Top 26 things to do and attractions in Strood

I recently visited Rochester and had such a great experience exploring both the castle and the town itself. Rochester Castle is absolutely stunning—full of rich history and with an incredible view from the top. The castle is quite a climb, so if you're not great with heights or a bit nervous about steep steps, you might want to admire it from below. But even from the ground, the structure is impressive and totally worth seeing. The town of Rochester is just as lovely. It has a really charming, historic vibe with lots of independent bookshops, quirky little stores, and cozy cafés. We were lucky to catch the local market too, which had a great mix of food, crafts, and handmade items. There’s definitely something for everyone. The park next to the castle is big, peaceful, and perfect for a stroll or a picnic, and the whole area is family-friendly. I'd say it’s great for all age groups, but do be careful with the steps inside the castle—they’re steep and uneven in places. One thing that stood out was how kind and welcoming the people were. It really added to the whole experience. Whether you're into history, shopping, relaxing in the park, or just exploring somewhere new, Rochester has a lot to offer.

Amazing experience, well maintained, has a lovely gift shop with good prices. Has an option for an audio tour however isn't necessary as they have signage explaining the events. We went when the weather was beautiful so was really nice. Alot of steps but definitely worth it for the views of Rochester and the cathedral.

I loved this place. My kids enjoyed this place. The audio guide they gave was helpful. The castle is very old yet preserved well. It is safe with beautiful sights from the top. Absolute pleasure to visit

The castle looks so authentic - a lot of work has gone into preserving this! It's great that people can walk around the outer motte area free of charge. The surrounding area is all in keeping with the historic buildings. Stunning vistas of the castle and across the River Medway, excellent!

Came here for a Craig David concert, it was absolutely brilliant! Amazing venue in the grounds with the castle. Bag searches were vigorous! There were bars, food, tea and coffee, ice creams, glitter tent, medical tent and portaloos. Got a real mini festival vibe, was such a great afternoon and night, really nice crowd. Lots of security too.

Rochester Castle in Kent makes for a great day visit, offering one of England’s best-preserved Norman keeps—the tallest in the country at 113 feet. Built in the 12th century and famously besieged by King John in 1215, it’s a dramatic slice of medieval history. Visitors can climb winding staircases for sweeping views over the River Medway, explore the vast roofless interior, and relax in the surrounding gardens. It’s not wheelchair accessible due to the many steps, but the site is atmospheric, rarely overcrowded, and pairs well with a visit to nearby Rochester Cathedral. Expect to spend around two hours here for a rewarding mix of history, views, and quiet charm. Definitely Recommended.

Interesting to walk up the tower of this ancient castle. Some remainders of the walls of the Bailey still remain and there are lovely views over the River Medway, which are even better from top of tower. Good interpretive boards throughout. Didn't take particularly long to visit and was out in about half an hour. Friendly staff, Interesting history; a good ruin.

Perfect park for a walk, to hide away from everything and just fill up your energy levels. Dog walkers will love it too and with the playground kids won't be bored at all. There is place for just sunbathing or a picking and you can also play football or basketball.

Great park , lovely place to take dogs for a walk , a few parks , walking trail , large field and lots of squirrels ☺️

Wild Flowers at Broomhill It is our time, our moment, our spectacular Our red and purple heads bow under pleats of rain How long we have waited to open to shut, to wilt, to fall again This is our time, our moment, our wait so long, so fraught Our sprayers, our cutters, our litterers paid us little thought It is our time, our moment, our glorious end again and again The walkers, the creatures, the fences, our defenders, our friends.

If you didn't reside in the area you wouldn't realise it was there! This park is not a flat space, it rises quite high. There are play area for children and open grass area for ball games as well as wooded area with paths and steps all over the park. There are some picnic tables and benches around the parks so you can sit and take in nature's beauty. There are at least 6 entrances to the park, at least 2 at the top. A small car park at the end of King Aurhur's Drive (off Cliffe Road) for 13 vehicles, including a disabled space. The jewel of this park is its view from the highest point. You have a spectacular view of Rochester and Chatham and the River Medway. You can also see the Great Lines, Fort Amherst, Shelley Bridge and much more. A welcome place to visit and relax. Well worth a visit.

Beautiful park, clean, perfect for dog walking. Free parking.

Broomhill park is a jewel in the Strood urban area. An oasis of beauty, peace and tranquility. It is a place where you can sit quietly and enjoy the fantastic views. If you are with kids then there is a wonderful children's play area, and an area for family barbeque for an open air get together. A must visit site.

2 stars only because of the self entitled dog owners. Barking, unleashed, running through the play area, chasing squirrels and birds, scaring my child. Dog owners smirking.

Our visit coincided with the 1940s-themed event, which was exceptionally well-executed. It is regrettable that this was the final iteration. The event's organization was commendable. However, the Call the Midwife taster session, priced at £10 per person for a 20-minute experience, received negative feedback from our group, who considered it to be a poor value proposition and not representative of the full tour. This may deter future participation in the main tour. Despite this, the overall experience remained positive.

