Things To Do In Sevenoaks
40 Things To Do with Children in and around Sevenoaks
Whether you have to find something to keep grandchildren or great-grandchildren amused, or just want to amuse yourself, below is a list of things which you may find interesting. They come from a website called The Incidental Parent at https://theincidentalparent.com.
Click on the links for each location to go to their individual websites to find out more about any specific events which may be taking place during the summer.
Otford Solar System : A leisurely walk (at about twenty times the speed of light) visiting every planet in the Solar System in order of its proximity to the Sun will take approximately one and three quarter hours.
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve: Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks – free to enter but paid parking on site. Visitor centre, toilets & cafe. No dogs, bikes, joggers etc (it’s a wildlife reserve)
Bradbourne Lakes: Various entrances, Bradbourne Vale Road, Lambarde Road & Betensen Avenue. Several ponds with lots of wildlife. Feed the ducks (not bread) – free parking on street. No toilets
Lullingstone Roman Villa: (English Heritage) Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Nr Sevenoaks – Pay to enter (free for English Heritage members). Museum with gallery, self service food and drink, picnics and toilets.
Castle Farm Lavender and PYO: Redmans Lane, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7UB – Parking onsite £2.50. Beautiful (and very popular) lavender fields and PYO apples when in season. Farm shop with all sorts of produce and gifts, kiosk selling tea, coffee etc.
Stonepitts Farm PYO: Watery Lane, Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0ER – pick your own strawberries & raspberries. Parking on site
Mount Vineyard: The Mount, Church Street, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7SD – A lovely vineyard with a restaurant (stone fired pizzas) you can sit indoors or out and take away is available. Coffee kiosk also on site – venue is dog friendly inside & out! Free parking on site. The surrounding roads are a tight squeeze
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens: Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RR. A gorgeous garden that puts on all sorts of activities (changing weekly) over the school holidays and has a resident yeti in the woods. Parking on site, cafe, toilets, outdoor shop selling plants and gifts.
Reuthe’s Nursery: Sevenoaks Road, Seal Chart, Kent, TN15 0HB – An 11 acre ancient woodland with nature trails, alpaca treks, farmers markets etc. Forest Family Festival 27th to 29th August. Parking on site with a cafe, toilets and shop.
Sevenoaks Library & Museum: Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 1LQ – Although events are not taking place at the moment the library is open to borrow books and rent DVDs. The museum is also open and an art exhibition taking place. Located next to several central Sevenoaks car parks (Suffolk Way etc)
Sevenoaks Leisure Centre: Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1LW. Swimming is available along with other classes. Check online and book ahead. Pay to park .
Chipstead Lake: In the village of Chipstead is Chipstead Lake. Enjoy a walk .re, Tri Swim offer open water swimming (don’t just go for a dip) and members of the angling club fish. Parking can be difficult on the surrounding residential roads. The Bricklayers Arms pub faces the lake and has tables on the green – booking recommended.
Coolings Lifestyle (formerly Green & Pleasant): Main Rd, Knockholt, Sevenoaks TN14 7LJ – A lovely garden centre which also boasts a lovely nature trail featuring all sorts of animals (paid) and Willows Birds of Prey. Cafe and toilets, free parking on site.
Polhill Garden Centre: London Road, Sevenoaks, TN14 7AD- A vast garden centre with a restaurant serving hot & cold food and tiki huts outside. There is also a children’s playground as well as go karts and inflatables on water (in season).
Woodlands Garden Centre & Kent Firefighting Museum: Ash Lane, Ash, Nr Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 7EG A garden centre with a cafe featuring Kent Firefighting Museum (open 3 days a week). Parking on site, cafe and toilets.
Spa Valley Railway: West Station, Nevill Terrace, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY – steam & diesel trains, buy tickets online and board at one of the several stations. A really lovely day out with the kids, they also do special afternoon teas, dining evenings and so on. We’ve been a couple of times, our review is here.
Eagle Heights: Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Sevenoaks, Kent, DA40JB – One of the UKs largest bird of prey centres but also home to alpacas, huskies and more. You can spend a day here or even camp in one of their tents overnight. Tearoom, toilets, playgrounds, picnics. Free parking on site.
