The Garden of England
Named as such for its abundance of orchards and hop gardens, you’ll never be far from a picturesque view or a great pub in Kent!
With two areas of Outstanding Natural beauty: the North Downs and High Weald, miles of footpaths and cycle paths, award-winning beaches, fantastic food, lots of family friendly days out and a sprinkling of castles and historic houses to boot, whatever you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it in Kent.
Explore
No visit to Hillside would be complete without a trip to the magnificent Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Once there, you’ll have a hard time tearing the kids away from the incredible play areas to explore the beautiful gardens, maze, lake, and castle.
Stop at the cosy King Henry VIII pub on your way home for a late lunch or restorative Kent ale, before the 15-minute amble through fields back to the house.
When it comes to historic houses and gardens we’re spoilt for choice. The following are all under 25 minutes drive; Penshurst Place, Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, National Trust: Chartwell, Knowle House, Emmetts and Ightham Mote.
Set in a magical 13-acre woodland in Penshurst, and just a 5 minute drive from Hillside Kingdom is the perfect place to unwind with the family. Give the kids and dogs a run out in the woodland trails or try the weekly Parkrun.
For those looking to unwind in nature, book a restorative Forest Spa experience with Hot Box Co; what better way to banish the winter blues than sweating out those toxins in the sauna, braving the plunge pool, then chilling out in the wood fired hot tub, all the while surrounded by the most beautiful ancient woodland. Get 10% off your booking with code 5RTOjVN.
Treat yourself to amazing coffee and a delicious locally-sourced brunch in the cafe afterwards and make sure you check out the yoga at Flourish Wellness and treatments at the Holisitc Hut.
Spend a day exploring the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells; wander the historic Pantiles and explore the boutiques and cafes of the pretty high-street. With plenty to do for all the family you’re sure to find something to keep everyone happy.
Eat
Local gastronomic favourites include our neighbours Falconhurst Farm shop for local produce and pop-up supper clubs in the summer and Kingdom for post walk coffee and brunch.
if you’re looking for excellent pub grub look no further than The Rock Inn. As serious about the provenance of their food as their booze; they stock only Kent ale, cider, and English bubbles. Other local gems include Penhurst’s; The Bottle House Inn and The Little Brown Jug and The Greyhound, Charcott. The George and Dragon Chipstead is well worth the 20-minute drive for their excellent food.
For something a little more special try The Old Bank in the pretty market town of Westerham, or the restaurant with a view at Squerreys vineyard. The well-heeled spa town of Tunbridge Wells has no less than four restaurants included in the Michelin guide: Thackerays, Tallow, The Kentish Hare and The Old Fishmarket . Other favourites include The Ivy brasserie, The Beacon and Essence by Atul Kochhar. It also has a wide range of more casual family friendly restaurants including Bills, St Johns Yard for excellent burgers and The Shufflehouse, tapas and pizza, where kids eat free on Sundays.
Drink
Kent and Sussex are home to the most exciting wine producers in the UK, and due in part to similarities between the soil here and in Champagne, the success of Kent sparkling wine is only on the up.
Visit the beautiful Squerreys Estate for a vineyard tour and tasting, and enjoy lunch with a view in the restaurant. Don’t forget to stop at the deli on your way out to stock up on local produce to enjoy with a great British bottle.
Other Kent vineyards less than a half hours drive include The Mount, Godstone and Kingscote.
For local craft beer and ale head to Westerham Brewery Tap Room and shop for a tasting. Check out their website for current food pop-ups and details of jazz and comedy nights.
If you’d rather explore on foot, you can stumble home from the friendly King Henry VIII or The Kentish Horse in 15-20 minutes!
Kent for Kids
Once you’ve prised the kids away from Hillside’s epic dorm room your next challenge will be to agree which of the below to try first…
Assuming you’ve exhausted Hever Castle’s amazing play areas, boating lake and maze, head out to explore the beautiful Ashdown Forest, home of Winne the Pooh. Fans will want to explore the 100 acre wood, stop at Poohsticks bridge for a quick game and perhaps stop for a snack at Pooh corner.
Little ones love the amazing Godstone Farm, with it’s animals, dinosaur trail, indoor play barn and outdoor adventure playground. Animal lovers will delight in a visit to Knowle Park; Kent's last medieval deer park with meandering walks and bustling wildlife or a visit to the British Wildlife Centre.
A little further afield, but well worth the 45 minute drive you’ll find Bedgebury Pinetum Forest. With kids play areas, walking trails, cycling trails for both families and mountain biking adrenalin junkies, there’s something for everyone. As if that wasn’t enough there’s also a GoApe at Bedgebury.
Rainy day favourites under a 25-minute drive include; Little Street Play Cafe and The Stag Theatre and Cinema, both Sevenoaks, Tonbridge swimming pool, which boasts indoor, outdoor and toddler pools and Clip and Climb Tonbridge, suitable for 4+ year olds.