BETTESHANGER PARK, DEAL

Take aim for a bows and arrows weekend on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29, with beginners’ archery sessions for ages eight and older between 10am and 3.30pm and make feathered hats or headdresses afterwards. It’s part of a range of activities over half term, from a summer trail and wild flower wander to cycling and orienteering.

For details and to book, visit BetteshangerCountryPark.co.uk or call 01304 619227

BROGDALE

The orchards are full of bugs and beasties, so hunt them out this half term. A bug day on Wednesday, June 1, between 10am and 3pm includes finding and learning about the creatures with a leader before having a close encounter with Mega Bugs, including giant cockroaches, millipedes and devil stick insects, before creating a bug to take home at a craft workshop and enjoying a picnic under the trees.

For details, visit brogdalecollections.org/beastie-days

BLUEWATER

Besides the shopping, head to the 18-hole mini golf course with its pirate ship, or for a sweeter treat, everyone’s favourite doughnut maker Krispy Kreme will be hosting a series of activities to delight doughnut fans. Doughnut-decorating workshops, from Saturday, May 28, to Bank Holiday Monday and 15-minute doughnut tours from Tuesday, May 31, to Wednesday, June 1, at £4.85 per person.

For details, visit Bluewater.co.uk

CANTERBURY CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

From arts and crafts to a tea party, your little ones will love the festival, which runs from Bank Holiday Monday to Saturday, June 4. Activities include taking a tour of The Marlowe Theatre and messy monster art for three- to six-year-olds to make a monster mask at the Beaney Museum in the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday and a disco to round off events. Held during half term, some of the events are free.

For details, visit canterbury.co.uk, marlowetheatre.com or canterburymuseums.co.uk

DEAL CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW

More than 650 gleaming examples of classic cars will be roaring into the show at Walmer Green on Sunday, May 29. From Model T Fords to Aston Martins and classic bikes to tractors, the day also includes a real-ale bar at the lifeboat station, music from singer Ben Mills and a flypast by an RAF Dakota, plus Pip the Clown, face-painting and go-karting.

Visit classicmusicandmotors.co.uk

DOVER CASTLE

There’s a full-on 40s experience celebrating the Second World War from Saturday, May 28, to Bank Holiday Monday, with both British and German encampments in the grounds, a Spitfire flypast and the Home Front showing how Britons kept calm. The NAAFI tea wagon will be making cuppas and for kids there will be a junior obstacle course and rifle drill. Events from 10am to 5pm.

Call 0870 333 1183 to book, or visit english-heritage.org.uk/dover

EMMETTS GARDEN, SEVENOAKS

Take a nature trail around the plant collections and discover the wildlife in the woodland from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, between 10am and 4pm each day. You can play in the wild play area in the pinetum while you’re following the self-led trail, which can be picked up from visitor reception, and kids can also borrow toys and games from the Discovery Cabin.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

GROOMBRIDGE PLACE

The Wicked Witch of the West will be flying in during the day as the site is transformed for half term. Between Friday, May 28, and Sunday, June 5, visitors will feel like they are in the world of the Wizard of Oz with Munchkins, Dorothy and other familiar characters popping by. There will also be a craft tent, face-painting, archery lessons and boat rides, plus 15-minute theatre performances.

For details, visit groombridgeplace.com

HEVER CASTLE

Croquet on the lawn, a tin can alley and bean bag races are just part of the Edwardian fun during half term at Hever. From Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, children can learn the Three Rs in an Edwardian classroom, or follow a quiz through the castle rooms learning about famous Edwardians, including the Astors, who lived there before the First World War.

For admission details visit hevercastle.co.uk or call 01732 865224

HOP FARM, PADDOCK WOOD

There's a super hero theme to the family park's activities this half term, daily until Sunday, June 5. There will be plenty of rides and inflatables and an indoor soft play area, 4D cinema and giant jumping pillows.

The family park also caters for camping and has several eateries on site. For details go to thehopfarm.co.uk

IGHTHAM MOTE, NEAR BOROUGH GREEN

Explore Ightham Mote estate at your leisure, or pick up an activity pack from reception for 50 pence and head off on a guided trip. Let the kids run off steam in the natural play area on the way, between 10am and 5pm from Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 5. On Saturday, May 28 there are also watercolour art workshops between 11m and 4pm. Normal admission charges apply.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

KENT GARDEN SHOW, DETLING

The Kent Garden Show will be transforming the Clive Emson building at the Kent Showground, near Detling ,into a floral feast on Saturday, May 28, through to Bank Holiday Monday, with marquees featuring stunning floral displays including medal winners from the Chelsea. The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) will also be holding its annual show and there will be experts on hand, including Tom Hart Dyke. There will be a food hall and craft pavilion, plus children’s rides. Entry £8, free for 16s and younger. Gates open at 9.30am to 5pm.

