Riverside camping in Kent

Patchwork farmlands, lively market towns, and stately homes dot the heartlands of central Kent. Enjoy woodland walks and farmland camping in the High Weald AONB, take a ride through Royal Tunbridge Wells on the Spa Valley Railway, or sample British wines at a local vineyard in Maidstone or Ashford. This is the spot for tranquil country camping or glamping, surrounded by nature and perhaps the Kent Downs, a chalk ridge protected as the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Camping in or near the Kent Downs means great views from higher ground and good walking in the countryside, especially if you are near the well-marked North Downs Way trail. Kent also lays claim to part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which it shares with neighbouring Sussex.

Kent’s northern shores harbour several Blue Flag beaches, which fill up with campers and caravanners as soon as the sun starts shining. Hit the beach at Ramsgate, Broadstairs, and Joss Bay near Margate for the best surf, then duck inland to admire the UNESCO-listed Canterbury Cathedral. Just to the north, Herne Bay and Whitstable are Kent’s quintessential seaside resorts with their pebble beaches and lively seafront promenades—visit the latter in July for the renowned Oyster Festival.

The postcard star of Kent’s southern shore are the White Cliffs of Dover, and a walk along the mighty cliffs affords impressive views across the English Channel. Seafront walks, rocky coves, and cliff-top golf courses pepper the coast north of Dover, where the Tudor fortifications at Deal and Walmer also beckon. To the south, Folkestone has seaside camping and sandy beaches, while ramblers and wildlife lovers can explore the Romney Marshes and Dungeness, a huge shingle spit that’s technically the UK’s only desert and an internationally important habitat for birds, insects, and plants.

Kids just seem to love the adventure of camping. All the routines of home are broken so you spend all day in the great outdoors before a barbecue dinner or perhaps a trip to the local pub, followed by a spot of stargazing and marshmallow toasting. And before you’ve even pitched your tent, your kids are likely to have met the neighbours and sussed out who’s going to be their new best friend. But why not bring friends with you in the first place? Camping is a great way to holiday in a group with other families. Just ask for neighbouring pitches and the kids can amuse each other until bedtime when the adults can stay up around the campfire.

There are plenty of family-friendly campsites in Kent, some welcoming campers of all ages with special activities and facilities. Campsites may have a few simple touches designed to keep youngsters amused: a tree swing, a storytelling session around a communal campfire, pond-dipping or a forest-school lesson, perhaps. There’s family fun at Chatham Dockyard and the Rare Breeds Centre too, home to rare farm animals with activities from cuddling rabbits to racing pigs! In fact, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to animal parks in Kent. You can see exotic animals at the Aspinall Foundation’s conservation parks, Port Lympne and Howletts; head to Wingham Wildlife Park to see exotic birds; or choose Wildwood, where all the animals are native to British shores.

Kent also has lots of other kid-friendly attractions including its beaches, castles, and even a pint-sized heritage railway that’s just right for kids, so you’ll never run out of things to do while camping in Kent.

• Leeds Castle has a moat and a maze near Maidstone; Hever Castle has a fascinating history associated with Anne Boleyn and beautiful year-round gardens; and Dover Castle is hard to beat in terms of location with a varied history of defence told through interactive displays.
• The stunning UNESCO-protected Canterbury Cathedral, where Thomas Becket met his grisly end, is a must-see if you head to Canterbury. Guided punting trips on the river are a good way to learn more about the history of this pretty, medieval city.
• You can learn about Kent’s rural history at Kent Life museum, though adults may prefer to hear about one of its biggest industries with a visit to Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, in the historic market town of Faversham.
• The Romney, Hythe, and Dymchurch Railway makes for a great family day out, as do the Kent and East Sussex Railways.