Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
website
Trains run during school holidays and bank holiday weekends.  Please see their website for further details.

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 0 miles / 5 mins

Review

This is something enjoyable for old and young alike.  I'm not a train buff so this was long enough to be fun but only lasted about 45 minutes in all.  We were lucky to have one of the guides in our carriage who talked us through the journey back and explained the history of the line, which was really interesting. Maybe it would be nice to have a leaflet explaining it all for when you're not lucky enough to have this.  It was wet and muddy when we went, so you might want to take your wellies!

Sittingbourne Heritage Museum
Website
67 East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent
Allen Whitnell, Chairman  
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Open Saturdays
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 0 miles / 5 mins

Court Hall Museum
Closed for the foreseeable future.
Address: High Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent
For further information contact Catherine Herbert, 01795 424341 / 01795 424341
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 1 mile / 5 mins

Maison Dieu Museum, Ospringe
Website
For group bookings please call 01795 532755
Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 2pm to 5pm, from Easter Bank Holiday to the end of October.
Address: Ospringe Street, Ospringe, Kent
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 07 miles / 14 mins

Royal Engineers' Museum
Website
Opening Times
Open - Tuesday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Open - Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holiday Mondays - 11.30am to 5.00pm
Closed - Monday, Christmas week and New Years Day
Address: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME4 4UG
Telephone: 01634 822839 / 01634 822839   

Click here to view a film about the Royal Engineers' Museum.
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 10 miles / 15 mins

RNLI, Chatham
Website
Opening Times
Monday - Sunday including bank holidays
12 Feb - 30 Oct: 10am - 6pm (or dusk if earlier)
Nov: weekends only, 10am - 4pm
Dec and Jan: closed
Address: Lifeboat!, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ
Telephone: 01634 823 800 /   01634 823 800  
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 10 miles / 20 mins

Kent Police Museum
Website
The history of the Kent Police Force from its start through to modern times.
Address: The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. ME4 4TZ
Telephone: 01634 403260 / 01634 403260    
Opening Times:
February Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday
(we re-open Sunday 22nd February 2009) 12.00 to 16.00hrs
March/April Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs
May - Wednesday & Thursday 12.00 to 16.00hrs. / Sunday 13.00 to 17.00hrs
June to September - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday* & Saturday* 12.00 to 16.00hrs / Sunday 13.00 to 17.00hrs October - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday*, Saturday* & Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs.
November - Sunday 12.00 to 16.00hrs.
December Closed
January Closed
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 11 miles / 22 mins

Fort Amherst
Website
Europe's Largest Surviving Napoleonic Fortress
Address: Dock Road, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4UB
Telephone: 01634 847747 / 01634 847747 
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 11 miles / 25 mins

Dickens World
Website
Address: Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4LL
Telephone: 01634 890 421 / 01634 890 421
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 11 miles / 25 mins

Review
We visited with four children aged 13, 12, 7 and 4, all of whom enjoyed the day and found plenty to amuse them.  The scale of the interior is impressive, there's plenty of room for picnic-style lunches or to eat in at the restaurant.  It was during the summer holidays so you may need to check that all of the attractions run throughout the year, but we arrived at 12 and didn't leave 'til 5.30, and still didn't have time to see everything.  You might want to bring spare clothes if you plan to go on the water ride though (which you must!) or don't sit near the back!

Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages
Website
Opening Times
1st May - 30th August 2009
Wednesday - Sunday, 12 - 4pm
Address: Archbishop Stables, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6YE
Telephone: 01622 602838 /  01622 602838  
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 17 mins

Maidstone Museum
Website
Opening Times
Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 17.15
Sunday 11.00 - 16.00
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Address: St.Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH

Park at Fremlin Walk Car Park (2 minute walk).
Telephone: 01622 602838
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 18 mins

Review

This is an old-school museum, that as far as I'm concerned looks how a museum should. The building is a labyrinth of staircases and rooms on different levels, that is as impressive as its exhibits.  A little more information about the building dotted about wouldn't go amiss!  My 4-year old loves the dressing-up in the costume section, which gives you enough time to slowly meander through and actually read the displays!  But has  a love/hate relationship with the dinosaur exhibit, which growls at you every time you walk past a sensor!  A little more information for those who are interested would be great, but you can spend as much or as little time in here as you wish, and still have plenty to see.

