldn't get too wet. We enjoyed our tour and the museum. They also had a little cafe area at the entrance which we did not make the use of on this occasion. I would highly recommend a visit 👍🏻

Brilliant bit of history I didn't know was there!! Cheap to enter, well worth the hour and half tour. Not recommended for small kids.

A fascinating trip into Ramsgate's wartime past. Our guide, Kim, gave us insights into the experiences of the wartime residents of the town (with some mention of those from Margate too 😂). He made the visit even more interesting due to his enthusiasm and passion for the subject and the tunnels. We would highly recommend this tour.

Worth every penny of the tour cost. Tour guide Bruce was very knowledgeable and interesting, kept everyone captivated throughout. Lasted approximately 90 minutes. I highly recommended this tour.

Lovely converted Henry VIII castle into more of a stately homes, but still had a castle feel. Also now allowed into the apartments where the Queen Mother and other Lord Wardens used to spend time. This is where Wellington died as he was also Lord Warden here, Walmer being a important important Cinque port. Very pretty gardens to wander through as well, especially the moat garden and the marvellous cloud hedge. Definitely worth a visit.

Lovely castle and gardens. Went on castle tour with Leslie, she was very knowable of the castle in the tudor period. Gardens were pretty. Cafe food was reasonably priced, tasty and home made. Would recommend we had a lovely day out.

Beautiful gardens and lovely castle with great history,try and choose a dry day as the grounds are lovely. All the volunteers were knowledgeable and the cafe was well stocked and reasonably priced

A wonderful place to visit, featuring a beautiful garden with stunning views and a very peaceful atmosphere. You can watch children playing in their designated area, and enjoy delicious food served at the tea room and the garden coffee shop.

Built by King Henry VIII in 1539-1540 as an artillery fort to defend the English coast from invasion by France and Spain. Walmer was one of three coastal "Device Forts" (along with Deal and Sandown) built to guard the vulnerable Downs anchorage. The short, squat, "clover-leaf" design with curved bastions was intended to deflect gunfire and mount heavy artillery. No invasion occurred, but the castle was actively garrisoned and saw military action during the Second English Civil War in 1648, when it was besieged by Parliamentarian forces. It has evolved from a military fortress into a seaside residence and the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. If you're a member it's ok, think it's a bit pricey for non- members.

Beautiful grounds and interesting history. The guides in the castle wete knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Lovely walks in the grounds suitable for most walking abilities though some areas have a number of steps.

We only got to see the gardens, because of time constraints, but they're worth a visit on their own. Although they're not extensive, they are packed with interest. The gardening team do a fantastic job of maintenance and there's not a weed to be seen. We'll soon get back to see the castle itself which promises to be full of surprises. In contrast to Deal Castle's spartan defensive role, Walmer became a comfortable, quirky residence.

Lovely, relaxing place for a snack or light lunch. Excellent value and very tasty food choices.

Charming little tearoom offering a nice selection of lunch options and traditional tea and coffee, with indoor and outdoor seating, situated in a sheltered setting opposite the Pines Garden and Calyx. The tearoom offers good value and is well placed for those looking to stop for lunch while walking the coast path between Kingsdown and the White Cliffs of Dover. After stopping for refreshments, visitors can take a look around the garden in return for a small cash donation. Come with the right expectations and you should enjoy a pleasant visit. The Pines Garden isn't about meticulously managed flowerbeds and ornamental planting. Instead, it's a wilder feeling environment with lots of long grass and trees, aiming to provide a haven for wildlife. There are a couple of more managed borders, and the Churchill statue looking down to the white cliffs is a distinctive feature. Look out for the façade of an old London building embedded into the ground in the upper part of the garden. The Calyx building with its green roof will appeal to those interested in unusual architecture, having been designed around sustainability and local materials. There's seating outside the Calyx and a few more benches located around the garden. There's a small amount of parking for visitors to the garden located along the road that borders the garden, and more paid public parking down the hill at St Margaret's Bay.

Nice little Tea room set in a very scenic setting. After demolishing a bacon sandwich and a hot chocolate I set off to walk through the gardens which is my main reason for visiting. I love the gardens they’re very well cared for and the flowers are beautiful so nice to see so many wild flower areas too. There’s plenty of benches about too so you can just sit and take in the scenery 🥰 A lovely place to kill many hours as there’s a fabulous walk from the Tea Rooms heading upwards towards the light house.

We hadn't planned to stop at The Pines, but needing a refreshment from a sunny walk along the cliffs we thought it seemed a good idea. As we approached we were greeted by a chap who offered us, if we were not busy, a free family workshop where we explored the garden and made some food using items in the garden on an open fire. Drinks and snacks first we went into the team room, a few options for drinks - and with it now into the afternoon I opted for a nice cider! We also got some Jaffa cake (very nice!) and kids got some juices. Inside the tearoom is plenty of seating and mixed into the team room is a museum, plenty of stuff to read about if you want to know more on the area. We opted to sit outside (again, plenty of seats, both next to the tea shop and also just across the lane in the gardens). With snacks and drinks done we joined the workshop - this was primarily aimed at the kids, but with little to no knowledge of these things myself I got to know a few bits too. The garden has the original Winston Churchill statue which was rejected as he 'looked a bit grumpy' and also has a original mock up of Cheap Side following great fire of London (now being used as a flower bed!) We were told the garden is left to just do it's thing mostly, ie. there is no specific planting of random plants, albeit things do make their way in on the wind / birds etc. We enjoyed our afternoon here, and it's worth a nose around if your passing! (Garden is based on donations).

We had a very nice lunch over here. Friendly people and a lot to see in the museum while waiting for the meal. After the lunch we went to the stunning beach at St Margareth's Bay, 1 minute from the teahouse. A fine combination!

We called in just for 2 coffees and we had brought a huge 4 cup of caffeine £2.50 each - an excellent bargain but for our taste a little weak. We then walked around the garden. It spreads back quite a way. It's half wild and other area planted with wild flowers. Parking is quite easy because there are a few little lanes to use.

Incredibly fresh food and excellent, friendly service. The quiche was fantastic - no soggy bottoms here!

