Back in May 2016 we took a few days as a family to head over to the Kent coast to explore Thanet. In general we had a lovely time despite some horrendous weather and our drive shaft snapping too!
Whilst we were there we visited Dover Castle, which is a truly amazing place to visit and somewhere I'd highly recommend. I wrote about our visit at the time - click HERE to read the full review. It really is a full day out for all the family and there is something for everyone.
To make the most of our family annual English Heritage membership (which we paid £69.37 for - it's always good to search online for a discount) we decided to also visit some other castles in the local area.
Deal Castle
Deal is an a great example of a Tudor artillery castle, part of a chain of them along this coastline. The external walls are still in-tact and you can see the really unusual shape of the castle. Our visit here was probably only about an hour as it is a fairly small site but as you can visit all of it the kids enjoyed being transported back and learning a bit more about this caste that King Henry VIII commissioned.
Highlight - Great view out to sea from the top.
Opening Hours: Generally 10am - 6pm but there are some times of the year when it is weekends only, so do check the website
Cost: An adult ticket is £6.60 if you are not a member
Parking: There is a grassed car park next to the castle and you can park there without cost
Address: Marine Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7BA
Walmer Castle and Gardens
Originally a Tudor Fortress, Walmer Castle has evolved into a homely residence for many well-known names from the Duke of Wellington to the Queen Mother. Inside you can explore Wellington’s career, the story of his life and death and even see the original Wellington Boots. Outside, discover the majestic sea view and eight acres of magnificent gardens and woodland, including a wonderful kitchen garden with fresh produce for the tea room.
Walmer Castle and Gardens is a much bigger site and we were probably there for about three hours as it is a lovely place to explore. The grounds provide plenty of room for the kids to let off steam and we had a lovely cream tea in the tea room. There is also a nice shop with lots of plants available for sale.
Opening Hours: Generally 10am - 6pm but there are some times of the year when it is weekends only, so do check the website
Cost: £10.70 for an adult if you are not a member
Parking: There was a large public car park across the road by the seafront which we parked in as the on-site parking was already full
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I'm linking this post up with Fiona at Coombe Mill for #CountryKids.
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