We have used our yearly ticket a few times over the year and always end up having a long and fulfilling day out. Engaging for grown ups and a 6 year old. We usually pack a picnic, but this time having exited via the restaurant, the food looked delicious and the menu is fairly priced, so we will treat ourselves next time. All of the staff are so lovely and friendly, but an extra shout out to Jazmyn today who was FANTASTIC! She was so enthusiastic and gave us some lovely information about HMS Gannet. We feel like we learn something new every time, making the yearly ticket very much worth it. Can't wait to see further development of the site over the next 10 years.

Great day out. Never been before. The historic ships reviewed elsewhere. The ticket is valid for a whole year,so I will be back in the spring. If you are walking from the station, it's a good 30 minute walk.

Well worth seeing , make sure you go in the submarine . Tickets would be more economical as a local as they last for a year so it was expensive for us just to visit once . But very interesting my son loved it especially

I can't over emphasis just how impressed I was with Chatham Dockyard. I went because I'd seen advertising online about a LEGO shipwreck display which as it turns out was ok but the rest of the site was FANTASTIC. I got to go on board a 90's navy submarine HMS Ocelot. I walked around a WWII HMS Cavalier a real time capsule. For me one of the best things was being in the exact place seeing where HMS Victory was built. There is a BRILLIANT walk through experience with characters that literally show you the building process for ships around the time of HMS Victory and earlier. It really brought it to life for me. The cafe setting is superb with many of the buildings being made of old ships beams, masts and more. There is a hidden ship under the floorboards so don't miss that.

Really great museum full of history and learning! We visited as a family with our 9 year old. She loved every minute from walking around the exhibits to the tour of the cold war era submarine. Plenty to see and do covering the whole history of the dockyard from its earliest days to its closure in the 1980's. We spent about half a day and could have stayed longer if we had the time. Tickets are valid for a year so if you are local then you can go back and dont have to do it all in a single session. Also there are some concessions, when we arrived we found out english heritage members get discount which was an unexpected bonus. Overall well worth a visit and we will be back before our year tickets run out!

A really nice day out. Good facilities, with better on the way, to keep you comfortable and caffinated. Plenty to see but the gem for me is the 'Ropery', the last of its kind. Book your place as you enter the site if you want to see it.

We had a lovely day out here. In short, we felt Diggerland was generally pretty good value for money. Firstly - we had missed any information telling us that a couple of attractions wanted actual cash. The cafe will do exchange cash to a point but has a charge. Don’t forget to take some pound coins! The only other head’s up we had was to read the age restrictions on rides clearly. We queued a few times for rides having misunderstood the age requirements and our younger boys weren’t too impressed 😅 Other than this we had a great day. Parking was plentiful, reception was clean and welcoming with a helpful assistant to check our tickets and tell us where to go. The digger area itself was pretty busy, but it was clean and easy to navigate and queues weren’t too crazy for individual attractions within the park. We rode the bumper cars a few times (you need tokens from the gift shop, so get these as you enter). We excavated some bricks from the trenches, we rode bobcats and all sorts. The cafe was solid, tables weren’t cleared very pro-actively but we asked somebody to help us out and they did straight away. Food isn’t cheap but it was pretty good quality and very generous servings so overall good value for money.

It's great idea, but needs a lot of attention. Lot of machines are tatty with bits missing, and generally looking uncared for. No tracked vehicles to drive, only one digger - no idea why not more as there's the track for them. Staff unfailingly polite and helpful. Good indoor play area for youngsters. Cafe good too, and sensible prices. OAP discount excellent idea.

A reasonably fun place to take the kids, Doubt we would return though and would probably recommend avoiding to most parents. If you turn up on the day there is a 46% surcharge to catch you didn’t pre pay, it has vibes of flying with Ryan air. Then you walk straight into rides which require extra payment, so you have to negotiate with your kids. I come to this sort of place to have a nice time, not deal with tokens and pound coins all afternoon. A fun touch was they ask you not to walk with muddy shoes through the gift shop, instead I suggest they let us escape without being forced through your shop. The young staff were nice though.

Fantastic place for the kids! Omg wow, so much to do and see for the kids. Under 1m is free which is amazing although they then aren't tall enough to do some rides. Spread out, easy to manoeuvre with a buggy, clean and tidy. Staff were very friendly. The kids were disappointed the ice cream truck had shut because of the rain ;( Also, last comment - I think an adults ticket costs too much. For the 5 of us, the price would put me off returning.

