Our days are starting to fill with warm sunshine, fresh flavors, and stunning sights, which can only mean one thing…the seasons are changing! While we love our county year-round, it truly does shine come springtime – those glorious gardens, iconic landscapes, and unforgettable attractions are bursting into life, and every day out feels like it was made just for us. Here’s how to make the most of the coming months with some getaway inspiration for you and friends.
Deliciously local
Gusbourne
22nd March
We’re not the only ones celebrating something special right now. Our friends over at Gusbourne are marking the start of the season with a “10 years on” masterclass, where they’ll be revisiting and diving into the flavours of their 2015 vintage collection. Lucky for you, your name is on the list, so join the experts as they explore these beautifully aged sparkling English wines. Follow that up with a three-course lunch, carefully chosen to pair with the wines, and your spring will be off to a great start.
Chapel House Estate
That local, seasonal produce that Kent’s so well known for is taking centre stage at Chapel House Estate, with their on-site restaurant, Number 9, serving up a selection of fantastic dishes for those spring moments. Give your tastebuds something to write home about as you tuck into a menu inspired by and sourced from the garden. With their spring menu launching on 28th March, there’s still time to indulge in those warming winter flavours, before bursting into life with strawberries, spring greens, rhubarb, kale, and plenty, plenty more…
The Lamp Room
One of our favourite outdoor spots is calling to us this year, and it may have to do with the magnificent restaurant found on its grounds. At Betteshanger Country Park, you can enjoy those bright, fresh days of the season as you walk or cycle the paths of their 250-acre park. Have a go at one of their many activities (maid of honours, we’d put this one right on the itinerary!), before heading to your table at The Lamp Room. With a breakfast, lunch, and drinks menu, you couldn’t ask for much more to complete your ideal day out.
Soak up the outdoors
Canoe Wild
Open again for the season, we can’t wait to get out on the water with Canoe Wild. Set within the scenic surroundings of Kent’s rolling hills, quaint villages, and serene pockets of nature, enjoy a paddle down the Stour on a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. As you make your gentle way down the river, you can expect to see a snapshot of the county’s beautiful flora and fauna from a whole new angle!
Monkton Nature Reserve
Where better to surround yourself in the sounds, sights, and smells of spring than in the glorious outdoors? At the Monkton Nature Reserve in Thanet, your winter hibernation will officially come to and end. Wildflowers, woodlands, bat caves, ponds, and plenty more await. Pack a picnic and head out, we’ll see you there…
Goodnestone Park House and Gardens
Considered one of the best gardens in the southeast, we had to include Goodnestone Park Gardens in our springtime roundup. With 14 acres of woodland and walled garden to explore, those sunny afternoons with loved ones are shaping up to be pretty incredible. And, since we all know that British weather, luckily for us there’s a 17th century house waiting to be explored…
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve
As one of Kent Wildlife Trust’s largest and perhaps most important sites, we always recommend the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay reserves to those looking for some classic British flora and fauna. Not only is it playing its part for the wetland birds and wildlife of the area (hello, highland cattle and Konik horses!), but it also just happens to be the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll – win, win!
Bedgebury Pinetum and National Forest
Celebrate the centenary of the country’s largest complete collection of conifers at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, a place that shines year-round. From walks led by their curator, to talks about their grounds, there's plenty to do here this year. Stunning colours run throughout, with towering trees and a magnificent lake ensuring your trip here is unforgettable. Miles of walking, cycling, and running trails are sure to give you some inspiration on how to enjoy the area while visiting.
Dive into the history
Hever Castle
31st March-5th May
Hever’s Castle Celebration of Spring is on its way, so now’s the time to let those floral fantasies go wild! Self-guided tours, talks from the gardening experts, and living wreath workshops are all on the line-up, so we’re keeping a few weekends in April to delight in all of the springtime wonders. Whether you’ve got the greenest fingers, or you can’t tell a rose from a rhododendron, you’re sure to find something at Hever this season.
Dover Castle
One of our beloved Kentish castles is offering an unmissable discount, and there’s still time to save. Until 28th March, you can make the most of Dover Castle’s Winter Tickets, with 25% off entry when you book online. Discover plenty of history inside the castle walls, from medieval tunnels and Georgian casemates, before heading outside to the grounds where stunning sea views are sure to brighten any spring day.
Battle of Britain Memorial
A remarkable place of pilgrimage and history, the clifftop home of the Battle of Britain Memorial is a must visit this year. While there is plenty to see and do in The Wing, now is the best time to explore the exterior areas, taking in the history and significance of the site on those warmer days we’ve got coming. As the sun shines and you look out at clifftop views, you’ll be able to truly take in the grand scale of the site.
Knole Park
Perhaps one of our favourite National Trust sites come spring, Knole Park is the country’s last remaining medieval deer park, making a day out here for one for the scrap books. Offering a variety of trails and paths, wander through ancient woodlands and wide landscapes, with the beautiful resident deer of the park nearby. The estate stands tall and mighty in the centre of the grounds, so be sure to take a look around and stop off at the visitor centre for a bite to eat once you’re done.
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Discover a glorious mix of formal and informal garden styles at Walmer Castle this spring. Admire the herbaceous borders, colourful planting and impressive cloud hedge in the striking Broadwalk Garden or relax in the tranquil setting of the Queen Mother’s Garden. With a mix of colourful displays and cool shaded spots, the gardens at Walmer Castle provide the perfect setting for a day out in the fresh air.
Stay the night
Keepers Cottages
A home away from home, we’ve got some perfect places in mind that will have you wanting to extend your break just a little longer. Thanks to Keepers Cottages, there are plenty of spots tucked away across the county for you to choose from this spring. Whether it’s The Loft in Whitstable, just moments from the quaint high street and beach yet peaceful as can be, or perhaps Liberty Cottage, a pet-friendly haven with the vibrant Folkestone right on its doorstep…we’ll let you decide on that, and Keepers Cottages will do the rest!
Bridgewood Manor
Enjoy a relaxing stay at a 4-star hotel near Rochester, where everything you could ask for is right at your fingertips. Bridgewood Manor, with its luxurious rooms, spa, and restaurant, is sure to leave you feeling refreshed. From the moment you arrive, you’ll enter a world of rest and relaxation, just in time for the fresh new season!
Bloom Stays
Spontaneous getaways, date nights, girls’ trips, and couples retreats are all incomplete without one thing – the accommodation! Look no further than Bloom Stays, whose self-catered homes are built with you in mind. Welcoming, comfortable, and dreamy, their fantastic range of options will tick every box. Browse sea views, countryside cottages, pools in the garden, and plenty more, and get to booking!