For details, visit kentgardenshow.com

KENT LIFE, MAIDSTONE

Let’s hope half term doesn’t race away as the heritage farm park stages sheep races and ferret racing from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5. Watch the sheep take a load off as they get sheared in demonstrations from Tuesday to Saturday, or meet the sheep from Saturday to Bank Holiday Monday. Tractor rides, Flip the Clown and AnimalMan Nick Spellman will also be there.

Call 01622 763936 or visit kentlife.org.uk

KENT WILDLIFE TRUST, MAIDSTONE

Mix wild science with cool technology and you get the trust’s latest Reflecting Nature event.
Being held on Thursday, June 2, at Tyland Barn, there will be an exhibition of artworks and a series of workshops that bring together science, technology, art and nature.
The two-hour workshops, for ages 10 plus, will be at 10.30am and 2pm.

Book by visiting kentwildlifetrust.org.ukor calling 01622 357811

KNOLE, SEVENOAKS

Try some Tudor dressing up or handle some replica items as the historic house goes back in time over half term. You can explore the house and take a quiz on some of the fascinating picture frames between noon and 4pm, and see a costume demonstration on Bank Holiday Mondayat 11.45pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm or 2.30pm. Dressing up day in the Orangery will be on Friday, June 3, between 11am and 3pm.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

LEEDS CASTLE, MAIDSTONE

Prepare to do battle at the castle as fully-armoured knights take aim during the Grand Medieval Joust being held between Saturday, May 28, and Bank Holiday Monday. Living history encampments, mounted skills at arms displays and an archery tournament are on offer. There will also be trebuchet displays featuring the giant catapult used in medieval times.

For details of all the events and times, as well as ticket details, visit leeds-castle.com

LULLINGSTONE CASTLE

There’ll be some medieval magic at Lullingstone Castle, near Swanley, on Sunday, May 29, and Bank Holiday Monday, when the site will be transformed into a medieval village complete with the sights and sounds of the period with fun for all, including living history displays, campfires, tents and archery sessions. Open between 11am and 5pm both days, entry is £10; 15s and younger go free when accompanied by an adult.

Visit lullingstonecastle.co.uk

PENSHURST PLACE

Meet some of our native furry friends and learn how to make them feel at home on a half term trail, from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, between 10.30am and 6pm daily. Crafts run from noon to 4pm, or on Sunday, May 29, and Bank Holiday Monday between 10.30am and 5pm; seven- to 14-year-olds can pick up bushcraft skills, including making a campfire.

For details, call 01892 870307 or go to penshurstplace.com

SCOTNEY CASTLE, LAMBERHURST

Be adventurous and a bit daring at the castle throughout half term from Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 5, with a 50 Things adventure week, where you can make a kite, try hill-rolling and hunt for bugs across the estate. Or grab a map of the house and step out into the house, ready to ask suspects some probing questions. The trail is £1 on top of admission.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

SMALLHYTHE PLACE, TENTERDEN

Follow the trail around the garden and outdoor theatre to learn more about our most famous playwright, Shakespeare, during the 400th anniversary of his death, or make a Venetian-style mask in the garden to take home. There will also be costumes and props on display, once used by the famous Victorian actress Ellen Terry. Take the Shakespeare trail from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday June 5, between 11am and 5pm daily.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

The popular Kids for a Quid promotion runs on the bank holiday weekend, Sunday, May 29, and Bank Holiday Monday, when children can travel for £1 when accompanied by an adult paying £9. A family ticket of two adults and two children is £20 on promotional days. Travel to High Rocks, or get off at Groombridge, and you can also travel with the driver for £10.

For travel times, visit spavalleyrailway.co.uk

WHITE CLIFFS AND SOUTH FORELAND LIGHTHOUSE

Take a cliff-top walk along one of the country’s most famous landmarks, spotting summer orchids, wild flowers and even ferries as you go, or visit the lighthouse’s traditional 1950s tea room and try kite-flying and games on the enclosed lawn. The fun takes place from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, between 10am and 5pm. Car parking is £3.50 per car.

For details, visit nationaltrust.org.uk