What a fantastic day out! Initially thought the ticket 🎟 price was steep! Still don't understand why there's not a child price? Cannot believe we waited so long to visit here! Can't wait to go back. Very unique & fun day 😀

From the moment you arrive at Diggerland Kent, you can sense that this is no ordinary theme park — it’s a one-of-a-kind adventure for construction fans of all ages. Nestled in Medway Valley Leisure Park, it blends hands-on machinery fun with classic family rides and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. First Impressions & Atmosphere Walking through the gates, you’re met with the roar of engines, the rumble of diggers, and the sight of kids (and adults) eagerly climbing into cabs and control panels. The park is compact but very well laid out, so you never feel lost trying to find each attraction. There’s always something happening somewhere, and the energy is infectious. Staff are generally warm and helpful; ride marshals guide you with safety in mind but without dampening the fun. On busy days, queues can build up a little, but overall the layout and ride throughput help keep things moving. Cleanliness is decent: washrooms are tidy, and there are spaces to rest or grab refreshments. The soft play area is a welcome retreat when little ones need a break from the outdoor fun. Here’s a roundup of the standout rides / experiences you’ll want to try: • Spindizzy – Arguably the signature thrill ride. You sit in a digger bucket, get strapped in, and then are raised and spun (forwards and backwards). It gives you that “which way is up?” sensation and is perfect for older kids and adventurous adults.  • Skyshuttle – A gentler ride that gives you height and views, lifting you skyward in a vehicle attached via a boom arm. Great for taking in the park from above and for those who prefer something a bit less intense.  • Groundshuttle / Off-road rides – These let you bounce along rugged paths; it’s fun to feel the movement and imagine you’re on a real construction site.  • Mini Diggers / Komatsu mini diggers – For younger visitors (or the young at heart), these are a massive hit. Kids over ~80 cm (often accompanied by an adult) can steer and dig, practicing control and coordination.  • Dodgems, Go-Karts, and Mini Cars – These are more traditional “fairground” style but reimagined in the Diggerland theme. They’re great for a change of pace and appeal to visitors of all ages.  • Soft play & indoor areas – A nice bonus, especially when the weather turns or younger kids need somewhere gentler.  The staff is amazing, very helpful, patient with the kids and cheerful, thank you for a lovely weekend

One of those places where it doesn’t look much from the outside but as you get in there is loads to do. Kids can drive loads of stuff. My 9 year old drove a car on his own and my 7 year old drove a full size JCB on her own (with instructor). We got on loads of rides. I don’t know how they do it- everything looks like a H&S nightmare but everyone was safe and had lots of fun! Definitely buy tickets in advance you save about £10 a person and you can book the night before as we did. I didn’t really understand the queue of people paying full whack. Parking was free and we were offered free EV charging too (we didn’t need it). There are a couple of little ride ins which are coin operated and the dodgems you have to buy a token from the shop. This is the only thing I thought was cheeky, it didn’t really make sense why there was an extra charge, as it had one member of staff like the other rides so I don’t see where the extra cost is which justified it, and it’s not like they needed to manage a queue - not many people were riding it. Everything was very dusty (to be expected kicking up dirt all day long) so wear older shoes. The queues for the diggers digging mud were REALLY slow so we didn’t get in. Kids were getting 10-15 mins a go because only one member of staff to do switch overs. We counted the number in the queue and it would have been 45 mins to an hour so we bailed having queues for 15 mins at that point.

This cathedral is small and select, but very good to explore. There was a lot to see and the staff were very kind and welcoming. We just missed out on the mini golf but that was okay, there was still plenty to see! The stained glass windows were beautiful and there seemed to be lots of exhibitions on. It's very easy to find and navigate.

Rochester Cathedral is breathtaking from the moment you see it. The architecture is incredible, with beautiful stonework, high arches, and peaceful interiors that make you stop and admire every detail. It is the second oldest cathedral in England, and you can truly feel the history in every corner. It is not just a religious site, but a brilliant tourist attraction with calm surroundings, helpful staff, and fascinating displays about its past. The mix of ancient design and modern exhibitions makes it enjoyable for all ages. Whether you love history, architecture, or simply peaceful places, Rochester Cathedral is definitely worth a visit.

The cathedral second only in time to that at Canterbury, was the See of Cardinal John Fisher martyred for refusing to accept the religious settlement of King Henry VIII in 1535. The church is steeped in history and whilst a cathedral, feels like a parish church. The tours are very informative. Of interest is that as a former Benedictine Monastery we were told that the cathedral community continue to read a chapter of the Rule of St Benedict. We were also told that the cathedral does not charge as, as a former benedictine community the cathedral does not charge, as under the Rule the cathedral community welcomes guests as pilgrims, as under the Rule. The cathedral has a regular pause for prayer throughout the day c/half of the hour. Of the many highlights in the cathedral is the beautifully carved font, the Rochester Triptych, a simplistic carving of the Virgin Mary in the Lady Chapel. The tomb of Bishop Merton, medieval floor files under the alter near Bishop Merton's tomb, to the left and to the left of this altar is a door behind which is one of the oldest doors in the country. The restored quire by Gilbert Scott restores the medieval pattern. The beautiful carving on an internal door to the chapter house. And by the entrance in the North Transept is an Icon in 2004, the orthodox icon depicts the conversion and baptism of the King of Kent. The tombs of Sts Paulinus and Itemar. Of interest to those interested in the Zulu War is memorial to Lt Chard VC of the Rorkes Drift defense. One could spend a day exploring the surface of the history of the cathedral.

