Kent Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

recommended places to visit and things to do throughout Kent


  • art gallery
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • art

striking contemporary art gallery, on site of JMW Turner's guest house, with high-calibre exhibitions and stunning sea views

  • fortress
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  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • viewpoint
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • English Heritage
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • World War II
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  • medicine

spectacular setting atop the White Cliffs of Dover, this large fortress includes a Roman lighthouse and secret wartime tunnels

  • museum
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • World War II
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  • Battle of Britain

with full size replicas of aircraft such as the Spitfire, this museum has one of the largest collection of Battle of Britain relics. All the exhibits are housed in war damaged 1940s buildings

  • place of worship
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • local history
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  • social history
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  • religion

stunning Gothic cathedral with exceptional, medieval stained glass windows, home to the Church of England and scene of Thomas Beckett's murder

Ightham Mote

Sevenoaks

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

perfectly preserved, medieval, moated manor with a deep sense of history, with tranquil gardens where the streams and lakes are fed by natural springs

  • film/tv location
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  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • TV
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  • walking

showcasing over 900 years of captivating history, including the unique dog collar museum and surrounded by a romantic moat and lovely gardens

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

home of the Hart Dykes since the 15th Century, the historic mansion boasts a great hall, grand staircase and library. The gardens have recently been updated to include thousands of rare, unusual and beautiful plants from around the world

  • film/tv location
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  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • film
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage
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  • social history
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  • TV

take a trip back in time on this light gauge, period railway with its iconic steam trains that have featured in many films and TV programmes

  • film/tv location
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  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • film
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage
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  • maritime heritage
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  • TV

formerly a Royal Navy dockyard and now the most complete dockyard museum from the Age of Sail with inter-active exhibits for all ages

Chartwell

Westerham

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • pre-booking advised
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • World War II
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  • politics
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

surrounded by attractive gardens, home of Sir Winston Churchill for more than 40 years containing memorabilia as well as his art work

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • cycling
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  • nature
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  • walking

with something for everyone and boasting an outstanding collection of conifers, this large pinetum is a beautiful setting for family picnics

  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

informal gardens set over 9 acres with many glorious plants and wildlife.

Belmont House

Painters Forstal

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • walking

beautiful grounds surround this 18C house which is home to a wonderful collection of clocks, paintings & much family memorabilia

Bewl Water

Tunbridge Wells

  • leisure facility
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • cycling
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  • sport
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  • walking

the South East's largest lake which offers activities all year round from water sports in summer to interactive exhibitions in winter

  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • seasonal opening
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  • antiques
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  • archeology
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  • history
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  • local history
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  • military history
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  • toys & models
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  • transport
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  • trains

showcasing a comprehensive history of the local area including exhibits from neolithic times, the two world wars and a model railway depicting the import the railway played in the town's past

  • museum
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • World War II
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  • Battle of Britain
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  • transport
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  • aviation

taking the shape of an immense three bladed propeller, this memorial is dedicated to the brave people who fought in the Battle of Britain

Bayham Old Abbey

Little Bayham

  • place of worship
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  • ruin
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  • free admission
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  • seasonal opening
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  • English Heritage
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  • architecture
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  • history
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  • religion
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  • walking

impressive ruins set in attractive grounds designed by Humphry Repton

  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • art
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  • history
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  • local history

grand historic building on Canterbury's High Street, housing library, tourist office, café and a small museum

Knole House

Sevenoaks

  • historic house
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  • park
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • seasonal opening
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  • limited opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • art
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • social history
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  • walking

set in Kent's last remaining medieval deer park with an exceptional collection of Jacobean furniture and fine Flemish tapestries

  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • seasonal opening
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  • history
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  • maritime heritage

four exhibition galleries covering local maritime history, including shipwrecks on the notorious Goodwin Sands

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