The best castles in Kent (with kids)

Whether you’re fascinated by history, love playing knights and dragons, or are simply looking for a great family day out, there are some great castles in Kent to explore with kids.

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With fortresses belonging to kings, queens and nobles, or created to defend England’s borders over the centuries, the county has some of the best castles in the UK for families, including a chance to see jousts, discover underground tunnels, and watch falconry displays as well as exploring inside.

There are some great stately homes to discover in Kent as well but for this post, I’m focusing firmly on good old-fashioned castles, turrets, towers and all, with my pick of the best castles in Kent for kids (and adults!).

Leeds Castle, near Maidstone

Not far from Maidstone and the village of Leeds (not the more famous city in Yorkshire), Leeds Castle is easily one of the most beautiful historic sites in Kent – and there’s plenty of competition for that particular title.

Sitting reflected in the lake, with peacocks roaming the grounds, this has always struck me (and my daughter) as the kind of castle to house princesses rather than a fearsome fortress.

Once home to Catherine of Aragon, many of the rooms are decorated in lavish 1920s style, although you’ll also find ones straight from medieval times too. Outside, along with those peacocks, there’s an adventure playground and falconry displays plus adventure golf in the grounds.

Check out my review of visiting Leeds Castle with a toddler

Hever Castle, near Edenbridge

One of my all-time favourite Kent days out with kids, there’s masses to fit into a visit to Hever Castle – if we lived just a bit nearer, I’d be tempted to get the annual membership.

As well as being able to explore the castle itself, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn which still houses pieces from Tudor times, you can wander the grounds with a maze, a water maze, a lake, gardens and more to see.

But one of the best parts are the characters wandering around: Henry VIII called me a peasant (claim to fame!) before taking his Queen and knights down to the joust – tip: either get to the joust field early for good views, and wait for the royals to arrive, or follow them down from the castle entrance.

For my full review of a day out at Hever Castle, Kent, click here

Dover Castle, Dover

Another fabulous Kent fortress packed with history, there’s more than ancient tales of kings to be discovered at Dover Castle too, including wartime tunnels used for naval operations during the Second World War.

Get 15% off English Heritage membership using the code EHAFF2025, with up to six children entering free – click here for more details and to sign up

The site is certainly has plenty of stories to share after centuries of use, with an Iron Age Fort and Roman lighthouse built near the Norman castle.

The castle itself has plenty for kids to get hands on, including staff dressed up in medieval costume to show them how to card wool in the kitchens, plus bedchambers decorated as they might have been for royal inhabitants, right down to games to play.

Even when we visited on a chilly winter’s day, the grounds were great to wander around with views down to the English Channel, while older kids will also enjoy the underground hospital.

Read my full review of a visit to Dover Castle with kids

Scotney Castle, near Tunbridge Wells

There’s two for one when you visit Scotney Castle, not far from Tunbridge Wells – not only the ruined 14th castle itself, which seems almost frozen in time surrounded by its moat and parkland, but also a Victorian country house to explore.

There is a priest hole to spy in the castle and secret door in the house, which is still decorated as if the family had merely stepped out for a few minutes, right down to the retro tins in the kitchen. You can even find the footprint of an Iguanadon in the quarry garden (closed, alas, when we last visited).

If you’re visiting Scotney Castle with kids, there’s masses of room to race around in between the historic buildings too, and the natural play area is a huge temptation with plenty of options to entertain, so be prepared to spend a large chunk of the visit here.

Read my full review of our visit to Scotney Castle, Kent with kids

Rochester Castle, Rochester

Rochester Castle is one of the oldest castles in England, with a long and fascinating history dating back to 1087. Sitting in a strategic position above the River Medway, the castle was built by famed architect Gundulf, who also designed and built the Tower of London.

Kids will be captivated by the castle’s imposing medieval walls and the mighty keep – the formidable central stone tower – which is the tallest medieval structure in Europe and one of the best preserved Norman towers in England.

You can visit the castle’s grounds for free and enjoy a peaceful family picnic outside its towering walls. Or to enter the castle and climb the keep, you’ll need to pay the entrance fee and buy tickets. 

The climb to the tower’s rooftop has a reward of breathtaking views over the river and the town below. But the staircase is fairly steep and narrow, so be careful when climbing with younger children.

There are also a few information boards around the fortress, so visitors of all ages can enjoy thrilling stories of the many battles and sieges that once occurred within its ancient walls. 

Upnor Castle, near Rochester

Just a 10 minute drive from Rochester, Upnor Castle was built in the 16th century using stone from the outer walls of nearby Rochester Castle.

The Elizabethan artillery fort was built to defend warships at Chatham Dockyard at the mouth of the River Medway, adding a fascinating glimpse into England’s maritime heritage. 

Within the fort, you can find interactive display boards and exhibits telling the story of the castle, while kids will also love the large cannons pointing out toward the river.

To keep smaller visitors engaged, you can download this kid’s activity sheet. Or plan your visit during one of the castle’s special family events, which include themed trails and craft sessions.

Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge

Also set on the banks of the River Medway, Tonbridge Castle is a magnificent medieval motte and bailey castle with a fascinating 950-year history.

