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Family days out near Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells is well-placed and underrated for this kind of thing. You're forty minutes from the Sussex coast, twenty from castles, fifteen from country parks, and ninety from London on a clear run. Most parents in town tend to default to the same two or three places — the Pantiles for a coffee, Knole for the deer, Bewl Water if it's hot. But there's a lot more within forty-five minutes, especially if you're willing to point the car somewhere other than the M25. So we've pulled together the genuinely good days out within easy reach. Castles with proper grounds, farm parks where the lambing season is actually a thing, soft plays you don't dread, animal sanctuaries that aren't depressing, museums with hands-on stuff. Some are obvious. Some are the kind of place you only know about if a neighbour mentioned it at a school gate. Each one is rated by parents who've been, with notes on the practical bits — driving time from the high street, parking, whether the café is worth eating in, whether you can do it with a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old and have both of them happy at the end. We've also been honest about which places are worth the drive when you've got an entire Saturday, and which are better as a quick afternoon out. Click through any venue for the full review.

Theme Parks & Thrills

Diggerland Kent

Rochester, Kent

Kids 10/10Parents 8/10

Diggerland Kent offers a unique blend of construction-themed fun that engages both kids and adults without the long queues typical of other parks.

Animals & Nature

The Big Cat Sanctuary

Ashford, Kent

Kids 10/10Parents 9/10

The Big Cat Sanctuary offers a purr-fect blend of adventure and education, making it an unforgettable day out for families.

Diggerland Kent

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The Climbing Experience

Kidsbury Roleplay Villages

Littleville Role Play Cafe

Clip N Climb Tonbridge

TimeQuest

Kent Life

Cobtree Manor Park

High Weald National Landscape

Kent & East Sussex Railway - (Tenterden Town, Station)

Go Ape Leeds Castle

Lullingstone Country Park

Jeskyns Community Woodland

Shorne Woods Country Park

Trosley Country Park

Blackberry Farm Park

Knockhatch Adventure Park

Observatory Science Centre & Museum

Bodiam Castle

Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation

Escape Room Sussex

Prison Island Maidstone

Oakie Doke’s Playhouse

Wilderness Wood

Elderflower Fields

Little Street (Children's Role Play)

Riverhill Himalayan Gardens

Go Ape Bedgebury

Willows Birds of Prey & Wildlife Trail

Fun Abounds Trampoline & Gymnastics Centre

National Trust - Ightham Mote

National Trust - Knole

Swanley Park

Delta Force Paintball South London - Orpington

Buzy Bees

Adventure Kidz

Little Street (Chidren's Role Play)

Petts Wood Recreation Ground

Amazon Adventure Soft Play (previously MinorMania)

St Andrews Lakes

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

The Fun Drum - Indoor Soft Play | Tiny Town | Arcades | Birthday Parties

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

Haysden Country Park

Tinkers Park Steam Rally

Christmas Tree Farm

National Trust - Emmetts Garden

Malling Down Nature Reserve - Sussex Wildlife Trust

The Doves Play Barn

Cudham Environmental Activities Centre

Into The Blue

Bewl Water

High Elms Country Park

Teston Bridge Country Park

Wear M Out

Victoria Pleasure Ground

Barney's Play

Manor Park Country Park

Wrotham Recreation Ground

National Trust - Chartwell

Home of Charles Darwin - Down House

National Trust - Scotney Castle

Goddington Park

Willett Recreation Ground

Priory Gardens Playground

Priory Gardens

Glentrammon Recreation Ground

Foal Farm Animal Rescue Centre

Poverest Park

Penshurst Place & Gardens

White Oak Leisure Centre

Fly a Spitfire

Bromley Indoor Bowls Centre Ltd

Walnuts Leisure Centre by Mytime Active

Urban Jump Trampoline Park

Biggin Hill Recreation Ground

Luxford Field

Biggin Hill Memorial Museum

Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre