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Historic Adventures & Family Fun near Upchurch, Medway, Sittingbourne and Surrounding Areas in Kent this Summer!

  • Writer: Nursery Days
    Nursery Days
  • 2 days ago
  • 4 min read

The six-week summer holiday stretches ahead, and if you are local to Nursery Days in Upchurch, Medway, or Sittingbourne, you might be wondering how to fill those long, sunny days. Fortunately, Kent is brimming with spectacular historical sites and engaging family attractions ready to spark your children's imaginations. We have searched the local calendars to bring you the best events happening right on our doorstep this July and August.


1. Summertime at Leeds Castle

  • Date: 22nd July – 31st August 2026

  • Location: Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL

  • Description: Celebrate a classic Great British Summer at what is often called the loveliest castle in the world. Alongside their incredible playgrounds, mazes, and birds of prey displays, Leeds Castle is running a special summer programme featuring outdoor family trails, pop-up beach areas, and interactive history displays.

  • Link: Leeds Castle Events


2. A Knight's Tale at Hever Castle

  • Date: 22nd July – 31st August 2026

  • Location: Hever Castle, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG

  • Description: Step into the world of legends as Hever Castle celebrates 40 years of jousting! Children can become "Knights-in-Training" in an immersive medieval experience, learning bravery and teamwork under the guidance of King Arthur's Court. Expect spectacular jousting tournaments and falconry displays on selected summer dates.

  • Link: Hever Castle What's On


3. Classics at Penshurst Place

  • Date: Sunday, 16th August 2026

  • Location: Penshurst Place and Gardens, Penshurst, TN11 8DG

  • Description: A fantastic day out for car-loving kids and parents alike! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Penshurst parkland, this huge classic car show features hundreds of vintage vehicles to admire, alongside access to the brilliant adventure playground and the newly reimagined toy museum bursting with nostalgic treasures.

  • Link: Classics at Penshurst 2026


4. Steve Backshall’s Awesome Oceans Family Trail

  • Date: 11th July – 31st August 2026

  • Location: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TZ

  • Description: Calling all explorers! The Historic Dockyard has teamed up with legendary wildlife expert Steve Backshall for an extraordinary summer journey beneath the waves. This interactive family trail takes kids on a marine conservation adventure while exploring the historic naval ships and submarines.

  • Link: The Historic Dockyard Chatham Events


5. The Kent Life Ice Cream Festival & Dinosaur Days

  • Date: 29th – 31st August 2026 Ice Cream Festival and 10th 16th August Dinosaur Days

  • Location: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3AU

  • Description: Treat the kids to a sweet day out at Kent Life’s Ice Cream Festival. Alongside sampling delicious frozen treats from various vendors, families can explore the vintage village, meet the friendly farmyard animals, enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas, and ride the fun tractor-trailer.

  • Link: Kent Life Events


6. Military Odyssey at the Kent Event Centre

  • Date: 29th – 31st August 2026

  • Location: Kent Event Centre, Detling Show Ground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF

  • Description: Held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, this is a massive three-day multi-period living history show. Packed full of thrilling live action displays, families can travel through 2,000 years of history in one day, watching Romans, Vikings, and Victorians bring the past to life right before their eyes.

  • Link: Kent Event Centre What's On


7. The Chatham Show: Model Railway Exhibition

  • Date: 18th – 19th July 2026

  • Location: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TZ

  • Description: A spectacular weekend for train enthusiasts of all ages! The Chatham Show is returning for 2026, bringing one of the largest model railway and engineering exhibitions in the South East directly to the historic grounds of the dockyard. Families can marvel at dozens of intricate, working miniature layouts and interactive demonstrations.

  • Link: Chatham Model Railway Exhibition


8. Great British Summer at Dover Castle

  • Date: 18th July – 6th September 2026

  • Location: Dover Castle, Castle Hill Road, Dover, CT16 1HU

  • Description: English Heritage is putting on a fantastic summer programme at Dover Castle. Families can enjoy traditional fairground activities, dive into puppet antics, and pick up new tricks at the circus skills station. Kids can also grab a souvenir passport to collect special stamps as they explore the iconic medieval fortress and its secret wartime tunnels.

  • Link: Events at Dover Castle


9. Summer Family Activities at Canterbury Cathedral

  • Date: Throughout July & August 2026

  • Location: Canterbury Cathedral, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2EH

  • Description: This summer, the Cathedral is running a special "Makers, Rulers and Leaders" programme. Alongside exploring the incredible architecture, there are dedicated family-fun workshops where children can get creative making golden mitres, medieval-style brooches, and Tudor ruffs, bringing 1,500 years of history to life in a fun, hands-on way.

  • Link: Canterbury Cathedral Events


Conclusion:

From medieval knights battling in castle grounds to deep-sea conservation trails, there is no shortage of exciting ways to learn and play in Kent this season. We love hearing about our Nursery Days families’ weekend exploits, so pick your favourite event, pack a picnic, and enjoy a truly memorable summer exploring our fantastic local heritage!


About Us:

We are vastly experienced and knowledgeable after years of early years practice as a team. We know that choosing a nursery is a big decision and understand what is important to parents and children. We are aware of the demands and pressures parents have in their lives and so offer many different flexible sessions to suit our individual parents needs. From funded or self funding places to vouchers from work, we will always try to work out what will work best with you.


Visit Our Website at: www.nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk 



 
 
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