Stunning Cathedral. V helpful, friendly and welcoming staff; visiting alone i was approached several times by staff saying hello, finding out where I was from, telling me fascinating snippets of information. It was a delight speaking to them all and they oozed enthusiasm and pride for the Cathedral, it's history, what it offered, and how they wanted to welcome visitors. Crypt was closed sadly, so wasn't able to view the Textus ... maybe another time. Cafe was in a lovely setting in the Crypt with a good selection of cakes to have with your coffee. No charge, but donations welcome. Loved it here ❤️

Very well kept, and a stunning piece of architecture. It's also great that the surrounding area has been more or less preserved, to keep the context of the cathedral - although there are cars on the pedestrian-looking roads, so beware of traffic.

Lovely Catherdral, with an amazing organ. The place is beautiful and serene. The volunteers are all very helpful and friendly. There is a nice souvenir shop, toilets. Not sure if there's a cafe 🤔 Entrance is free.

Nice cathedral. Lovely painted organ. Cafe in the crypt. Parking nearby. Well worth a visit.

Would have been perfect bar the service of the barmaid "Naomi '( bigger lady who may be a manager but her customer service requires some work ") Being a Saturday night, my friend and I would not normally visit Rochester high street due to the amount of "younger people" , noise and drunkeness. Nothing wrong with that but for the service we received was annoying bearing in mind we were spending our hard earned money. Today was an exception due to my friend receiving some bad news. We went to George Vaults and then, as it became quite busy and loud came to the Cheese rooms for a cheese board and another drink to end our emotional night. The server Naomi (who assumed my friend was too drunk to be served or believed the establishment to be too good for us !) said that only one drink would be served given the state of my friend. Albeit she had slurred a few words she was not in a complete drunken state and was not loud or falling over....basically not in a state I would have been overly concerned about. This "server' decided she would make my friend feel worse than she already did. she wasnt polite and had no customer service to her ! Btw we had ordered food and water too (showing responsibility ). We were fine with this and ate our cheese board, drank our drinks with no police or assistance required ! And paid for what we had. At the end my friend spoke to "Naomi" to advise she made her feel bad by her actions. I don't think I'll bother going there again because of this woman's actions even though the drinks and food were good. Customer service is a big thing for me and if you are worried about how your establishment looks clean your toilets properly !! I don't like leaving bad reviews if it isn't required however I believe you should always speak to someone first before assuming. That's just basic customer service.

We were served by Ella, who was very knowledgeable about what was on offer and selected a small cheese board as a side for me and my partner. My partner had pork belly with black pudding, poached egg with a cauliflower puree, and I had a mac and cheese with steak and peppercorn sauce and some onion rings. All the food was perfectly presented, served swiftly and top notch. Portion sizes were excellent. The pork belly was the best I've ever tasted. I had a local bottled cider to drink and my partner had a non-alcoholic espresso martini, again both excellent. The cheese board selection was great thanks to Ella, (especially a home made chutney that was a star of the whole meal) and we split a fantastic creme brule as a dessert. The whole meal came to just over £55, which for two people and the quality on display was very reasonable, especially as that included a 10% service charge. (if we had had some cash on hand we would have paid a higher tip the service was that good.) Ella, despite being busy, was charming and an excellent conversationalist. Atmosphere in the restaurant was also excellent, this is a lovely wonky old building with heaps of charm. If you are tourist in Rochester, you owe it to yourself to go to the Cheese Room. Would recommend booking in advance, the place was very busy on a weekend lunch so don't expect to walk in without a reservation. This is our second visit and it hasn't disappointed yet.

Been back after 3 years for refreshing my memories me and partner had here. So in love with the building and atmosphere it is creating. We had cheese boards and while i was enjoying taking some photos of outside my partner was enjoying all the cheese boards inside 😂. I like to sit out and enjoy to capture daily life of people and beautiful & historical town. Btw lovely staff as usual, delicious food and amazing atmosphere. Just had last bits of cheese and move on. Next time i’ll eat first and then get photos 😅

Had one of the nicest cheese toasties I've ever eaten here! I came with my friends and 2 of us shared the Italian Job sourdough toastie and the raclette bravas potatoes. The toastie had mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, prosciutto, Basil and pesto. It was delicious. The potatoes were delicious too. I had a large wine....naturally and my friend had an apple juice. Our other friend had a cheese and ham toastie and some water. The toasties were only 7 or 8 pound and worth every penny.

First visit to Rochester for a graduation and found this lovely place. Lovely range of food and lots of GF options. This is toasted sarnie which was awesome and the chutney was great as well. Staff were attentive and the atmosphere was great. Thanks to the Cheese Room!!