Lovely quiet place to stay we stayed for 2 weeks.We had nice walks to st margaret's bay. It's a bit hilly but you can follow the coast road right by the white cliffs. The accommodation is normal caravan holidays but ours was very comfy food in club was ok enjoyed the noodles they were tasty. swimming pools were brillant and they have adult only in the morning. The local pup the smugglers are friendly and food is A1 all in all a very enjoy able holiday would use parkdean again very helpfull

Got there and went to my "Bungalow" the website said it had its own parking, which it did not, that was one of the reason's why I booked it. The Staff said they have never had its own parking, so god only kows why the Parkdean website said it. They did say they would get the website updated. stayed in number 50. Where to start, Apart from the leccy Bathroom Radiator been on all the time, but very small. so towel drying was a joke the Rest of them was on 2 or 4 hour timers, the front room was only 2 hours max. So you would wake up and go into a cold room, I went in Nov 2025 so not the best time of year The bedroom ones only allowed upto 4 hours of heat, so again not great Now the timer had a bright blue light, which lite the bedroom up, so that was annoying. And as blue led's are one of the most dangerous colours to the human eyes, not the greatest. And the fact both bedroom ones made some strange ticking type sound, Been Autistic I use white noise to sleep, and this ticking sound was louder than that, so that did my head in and I had to turn the heating off. The Cooker was broken the light to say it had reached temp was missing, so hit and miss. Bathroom extractor fan never worked, the sink had something missing, its like a small trap that you can lift up and down to allow you to fill the sink up or epmty it, so if you dropped something into it, you would lose it. Also you could not sit down on the Toilet without having the toilet roll and holder been in the way. Net curtains over only the windows in the front living area, NOT THE DOOR so no Privacy, had to close curtains when going out, just so people could not look in No lights on the front of the bungalow area ( yes auto light on the side) but bright LED street lamp on the back where the bedrooms are so that also came in on a night time while trying to sleep. The hedge on the way out of the site, if you had the nerve to be turing right, you had to pull out into the road, just to see past the hedge to see if it was clear, does not look bad in the picture bit it was I have never had breakfast at one of these sites, so we gave it a go, Turned up at 9:04am, told nothing cooked as they had only opened at 9:00am, which is fair enough, but then had to wait 50 minutes to get the Breakfast. The Glass was vey old and covered in marks, like no salt in the dishwasher type marks The beans where luke warm but the rest of the meal was fine On the day we left, my Son forgot his house key for where he lives, and they called me and said they would post it back to me, and said they would put it in an envelope and it would get posted back to me, which i was thinking that was nice of them but Today 6 days later, still no letter with Key and after I called the site, The woman got a bit mardy, saying that the staff only work part time and they would have to do it in their own time and also post it in their own time back to me. Which is not what I was told on the day they called me Then we went in both pools the small one has steps/ladder that are loose and moved when you stepped on them, the main pool was not much better not fixed right at all Hot water was a joke too, only enough for half a sink full, then nothing for hours while it heated up again

What a fantastic relaxing stay !! Been using Parkdean Parks for many years in Cornwall when visiting family and this is the first time we’ve stayed in a different park. I can honestly say that it is the best we’ve stayed at and was exactly what we were hoping for. Love the pools, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. The park is quiet and very clean, with friendly helpful staff. Our caravan was really clean and in a perfect position for us. We love the park so much, we’re thinking about buying a caravan or bungalow so we can make it a more regular place to be when not working

We stayed in October and loved the Park, a great location for exploring the coast around Dover. We upgraded to a Prestige Lodge which was very comfortable, with plenty of room for 3 people! We found the beds comfy, and it was nice having 2 bathrooms. The site was small and quiet which suited us. The facilities were good with a pool and sauna. Wish we'd stayed longer!

Had a Lovely Caravan stay.Very clean on arrival. The park was in a Lovely setting for a Break and near some interesting places to visit. The staff were friendly. We had a check from the Housekeeping staff one day into our holiday to make sure we were happy with everything

Was quite a good serene location. Peaceful. They created activities that will make kids enjoy their stay. E.g aquajet, Waterwalker. etc. Staff member were quite helpful. Location- You can board a ferry 1 hour to France for the day. 41, miles from sandy beach. Would need to drive to enjoy your stay here Did not use gym, but looks okay. Hot tub seem quite old. Seem like a very old park. Some features looks dated, but good

Fantastic park, small and quiet not like the bigger ones. Ideal for our family. We had a great time here. Fabulous swimming pool and facilities and great evening entertainment.

This lighthouse is managed by National Trust and as always has a lovely set of volunteers who are very polite and friendly. The lighthouse tour is one I will recommend. They provide a very informative and absorbing story telling session. Views of the English channel and surrounding areas from the lighthouse are absolutely stunning. The site has a shop, tea rooms and toilet facilities. Parking for NT members is about a mile away, but the walk is beautiful.

The lighthouse is a little underwhelming, but the walk there and back from Devon is gorgeous. Grateful thanks to the NT for acquiring and preserving this spectacular coast line. Good foot path and well signposted. Its about an hour of moderate walking each way.

We had a great tour of the lighthouse, the current lighthouse, built in the 1840s, was the first in the world to use an electric light and a key site for pioneering wireless communication, free for National Trust members. There is only 1 way two get there, and that is two walk, but there are 2 different car parks to choose though, that is the National Trust white cliffs car park or St Margaret's village, it was a lovely walk from the National Trust car park, and don't forget to visit the 2 other great National Trust sites on the way, Fan bay deep shelter and Wanstone Gun Battery.

Great location for a Pitstone if you walked the trail. The lighthouse itself is interesting to visit plus grabbing some refreshments and chilling with the fantastic channel views on a sunny day is just perfect.

While hiking the White Cliffs of Dover, we made a stop in to grab a quick cuppa tea and a snack. It’s a great little light house with an amazing view! We had the cream tea service. First time for me and it was delicious! It’s a nice half way point for a great hike and a nice little stop and visit. Go check it out and meet the tea room crew!

This hidden gem on the south coast is absolutely magnificent and I cannot recommend it enough. I love the way that you have to hike about 50 minutes from the visitor centre to get there which gives you a real sense of adventure. The tickets for the tour are very reasonably priced and you get to see all the different levels and learn about the role they played in the day to day running of the lighthouse. As well as the day to day work to ensure the safety of shipping in the vicinity, there was also pioneering work done here in the development of radio and electricity. There are fascinating artefacts, stunning views out over the channel, mesmerising machinery and passionate National Trust staff that will make sure you have a really great time. There is a cafe, gift shop and toilets, picnic benches, deck chairs - everything you might need.

