The 18 most weird (and most wonderful) things for kids to do in Kent

Introduce the children to some truly bizarre experiences.

From dog collar museums and whispering walls to fairy houses and gargoyles, here’s our run down of all of the unique stuff to do and places to go with the kids in Kent.

1. Meet the lady in the woods

The fact that nobody has ever stepped forward with a claim to creation or ownership of The Lady in the Woods makes the wooden figure that much more intriguing.

The nine-foot lump of wood – so intricately carved and caringly left alone – stands surprisingly elegant and serene. She, at once, surprises and fascinates, almost hidden in the trees at the edge of a small wood skirting the village of Otterden.

Legend has it that the Lady was created by a devastated soldier in honour of his late wife, discovered dead on returning home to Kent from the horror of the Second World War. The disbelievers bark that it is simply the work of a local carpentry student who found solace in the woods to hone his craft during the 1970s.

The truth is, nobody knows: all the better for you to bewilder the kids and make up your own story as to how the Lady ended up in the woods.

Grab a map: She might be 9ft, but the Lady is tricky to find. Park off Waterditch Road, Riggshill Road or Cold Harbour Road, and plot these coordinates in Google Maps: 51.236866, 0.780799. She’s just off one of the many footpaths that wind through Kite Hill Wood.

2. Come and see the burial site of a giant and his sword

Aldington Knoll appears to be a gentle hill like any other. But that isn’t the case and the legend surrounding this small mound of earth, situated on the outskirts of the ancient village of Aldington, makes for an intriguing visit (if only to roll down it after taking in the views from the top).

The hill was, in fact, artificially made during Roman times as a burial mound. Such barrows, as they are known, were made to cover one or more burials, usually of high-ranking officers or people of importance.

The kids might like the more unusual explanation for the hill that has been created. It is said to be the burial site of a giant and his sword – a place protected by murderous ghouls who will kill anyone attempting to flatten the area.

Attention grown-ups: For the poetry readers among you, check out Ford Maddox Hueffer’s ‘Aldington Knoll’ which is inspired by the legend of the place.
Recharge: Stop off for snacks in Aldington village, a place the likes of Joseph Conrad, Sir Noel Coward, Paul O’Grady and Vic Reeves have once called home.

3. Take a trip to Teapot Island

“Fun” and “quirky” dominate many of the four-star TripAdvisor reviews for Teapot Island – and for good reason. This family-run business boasts England’s largest collection of teapots (7,600 of them at the last count) which you can explore for a small fee.

The site, accessed via a bridge across the Medway at Yalding, began life with merely a tin shack serving tea and selling bait to local fishermen.

Now, as well as the teapots, there’s a cracking fry-up and ice-cream cafe and a decent adventure playground. It really is a lovely spot to watch the boats amble up and down the river too.

Go party: The venue can host your kid’s paint-your-own birthday party.

4. Visit the strangest place in Britain

They call it the desert of England. But there’s no sand and it hardly ever gets warm.

No, Dungeness is a bleak flatness, flanked by the famous nuclear power station on one side and one of the biggest shingle beaches in Europe on the other. A lone pub, meandering disused railway lines and a whole load of nothingness dominate the otherworldly landscape.

But what a landscape!

In place of funfairs or arcades, there’s the incredible Dungeness National Nature Reserve set back from the coastline where you can find a third of Britain’s plant species and an abundance of rare waterbirds. And the now-redundant Old Lighthouse is well worth the couple of quid entry fee to climb the steep stairs for a view across the marsh and sea.

Nearby: You can hop on the nearby Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway which will take you back to civilisation.

5. Spot the gargoyles of Canterbury Cathedral

What is often hidden by the sheer beauty of Canterbury Cathedral is the fantasy land of carved heads, gaping mouths, rolling tongues and bared teeth of the monsters lurking high above its precincts.

Though some are hard to make out from the ground, spotting the Cathedral’s gargoyles and grotesques carved into the masonry on the outside, is always a fun game to be had for any visitor.

Said to protect the church from evil spirits, gargoyles are, in fact, merely drain openings to direct water away from the building. But their often-grotesque depiction of animals, people or mythical beasts are an unexpected treat. Remember: Look up.