If you love cheese you will love this place even if your like me and don’t like cheese that much there’s more on the menu for you scotch egg is a must try amazing quirky place. It’s a must go

Being a cheese lover myself I was excited to visit this place. The Cheese Room, located near Rochester Castle, is a charming restaurant specializing in all things cheese. The venue is in an old building with both indoor and outdoor seating, which adds to its character. We opted to sit outside, but the tables are a bit small, especially since the plates are quite large. The menu offers a great variety of cheeses, and we enjoyed the British Cheese Board and I tried the pesto sourdough sandwich. The food was good, but the service could have been more organized. It took a while to receive the menu, and when it came time to pay, we ended up going to the bar as we were in a hurry. The ladies' toilet, while clean, is quite small and a bit tricky to find. Overall, despite a few minor issues, we had a lovely time and would recommend it for cheese lovers!

📍 Unexpected Visit We stopped by for an impromptu visit while we were in the area. Unfortunately, we didn’t realize the tunnel tour requires advance booking. 😅 🕳️ Tunnel Tour From what we’ve read in reviews, the tunnel experience is fantastic — we’ll definitely book it next time! 🏛️ Exterior Grounds Although we didn’t join the guided tour, we explored the exterior site on our own. There was plenty to see, and lots of informational signs scattered around. We didn’t have to pay to access the outdoor areas. 🅿️ Facilities Parking: Available on-site, but it’s paid. Shop: There’s a small shop selling drinks and other items. 🥤🍪 Play Area: Great for families — includes a playground and swings. 🛝 👍 Would I Recommend It? Absolutely! Even without the tunnel tour, it’s a worthwhile stop — and next time, we’re booking ahead!

We just finished the tour with Barney and Maddie and had the best time. Barney was really engaging, had heaps of energy and was clearly passionate about Amherst and history in general. He had the kids up as volunteers, and kept them involved the whole time. The caves themselves are really interesting and I’d definitely consider doing the tour again! Thanks for a really great 2 hours.

Had the tour of the tunnels this morning, Saturday Steve was our guide and we had a full on two hour experience but the time flew. Fascinating we see the various uses the Fort had over the years a very interesting insight and then of course after the tour ends still the full external spaces to explore and finishing with the best view in the Medway towns at the highest point of the fort. Well worth a visit and even if you don't fancy the tour you will have access to the rest of the site for free. If you are into history then tour is well worth it.

Well worth doing the tunnel tour which is around 2 hours. Full of information including how the tunnels were used in world war 2. Suggest a wander round the grounds before or after the tour to enjoy the views.

Went on a tunnel tour this morning. Very enjoyable and informative, lots of interesting things to see and very knowledgeable guide (Tom). Had no idea there was so much hidden in the hillside, learnt a lot of history of the area too. Children on the tour enjoyed it too. Would definitely recommend.

Just returned home after a 2 hour extended tour of all the tunnels, a special thank you to Tom for a very informative tour, my wife would also like to thank the guys for a great bee experience, answered all questions thrown at them, and there was a lot. Great experience would recommend both and the fantastic cream tea afterwards

We completed the tunnel tour with Tom this week, my son (8) is Autistic, loves history, and is particularly interested in the wars, Tom was brilliant with our son, keeping him engaged and involved throughout, answering all his questions, the amount of knowledge he has is amazing. We also brought along our 4 year old daughter and she was even engaged throughout the tour. We will definitely be back, thank you Tom!

Free car park near by. No more than 5 minutes walk to get there. Slight decline down to get there on cobbled road. The view at the bottom is spectacular. The staff at the pay / shop are very friendly and inviting. Informed us of where to go along with a paper map. Lots of interesting facts around the castle and the video with the barrel seats is good to watch. The views from all the different windows and towers make some lovely pictures. Several good places to have picnics. Nice little shop at the end of the walk. Be prepared for lots of steps, twisty steps and some deep steps. Lovely place to visit for a couple of hours. We went as a family of 2 adults and 2 children and a senior.

Parked in the free car park nearby and was the first person there. Despite being a relatively small castle there is plenty to see with a fascinating history. Be aware that it can be a bit dark in places with old uneven steps and low headroom. There are some great views over the river Medway. There is a well stocked gift shop.

Lovely little castle, interesting signs telling you the history. Doesn't take too long to go around. Some tlc needed in certain areas but staff were lovely and friendly and the shop was cute and cheap! Lovely views.

google maps way does not lead to the castle it took us round to the houses along the edge of the medway, however we got to the castle just before closing but we still managed to see all of it it was good and comes with a cat!

Quick cheap Uber ride from Rochester castle. Really nice views of the marsh and River Medway. A few activities for kids. Good signage explaining the castle. Restrooms available. Small gift shop with snacks. Free reign of the castle and grounds. Nice fun visit. Afterwards, we took an uber to Cobham Wood (dropped off by the Alpaca farm)and walked up through fields to the tree area and right at the lower fence to see the Furry Highland cattle.

Very interesting fort with a rather chequered history. When we visited they had an easter egg hunt on which rather ruined the visit with kids running around yelling. Might go back again when its quieter. Also the place didn't open on time as they didn't have enough staff.

Small castle but worth a visit. Situated in the village of Upnor which itself is beautiful. A bit of a trek from the nearest train station. We walked from Rochester after visiting the castle there, but got a cab back!