Bore Place: Bore Place Road, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AR – Bore Place is set in 500 acres of countryside which encompass an organic dairy farm, organic market gardens, conference centre, environmental education centre, as well as programmes to provide opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. There are lots of different child only activities over the holidays like den building, wildlife and arts and crafts.
Stag Theatre: London Road, Sevenoaks, KENT TN13 1ZZ – Cinema & live performances along with a cafe. Parking in the car park behind the Stag.
Hever Festival Theatre: Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG – A fabulous outdoor theatre set in the glorious grounds of Hever Castle. Check the website for shows including child friendly ones. We visited in 2019, our review is here .
Groombridge Place: Groombridge Hill, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9QG – A 17th century moated manor house, sculpted formal gardens and 200 acres of parkland. With giant swings, a maze and canal boats to take you across to the enchanted forest there is lots to see and do for a whole day out.
Bedgebury Pinetum: Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, TN17 2SJ – Three walking trails, bike hire, Go Ape, horseriding and much more! Dogs on leads welcome. Parking, cafe toilets.
Bewl Water: Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH – Take on the 13 mile walk around the lake, hire bikes, laser tag, aqua park, playgrounds. £5 to park all day. Take a picnic or eat in the restaurant/cafe.
Penshurst Place: Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG UK – visit the house or just take in the gardens with their adventure playground & woodland trail.
Pepenbury Nature Trail: Aspens Bluebell Cafe Cornford Lane, Pembury, Kent TN2 4QU – a cafe with playground and woodland walk set in the grounds of a very special residential home for people with disabilities and complex needs. Limited parking on site.
Kent Country Parks
All have parking on site, toilets and cafes. There are various activities at each centre including play equipment, zip wires, swings etc.
Trosley: Waterlow Road, Vigo, Kent, DA13 0SG
Lullingstone: Castle Road, Eynsford, Kent, DA40JF
Manor Park: St Leonard’s Street, West Malling, Kent, ME19 6PE
National Trust properties, gardens and parks near Sevenoaks
Parking on site at each (free for National Trust members). Cafes and toilets open.
Knole Park: Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP (Sat Nav TN13 1HX) – Knole House is set in an ancient deer park. Perfect for rambling days and picnics – there is no play area at this property.
Emmett's Gardens: Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6BA – Gorgeous hillside garden with natural play area for kids. This August they will be hosting outdoor theatre.
Chartwell: Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS – Family home and garden of Winston Churchill. A fabulous garden and lakes with various children’s play areas.
Ightham Mote: Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT – 14th century moated manor house with spectacular gardens. Plenty for kids to do in the natural playground – take wellies and a change of clothes so they can play in the river. Our review is here.
Playgrounds in and around Sevenoaks – FREE!
Hollybush: Hollybush Cl, Sevenoaks TN13 3UH – free parking in residential streets, also a paid car park. Cafe and toilets (ask for the key in the cafe). Playing fields, playground with swings etc.
Pontoise Close aka The Sandy Mountains (bigger kids): Pontoise Close, Sevenoaks TN13 3ES – children’s playground with swings, slide, climbing frame. Field with football goals, walk up the “mountain”. Free parking on site – no toilets.
Pontoise Close/Mount Close (toddlers): Hidden between two houses a short walk from Pontoise Close play park is a playground especially for little ones to enjoy.
Greatness Recreation Ground: Mill Lane, Sevenoaks, TN14 5BX – outdoor gym, swings and slides, skate ramps and large open space.
Otford Recreation Ground: High Street, Otford, TN14 5PG – Full size football pitches, swings and slides. Parking on site.
Castles in and around Sevenoaks
Hever Castle: Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG – Famous for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn there is so much to do at Hever Castle. Even if you aren’t visiting the house itself the gardens are packed with adventures. There are two play grounds, two mazes – one is water, a huge lake to walk around and over the holidays there are different quests along with jousting events. Cafes, restaurants, kiosks, take a picnic. Parking on site.
Leeds Castle: Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL – Within the grounds, as well as the gardens, there is an obstacle course, adventure golf and playgrounds. This summer there will be challenges, open air cinema and children’s theatre.