Historic Dockyard, Chatham
Website
Historic architecture, historic ships and museum galleries.
Address: The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ
Telephone: 01634 823807 /   01634 823807   
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 21 mins

Museum of Kent Life
Website
Come and explore 28 acres of fun for every generation, from hands-on activities forkids to age-old farming traditions...
Opening Times:
Summer Season: 2 Apr to 6 Nov
Weekends & Holidays - 10am to 6pm, last admissions 5pm
Weekdays - 10am to 5pm, last admissions 4pm
Winter Season: 7 Nov to 31 Mar 2011
Open Daily
10am to 4pm, last admissions 3pm.
Closed Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec) and New Years Day (1 Jan)
Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU
Telephone: 01622 763 936
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 12 miles / 21 mins

Kent Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Website

St. Peter's Place, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DA

Tel: 01227 785625

Opening hours:  Mon - Fri, 10:00 - 12:00    14:00 - 16:00 / 1st and 3rd Saturdays, May to September, 11:00 - 14:00

Click here to view a film about the museum and library.

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 16 miles / 31 mins.

Canterbury Tales
Website
St. Margaret's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2TG
Opening Times:
January - February 10.00am - 4.30pm
March - June 10.00am - 5.00pm
July - August 9.30am - 5.00pm
September - October 10.00am - 5.00pm
November - December 10.00am - 4.30pm
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 17 miles / 35 mins

Canterbury Roman Museum
Website
Longmarket, Butchery Lane, Canterbury, Kent
Telephone: 01227 785 575 / 01227 785 575     
Open all year Monday to Saturday 10.00 to 17.00
June until end October, also open Sunday 13.30 to 17.00

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 17 miles / 35 mins

Canterbury Cathedral
Website
Telephone: 01227 762862 / 01227 762862 
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 17 miles / 35 mins

Herne Windmill
Website
English Heritage Property
Much of the original machinery is in place, some is run for demonstration and the sails used when the wind conditions permit.
Address: Herne Windmill, Mill Lane, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 7DR
Opening Times:
Easter - end September: Sunday and Bank Holidays, plus Thursdays in August, 2 - 5pm.
National Mills Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 2 - 5pm
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 20 miles / 35 mins

Union Mill, Cranbrook
Website
Opening Times
Summer Afternoons 2.30 - 5pm
Saturdays from the begining of April to the end of September / Easter Weekend: Saturday 11th and Monday 13th April / Sundays: 2nd weekend in May ("National Mills Days"), / mid-July to end of August
Bank Holiday Mondays: Easter Monday, the two May Bank holidays, August Bank Holiday / Wednesdays: late-July to end of August, ie 22nd July - 26th August
Address: A262, Cranbrook, Kent
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 25.5 miles / 37 mins

Godinton House and Gardens

Website

Godinton House, Godinton Lane, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3BP

Telephone: 01233 643854

Garden Only, £5.  House and Gardens, £8.

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 27 miles / 36 mins

Goodnestone Park Gardens

Website
Goodnestone Park Gardens, Nr. Wingham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1PL.

Tel: 01304 840107

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 27.2 miles / 50 mins

Quex House and Gardens / Powell Cotton Museum
Website
Opening Times
Museum and Gardens:
Sunday - Thursday 11.00 am - 5.00 pm
Museum Tearoom :
Sunday - Thursday 11.00 am - 4.30 pm
Quex House :
Sunday - Thursday 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Address: The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH
Telephone: 01843 842168 / 01843 842168     
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 28 miles / 45 mins

Tenterden and District Museum
website
Address: Station Rd, Tenterden. TN30 6NH
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 29 miles / 53 mins

The Shell Grotto
Website
Opening Times
Good Friday to Halloween, 10am-5pm
Winter - weekends only, 11am-4pm
Closed over Christmas and New Year. Please note that Father Christmas takes up residence annually, usually for three weekends before 25 Dec.
Address: Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, Margate, Kent CT9 2BU
Telephone: 01843 220008 /   01843 220008    
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 31 miles / 50 mins