Bit of crumby place, cobwebs and dust about. I know it’s supposed to be rustic but needed a clean. Not overly friendly place either. However started to fill up while we were there so it look popular with others.

What has happened to this place?? Going back years it has been a great place to have a coffee in Rochester. Over the last 6 months something has changed, Service slow, staff uninterested, orders wrong ... even simple ones. Also, what's up with the paper cups, and the iced late that's 90% ice Its honestly horrible here now, sort of feels like one of those nasty tourist trap places you find in central London I cannot believe this is the original owners/management team. Abysmal, won't return

Decent coffee shop with a warm indie vibe that’s cool but not so cool it’s alienating. I came with my 3 y/o in between errands and it was a nice little stop. Not overly priced, not necessarily cheap (but what you’d expect). I had the chicken and jalapeño panini, with a raspberry white choc muffin and strawberry milkshake for my son. All good although I wish I went for the bbq pulled pork panini, but it wasn’t as big so I let my eyes get the better of me! (Also I realise not ordering a coffee and leaving a review is a bit of a miss but I just didn’t fancy the extra caffeine intake right now, may regret it later when I sing at a wedding in the evening). Anyway it’s a nice space, staff were friendly and helpful, even let us use the toilet without having ordered anything (but be sure to spend some coin 😉). They were playing some decent indie tunes, heard a bit of Fontaine’s, Sam Fender and WET LEG, which is always a win for me (clean versions of course). Would love to know if they ever have live music here as I think it could work well, little small and intimate potentially but it could work maybe. We came out the car park and it was the first place we saw, after walking a bit further up the high street I’m glad we came back, good vibes and nice easy times

I love this cafe's decor (dark walls and ceiling, natural wood, pretty lighting), location (opposite the Cathedral), the music has been bang on before (indie/rock) and the staff have always been friendly, edgy looking and welcoming to me. They also give away sandwiches to the homeless at the end of the day/week which is good. They also sell delicious muffins and a nice pot of tea. I find their caramel frappucinos however waaaay too sweet without any taste of coffee! I've had them there twice and it's milk with tons of caramel blended completely smooth to a water consistency and I found it unpleasant to drink it was that sweet. Starbucks' version is more like a thick coffee milkshake with caramel down the sides of the glass and way less sweet. I wish they'd alter their recipe to be more like Starbuck's version. I'll still go but order tea and a muffin instead!

I have visited here a few times as I like to Shop indecently - however I do find the staff quite rude/not bothered and I’ve found another great Indy coffee shop further up the high street. I couldn’t finish the ‘matcha’ I had today after a few sips and realised it was just a ready made powder. Shame.

Cafe serving premium coffee,teas,hot chocolate etc. Plus cold drinks and various baked and cakes.Located in Rochester High St. Medium sized seating area with some soft seating plus tables and chairs. A couple of small tables outside. Inside they have collections of tea and coffee pots on the wall, it's dimly lit which kind of gives it a cozy feeling. My dark chocolate mocha was very enjoyable. I didn't have anything to eat on this occasion but have tried cake there before and found it good.

Seriously rude and unwelcoming staff here. Take your money elsewhere, Leonard's cafe at store 104 + Rochester coffee and many more on the high street.. you will without unreasonable doubt receive a much friendlier service and at least some basic pleasantries. Horrible atmosphere here do not recommend.

"Hidden Gem" Temple Manor is a Grade I Listed building situated within an industrial estate opposite Rochester Castle, across the river. If you're planning to visit the castle, it would be a great idea to explore the manor as well. Please note that it is NOT open every day, so make sure to CHECK BEFORE YOUR VISIT. Typically, it is open during school holiday periods, such as Easter and half-term breaks. There is limited parking available, but you'll find a Morrison's nearby, just a short walk away.

We loved it but wish it was open more often and a little bit better looked after. Who knew Strood had such a fascinating history and such a place of historical importance in it's own right? The Manor is worth the visit if you love local history - but lots more could be done with it. You might drive past and not even realise it's there...nestled in between businesses on the industrial estate, we actually drove past then turned back! The grounds leave a lot to be desired - I mean it's mown grass and a few picnic tables round the back but no flower beds or path ways. You park on the grass in front of the Manor, not many cars would fit there and I dread to think what a rainy day would be like! The ladies today that were on hand were very lovely, friendly and helpful. Free entry to the Manor, there's a kids trail to follow - without which there's not lots there to get their interest unless you include various boards of info to read and a krypton factor style jigsaw map of Strood to construct which, although it could do with a clean, was surprisingly fun to do. So glad we finally got to visit - you really have to dig through the internet to find out when it's open to the public because the Google page is obviously not updated (it said it was closed today!). We found it on the Medway council site.

Open on rare days through the year. Interesting facts scattered around on information boards. This place is tucked away on an industrial estate! Look for the green fencing for the car park entrance.

Fantasic free bit of history to visit, combine it with something else as its only a 30 minute attraction, but very interesting.

