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Youngsters can get their half-term off to a swinging start with a visit to Kent’s two Go Ape bases. Go Ape Bedgebury, set in the surroundings of the national Pinetum, opens its doors for the year on Saturday, February 15.
Spend the day pretending you’re Tarzan with perfectly safe tree-top adventures to suit all ages. Instructors are on hand at all times. Opening times vary, according to daylight hours. Enjoy the same thrills at Leeds Castle’s Go Ape adventure, where little monkeys can enjoy stunning views of the North Downs from a 250m long zip wire. The attraction here opens from Monday, February 17 until Friday, February 21, from 10am.
Details: Go Ape is at Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst TN17 2SJ and at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone. Go Ape customers should come in through the main gates on Penfold Hill on the B2163. Prices and age restrictions at goape.co.uk. Call: 0843 770 4630 for Bedgebury and 0843 249 7275 for Leeds.
Laser warfare is the environmentally friendly alternative to paintballing. What’s more there’s no ammunition costs and no mess. Youngsters aged eight and above can try their hand at what is described as an “authentic warfare experience” at Chatham’s Buckmore Park karting circuit this half-term. There are base camps for each team, bunkers perfect for hiding out, sand bags for ambushes and full camouflage gear to ensure you are hard to spot in the park’s woodland setting. More details on 01634 661617
Address: Buckmore Park is in Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME5 9QG. Call: 01634 661617
Youngsters aged under 11 go free at Chatham’s Dickens World when they are accompanied by a paying adult. Take the Dickens World Grand Tour and step back in time to 19th century England which played such a large part in the author’s classic works. The Dickensian journey, accompanied by a tour guide, begins with a short cinema show about the author’s travels through Europe and America and continues with an interactive experience which is both entertaining and educational. The Grand Tour lasts about 90 minutes.
Details: £5.50 for the first Grand Tour of the day at 10am and £7.50 from 10.30am onwards. The kids go free offer runs through half-term and continues until the end of February. Call: 0844 858 6656 and quote reference KMWO.
Address: Dickens World, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime ME44LL
Gillingham’s Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre will be keeping families entertained with a line-up of free fun that includes a unicyclist, stilt walker, juggler and magic shows. Mark, the centre’s all–round entertainer, will be making his appearance between 11am and 4pm on Monday, February 17 and Tuesday, February 18. On Wednesday, February 19 face painters will be in the Wallis area from 11am and on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21 there’s a treasure hunt starting at 11am and 2pm.
Details: Activities run from Monday, February 17 to Saturday, February 22. All events are free and no booking is necessary.
Address: Just off the M2 Junction 4. Postcode ME7 3PD. Call: 01634 387076
Don’t forget your wellies if you’re heading to the Kent Life Heritage Farm Park over half-term as the theme is out and about.
The fun-packed week includes trails, animal encounters and donkey rides around the orchard. Plus there’s the chance to meet the award-winning attraction’s latest arrivals, including Shetland ponies Lily and Truffles, Zebu cattle Rolo and Twix, and some adorable calves. There will also be plenty of other animals to see including pigs, sheep, ducks, goats and alpacas. Visitors can wander through period dressed historic buildings in the attraction’s Vintage Village, explore the beautiful gardens and orchard, ramble along the wildlife discovery trail and see the last remaining coal-fired oast house in Britain.
Details: 10am-6pm Saturday, February 15 to Sunday, February 23. Tickets £5, £3 under 15s. Under threes free, Some activities are subject to a small charge.
Address: Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3AU Call: 01622 763936.
Just jesting is the name of the game at Leeds Castle this half term for a week of merriment, mayhem and circus skills. Join the castle’s Tudor Fool, Peterkin, as he performs daily shows to delight and entertain all ages.
Peterkin is England’s premier historic jester and will be at the castle for the first time, presenting acrobatics, stilts and fire and his infamous School for Fools. Find him near the maze area and check the information board for timings.
Also entertaining the kids will be the Crystal Wizard. The Britain’s Got Talent star will be showcasing his circus skills and running fun ‘have a go’ sessions for children to try juggling, hula hoops, plate spinning and diablo. The events are included in the admission charges. Facepainting will also be available at a small additional charge. There will also be the chance to catch the daily 1.30pm breath-taking falconry display taking place opposite the Circus Skills Showcase marque.
Details: Activities are from February 15-23. The Key to the Castle ticket is valid for entrance to the castle and grounds for 12 months. Tickets - adults £21, seniors and visitors with disabilities £18.50 (carer free), children £13.50, under fours free.