Great place for a walk. WARNING; Check what network your connected to before using your phone as mine was sometimes connecting across the channel 😀

We recently visited Howletts Wild Animal Park and had a fantastic time from start to finish. Pre booking our tickets was easy and hassle free, and there was plenty of parking available when we arrived. The park itself was brilliant… so many animals to see, from big cats to playful primates. We loved watching them in spacious, well-kept enclosures that clearly prioritise animal welfare. One of the highlights of our visit was deciding to adopt a wolf, which made the experience even more memorable. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the whole place had a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back soon for another adventure!

What a lovely place! And animals are so impressive, playful and it feels they are really cared for. The lions were spectacular and we met some species we never knew existed (if you don't know what dhole is, now you have to visit!). A very long walk so make sure you have comfortable shoes and plenty of water. Park offers great cafés on the route with plenty of picnic areas (you can bring your own food), very well spaced, same with toilets, plenty on the route. Very clean facilities. Play area for kids is very interesting and young and small kids friendly. Good offer on food in pavillion. No need for wellies as everywhere is paved. Education centre is always busy so make sure you have plenty of time. I also really enjoyed the flora, would love to see names tags of some of the lovely trees and shrubs. Kids went free ont he day of visi (half-term promo) so found it very reasonably priced (but cafes are a bit overpriced). Car park is free and very near the exit/entrance. Thank you for a very pleasant day out :) my little one loved the anteater :)

Brilliant well laid out zoo. Each zoo we feel has a major positive over similar close by and this one was the amount of gorillas you can see up close and how close you can get to the the elephants. The stands by the elephant enclosure are fantastic and a great viewing point. Not every day do you get to eat lunch a few feet away from elephants. Great parking , plenty of cafes and toilets , play park for kids, easily accessible for wheelchairs, clean and tidy, lovely grounds.

Loved it!!! It is a great day out for the family, there are activities for kids to do and see, there are play grounds and not forgetting the amazing animals to see and learn about. They have a ton of different species aswell as DINOSAURS in the ice age area (not real ones lol). I would go back next time I am in Kent well worth the money.

We had a good time in July. The weather was fine and allowed us to see some of the animals. All big cats were sleeping, so we could not see much of them.... It's family friendly place, it's also suitable for wheelchairs and such. The place is clean, quiet and great for running children. It's quite big and so you better go with the opening time, that way you will enjoy the whole park on slow pace. It's great for quality time with your family! You will see lots of elephants and monkeys. My opinion is that the entrance tickets are a bit pricey. The coffee was also quite expensive.... It's okay for one time visit, but if it was cheaper, we would of go more often. Also just an idea, some places are free for children holding blue Peter card making them desirable to visit more often. If this place was part of the list, would definitely be visited more and recommended more.... Just for an example, instead of bringing my child in godston farm every other weekend where the entrance is free for him thanks to the blue Peter card, while paying the entrance for myself and the dad. Would be nice if it was free in Howletts Wild Animal park. They should definitely consider blue Peter cards in their schemes. That way people will keep coming back to their place.

Family day out , 1 adults and 2 kids (15 and 12). Firstly massive thank you for the reduced tickets during the summer holidays!!! (Only online) The park its self is fantastic, with plenty to see and explore. Sadly given the heat, we found a lot of the animals were seeking shade so we didnt get to see them. However in the four hours we walked the whole park 3 times over and manged to see some of the animals we missed earlier. All staff that we encountered around the park were extremely friendly and very helpful. There is ample places to eat and drink around the park. We picked the Elephant cafe which was reasonably priced with great quality meals. 2x burgers and fries and 1x hotdog and fried cost just over £30. Lots of toilets along the routes as well. Lots of parking available.

Love spending a day out here with the grandkids. Always a fun day and great seeing the next child's eyes light up. Along with the great work they do to help return the Gorilla's back

Making use of the £12 for a year ticket! Already been in a couple of times ( for the bacon butty ) Staff are lovely, exhibits are well presented.

Whilst a small museum it's bigger than it looks. Lots of vintage things set about and well displayed. Place is run by volunteers all of which were friendly and nice as well as being passionate. Cafe was accommodating for gluten free and didn't make a fuss so that was also a nice touch. Some exhibits could do with a slight revamp to bring in the fresh blood but despite that it was still a cracking little museum worthy of going to visit. If you're into your vintage nostalgic cars and bikes or even just the walking back through time this is something right up your street. Really enjoyed my visit. Thanks to the staff

If you just want i little family day out, this is the place for you. Brilliant museum with old vehicles and trains and much more.

Had a great visit here the place is small but packed with different vehicles. The food was great and a good price and the staff were very friendly.

One of the most exciting and friendly places to go if you are into history or love classic cars, trucks and bikes. Fantastic volunteers and staff, friendly atmosphere and café inside. One time ticket purchase gives you access for a year, sometimes there are events held like the classic bike show last weekend! It was excellent.

Excellent surprisingly large museum, well presented with fascinating range of exhibits. The enthusiasm of the team is infectious, and the cafe definitely worth a visit too. Their collections are displayed with informative notice boards, and presented such that you can readily access sections that are of most interest to you. Outside there is plenty of space for specialist marque clubs and events, which added further interest and value to us on the day of our visit.

My family and I visited back in November and again today, as initial entrance fee is valid for the entire year. This is excellent value for money, and the volunteers have done an amazing job to make this place look great. My 2 year old daughter absolutely loves this place. Even if your not particularly into motor vehicles, this museum is still an absolute gem. The museum displays include vehicles of all kinds, shops which you actually walk into and upstairs. Our favourite sections were being allowed upstairs on the double decker tour bus, model railway (which is huge) and when it's available- using the fire engine hose to knock down targets! Well done to all the volunteers that make this place such a great day out.

Quieter beach along the Essex coach. It is a pebble beach with grass on the verge. Ample paid parking available. Car park isn’t 24 hours so locked at night. Would be a good place to enjoy a family day out. This is the best place to catch sunrise depending on perfect weather conditions.

It was a grey November day with the tide out, which means a long walk to the water, but a nice place to get fresh air . Lots of parking places too. We didn't try the new cafe,as we had eaten, but will review another time.