Such a beautiful little site - grate history and recommend visiting if your in the area

Very interesting. The council could do so much more.

Restored I believe in the 1950s, interesting place to look around. You wont spend more than half hour here.

Large nature reserve with an extensive network of footpaths leading through open fields, pleasant woodland and coppice plantation. Great views of the chalk downland and Medway valley in various places, and from the higher fields local landmarks including Rochester Castle and Cathedral and the Great Lines naval memorial are all clearly visible. Worth visiting at any time of year, but best in late spring and early summer when the bluebells, rare orchids and poppies are at their peak. Also good for golden colours in late autumn. Walks can be extended by crossing the local railway line to the Bush Valley, or leaving the reserve and heading out to Cobham Woods and Mausoleum. The parking area only has a few spaces so can fill up quickly when the weather's good. If it's full, the Bush Valley walk in Cuxton is a good alternative nearby.

Nice for a long walk in nature but somewhat ruined by the motorway and Eurostar train track which is right there and very loud. Ruins the ambience and peacefulness. Needs more signage maybe and need to make it more clear which bits are privately owned land; I'm not trying to get myself shot by a farmer with a shotgun out here on my walks in nature!

Wonderful views and fantastic plants. What more could you ask for. As Plantlife's flagship reserve as well as a working farm, it shows what can be achieved. A mix of woodland and farmland, with wild flower meadows and crop fields, as well as areas of chalk grassland, there is something for everyone. There is a small car park at the entrance near the main road. This is a hilly reserve with a network of mostly dirt or grass footpaths with the occasional farm track. The going can be uneven and muddy, especially in winter, and many of the paths are not easily accessible for those with restricted or reduced mobility.

Lovely nature reserve with plenty of long walks. Being in the downs the paths can be steep. Paths were good in May. Parking can be a problem as the small car park off the main drag is always full. You can find street parking and walk under a rail tunnel.

Great nature reserve. There are plenty of trails to explore. Suitable for walking or cycling. There are a big variety of flowers, absolutely stunning. It is well worth the visit.

Its a beautiful nature reserve and you could be almost anywhere except the Medway Towns!! There are Highland Cattle and Deer to be seen in this most natural landscape of acres of land. Wild flowers to spot and a Bluebell Wood in Spring. The place is most enchanting in all seasons and gives a haven of tranquility and peace.

Quite and peaceful places to sit and think and enjoy the views

It’s a good play area for kids, and the price is good for 2 and a half hours. Most places charge similar price for an hour, which isn’t enough. The play area has many things from slides to a pitball area to a shootout for big kids and a play area for babies to toddlers - all kid ages covered. Food: Their orange juice is definitely not nice, it’s just a bit of orange juice mixed with lots of water. Their chips was cold but the fish finger was warm BUT, it was over cooked - now that chewable for 2 year old. For the price you pay, it’s not worth it. You only get a small portion of chips, a tiny bit of salad and 1 piece of fish finger.

I like to get there at 9.30 so it is quieter and also the car park gets very busy. Kids always enjoy themselves. The food is very dissapointing, you wait a long time for it and its cold when it arrives. The baby area could be supervised better as it states under 4s only but there always older and bigger kids running riot and knocking the babies over. But overall good value for money.

Today I need give 4 stars .today was our double party which went really well until show up our ordered mascots nothing went wrong the guy and girl did well just they didn’t feel confident at all in them role. I think if they want charge £35 for mascot of 15min they should choose someone who can do actor role and feel confident with kids to make them happy. Overal the decorations was done really good 😊 we had music 🎵 which kids enjoyed. Food was great and the member stuff who was organising our party was really great she listened my request and tried to do all to fill up my wish for what I can say big Thank you. Customer service great girls really helpful and friendly.

Extremely disappointed yesterday was turned back from monkey bizz as they stated they were too many people there however it was not full at all genuinely the emptiest I've seen it my 4 year old ended up crying and the old lady at the desk had a smerk on her face as she stated you should of booked it then... found them Extremely rude and both ladies at the desk have no peoples skills and tbh shouldn't be at the desk you can tell they don't like there Jobs and don't do it with passion. Not a very nice experience for me nor my 4 year old who was turned away very upset.

Took my kids here for the friends birthday party and it was great a guy dressed up as superman gave a bit of cake to evryone and the playground was great but some kids apparently fell of a long big climbing thing but idk.

This is certainly better run and organised than some of the competition I've took my granddaughter to. The little toy town is great too. The staff actually do watch what's going on and they have a tannoy which they use when needed. The little cafe is ok too... I would definitely bring our little one back here again.

Monkey Bizz is a wonderful place for birthday parties! Frankie, breeze and Holly & especially Sharleen were amazing for my daughters birthday 🥳 Thank you all

Weird ghost town of a place that wouldn't be out of place in a zombie apocalypse movie. It always seems deserted with handfuls of people in the pub and restaurants. Nice if you dislike people.

Only gets three stars because of the total lack of EV charging..not one..zero..zilch..

