What an amazing discovery…read more We did not plan on or know about this museum. I wanted to visit the visitor center so that we could get a map and hopefully use the restroom and to our surprise. There was the Dover museum. It is free, but donations are always welcomed and there is a box up front. There are several floors and it tells about the history, the beginning of Dover, the military importance to the town and overall just a lot of great information and bonus, a life-size polar bear. Definitely start your day out here you'll understand more about the town and the history. I absolutely loved on the top floor. There is a hands on display and you can turn the wheel and it looks like moving pictures so it's like drawings that spin around that are running. That was really neat. There were staff throughout the museum, but no one was bothering you. We didn't have any questions so we didn't really interact with them. You could spend 10 minutes in here or you could spend two hours depending on what you want. I think we were in there probably for about 30 to 45 minutes. We were in no hurry.

Free entry and a Bronze Age boat dating from 1550BC, definitely worth a visit in my book. Also some…read morelocal history of the area.

It's a castle, it's made of stone and it's very old. Built by the Normans or built to keep them…read moreout, can't remember which. There are some cannons outside and one of those wood plaques with a hole where you can attach someone's head and point and laugh at them. Yea, I should have taken a picture to make this easier. The castle courtyard is small like my backyard at home. I didn't pay the £4 it costs to enter, because it didn't look like it would be worth it.

Very modest local history museum. Entry fee is UKP 4 for an adult. small kids (maximum 3) get free…read moreentry. The items on display aren't very special, and it's a small place that won't occupy your time for more than 20 minutes. The tower itself is more appealing and rewarding than the inside. There's an authentic women's prison cell which is interesting, simple multimedia presentation included. The place does offer special activities for children, and for families with smaller fry it might be worth a visit. Not suitable for disabled people! If you do visit, make sure to drop by at the adjacent Ypres Castle Inn, a pub that offers a good selection of ales, solid food and a great view from the outside seating area.

You WILL get a parking ticket Even if you're a National…read moreHeritage member. Even if you do everything right. The local authority is determined to give you a ticket, and they will find a reason. Maybe you come back two minutes late to your car. Maybe your National Heritage parking pass expired before your membership renews (did you know that could happen?). Maybe a seagull flew over and splattered your windscreen, obscuring some of the numbers on your obligatory parking slip from the machine (yes, you need one even if you're entitled to free parking). There are lots of lovely places to visit nearby that don't come with a near certain £25-£50 parking fine. Just down the road, Walmer Castle boasts a lovely garden with lots to explore for grown-ups and kids alike (jit's not a proper "castle" - but neither is Deal and the history inside is comparable). And just further along you have, of course, Dover Castle, full of history and with a tunnel network that Deal can only dream of. If you like nature and sea views, the White Cliffs area is well worth a visit, as is the South Foreland Lighthouse (both National Trust). If you're after hidden gems, check out St. Margaret's Bay, and the nearby Pines Calyx gardens. For a proper historical experience, I highly recommend the Sandwich Medieval Centre. They are experts in everything from blacksmithing to boat-building to tempura painting, and will happily tell you about it - and sometimes let your hands on it yourself. Check their hours before you visit, it's all run by volunteers. On the other side of the coast, you have Folkestone - the Harbour Arm offers food in every imaginable flavour, often with entertainment on the side. Within walking distance, the Lower Lees is a beautiful coastal park, and has a fantastic playground for the kids. Have a look what's on at the local theatre, try the East Cliff/Warren for fossil hunting, the Creative Quarter for quirky shops. Folkestone feels a bit industrial, so if you're after the twee seaside experience, have a look at nearby Sandgate, it's very cute, has a lovely beach and great food. For the adventurous type, look up the Western Heights in Dover. An abandoned fortress from the Napoleonic era with lots of hidden landscapes. The place is only as good as your willingness to explore it, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a packed lunch. But do please stay on the paths, we do get accidents sometimes when people don't. And finally, if you're after a bustling town centre with good shopping and lots to see, by all means head inland to Canterbury. The Cathedral alone is well worth a visit.

This is a wonderful place to visit with children as they can explore the ramparts and hide in the…read morecellars. There is just enough history about Henry the eighth to intrigue them but not enough for them to get bored. There isn't an enormous amount to see but a quick visit there and then a short bike ride along the coast brings you to Walmer Castle which provide a great contrast. The tea rooms sell lovely home made cakes.

Based in The Gulbenkian Theatre at the University of Kent, this is a cinematic experience with a…read moredifference! Tickets are cheap, movies are great and some cult favourites are often played here. It isn't glam or grand, based in a lecture theatre at the university, but you tend to be able to see great, serious film from foreign cinema, or some lesser known directors closer to home. It is quiet, clean and definately for the film buff, so it means you can watch what you like in peace. Free parking makes this a better bet than the Odeon in town and if you go to a cheap monday night film - it is even better value.