Lovely, peaceful beach with a grassy picnic area and tidal pool. Can also do an enjoyable walk to nearby Gunnesbury Park.

Lovely beach which faces the North Sea rather than the Thames Estuary. Lots of parking available in the local area (both free street parking and paid car park). Loads of green space as well as a reasonably sandy beach. This area is much quieter than Southend but there is a cafe here.

Fantastic place for a family gathering. Well kept area and grounds. Plenty of space for my 45+ family members to gathering and remember our brother Michael R.I.P.

One of my favorite beaches because there is a lot of open space, you can play ball games, fly kites, and we don't step on each other.

Quiet clean beach, with 2 nice cafes selling all the usual stuff like ice creams etc. Plenty of parking. Little playground on a grassy area with plenty of benches and picnic tables. 2 sets of public toilets at both ends of the car park, very clean and regularly maintained. There is a small sandy area before walking down to a shingly beach which is good for small children and sand castle building. Felt very safe and family friendly. You could see people doing water sports in the distance. Only reason it’s not 5 stars is that I didn’t see any showers to rinse of the sand. CHECK THE TIDE TIMES, so you enjoy some swimming and chilling. BRING WATER SHOES your feet will thank you

Went on a Thursday, a week day. Large cathedral, bigger than expected. It did have some construction ongoing outside so that did affect the pictures of the building. Staff and volunteers inside were friendly and happy to tell you a lot about the history, for free. Ticket office staff also helpful explaining the differences in tickets. Very quick and easy. Cathedral probably needs two visits and definitely a tour guide to fully appreciate. There is a cafe and restaurant, and even a hotel. Toilet facilities were adequate. Good places to sit and read if you need a break also. Definitely will return.

Very impressed. More than expected. Magnificent architecture. Huge, light, airy and less dark and oppressive when compared with Westminster Abbey. Beautiful ceilings and stained glass and extensive history. Less ‘tombs’ and fortunately less busy midweek. During our visit a Chaplain addressed all visitors briefly from the pulpit, and offered a prayer, using the cathedral for it’s intended purpose as a place of worship - not a tourist attraction - as it should be. The entry fee to the Cathedral is very reasonable considering the cost of maintaining the building and overseeing visitors. We paid an additional small sum for a guided tour which was exceptional. Lucky to get a ticket. The volunteer gave us a lot of insight into the development of Christianity in the UK, the various phases of the Church during different occupations and global conflicts, the murder of Thomas Beckett in 1170 AD, the destruction of his shrine by King Henry VIII in 1538, all wrapped up with visiting the different areas of the building and outlining the many extensions and renovations over 1000 years! Wonderful learning experience.

A beautiful and peaceful place to spend the day. You can wander around the whole site taking in all of the history and story of the cathedral. There is plenty to see inside both in the crypt and the main floor. You can walk through the entire cathedral. There are places set aside for prayer and quiet contemplation. The outside areas are quiet and interesting to look at. Since the building has been cleaned on the outside you get a good feel for the surroundings and what it would have looked like when it was built. Hearing the bells on the hour was magical and seeing the places where St Thomas was murdered and the site of his tomb before it was destroyed in the reformation makes you stop and think. A fantastic day and a day of learning is never wasted. One day I will return to learn some more. Thank you.

Beautiful Cathedral inside and outside. Very well maintained. You might need two days to walk around inside and outside, lovely gardens with lots of historical information. We thought it was free to enter, but it wasn't. We brought tickets either £19 or £21.00 each (don't remember exactly) they are valid for 12 months from the day of purchase. Just as well really, we thought they opened early on Sunday mornings, but they don't they have Sunday service and they open at 12.30. We had planned to go somewhere else and couldn't wait that long. We managed to walk around inside on Saturday morning early when it was quiet. The cathedral echos when people are talking, it looses it's essence of peace and solidtude. Definitely check the opening and closing times when planning a visit, it isn't visible from the outside of the cathedral which currently has scaffolding surrounding it for maintenance work. I will definitely go back to walk around the remainder of the cathedral before our tickets expire.

Went for a short stay to see Cathedral and town. So historic and interesting. (Museum was great too...and free! ). Went to a choral evensong with the school girls choir, in the Cathedral....beautiful. Next day toured the Cathedral and amazing Crypt. Well worth the money. Walking outside to other historic sites in the Cathedral area, afterwards. We didn't book tickets,as at the beginning of November, it was not busy.

Stunning... Just walking around this magnificent building is a delight... And there's no charges. So with a beautiful cathedral and a lovely quaint town with plenty of food options you definitely cannot go wrong for a good day out..

The Cathedral is truly a jewel of medieval architecture. The town, where Charles Dickens once lived for a while, has its own magic. You can feel the atmosphere of English life, away from the hustle and bustle of London (in a certain sense, it conveyed this to me). In the winter, it comes alive with university student life, and I think the pace of daily life changes, but despite everything, it remains beautiful to visit, perhaps even better.

The Marlowe theatre is a lovely newer building among the historic area around it. There are a few disabled parking spots just outside the entrance. There was a spot selling merch for the show (Rocky Horror) and a bar. The seats were comfortable and the stage was large and designed well. The show was great and well done everybody! Staff were very friendly. Toilets are clean.

Love going to the theatre... because I'm short, sometimes I struggle to see among the heads but yesterday I tried one of those cushions they provide and it was much better and SO comfy. Treat yourself to a night out! Oh! And we had dinner at the green room and it was delicious 😋

Lovely Theatre. Friendly staff. Comfortable seats. Bat out of Hell is an amazing show. There is so much talent on stage. We saw it being filmed for Cinemas.

Very good venue, well organised and spacious seating. Excellent selection of top quality shows. Highly recommended

My husband and I went to the Marlowe recently. Whilst there are steps up to the theatre from the street, there is also a slope for those with mobility issues. Our seats at the back of the stalls were comfortable and we had a good view of the stage. My husband has some mobility issues but the staggered steps were easy for his to access. A very enjoyable time

The Marlowe has some fabulous shows which never disappoint. Seats are a good, comfortable size. My only real gripe is the cost of their alcoholic beverages. While I may only have 1 glass of wine, I refuse to pay £11 for a 200ml bottle of prosecco, so do not purchase anything. This is my choice but its just far too expensive for me!!

