Half-term activities for the kids in Kent that DON’T break the budget!

It’s a great time of year for the kids.  Excitement is in the air as they revel in the knowledge that a whole week off school is just around the corner, and their young minds will be racing at a hundred miles per second trying to concoct all sorts of ideas in which they can partake during a half-term’s worth of freedom.

For the adults, it can be quite a different story.  ‘How will we keep the children entertained for a week?’; ‘They can’t just sit on their phones/computers/tablets (delete as applicable) the whole time.’; How much  is it going to cost to keep them happy?’ – if the last one is a concern, we have put together a few ideas for you (from various areas in Kent) which are sure to keep your young ones entertained and, importantly, not send you spiralling into debt.

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The Beaney – Canterbury

Sat in the heart of Canterbury’s high street is The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge; the central museum, library and art gallery of the city.  This half-term, running until 23 February, a colourful and interactive comic exhibition, ‘Comics: Explore and Create Comic Art’, will give visitors the opportunity to see some truly influential British comic icons such as Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace and Minnie the Minx, along with characters from the very popular DC and Marvel comics.  There will be a number of hands-on activities to get stuck in with and a number of relaxed sessions for those of you who are looking for a calmer and quieter atmosphere.

Young children (under 2) go free,  it’s £5 for children aged 3-15 years old and adults (16+) for just £6.50.  Carers who are supporting a visitor get in free of charge.

Book your tickets now by following the link, here.

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Capstone Country Park – Gillingham

The picturesque Capstone Country Park in Gillingham is a haven for ancient woodland, old orchards, a freshwater lake, meadows and hedgerows.  It boasts 114 hectares (just over 280 acres) of land to explore and is a fantastic way to get some exercise, which is great for you and your kids physical and mental health, and facilities there are plentiful, including: children’s play area, picnic area, horse riding trail, cycle trail, fishing lake (a day ticket is required for this) and a café.  In February the park is closed at 5pm, still giving you plenty of time for a fun-filled day.

There’s so much to enjoy at the park and a real bonus is, entry to the park is FREE!

For more info regarding Capstone Country Park, you can either email them: [email protected] or give them a call: 01634 338 191.

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Loveashford’s Film Club – Ashford

For those of you in Ashford, and if you’re free on Wednesday 19 February, Loveashford has once again teamed up with Revelation Ashford to see the return of Film Club. They will be hosting a double bill of doggy tales – 101 Dalmatians and Lady and the Tramp.  Refreshments and snacks are available plus a fully licensed bar, serving Chapel Down beverages.

Ticket prices for this truly are a revelation, being available on the door for just 50p!  One thing to note is that under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

You can see the full details by following this link.

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Margate Caves – Margate

For something rather different, why not take the children along to marvel at the fantastic, newly refurbished Margate Caves.  A lot of work has gone into raising the funds to contract geotechnical engineers to conserve them and they are a wondrous site.  They were closed for 15 years, so this is a great opportunity to learn more about them and discover some of the fantastic elements within.  Not only have the caves been returned to their former glory, there is also a brand new Visitor Centre which includes a café, shop, community rooms for hire, garden and toilets.

Entry to the Caves:

Adults: £4.50 | Children: £2.00 | Concessions: £4.00 | Family Ticket: £10.00

So, once again, a cheap family day out which will be full of wonder!

For more about Margate Caves, visit their website here.

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The Garden Gate Project – Cliftonville

The Garden Gate was founded in 1999 and is an independent charity and community garden based in Cliftonville.  This half-term they are inviting people to come along and take a look at what they do between Monday and Friday, 10am-3pm.

It’s completely free of charge! You can find out more about this great community project by visiting their facebook page: @TheGardenGateProject

 

 

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Folkestone Museum – Folkestone

Over in Folkestone, at their fabulous museum, there is all sorts of Iron Age-based activities taking place, including building an Iron Age village, finding out what life was like back then, Iron Age weaving, and jewellery workshops.

All workshops are FREE drop-in events (however, donations are greatly appreciated with £2 being the recommended amount) with no booking required.

A fantastic, money-saving day out for all the family.

Find out more and book tickets by visiting Folkestone Museum’s website, here.

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Kids go FREE at Port Lympne & Howletts

Throughout February,  up to three children (aged between 3-15), per family, are able to enjoy the wonders of Port Lympne and/or Howletts for free when accompanied with a full-paying adult.  You are also supporting the incredible Aspinall Foundation whose mission is ‘to halt the extinction of rare and endangered species and return them to the wild where possible’.

Find all the information and book in our link, here.

 

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