Top tip: Take your binoculars to get a better view of the top. The nave is around 80 feet tall.
Inside knowledge: Check the south-west porch, the western towers and Trinity Chapel, where you’ll see an eagle and winged lion.

6. Spend the night someplace odd

Is there anything more magical for the kids than waking up some place truly unusual?

‘Champing’ – camping inside a draughty, disused church – might prove too, er, creepy for the little ones. (If not, the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Fordwich, near Canterbury, is more than happy to host you). But there are plenty of other odd places to kip for the night if you fancy a break from the conventional.

Prospect Tower, nestled in the grounds of Belmont Park near Faversham, was originally built as a den. Now, you can book a circular-shaped bedroom here, with stunning views on the top floor.

A stay at Smarden’s Big Cat Sanctuary, where you will sleep surrounded by the enclosures of 50 big cats, includes a tour of the site and a chance to hand-feed some of the feline residents at breakfast.

A stay in either the Khina or Lodesman cottages in Broadstairs gives you a chance to wake up underneath the North Foreland Lighthouse.

You might also want to check out The Old Apple Shed in Bethersden where you can stay in what was a working orchard back in the 1960s, or the Romany gypsy wagon at Nethergong Camping, near Canterbury.

Get in early: As you’d imagine these places get fully booked quickly, especially in the summer.
Only children: While not all of these places are family friendly, some might be perfect for one-child, one-parent adventure seekers.

7. Go pig racing

One animal you won’t find it hard to spot at Rare Breeds Centre is the pig. Saddlebacks, Tamworths, Berkshires, Gloucester Old Spots: there’s a host of pig varieties. Let’s face it, you’ll no doubt smell them before you see them trotting around the farm.

And at the weekends, you get to see them in a different light.

A real highlight of the Centre’s busy programme is its pig races, which run from April through to the October half term.

Kids are picked out of the crowd to be volunteers. It is their job to run with the pigs, coercing them with some food as they ‘sprint’ around a purpose-built track. You will no doubt get swept up in the hilarity of it all as you get behind your chosen favourite.

Check online: The pig races kick off at certain times every weekend, Bank holiday, half term and the Summer Holidays. Check the website for details and plan your visit accordingly.

8. Explore sea caves

This writer is reluctant to mention Kingsgate Bay for fear of it becoming more busy than normal. But, hey ho.

Sandy, secluded, peaceful, quiet, and looking like something out of an Enid Blyton story, the bay is home to what many say are the best sea caves in the UK. Under the lengthy stretch of high cliffs at the back of the fairly shallow beach, the kids will love exploring the erosion-created caverns.

At low tide, they can venture under the much-photographed, Durdle Door-like chalk arch at the far end of the bay, being careful to make it back before the tide cuts off the beach entirely.

Recharge: Grab lunch at Captain Digby, the family friendly pub on top of the cliffs. The nearby Botany Bay Hotel also offers great food for the kids and a wonderful view.
K9 info: Dogs are allowed on the beach at Kingsgate Bay all year round.

9. Find Ightham Mote’s cheeky cherub

The National Trust’s Ightham Mote is full of magical charm. Covering more than 500 acres and set within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is an estate that works hard to cater for the kids. Regular quizzes, trails and organised events continue to keep little ones well occupied.

But it is in exploring the Mote’s vast grounds that children will have the most fun. There’s some glorious formal planting areas, a sequence of water features running throughout, and a series of open spaces that act like ‘rooms’ to uncover. Grab a children’s garden map and start your hunt for Ightham’s host of characters, including the curly-curly tree, the trip-trap bridge and the cheeky cherub.

Elsewhere, there’s a well-designed natural play area where you can practice your balancing skills, race through a living willow tunnel, or create mud pies.

Stick around: There are three woodland walks to take on, ranging from 1 to 5 miles.

10. Walk on water

A hop skip and jump down the road from vibrant Whitstable is well-heeled Tankerton. Here, people hunker down to enjoy retired life. It’s quiet, smart and along the shoreline, the row of coloured beach huts are increasingly sought after. Tracey Emin used to own one. In fact, she turned it into a work of art and sold it to Charles Saatchi for £75,000.

But the real draw in this quaint suburb is The Street, a stretch of sand and stone that reveals itself at low tide. As the waters recede, the bank of land gets wider and wider, yet remains shallow enough for you to take part in the ultimate magical allusion.

