ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE ARTS HOTLIST 2026
KENT’ S ARTISTIC MUSEUMS & HISTORIC EXPERIENCES
34. The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, Canterbury
35. The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Chatham Explore a wealth of historic legacy from Royal Navy warships to shipbuilding heritage steeped in over 400 years of maritime history at this iconic museum. Get involved with interactive educational exhibits and tours, including the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition and the original sets from the hit television series, Call the Midwife. thedockyard. co. uk dockyard. chatham
36. The Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham Kent’ s largest military museum houses a collection which has been developed for over 200 years by the Corps of Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Museum is now home to one of the most important military collections in the country. Visitors can discover the stories of the Royal Engineers and their assistance to how the British Army‘ lived, moved and fought for over 300 years’. re-museum. co. uk remuseum
37. Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park Known as one of Kent’ s most distinctive museums, situated in the historic 19thcentury grounds of Quex Park, the museum showcases the hunter and explorer Percy Powell-Cotton’ s personal collection of world-renowned natural history. Discover well-preserved African and Asian cultural artefacts, from musical instruments and clothing to pottery and weaponry. powell-cottonmuseum. org powellcottonmuseum
38. Whitstable Museum and Gallery, Whitstable A volunteer-run nautical museum showcasing local stories of fishing, diving, shipwrecks, oysters and shipbuilding, with one of the world’ s oldest railway locomotives, Invicta, on display. The museum offers a wealth of educational and scientific discovery for adults and children, all set in the quintessential maritime town of Whitstable. whitstablemuseum. org whitstablemuseum
39. Dover Castle, Dover Perched on top of the iconic white chalk cliffs, Dover Castle is recognised as England’ s mightiest castle. Try climbing the Medieval Great Tower or descend into the secret wartime tunnels, where the story of Operation Dynamo is brought to life with interactive displays. With a wealth of history to discover, you can take a pitstop in one of the castle’ s cafes for a welldeserved refreshment. english-heritage. org. uk englishheritage
40. Turner Contemporary, Margate Found on Margate’ s stunning beachfront, the renowned Turner Contemporary is a free-entry art gallery showcasing a rolling collection of temporary exhibitions and events that celebrate international contemporary and historical art. With a focus on making art accessible to everyone, learning programmes and community engagement are at the heart of the gallery’ s mission. turnercontemporary. org turnercontemporary
POWELL-COTTON MUSEUM
© Hedley Basford www. insidekent. co. uk • 103