Brilliant venue in the centre of Canterbury. Was pretty warm when I visited but inside was nice and cool. the only issue for me is the cost of parking nearby but this is not fault of this stunning venue.

The beer was fine, but leaving the door open on a cold night was not a particularly welcoming atmosphere. No food is served. Very handy if you're visiting the Marlowe theatre opposite.

Service was fine but the pub stunk of damp, was very cold and the women’s toilets were mouldy. Not enjoyable for pre-theatre drinks. Could be a cosy little pub if it was cared for.

It’s not sure if it’s a pub or a disco/nightclub. No ales available. £6.40 a pint! You’re having a laugh! We’re in Canterbury, not London. One mouthful of substandard ipa and left. Please let someone who actually cares about their clientele take over.

Wondered into the Canterbury tales pub as just a stones throw from the marlowe theatre. Several pumps had run out so not much choice of beers. Pub was completely dead. Looked like the gents toilets was out of order so a bit of paper on the womens said unisex toilets. Was really cold inside the pub and smelt of dogs.

Got to experience folk music at its finest. Quaint bar worth a visit

Really interesting, the guides add humour and makes it an enjoyable experience...

Great location and simple in design and offerings. Definitely more of a "student vibe" but have to say they try their best to accommodate all. Stick to what's on tap and don't deviate to cocktails and you'll be fine!

Lovely free entrance public library with several museum rooms A great spot to pop by on rainy days.

When visiting this library really kind staff member helped me to get books for relevant project But some staff when you make the environment repressive andunl unwilling to help bureaucratic nit picking it's about opportunity that can make a difference know your mission statement staff what a shame as vital services for those in the community better people skills understandy would be advised recommending

Interesting collections. I would happily spend a few hours looking at the exhibits closely.

Very patient with me not knowing using a computer, printer or scanning! I asked if I can pay bit more for the services they offered me. They said... (we can't expect , we are not allowed) And the kids reading area is great. My son Gabriel enjoyed it all the half term holidays.

The library had been converted into a better building for three years . It has staff that are helpful , but could be more helpful with the customers . They are not always around at times . Only mostly on weekends . There are some experienced staff there that have been there for years and they help where they can and do a good job . Sadly short staffed at times . There is a coffee shop and a few other spots in the building that you can view artefacts and drawings of pictures in the other parts or the top floor . Which is great for kids and family . There are things to do for school kids and kids that are very young . The activities are good for kids . It has closed earlier than usual . Which is sad . As we need the library opened an hour more not less.

Don't go at the moment - security is worse than at Heathrow Airport. They asked me for my name, library card, and then I was required to hand sanitise. When I pointed out that I was wearing white medical gloves, they asked me to put hand sanitiser on my gloves! At this point I laughed and left. I should also point out that it's normally an excellent library with helpful staff..

Oh dear, not very inspiring children's section. No nooks or comfy chairs to sit and read in, no art or colour. I'm very disappointed for my granddaughter who's just joined.

A great historic sight with many buildings preserved and a great walk from gunners Park to east beach .

Lovely place to visit until some lady pops out the front room to tell us... These are private premises... while we were doing a charity ride out on motorcycles. Lol

Wonderful find. Highly recommend going. Take your dog, your children. Can't wait to go back again

Peaceful & dog friendly this time of year

Garrison is a lovely place to walk round. Lots of military past. Can take dogs, walk or cycle. Lovely cafe for food and drink. The cafe is called Serendipity Cafe. Dogs allowed in cafe, but have to be well behaved. No public toilets, only those in the cafe. Cafe is located near the smaller car park. There is a bigger car park located on Gunners park and its free. Everyone I speak to says how lovely the Garrison is to walk round. Hope you enjoy your visit.

Excellent walk from Unkle Toms Cabin area to The Garrison. Recommended!

Lovely views perfect place to sit have a beer

Canterbury is a beautiful historic city full of charm, and Westgate Gardens is one of its highlights! Lovely flowers, peaceful riverside walks, and stunning views by the old city walls. Perfect place to relax and enjoy nature after exploring the city.

Beautiful green space, with plenty of place to sit or lie down and chill out. Keep going up the Stour and wander up a trail. Like a lot of Canterbury, you will likely encounter a lot of grubby homeless people in this garden. If I was I homeless in Canterbury, I'd probably hang out here, too. We visited middle of May.

Fabulous gardens to visit, such a wide variety of trees and wildlife right in the centre of Canterbury. We saw a Baobab Plane tree, Dawn Redwood, female fruiting Ginko, Tulip tree, Judas tree, evergreen Strawberry tree, Hornbeam, Dogwood, Himalayan Conifer, Weeping Willow and so much more. A true highlight was seeing a beautiful Kingfisher, a fox, a hedgehog, a cormorant and swans, and all in the space of an hour!

Lovely riverside walk into the centre of Canterbury. If you look carefully (under bridges easiest), you might be able to see some eels. The ducks are very happy to be fed; please avoid bread though. Small cafe area near the West Gate end.

There were some bugs and insects, but that means the place is nature-friendly! I love the peaceful mood and flowers. Sometimes there is small festival about medieval culture and you can see the knights fighting show.

Westgate Gardens is a stunning riverside park in Canterbury that offers a peaceful retreat from city life. The beautifully maintained lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and diverse trees—including the majestic 200-year-old Oriental Plane Tree—create a calming and picturesque setting. Walking along the shaded paths by the River Stour, you can soak in the natural beauty and spot local wildlife. A highlight is the spectacular view of the historic Westgate Towers, England’s largest surviving medieval city gate, which adds a fascinating historical backdrop to the gardens. Whether you’re enjoying a family picnic, a romantic stroll, or simply seeking a quiet spot to read and relax, Westgate Gardens provides the perfect balance of nature and heritage. It’s a must-visit for anyone exploring Canterbury, offering tranquility and charm just steps from the city center.

It certainly used to be a very nice place to linger, have a picnic, or take a walk. But now much of it is cordoned off and even more littered. Some corners stink of piss, and it's very loud due to construction noise and the teenagers who seem to be spending their holidays there.But the tree, at 200 years old and over 8 meters in diameter, is very impressive. You don't see something like it very often.