You can explore the Norman stronghold’s peaceful gardens, wander through the gatehouse and climb the ancient motte for free. From the top of the motte, there are panoramic views over the small market town too.

Or if you choose to head inside the gatehouse, the interactive displays, life-like models, guided audio tour, and children’s activity packs make learning about the castle’s past engaging and enjoyable for the whole family. 

Tonbridge Castle is also one of the few castles in Kent where dogs are allowed in all areas of the property. They may even get a free treat when passing by the gift shop.

Deal Castle, Deal

Deal Castle is an unusual Tudor coastal fortress constructed during Henry VIII’s reign. The castle’s innovative circular layout (it looks like a Tudor rose from above) was chosen for its strategic defensive benefits and makes it one of the most exciting castles to visit in Kent.

Kids can uncover the mysteries of the large castle as they get lost in the maze of underground tunnels, wander through the unusual circular rooms, and climb spiral staircases to explore the bastions and castle walls.

There are also plenty of interactive exhibits and kid’s activities (don’t miss the wooden muskets for little ones to play with) to help you imagine what life was like as a Tudor knight in the castle 

Plus keep an eye out for special family events throughout the year at this English heritage site, including customised actors who come to tell the story of Henry VIII and the castle’s past.

Walmer Castle, near Deal

From Deal Castle, you can take a short walk along the Kent seafront to reach Walmer Castle and Gardens. The Tudor Castle was also built by King Henry VIII in the 16th century as part of the same chain of coastal defences to protect England from the French.

The historic fortress turned country house has had many famous residents over its history, including the Duke of Wellington, William Pitt the Younger, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. 

There’s plenty to explore inside the castle, including the Duke of Wellington’s bedroom in its original state and a pair of original Wellington Boots.

But the highlight of this Kent castle for families has to be its beautiful and expansive gardens. Kids will love the woodland trails and natural play equipment, which includes climbing nets, wobbly bridges, and animal sculptures.

You can also take a stroll through the formal gardens (one is dedicated to the Queen Mother), see what’s growing in the kitchen garden, and grab a bite to eat in the lovely Glasshouse Café.

Chiddingstone Castle, near Edenbridge

Chiddingstone Castle was originally built in the early 16th century as a Tudor manor house, then later resigned in the style of a medieval castle in the 19th century.

The well-preserved property has been owned and lived in by an eclectic mix of people during its history. Most recently, it was purchased by collector Denys Eyre Bower to hold his large collection of art, antiques and artefacts from all around the world. 

Now the castle is a family-friendly museum, featuring highlights from Bower’s Japanese, Stuart and Jacobite, Buddhist, and Ancient Egyptian collections.

Even if you don’t want to pay to visit the castle’s collection, you can still explore the property’s 35 acres of grounds for free. The picturesque gardens have lots of space for kids to run around, an Ancient Egyptian-inspired grass maze, and an avenue of Japanese cherry blossom trees – there’s even a Japanese tea house too.

Chiddingstone Castle is only a short drive from Hever Castle, so you can easily combine the two for a great afternoon out in Kent with kids.

Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford

Lullingstone Castle is another historic manor house in Kent with a castle-like appearance thanks to its gatehouse battlements.

But the castle isn’t what most people actually come to see – in fact, the property itself is still a private family home and is only open on occasion. Rather, the castle has become famous for its beautiful garden filled with amazing plants and trees from all across the world.

“The World Garden” was opened in 2005 by Tom Hart Dyke, a British horticulturist who quite literally risked his life in the hunt for rare plants for his garden – Dyke was kidnapped by a guerilla group in the Colombian jungle while hunting for rare orchids.

His vibrant garden is now open to visitors every Thursday to Sunday (including Bank Holiday Mondays) and costs a small fee to enter. 

The gardens are a great place to visit with kids, with wacky sculptures, hands-on activities, a free Plant Hunter Quiz, and special children’s events throughout the year. There’s also plenty of space to enjoy a relaxing family picnic in the beautiful garden.

The castles in Kent to skip

You won’t be short of great castles in Kent to visit on a family day out, but here are a few to skip for now if they’re on your wishlist.

Canterbury Castle

One of the three original royal castles in Kent, built shortly after the Norman Conquest, it has been closed to visitors for some time because of the dangers of falling masonry.

Work is going on to restore it and reopen the ruins, so you may be able to get a look inside before long, but it’s not the most impressive fortress in the county.

The ruins of Eynsford Castle, which was also closed because of structural issues, have now reopened – this early Norman castle was abandoned in the early 14th century after being vandalised during a family feud over inheritance.

Chilham Castle

The medieval castle on this site has long since been replaced by a Jacobean manor house, and while you can visit the castle gardens at some points of the year, the building itself isn’t open to the public.

Sissinghurst Castle

It’s not that you shouldn’t visit Sissinghurst Castle with kids, as the National Trust site has some fun trails and lakeside walks in the ground. But this is definitely more of a stately home, despite the name, so don’t expect turrets and fortress walls.

For more things to do in Kent with kids, check out my top picks

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Main image/Hever castle/Scotney Castle images copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos/Adobe Stock/Picfair

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