Address: Leeds Castle is off Junction 8 of the M20 at Hollingbourne, near Maidstone. Grounds open at 10am daily and the castle is open from 10.30am. Last admission is 3pm and gates close at 5pm (October to March).
National Trust properties across Kent will be hosting family fun events during half-term. In fact there’s 119 hours and 30 minutes of events, in total. So take your pick from a whole range of activities, including crafts sessions, exciting challenges, story telling, den building and kite flying. This is the line-up:
Chartwell
Details: Monday, February 17 to Friday, February 21, 11am-3.30pm
Paint and play workshops. Have a go at painting and printing in the Mulberry Room
Cost: Children £5.
Address: Mapleton Road, Westerham TN16 1PS. Call 01732 868381
Ightham Mote
Details: Daily from Saturday, February 15 to Sunday, February 23, 11am-3pm
Follow a trail around the estate and find out how to make wild art and track animals as you go. Plus there’s storytelling in the gift shop.
Thursday, February 20, 10am-12pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm
Head for the Mote Restaurant to learn how to make, bake and decorate edible goodies in a family baking workshop
Cost: Tickets £6.50. Booking essential.
Call: 1732 811314
Address: Mote Road, Sevenoaks TN15 ONT
Knole
Details: Saturday, February 15, Sunday, February 16 and Saturday, February 22, 2pm-3pm
Guided park walk around the Knole estate. All walks start outside the Brewhouse Café and are suitable for children. Free event.
Address: The park entrance is in Sevenoaks town centre. The postcode is TN13 1HU.
Call: 01732 462100 for more details.
Events will have a military flavour at Penshurst Place to mark the centenary of the First World War. The historic venue in the far west of the county kicks off its 2014 season with a themed series of events, designed to help young visitors experience life as a soldier.
Young visitors will be given the chance to transform themselves into First World War spies where they will need all cunning and skills to solve secret clues to find 10 missing objects hidden around the gardens and adventure playground.
Elsewhere, the Penshurst Place Porcupine Pantry will be transformed into a First World War hospital where award-winning special effects artist Kate Griffiths will be running a special “war wounds” make-up clinic. The event will show older children how to create fake wounds using every day household materials and how to bandage their injuries in the same way as they would have been during the First World War.
Details: Secret Spy Hunt runs from Saturday, February 15, to Sunday, February 23, from 10.30am to dusk. Normal garden admission prices apply. Spy hunt trail is included in the normal garden admission fee. The war wounds make-up workshop is on Wednesday, February 19, from 4pm-6pm. Tickets £10.
Address: Penshurst Place and Gardens is off the B2176 near Tunbridge Wells. Postcode TN11 8DG. Call: 01892 870307
From cuddly rabbits to creepy crawlies – youngsters who love animals will be spoilt for choice at the 100-acre Rare Breeds Centre, near Ashford. And the weather won’t be a problem, as the centre’s farm has a huge indoor play barn packed with soft toys, rope tunnels, bridges and climbing frames.
But animals are obviously the main attraction in the farm’s two indoor enclosures. In the Children’s Barn youngsters can meet animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and pygmy goats. There will be two daily meet the animal sessions from 11.15am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm.
In the farm’s Creepy Crawly room children can explore the world of all things scary. It’s home to snakes, beetles, lizards and, of course, spiders. From 11am on Sunday, February 16, tarantulas and scorpions will also be putting in an appearance. There’s also daily falconry displays at 2.30pm, weather permitting.
Details: Half-term events daily from Monday, February 17 to Sunday, February 23 from 10.30am-4.30pm. Winter prices apply. Tickets £6 (under-threes and carers free).
Address: Rare Breeds Centre, Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford TN26 3RJ Call: 01233 861493
Traditional African tales is the title of a half-term storytelling event at the Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park, Birchington, near Margate. The event runs from Monday, February 17, until Friday, February 21, at 11am and 2pm daily. Tickets are £8, children £6, family £24. Prices include entry to the museum, house and gardens. Call 01843 842168.
Secrets and Spies is a Time Travellers event for youngsters at Dover Castle from Saturday, February 15 until Sunday, February 23. The English Heritage attraction that’s steeped in history is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Call the castle on 01304 211067 for more details and admission prices.
Try a tunnel tour at Fort Amherst, Medway’s Napoleonic fortress, over half term. It might be a good way of staying out of the rain! Tours every day at 11am and 2pm. Free admission to parkland. Tickets cost £5, children £2.50, family (2+2) £12,50 and concessions £3. Fort Amherst is at Dock Road, Chatham. Just tap ME4 4UB into the sat nav. Call 01634 847747 for more details.