We stayed here over the weekend for a wedding. Firstly the lady on reception was so welcoming and friendly. The rooms were adequately sized for what we needed and the bed, perfectly comfy. 30 second walk to the sea front and carvery directly next door

The staff were fantastic very welcoming and helpful. A big bonus is that the parking is free. Room 11 on the ground floor has A lovely outlook onto a garden but (no hot/cold) air conditioning - only a wall heater and an upright fan. We had to inform Premier Inn that sadly we experienced a smell of damp.

A typical Premier inn, decent rooms, in a good location next to the sea front. A carvery is on the same site, which was great for eve meal. A bit of a walk to town, but that was a plus point for us, as we enjoy a beside -the- sea stroll!

Lovely hotel, stayed several times now. Nothing is too much trouble for staff. Only down fall is no resturant link to hotel, there is Toby Cavery in front of the hotel and many cafes in local area.

Friendly staff, clean and comfortable, the only thing is there is no restaurant in house... but a Toby Calverley in on site x10 steps away... I spent an extra night at premier inn just because of the Toby Calverley Great combination... I normally stay at the Eastern Esplanade up the road... but I think I will switch now Thanks TC

Nice hotel, the write forgets to mention the complimentary paddling pool/swimming pool in carpark. Courtesy of good old British Summer

Great location and service. Would definitely recommend a visit. It's located at the quieter end of town too.

A very first time visit to the Britain's oldest brewery. The tour was informative and tour guide made us welcome with his friendly talk. He explained the whole brewing process step by step and the history of the site. At the end, tasting experience was great. Btw good to know about beer rather then just drink 😜. Worth the visit.

Visited brewery for the first time today and I was amazed! I am not much of a beer drinker so I was not sure what to expect, but it was actually great to see the process of beer making and the history behind it. At the end of the tour we had opportunity to taste some beers and learn more about the taste/smell of each one. Special thanks to Nick as he was a great tour guide! It is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in beers or not!

I could not recommend the tour and beer tasting highly enough! I came here for an afternoon outing with my family and we enjoyed every moment! Our tour guide Nick, was extremely informative and gave us a great look around the brewery and explained the intense process that goes into making the beer. I learned a lot about beer that I did not know before, and about the long history at Britain’s oldest brewery. We also had a great beer tasting, and I really enjoyed learning about Shepard Neame’s most popular and well loved beers. This is a great afternoon out and you will not be disappointed.

Amazing tour and tutored tasting today. Tour guide Aubrey was fantastic. Highly recommended.

I found this tour to be highly informative and incredibly interesting. Not just in terms of the process for beer making but also on the history of beer and ale as part of the English culture and the company itself. Then as an added bonus you get to taste 6 different lagers / ales and stouts. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable experience. So much so that I’ve now signed up for the evening meal and beer tasting event.

Note. The tour is now £25. The shop Is welcoming and sells a full range of SN beers, plus a few other labels they are licensed to produce. Also sell SN branded items, from t shirts to beer mats. This is a review of the shop, not the tour!

A great experience visiting the Shepherd Neame brewery, Laura our guide was full of knowledge and interesting facts of the brewery. The tasting experience was a fascinating culmination of the tour. Would thoroughly recommend and hopefully enjoy a couple of hours looking in to the past and present from the oldest brewery in Great Britain.

Absolutely hidden gem, plenty of easy parking, kid and pet friendly, quiet, relaxed country side as it should be. The fact that it is kept free is another bonus on top. Drive can be a bit tricky on the village roads for inexperienced drivers, which is kind of great keeps the social media crowds away.

A beautiful, extremely peaceful garden, probably one of the most peaceful garden that I’ve been to. This garden is unique for its yew topiary hedges, and I’ve never seen so many of them. The rock garden is particularly beautiful and calming. The wild yellow grasses flowing in the wind give the garden a unique charm. I was told by the gardeners that roses are great in June, and then late August would be a great time for all the summer blooms. Even September would be great for summer flowers. Spring for the woodland flowers, but I prefer garden flowers. I could have easily spent a whole afternoon here. Many people were sitting on the grass enjoying teas and cakes. Cakes and drinks were a little pricy. However as I depend on buses to travel, the last bus back to Faversham was at 14:51, which gave me only 2 hrs to enjoy the gardens. I wish there were later buses, especially in summer, so people can travel easily on public transport and visit all the beautiful houses and gardens in England.

A little hidden away jewel. The gardens maybe small, but are abundant with a lovely variety of flowers and shrubs. We spent a lovely few hours walking round the grounds and the tea and cake was a treat after the walk. We will be back in the spring.

Beautiful and peaceful gardens between Sittingbourne & Faversham in Kent. There is a formal garden with central large pond, a large rock garden with a series of water features running into each other and on to a large pond at the bottom. There is a woodland walk which has Camellias in so many colours along with many other colourful trees,plants and bushes. There are plenty of benches scattered around for visitors to sit and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. It's rural location means no road noises etc, just the sounds of nature. There is a tea room on site with a lovely terrace to sit and enjoy a coffee or tea and a piece of cake. There are toilet facilities on site. There is a large parking area which is free. If you are an RHS member you can visit on Fridays free of charge. The mansion house is not open to the public.

Beautiful gardens and a great tea room selling cakes and savoury snacks. The viewing tower is a stunning new addition and allows unique aerial views of the sunken and Rock gardens below. Ornate walks lead to the woodland garden which is another idyllic gem.

Loved this place. Great Gardens beautiful flowers. Interesting viewing tower. Hedges that have been clipped so cleverly. Great walks would recommend.

Beautiful garden, with also a tearoom little steep in prices but Recommend a visit here if you love gardens, flowers, beautiful scenery.

We had a fantastic day of flying birds of prey with Paul, learning about each bird throughout the day. Would absolutely recommend and do again, thank you Paul for hosting and Zoe for organising.

My sister and I spent the day flying birds of pray at the Hawking Centre last week and can thoroughly recommend this experience. Zoe, the handler, was friendly, engaging, informative and very good with some children who were a bit apprehensive. We thought she handled the birds sensitively and made allowances for their mood and natural behaviour. It was lovely to see how much she cares for her job and the birds she looks after. She was very observant and intuitive about the different birds moods or if something (eg a dog) was upsetting them.