Went and We watched dead pool and wolverine. £7.00 per person. Normal seating. Clean and tidy. 4pm showing. Not busy. Booked on line.

Have places that stay closed for ages, or are rundown. What is the rent like here? I'd be asking for money back if I was a business. With the rotten, rusty barges moored alongside, it's starting to look like a breakers yard, with sunken ones too, looks awful.

Plenty to do here with the family. Good food choices, ice-cream parlour, bowling, arcades, cinema etc.

To be honest I had my best experience in this restaurant, thank you so much and I highly recommend it.

Good location...Good variety of places to eat at reasonable prices

Nice area of Meadow and woodland in Strood. Small carpark, plenty of benches to stop, rest and enjoy the view, poplar with dog walkers.

Great place for relaxing dog walk overlooking rochester and strood and countryside surrounding it. Great place to visit

I walked through this as part of the Strood community trail. It was a short walk through it with clear directions and views of some part of Chatham. It was quiet although it’s relatively close to the roads.

Wild Wild England! I love this place, go far away from the real world in the middle of civilisation.

Lovely nature area very wild but with clear paths and forest walks

Great little hidden gem. Lovely views from the top. Very clean and tidy with good paths. Takes about 20-25 minutes to walk around. Recommend keeping dogs on a lead as it's very close to the main road and there are no fences.

Small but nice pathway all the way round.

Nice relaxing area where you can spend some good minutes watching the birds, the river, or just walking around. A bit of a disadvantage is that if you come by car you have to pay the parking, also on low tide the riverside it is a collection of shopping trolleys. Overall, it can be a good relaxing riverside during our busy city days.

Food rubbish steak and ale pie small burnt top only meals with chips 1/2the menu not available. Tryed to over charge for drinks would not recommend to any one .

Riverside Gardens in Chatham is an absolute haven for those seeking a serene and picturesque escape. It's the kind of place where you can enjoy a leisurely walk while being enveloped in an ethereal ambiance that soothes the soul. The natural beauty of Riverside Gardens is truly captivating. The well-maintained paths wind alongside the river, offering stunning views of the water, lush greenery, and a sense of tranquility that's hard to find in a bustling town. The ambient sounds of nature and the gentle rustling of leaves add to the overall serenity. Whether you're looking for a peaceful spot to clear your mind, enjoy a romantic stroll, or simply connect with nature, Riverside Gardens delivers on all fronts. It's a hidden gem that Chatham should be proud of, and I wholeheartedly give it a well-deserved 5-star rating for providing such a delightful and rejuvenating experience.

It's fine but building work happening so can't access it all

At a family get together at Command House pub, kids getting bored, along to the Riverside Gardens for a run around - water defence wall with a rail, look out to water - swans and ducks, + strood industrial estate over the other side.

Good place for walking by riverside with good pubs near by

A great place to bird watch .

Small green are in the middle of Rochester, great for a stroll or walking the dog.

It's generally peaceful, cool in the summer and a nice walk for the dogs

Lovely place to walk thru or stop for a bit, nicely hidden between houses

Nice walk and nice views only down side is that kings have now barricades half of it

Great and convenient for a quick dog walk off leash

Nice to walk in the woods but spoiled by Kings school's ugly fence taking away half the land and then not using it for anything.

A beautiful place very peaceful and well looked after.

Ok

Nice place

Nice looking bridge on the important London to Dover road - the view from the castle has the bridge framing the River Medway. It is a bit of a pinchpoint for traffic, and the railway bridge is directly behind the road bridge, so it is a busy place. It seems that the road/parking between the castle and the river is reclaimed land, so maybe the bridge looked different in ancient times

Interesting bridge made of stone and steel. Enjoy the architectural details. Very much traffic in the morning, makes you loose 10-15 minutes if you move by car.

Once a year in a spring we going here to have breakfast and enjoy the blooming tree,but this time we was so upset with customer service they provided , The waiter was so unprofessional, Next time when you talk with customers inside the restaurant at least take of your sunglasses boy

I went on board years ago when it was open to the public in Folkstone , I just hope the owner can get it back open to the public again as it is such a wonderful thing to visit.

Simply amazing to be on board of a real life Soviet submarine, such amazing history. the owner is a lovely chap also

When will it open and how do I get on board?

Same there is no peer to get close to it

nice sized hall at the back of the church. fits our bouncy castles and soft play nicely www.dtevents.co.uk

Such a friendly congregation. All the ministry team are very welcoming

What an absolute wonderful church. It's all encompassing of the Lord God Almighty. So much love in the room and so very welcoming generating creation. As soon as I enter I feel like jesus is right in front of me. Creative endeavours, old fashioned ball room dancing. Caring nature and all the love of God apparent in this most holy place. Sanctuary

Lovely place with nice people to chat and bring kids along. I always feel relaxed here. Thank you.

Built in the 1960s had a 10th anniversary of Strood Community project there in 2017 one of the days it did have a coffee shop held there not sure now.

Ok

Very welcoming.