Top free things to do in Kent

The Kent Museum of Freemasonry is located in the already-popular city of Canterbury, so even after you’ve spent a morning or afternoon exploring the museum, you’ll have plenty more sightseeing to do afterwards. Inside the museum, visitors will have the chance to find out all about the mysterious Freemasons, with rare exhibits on display which are of prominent importance across the world. Browse the glassware and ceramics galleries and discover more about the freemason’s connections with Canterbury Cathedral and their military participation in the First World War.

Located in Maidstone, Cobtree Manor Park is a fun place to spend the day – and best of all, it’s totally free. With over 50 acres of parkland, there’s a whole host of fun activities and interesting attractions to get stuck into. Wind your way around a sculpture trail, check out the ex-zoo remnants (it was once the site of Maidstone Zoo) and if you’re feeling extra active, follow the signposted running route for a 5km jog. This has to be one of the most active free things to do in Kent! And as you’ll be surrounded by plenty of woodland and parkland, keep and eye out for the abundance of local wildlife who call this manor park home, from bats and woodpeckers to rabbits and badgers.

The Viking ship, named ‘Hugin’, sits at the top of Pegwell Bay’s clifftop. Sadly it’s not an original, but a replica of a Viking longship that would have sailed from Denmark to England in 449 AD. It’s aim is to demonstrate how the warrior Viking brothers Hengist and Horsa launched their British invasion; thanks to its east coast location, Kent was a popular landing spot for the Vikings and other invaders. Kent’s history is nothing short of interesting; if you’re considering booking a hotel in Kent, try to soak up as much information of its illustrious past as possible, from its museums to monuments and English Heritage sites in between.

The family-owned Biddenden Vineyards stretches across 23 acres, where eleven different varieties of grapes are grown. The vineyards produce roughly 80,000 bottles of red, white and rose wine each year. You can simply walk around the vineyards on a self-guided visit, or take a guided tour every Saturday. This is a great way to make the most of the sunshine in Kent, and see how local business is run.

Eynsford Castle is an English Heritage site that dates back to the Norman age, although the castle was abandoned in 1312 following vandalism. What makes this castle particularly interesting, though, is its set up: rather than employing a keep or a motte (which was standard Norman practice), the castle was in fact protected by a tall stone wall. Large sections of the wall are still standing, so you can stroll around and take in its great height for yourself; there’s also the remnants of the hall building where the inhabitants would have resided, too.

Learn all things Folkestone from fashion to community spirit at the Folkestone Museum The rather humble town has long been a popular seaside resort, so the museum provides an interesting insight into its history throughout the years. Check out the likes of Roman mosaics, model fishing boats, ornately beaded dresses and local geology collections.