Don't expect to see blockbusters here or to be able to buy to tub of popcorn. This is the place for…read morethe smaller British film and the foreign films. I like this place very much, mostly because, unsurprisingly, I like to be able to watch a film without people talking through it and it tends to attract film students and older people who sit in silence. The bar and food have improved greatly since a refurbishment a few years ago and it feels so much more personal and a sophisicated night out than going to a multi-plex. As an added bonus you can park close by for free, which is unusual in Canterbury and there is a regular bus service into town.

Walmer Castle is a sister castle to Deal Castle but there is so much more to see. Upstairs you can…read morevisit the room where Wellington lived and see his death mask, the armchair where he died and his Wellington boots. Outside you can explore the battlements and cannons. There are also beautiful gardens, including the Queen Mother's garden and a woodland walk. There is a lovely tea room, with excellent home-made cakes.

This is a beautiful castle with amazing gardens which are very interesting to those of us with…read morekitchen gardens ( and maybe a little bit of inspiration!). There's a nice tea room and a few interesting things to look at (incliding Wellington's boots), but not that much for children to do unless it's an event day. Walmer Castle is closed between Nov 1-Feb 28.

If you're staying in good ol' Canters for a few days, I'd definitely recommend a visit the Marlowe…read moretheatre. During my undergrad years here, it was actually still under renovation and well, I'm shallow and new buildings always excite me. Marlowe is no different, it's definitely ready for big crowds and summer time drinks outside the patio. They've made a large patio and even decorated it with a happy theatre mask which is creepy at night, and if you're a bit drunk and high. (Students will most likely be that!) Inside the theatre itself is a theatre worthy of big big productions, I think they have 4 levels of seats, somehow, we managed to bag front row centre tickets to see Sarah Millican (to be fair, we booked 18 months in advanced!) The only qualms I have is that they definitely cater to the the locals and not students because the prices for drinks are STEEEEEEP. £4.10 for a frigging single oj and vodka. (I might just go the to student bars beforehand, thanks. If any of you feel the same way, and not local to Canterbury, drop me a line and I'll direct you to the uni campus so if you do want to drink like a student and give the liver a wake up call, you'll know where to go-also SNAKEBITE. Gets you absolutely carparked.)

I have not watched a theatre performance there but spent an evening there when Tap Dogs was on in…read more2002. Cannot really remember how exactly the interior looked like but there must have been some upper rear stalls. Don't miss out the Theatre Pub next to the theatre. Anyway, nicely located in the town centre. Update 2012: The originial Theatre Pub doesn't exist anymore. The old theatre has been refurbished and now has a very modern appearance.

They don't sell lamb here. I don't know why it's called Lamb House. Henry James lived and wrote…read morenovels in this house in the picturesque town of Rye. You can tour the house and enter the garden. Entrance price too steep.

This attractive 18th century house in the heart of historic Rye was home at different times to the…read morenovelists Henry James and E F Benson. It is now in the care of the National Trust. The house is largely restored to how it would have been when James lived there, and most of the exhibits focus on his tenure and the myriad of fascinating visitors he received. Three ground floor rooms are open to the public, as well as the surprisingly large town garden, complete with James's favourite mulberry tree. Alas, the garden room in which he did much of his writing was destroyed by an enemy bomb in World War II. Practicalities The house is a short walk from the church, or a short but very steep walk up from the quayside. Accessibility is somewhat limited: some of the streets around are heavily cobbled with pebbles; there are 3 large steps up into the house, as well as no lavatory on site; the garden has gravel paths; and the rooms are also fairly small, and heavily furnished.

The Museum of Canerbury is a well set-out museum covering the history of the city. Laid out in…read moreorder, it takes you through from the Romans to World War II, including special displays on Christopher Marlowe and Joseph Conrad, and has plenty of fascinating archaeological finds, clear, interesting explanatory panels and a few simple interactive activities for kids (although, who doesn't want to know their name in runes?). There's also a bit of info about the Poor Priests' Hospital building that the museum now occupies, interspersed throughout. For kids, there's the Rupert Bear Museum and an exhibit on Bagpuss, but I didn't really see those bits properly. In a city where the tourist attractions all give you a bit of history it was great to get all the different stories into perspective at this museum.

The museum of Canterbury is very eclectic and houses many items relevant to the medieval city. As…read moreyou walk around it you learn the history of Roman Canterbury and then a major part looks at the building of Canterbury Cathedral and the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. There are also sections on Joseph Conrad and Rupert Bear. It always holds the children's interest and it is worth visiting when they hold temporary exhibitions or workshops, often exploring Roman, or historical Canterbury.