Hold onto little hands and walk along The Street out to sea. Give a wave to your loved ones back on the beach who will look back, jaws dropped, convinced you are, in fact, walking on water. Continue walking and you might spot the odd jelly fish swimming across the waves or a tiny crab running for cover.

Top tip: Wear old shoes that you don’t mind getting wet to perform this trick.
Check online: It’s all about timing. Check online for low-tide times at Tankerton.
Warning: Don’t let the kids out of your sight. The tides can quickly turn, and you don’t want to get caught out.

11. Fancy a ham sandwich?

Okay, so this entry is simply a photo opportunity. But it’s a tasty, cheeky photo opportunity. And it might just make the kids smile.

Nuzzled in the deepest, quite glorious Kent countryside, about two miles outside of Deal, you will find a T-junction. Separating the roads is a grass triangle, and within that grass triangle is the signpost in question. It points road users to Dover, to Northbourne, to Finglesham, to Deal, and, yes, to Ham and to Sandwich.

You’ll be familiar with the historic town of Sandwich on the River Stour. The lesser-known hamlet of Ham is barely there, with just a handful of dwellings, one pub and a scattering of farms.

Be careful: You might be in the countryside, but the roads are quick and there are few appropriate places to park.

12. Spot Monkton’s fairy houses

It’s hard to believe that Monkton Nature Reserve was once a chalk quarry. Today, the 16-acre site is an oasis of wildlife and home to 25 species of butterfly; that’s half the total number of species found across the whole of the UK.

Set off on one of the two nature trails, nicely laid out and well signposted. Along the way, you should have no trouble finding common lizards basking on the logs or the great crested newts that have set up home here. Slightly harder to spot are the shy grass snakes. Spend some time in the bird hide on the southern edge of the woodland and you could catch a glimpse of kestrels, buzzards or sparrowhawks. Down by the two ponds you’ll find dragonflies and damselflies.

The star attraction for any young visitor are Monkton’s very own fairy houses. Pick up a booklet from the Field Study Centre and follow the story to uncover the enchanted dwellings dotted around the reserve.

Keep your eyes peeled: Marbled white butterflies which are a common sight within the reserve.
Picnic spot: There are a number of good picnic areas with tables at several locations.
Get hands on: The Field Study Centre is well worth a visit too, with hands-on exhibits and artefacts, including animal skulls.

13. Answer the question that has been baffling people for centuries

On a rather unspectacular residential street a stone’s throw from the centre of Margate sits one of the UK’s most mysterious tourist attractions. If you’ve never been to the Shell Grotto, you need to change that.

The story goes that in 1835, James Newlove was in the back garden of his terrace property digging the ground ready to install a new duck pond. A hole suddenly appeared. The man lowered his son Joshua into the hole to see what was down there. Joshua emerged from the soil with tales of tunnels and underground rooms down below covered entirely in shells.

Today, you can check out what Joshua had uncovered for yourselves. And as you explore the profusion of patterns made up of mussels, whelks, cockles, oysters and limpits, make your own minds up as to what the Shell Grotto actually is and how it came to be. Was it a smugglers cave? Was it a pagan temple? A meeting place for a secret cult? The result of a bored man’s hobby that got out of hand? Who knows? One thing’s for sure: it’s an intriguing, eerie, fascinating and beautiful detour from Margate’s obvious hotspots – and it will kick-start a family debate that will last for weeks.

Keep warm: The Grotto is an underground tunnel system, so it can get cold down there so wrap up warm.

14. See Kent’s whispering wall

Folkestone Abbot's Cliff viewpoint is home to what appears to be big lump of old concrete, stuck high up on the cliff top overlooking the Channel. But this mysterious, sculpture-like object is actually an important part of Britain’s war-time history.

The concrete dish – also known as a sound mirror, whispering wall or listening ear – was built during the First World War to help listen out for enemy aircraft. The concave shape would capture sound waves from overhead planes which could be relayed back through microphones to army forces who could rally anti-aircraft defences.

Seven similar structures were built in Kent to combat threats along the Channel. This one, built in 1928, is one of the most easily accessible.

Just find somewhere to park on the Folkestone Road and take a short trek up the hill to fascinate the kids with tales of war, and a gentle introduction to the simple rules of acoustics.