What a day! Had the full day VIP experience bought for myself by my Wife for Father's say. Wife came along to spectate. Nadia was brilliant, and the birds were unbelievable, especially Moet the eagle, and Mavis the vulture! Acrually they were ALL fantastic. Lunch wasn't the best, but we weren't hungry, and the day was about the birds! Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and the Wife was actually terrified of birds when we got our first parrot five year's ago!

We booked the experience on a whim and I am so glad we did. It was an absolute highlight of our holiday. We had not expected to be so close to the birds, it was just beautiful to see them fly and land on your arm and you can really tell the handlers love their animals and understand what they need. We had a wonderful time, learned a lot and can only recommend everyone to go.

Well what amazing day out. A massive thank you to Paul this guy what he doesn't know about these amazing birds turely outstanding. The group i was with ask him so many questions and he knew everything about these birds. So a big thank from Steve and lesley for such a lovely day.

Absolutely brilliant time had with Paul and the birds. Paul has so nuch knowledge to share and a natural affinity with all his beautiful birds. We will definitely be back and recommend to everyone we know

We bad a fantastic experience at the Hawking Centre today. Learnt lots about birds of prey and had a fun day out, would highly recommend.

Excellent place for a day out. Beautiful surroundings for the drive there, lovely maintained gardens, with sculptures, water features, an array of plants and trees. Beautiful sights into fields miles wide. Would highly recommend. Didn't manage to visit the house itself as it's only open on a Friday and Saturday.

Lovely tour of house and gardens. Guides very informative. We would recommend cafe. There is not a great choice of food but scones were the best we have had for some time and best value we have come across.

What a lovely day we've had. A free guided tour of the house by two very knowledgeable ladies then a very nice cream tea. Lots of lovely gardens and plants to see , will definitely return for another enjoyable day.

Visited the house and gardens, beautiful place. House is guided tour only which was one hour, very interesting to hear everything. Was a wait for the house tour to start, so made use of the lovely tearoom, freshly cooked scones, and pot of tea. Highly recommended.

Beautiful house, amazingly well kept gardens. The children had a very engaging educational experience, 100% will return.

Beautiful, magical gardens. The house tour was so interesting and informative with lovely rooms and plenty to see. The tea room was excellent value with great service - only open on Fridays though.

Visited open gardens it a beautiful area. Didn't go in house as didnt have money to. But the gardens are amazing . Had tea and cake in tea rooms which was a good price and tasted fab

Our visit to the Big Cat Sanctuary was already incredible, but staying overnight in the Tiger Lodge made it truly unforgettable. The lodge itself was stunning — beautifully designed, luxurious, and so thoughtfully placed that you can watch the tigers roaming just outside your window. Waking up to the sight (and sound!) of a tiger padding gracefully through the grass is an experience we will never forget. The atmosphere was both serene and exhilarating. The lodge felt private and peaceful, yet so connected to the sanctuary’s heart. Every detail, from the comfort of the lodge to the hospitality of the staff, was impeccable. Dinner and breakfast were delicious, and the staff went above and beyond to make the stay feel special and personal. What impressed us most was the sanctuary’s dedication to the animals. You don’t just stay overnight — you learn about conservation, the stories of each big cat, and the incredible work being done to protect these species. It made the whole experience meaningful as well as magical. This was so much more than a getaway; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be close to some of the world’s most magnificent creatures in a way that is respectful, inspiring, and unforgettable. If you ever get the chance, book the Tiger Lodge — it is simply breathtaking.

Fabulous weekend stay at one of the lodges. Clean and well equipped, fantastic standard of food. The staff are all so friendly. We had 2 great tours of the Sanctuary with Emily who was not only informative but shared anecdotes about her experience as a keeper. I really could not fault the experience which was topped off by hand feeding one of their leopards. Absolutely amazing and an experience we we will never forget

This was the best experience I have ever done. The Lodge we stayed in was AMAZING! So beautiful and well equipped, above and beyond anywhere I have stayed before. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and our guide Dawn who took us around the sanctuary was so informative about all the cats, was amazing listening to their stories of how and why they were there and seeing as some cats were elderly or under vetinary care you would never have known as they all look the picture of health, looked happy and contented in their immaculate, well thought out enclosures. I have never seen such animals so " up close" and was shocked at how massive and majestic looking some of them are and to be able to hand feed them too......was a dream. Would not hesitate to go back and also support their fantastic work......amazing!

My partner booked one of the experiences for my birthday yesterday and it was insane. Our tour guide Chris was amazing, had so much knowledge of the animals/park and made the experience a real pleasure. Seeing maya was my dream and all the other beautiful cats. We will definitely be back 🥰

An amazing venue with very knowledgable and caring staff. The animals seem well cared for and in great health. It was really interesting chatting to the staff and learning about how they do enrichment activities for the cats to keep them stimulated.

We visited one of the latest open days here and had a brilliant day out with the kids. Learning lots from all the staff spotted at all the different enclosures. Plenty of different big cats to see and experience in a better way you see at an all year open Zoo. Well layed out, well planned and definitely worth going when they do one again. Your need a membership if you want to visit outside these days.

We went to the Big Cat Sanctuary Open Day to celebrate a birthday, and we couldn’t have asked for a more incredible way to celebrate! It was a privilege to see the gorgeous cats they have there. The whole day was packed with wonderful activities, and it was an unforgettable experience for our family. Our little one especially loved the meet and greet with the brilliant lads from One Zoo Three; it was such a lovely touch that made the day even more special. We were amazed by the rescue and conservation work being done. The newly rescued lions were a highlight; they were so beautiful and clearly thriving. It was lovely to see them looking so healthy and content. You can feel just how much love and care goes into everything here, from the thoughtful conversations with the staff to the fact that the sanctuary isn’t open all year round to protect the cats' wellbeing. We really valued that. The live music and drumming added such a vibrant atmosphere to the day, and seeing Cam bravely take part in the dog display was brilliant! Hearing about their fantastic work to fight poaching and illegal wildlife trade brought even more meaning to the experience. I’d highly recommend going to an open day or buying a loved one an experience there to see the stunning cats up close and really understand and support the sanctuary’s important work in the UK and internationally. It was also great to hear that they’ve recently gained international recognition, which is so well deserved. We’d definitely recommend becoming a member for the extra experiences and to continue supporting this amazing place. Really looking forward to next year!

