DAYSOUT
Mote Park , Maidstone Wye Downs
Tonbridge Swimming Pool , Tonbridge www . tmactive . co . uk / centres / tonbridge-pool
On a hot summer ’ s day you don ’ t have to travel too far to get that holiday feeling ; Tonbridge ’ s outdoor swimming pool is all you need .
The heated outdoor pool is situated at the tmactive centre in the heart of the town , and from April to September it ’ s open for the whole family to enjoy .
The outdoor pool features a water arch , beach area and a swim through channel to the indoor pools , where you ’ ll find a 25-metre indoor fitness pool plus teaching and toddler pools .
The pool can be found at The Slade - an area close to the high street , Tonbridge Castle , the park and river .
Viking Bay , Broadstairs www . thanet . gov . uk / locations / viking-bay
Wherever you ’ re located in Kent you ’ re never too far from the coast , but for those who live in Broadstairs and the surrounding area , Kent ’ s best beach is right on your doorstep .
Viking Bay consistently wins awards and has been named TripAdvisor ’ s ‘ Top Beach ’ for
2024 , beating off competition from the likes of Botany Bay in Margate and Dymchurch Beach . With close to 1,000 reviews , visitors have said it ‘ oozes class ’ and is ‘ mostly unspoiled by modern life ’, while also praising it for being family friendly .
So , if you ’ re fortunate enough to be located close to the sandy shores of Broadstairs , you won ’ t have to travel too far to find a seascape said to rival the beaches of the Mediterranean .
The Kent Downs , Various Locations www . kentdowns . org . uk
Across the county , there are some amazing viewpoints to take in , offering you unparalleled views of the local landscape . Wherever you live in Kent , you ’ ll find somewhere you can see for miles and take in the beauty of the county .
The Kent Downs is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretching from the white cliffs of Dover to the Surrey and London borders , and includes beauty spots like Wye Downs , Bluebell Hill , Farthing Common , Lympne and more .
Most of these areas have footpaths you can access so you can enjoy a trip with the family and take in some stunning scenery at the same time .
Blue Plaques , Various Locations www . english-heritage . org . uk / visit
With such a rich and varied history , it probably comes as no surprise that Kent boasts a huge array of blue plaques , all across the county . You ’ ll spot these plaques on public buildings , private houses and historical attractions and they ’ re there to commemorate a significant person or event .
Wherever you ’ re based within Kent , you ’ ll never be too far from a blue plaque . From David Bowie ’ s plaque in Tunbridge Wells to the kebab house in West Malling displaying a blue plaque commemorating the time The Beatles came to town , the county has hundreds to spot .
Over the summer months , create fun trails and games with the family to see how many you can find right on your doorstep . Some towns and cities like Deal , Canterbury and Maidstone have even created their own plaque trails , so you can explore the local area and learn more about its heritage and residents in the process . www . insidekent . co . uk • 47