Be careful: The clifftop viewpoint at Abbot’s Cliff is one of 12 created to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Kent Downs AONB. While the site is secure, be sure to watch little ones like a hawk up here just in case.

15. Meet a mummified cat

Mummification was not just the reserve of humans in Ancient Egypt. Crocodiles, beetles, hippos, snakes – few living, breathing creatures were safe from the practice which saw Egyptians preserving the flesh and organs of the dead by keeping them in cool, dry conditions.

Cats were considered especially sacred during the period, and so many found themselves mummified and buried in special cat cemeteries. For several thousands of years we have discovered many mummified cats, one of which is proudly displayed in amongst the curios at the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, one of Canterbury’s precious art galleries and museums.

The cat – wrapped in bandages with only its spikey toothed, furry face on show – would have had its insides taken out and filled with soil or sand, before being soaked in resin or salt.

Get the kids to seek out the strange feline mummy. It sits within oodles of interesting artefacts, weapons, costumes and artworks that make up the brilliant Beaney. Give yourself time to explore the various rooms and rolling roster of exhibitions and shows.

Fun fact: During Victorian times, around 300,000 similarly mummified cats were shipped from Egypt to Liverpool to be used as fertiliser to grow crops.

16. Visit Kent’s very own igloo

Nuzzled in one of the expanse of trees that break up the sprawling Knole Park you’ll find one of the country’s oldest surviving ice houses, commonly referred to as a brick igloo.

The 1,000-acre site, dominated by Knole House and its beautiful herd of deer who now share the park with walkers, runners and wildlife watchers, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the rare species that are continuously being found here.

Knole’s owners would do well to provide similar protection to its ancient igloo. Almost hidden away in a shady dell, the ice house would have been especially useful to Knole’s various homeowners over the years. Ice would have been transported in from the North of England and stored inside the brick-lined dome building to help preserve food in the absence of refrigeration.

James I commissioned the first ice house to be built back in the 1600s. That one was in Greenwich Park (and has mysteriously disappeared). After, they grew in popularity across the nation, particularly in the grounds of country estates owned by the wealthy.

Stay a while: Today, Knowle’s igloo makes for a perfect adventure playground obstacle, to be tackled as part of wider exploration of the glorious landscape.

17. Check out Kent’s answer to Banksy

The street artist Banksy has been an art-world sensation for good reason. His work is funny, thought-provoking and easy to get your head around. In fact, his home city of Bristol is a real hit with young tourists who can trawl the streets in search of his most famous creations, produced anonymously with a spray can in the dead of night.

Well, Kent has its own Banksy. He’s called Catman, a local success story who studied fine art in Canterbury and started producing eye-catching street art since 2012. His original works on canvass are being snapped up by wealthy art collectors.

But you can see plenty of Catmans for free while wandering the streets of Whitstable. Favourites include The Mona Lisa (on the corner of Clifton Road, on the wall outside Wareham's Antiques), the environmentally themed Hourglass (outside the charity shop on Terrys Lane), and the much-photographed Queen on a Hoverboard (outside Boots, the chemist on the high street).

Remember: The nature of street art means that one minute the works are there, the next they’ve disappeared, vandalised, washed off or swapped out by another artist. Make a note of your sightings and see how things have changed the next time you visit.

18. Visit the only dog collar museum in the world

Dog Collar Museum at Leeds Castle in Kent

Transforming wild animals into man’s best friend, the dog collar is more than simply a canine identifier. Today, our dogs don simple nylon or leather straps around their necks. But that wasn’t always the case as Kent’s tiny Dog Collar Museum attests.

Tucked inside the grounds of the imposing Leeds Castle, the displayed collars span five centuries, and make for a truly unusual and intriguing assortment. The oldest collar dates back to the late 15th century and is a chunky Spanish iron herd mastiff’s collar which would have been worn to fend off wolves and bears. Elsewhere, from spiky garments that look more like torture devices than pet-friendly chic to intricately decorated baroque collars that bear a family’s coat of arms, the curation gives a great insight into how people have treated their pets this past half a millennium.

Did you know: The Japanese toy maker Tomy has invented a talking dog collar that can tell you if your dog is sad, happy, frustrated or needy.
Top tip: The museum is only small. Make a beeline for it before heading to the far corner of Leeds Castle and its mighty play area.