Visited for a tour and tasting on a Saturday in July. We were on the first tour of the day at 10:30am - this may not always be the case, but it felt like we had a smaller group size than later tours as a result (7 in total) which was nice. Our guide Sharon was very knowledgable and friendly, and added lots of personal anecdotes to the tour, adapting it to give us more time/information on the points we were most interested in. The tour involved walking through lots of the vineyards and learning about the different vines and challenges that come with growing them. I’d say it involved seeing more of the estate than I experienced at Chapel Down - I was glad to have comfy shoes! The production side is mostly shown through a video - it’s a shame you can’t see it in person as this would’ve balanced the time spent out in the fields, but they are a working winery so it makes sense that they don’t want lots of visitors getting in the way! It was a fair bit more expensive compared to other tours and tastings I’ve done (£70pp at Balfour, vs £35 at Chapel Down, £32 at Squerryes and £35 at Mount Vineyard - although this last one doesn’t include a tour). For the price to be double, I’d maybe expect a few light nibbles thrown in and more detailed instruction on how to properly taste each wine and a fuller explanation of the flavours that are present. The pours were fairly generous and you do get to try six wines (on the upper end of tastings I’ve done), but it feels like there’s something slightly missing for the price point, hence the four stars. The six wines we tasted only included whites and sparkling, but this wasn’t a problem as the staff at the bar were more than happy to let us try the reds afterwards, which were amazing! I can’t recall the barman’s name, but he was brilliant. We loved hearing about his favourites and recommendations, and we ended up bringing a few bottles home - the Albariño, Luke’s pinot noir and Leslie’s Gold NV. With the discount provided at the tour these were very reasonably priced. We weren’t able to stay for food but it looked amazing, especially on a warm sunny day. Would love to come back and stay for a leisurely lunch in future. If you’ve done wine tastings before then I’d maybe come for a wander round by yourself (you don’t need to be on a tour to explore the grounds) and then order the wines you like and enjoy the beautiful setting with a bite to eat.

We had such a lovely day but a few things that let this place down for me. They were completely understaffed and had such poor service due to being understaffed. We had to keep going up to the waiters/waitresses at the till to order any food or drinks, we didn’t have anyone come up to us proactively once. They have a huge wasp problem, every single table was absolutely swarmed. The second our food hit the table we had about 40wasps swarming around us and our food which was really horrible. The waiters looked a bit embarrassed and ran off when we mentioned it. Apparently they’ve had this issue all summer but they hadn’t put anything in place to help which just ruined our meal really. We had to put some of our chutneys on the floor away from the table to get rid of the wasps. We also asked the waiters 2/3 times to clear our plates (to get rid of the wasps) to no avail and came back from a walk around the vineyard to a table full of plates still. We ordered food at 3pm on a Saturday (they close at 9pm) and they had ran out of all of the flatbreads which meant our meal was just cheese, meats and breads. We were all starving when we got back! Such a shame, still had a lovely day but don’t think I would go back or recommend. Had a much nicer experience at other vineyards in the UK.

We stopped by on our way home, didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. We went into the restaurant and tried the 6 items sharing plate which was great value for money. Each individual dishes were all very nicely done, we particularly enjoyed the mushroom pate, prawn and courgette salad and mackerel salad the most. We also ordered the non-alcoholic sparkling white and rose wine, both were delicious. The surrounding area was very pretty as well, and there is an option to do a self guided tour, but it started raining so we didn't get to do that. All the staffs were super friendly and the lady who look after the shop in particular was very helpful. Overall a great experience, we would definitely come back again for a proper lunch and try out all the wines!

Fantastic experience, travelled from London and the free shuttle makes the journey so much more convenient and easy compared to other vineyards. The food was fantastic and the wine even better. Particularly enjoyed Leslie's brut rosé. My only crisitscm is there was no music playing outside on the terrace which would add to an even more fantastic atmosphere. The service was a little slow but it was busy they had 450 people booked in and there was still space to fit everyone that wanted to sit outside, and tables seemed to turn quite quickly.

A beautiful setting with generous tasting servings. Wines were delicious and the platter food quality surpassed expectations. Will definitely visit again.

This is a magical oasis and a wonderful day out . You book a wine tour and lunch and what you receive in return is a hospitality experience of the very highest calibre. We were in a large group of 14 a mix of corporates ( loud and giggly) couples and travelers . Lesley our guide did her best to keep some order as we gambled amongst the vines and gave us an overview of the viticulture process , the history of Bafour and its foundation . We visited late August and no matter the weather walking in this beautiful Kent country side is a wonderful experience, out through the vineyard and back via the woods . We then sat inside in a stunning glass walled boardroom style set up and tasted six wines sparkling and white . We did not taste any red or beers or cider which was a missed opportunity. The wine making process is converted by a video that was created many years ago it felt , difficult to see the screen in the corner with so many folk a screen on the wall at the head of the table would have been more comfortable . The Rosé sparkling was the star and The standout of the tasting one of the best of the British sparkling wines . We are conditioned to French Spanish and southern hemisphere wines that it was painful to watch the English still table wines being tasted but not drunk . As global warming takes hold and we get longer hotter summers the gap to sure to close but at what cost . We had lunch upstairs in the most stunning environment with breath taking views of the vineyard and rolling Kent hills . Surrounded by beautiful art and tastefully chosen furnishing this is top draw . The food was excellent scallops perfectly seared plump sweet and succulent , sardines filleted and perfectly partnered with tomato herb and garlic . We had to ask for bread to mop up the wonderful juices . Mains we went for pork filet perfectly cooked but dull in it’s presentation , the cooking juices not enough and this dish cry Ed out for a jus or sauce to bring the dish together, and had obviously sat a while before arriving at our table , and cod roulade was a little overcooked and drowning in sauce . Bread and butter pudding was succulent full of blueberries and served with the most excellent crème anglaise , cheese was generous served with quince and chutney a crowning glory to our meal and The food is solid tasty and well executed on the whole and a wonderful experience. Service was attentive and it was inspiring to see good young people learning a trade guided by more experienced professionals.

Fantastic place - the most beautiful views over the vineyards for my mum’s 60th lunch. We had the sharing platters and a tasting (highly recommend Skye’s Chardonnay) which was all delicious. The staff were extremely lovely and accommodating to make the birthday feel a bit special with an extra touch. Thank you Balfour team! What a lovely experience at the cellar door.