Things to do

The surrounding area of Kent and East Sussex offers something for everyone with beaches and beautiful countryside to explore, historic towns such as Rye and Canterbury and a great food and drink culture with some of the top vineyards in the country on your doorstep.

You can find more ideas of things to do and see what we are getting up to on Facebook and Instagram. The Visit Ashford and Tenterden website also offers a good list of what's on in the area.

Get Outdoors

Beaches

Explore the dunes of Camber Sands and Dungeness, England's only desert

Cycling

Hop on your bike to explore the area. Why not try one of these routes?

Family

Camber Sands

These sandy beaches are a perfect spot to enjoy good weather and practice your sandcastle building.

Port Lympne

Lions, tigers, elephants and more... Head here for a safari experience without leaving our shores.

Kent and East Sussex Railway

A historic steam railway which departs from nearby Tenterden. They do a number of themed trips including afternoon cream tea and fish and chip suppers.

Miniature Steam Train

The miniature steam train to Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch is a slice of history with a novel twist.

Rare Breeds Centre

Meet unusual breeds of all your favourite farm animals.

Foodie

Vineyards

The rock of the champagne region runs through Kent and East Sussex allowing us to produce some excellent wines. See for yourself at vineyards such as Gusbourne and Chapel Down.

Breweries

Kent is famous for its hops, why not try some of our real ale at these local breweries.

Kentish Fruit

This isn't called the Garden of England for nothing. In the summer there are lots of farms that you can visit to pick your own.

Whitstable Oysters

Just 45 minutes away Whitstable offers some of the finest seafood in the country. It even has a festival devoted to oysters every July.

Rye Scallops

Rye is very easy to get to and is another seafood-lover's paradise. It has a scallop festival in February every year.

Culture and History

Tenterden

Quaint Kentish town with lots of activities throughout the year including the Spirit of Tenterden Festival, Food & Drink festival, Folk festival and Tenterden Christmas market.

Canterbury

Famed for its Cathedral and as a destination for pilgrimage, most famously in The Canterbury Tales this is a fantastic city to visit on your trip

Smugglers Caves

Learn about the role of Romney Marsh and the Kent and Sussex coast in smuggling at the Smugglers Caves in Hastings.

Sissinghurst

This National Trust property has a rich and varied history, not to mention beautiful gardens to explore.

Dover Castle

From Tudor times through to the tunnels used during WW2 this castle, known as 'The Key to England', has something to interest any history buff.

Shopping

Ashford Designer Outlet

Grab yourself a designer bargain. 85 shops with brands such as Nike, Armarni and Ralph Lauren for up to 60% off. 14 cafes and restaurants