Crabble Corn Mill
Website

Address: Lower Road, River, DOVER, Kent, CT17 0UY
Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Easter to September
Weekends only 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October to Christmas and February to Easter
Telephone: 08701 453857 / 08701 453857   
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 31.3 miles / 50 mins

Squerryes Court

Website

Westerham, Kent, TN16 1NJ

Tel: 01959 562345

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 31.4 miles / 46 mins

Penshurst Place

Website

Penshurst Place & Gardens, Penshurst, Kent TN11 8DG

Tel: 01892 870307

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 32.4 miles / 52 mins

Danson House
Website
Address: Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 8HL
Opening Times:
Sunday 16th March - Thursday 30th October
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
Opening times: 11am to 5pm: last entry at 4.15pm
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 33 miles / 47 mins

Dover Castle
Website
English Heritage Property
Address: Dover Castle, Dover, Kent CT16 1HU
Opening Times:
1 Apr-31 Jul - 10am-6pm - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1-31 Aug - 9.30am-6pm - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1-30 Sep - 10am-6pm - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1-31 Oct - 10am-5pm - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Nov-31 Jan - 10am-4pm - Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Feb-20 Mar - 10am-4pm - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
24-26 Dec and 1 Jan - Closed
Telephone: 01304 211067 /  01304 211067   

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 33 miles / 51 mins

Roman Painted House, Dover
Website
Opening Times
April to end of September.
Sunday: 1pm to 5pm.
Other days: 10am to 5pm (NOT Mondays).
Last entry: 4.30pm.
Open October to March for pre-booked parties.
Address: New street, Dover, CT17 9AJ
Telephone: 01304 203279
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 33 miles / 55 mins

Chislehurst Caves
Website
Address: Caveside Close, Chislehurst, Kent
Opening Times:
Wednesday to Sunday and the 45 minute guided tours start hourly. The first tour is at 10am and the last at 4pm
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 35.9 miles / 55 mins

Westenhanger Castle and Barns
Website
English Heritage Property
Opening Times
Every Tuesday from 14 April to 8 September
Address: Stone Street, Westenhanger, Hythe, Kent, CT21 4HX
Tel: 01227 738 451 /  01227 738 451  
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 37 miles / 45 mins

Walmer Castle
Website
English Heritage Property
Opening Times
1 Apr-30 Sep 10am-6pm (closes 4pm Sat) Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Oct-1 Nov 10am-4pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
2 Nov-28 Feb CLOSED
1-31 Mar 10am-4pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
Closed when Lord Warden in residence 10-11 July and to 1pm on 12 July
Address: South of Walmer, Kent, CT14 7LJ
Tel: 01304 364288
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 37 miles / 1 hr

Down House - Charles Darwin's House
Website
English Heritage Property
Address: Luxted Road, Downe, Kent, BR6 7JT
Tel: 01689 859119 / 01689 859119
Opening Times:
1 Apr-30 Jun 11am-5pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, & Bank Hols.
1 Jul-31 Aug 11am-5pm (grounds open until 6pm) Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
1 Sep-1 Nov 11am-5pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
2 Nov-20 Dec 11am-4pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun.
21 Dec-31 Jan CLOSED
1 Feb-31 Mar, 11am-4pm Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, & Sun. - Grounds from 10am
Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 38 miles / 1hr 17mins

Kent Battle of Britain Museum
Website
The museum is the oldest established and largest collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country.
Address: Aerodrome Road, Hawking, Nr. Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AG
Telephone: 01303 893 140 / 01303 893 140    

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 43 miles / 51 mins

Mountfitchet Castle

Website

Mountfitchet Castle, Stansted, Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8SP

Tel: 01279 813 237

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 65.5 miles / 1hr 20 mins

Hatfield House

website
House, Park and Garden are all closed on Monday and Tuesday (except BH Monday).  Opens at 12.00, last admission 4pm.  Garden, Gift Shop and Restaurant 11.00 - 5.30pm.  Audio guides / guided tours are also available.

Hatfield Hosue, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 5NQ

Tel: 01707 287 010

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Approximate Distance From Sittingbourne: 72.8 miles / 1hr 26 mins