DAYSOUT
FATHER’ S DAY OUT
CHERISH QUALITY TIME IN THE SUNSHINE THIS FATHER’ S DAY AND EXPLORE THE ARRAY OF FUN-FILLED ADVENTURES KENT HAS IN STORE.
Falling this year on Sunday 15 June, Father’ s Day makes for a wonderful occasion to say a special thank you to the father figures in our lives; those who are always there to lend a helping hand when it’ s needed the most.
With the best gift of all being quality time spent with loved ones, choose to spend the June weekend with family in the splendid setting of our beloved county. From marvellous motors and outdoor adventures to tasty eats and treats, Kent has just the ticket for a day out dad is certain to enjoy. In need of some inspiration? Here are some of insideKENT’ s top picks for Father’ s Day 2025.
A thrilling weekend for car enthusiasts, the enchanting grounds of Hever Castle & Gardens( hevercastle. co. uk) is excitedly set to bring back their annual Cars at the Castle extravaganza across the Father’ s Day weekend. Taking place on both days, families can look forward to marveling at hundreds of classic and high-performance cars from the collections of esteemed car clubs and collectors, including models such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mustang and Lotus.
This year’ s highlights will include the 1970 Surtees Cosworth TS7 race car on loan from the Surtees Collection, signed memorabilia and artwork from motorsport artist David Johnson, and works showcasing the evolution of motoring from automobile historian Graham Pilgrim.
One for the foodie father figures in our lives, acclaimed winery Westwell( westwellwines. com), nestled in the countryside of Ashford, will be celebrating the special occasion by hosting a delicious feast of Father’ s Day tacos. Join the Westwell team between 11am and 4pm on 15 June for tasty Californian-inspired Mexican food alongside an array of great Kentish wine. If you are looking to extend the fun, the vineyard will also be open for scenic vineyard tours and tastings with tickets starting from £ 28 per person.
Perfect for those looking to go off-grid with dad for the weekend and embrace the wonders of the great outdoors, ancient woodland campsite Badgells Wood( badgellswoodcamping. co. uk) invites campers to join their new Survival in the Wild course, which is set to take place on the weekend of the 14-15 June and offers an immersive two-day introduction to core bushcraft skills.
Aimed at beginners and suitable for ages 11 upwards, the course will cover fundamental survival techniques from tool safety and fire lighting to shelter-building, focusing on building confidence within nature. Various camping options are available including camping under your own tarp or tent, attending as a non-camper during the daytime, or staying in one of the woodland’ s bell tents( subject to availability).
Gathering fathers and their little ones for a wholesome day out in the beautiful setting of the 14th-century country house and its landscaped gardens is Penshurst Place( penshurstplace. com). Offering bundles of fun for the whole family, their Father’ s Day Face Painting & Crafts event will give children the opportunity to make a lovely heartfelt craft for dad alongside joyous facepainting and pot collar creating, which can then be presented to a member of staff for 50 % off a specially selected Father’ s Day plant.
Brands Hatch’ s Tunerfest South( brandshatch. co. uk) is back for 2025 on Sunday 15 June and what better way to treat dad than with tickets to this esteemed event. Celebrating exceptional modified cars, audiences can expect to be on the edge of their seat as one-of-a-kind motors compete to set the fastest lap times. The Racing Hondas Championship and drift demonstrations complete the on-track lineup and off-track, a vast display of cars, competitions and bustling trade areas awaits. Under 13s can enjoy free admission and adult entry starts from £ 23.
Exploring the tales of iconic shipwrecks brought to life through large-scale LEGO ® models is the acclaimed current exhibition, Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO ® Bricks at The Historic Dockyard Chatham( thedockyard. co. uk). On Father’ s Day, the exhibition will be holding an additional guided workshop- Brickwrecks: Brick Bonds- inviting families to test out their brick building skills as they are given 15 minutes to craft a shipwreck masterpiece. With the event included in your general admission ticket, you are going to want to keep the whole day free to explore all the dockyard has to offer including historic warships, inspiring artefacts and transporting activities- the perfect day out for dads who are into their history.
Is your father figure the active type who would enjoy a picturesque bike ride along Kent’ s renowned coast? Why not take the Father’ s Day weekend to plan a cycle route along the Viking Coastal Trail( visitthanet. co. uk), a 32-mile circular route on the Isle of Thanet that explores the coast of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, boasting various routes, glorious sea views and many hidden treasures along the way.
If your chosen route takes you to the shores of Margate, why not stop off at delectable seafood restaurant Buoy & Oyster( buoyandoyster. com) for a hearty Sunday roast or a fresh fish platter. Alternatively, if your selected journey lands you at the striking coastline of Botany Bay, The Botany Bay Hotel’ s( botanybayhotel. co. uk) pub lunches, selection of tipples and stunning seafront viewpoint makes for a delightful pitstop.
28 • www. insidekent. co. uk