Because who needs expensive holidays when you’ve got the Garden of England on your doorstep?
Airports are stressful and holidaying at home is flight free, sustainable and involves no passports or paperwork!
While everyone else is re-mortgaging their house for time away, you’ve had the rather brilliant idea of exploring Kent. And not just any Kent adventure, we’re talking about the gloriously free bits that won’t leave your wallet weeping.
Kent is absolutely bursting with things to do that cost precisely nothing. Well, apart from the petrol to get there and the inevitable ice cream you’ll buy despite promising yourself you wouldn’t.
Known for royal residences and Roman ruins with spectacular beaches, stunning sunsets and areas of outstanding natural beauty, Kent is a popular choice.
Canterbury
Explore Canterbury’s Streets (and pretend you’re in a period drama).
Wander through the cobbled streets and marvel at Canterbury Cathedral, England’s very first cathedral, built over 1,400 years ago when people had proper attention spans. Yes, there’s an admission charge to go inside (they’ve got bills to pay, haven’t they?), but the exterior is free to gawk at; and frankly, the architecture is so spectacular you’ll get your money’s worth just standing outside looking sufficiently impressed.
Nearby St Augustine’s Abbey is run by English Heritage and there is a modest entry fee, but just 10 minutes walk away you’ll discover the fascinating Conduit House, part of the abbey’s ancient waterworks. The Abbey itself is the burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent, part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site.
Download a free walking tour app (because guided tours are for people with disposable income). Why pay for a guide when your smartphone can give you all the historical facts for free? Various apps offer city tours that are surprisingly decent.
Westgate Gardens
These public gardens surround the medieval Tower House, which was built to defend Canterbury’s city wall. Today, it defends against precisely nothing more threatening than aggressive ducks; however, the gardens are lovely for a stroll.
The Crab and Winkle Way
This delightfully named path takes its name from the railway line which ran between Canterbury and Whitstable in the early 19th century. Perfect for walking, cycling, or simply impressing people with your knowledge of quirky place names.
Getting to Canterbury:
From London, you can take a high speed Southeastern train from St Pancras International to reach Canterbury in under an hour.
Parking:
There are several public car parks from around £1.90 per hour. Or use the Park and Ride, for just £4 per day per car with up to six passengers, and get a bus into the city.
More information about the delights of Canterbury can be found on the Visit Canterbury website
Stour Valley Walk
Just 15 minutes from Canterbury lies this rather lovely riverside walkway. The full 58-mile route is for people with far too much time and enthusiasm, but you can follow the heron signs for shorter, more sensible walks.
Wild flowers grow on the river banks, and you’ll be able to spot evidence of the numerous mills that dotted the region, powered by the River Stour.
The river divides just before the city. The northerly arm passes through Kingsmead Meadows while the southern arm runs past the castle, through ancient friaries and monasteries and the former homes of Flemish weavers.
There are loads of footpaths here but if you fancy a 3-mile circular walk, stroll around Westbere Lake and drop in to the Yew Tree for “research purposes”. It claims to be the oldest pub in Kent.
Fancy tackling the whole length of the path? Check out Kent Downs for all the info you need.
Reculver Towers
Another free-to-enter English Heritage site is the imposing Reculver Towers at Herne Bay.
These towers are having a bit of a moment; undergoing a major restoration project. Although that doesn’t stop them being rather magnificent from a distance.
Originally a Roman fort (because the Romans were everywhere, weren’t they?), later an Anglo-Saxon monastery, then a parish church, these towers have seen more career changes than a millennial.
Much has been lost to coastal erosion, proving that even ancient monuments can’t escape Britain’s ongoing battle with the sea.
The Towers are just off the A299 Thanet Way, 3 miles east of Herne Bay, and the site is part of the National Cycle Network. Worth checking the state of the conservation project before you visit.
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Now, here’s where things get interesting. There’s technically a charge for entry, but they do let you have a look around before committing. Just tell them you’re “considering” buying a ticket, which is true, isn’t it? You are considering it. For about thirty seconds.
The free bits are limited, but the grounds of Fort Amherst nearby are completely free.The rather brilliant Napoleonic fort has tunnels (charges apply), nature trails, and the sort of cannons that make you feel like you’re in a proper historical adventure.
The Dockyard is a 20-minute walk from the main railway station.
If you’re coming by car, it’s well signed off the M2 and M20 and parking is free for museum visitors, but you’ll be charged if you don’t have a Dockyard ticket.
Not sure what’s worth paying for? Take a look at The Historic Dockyard Chatham website.
The White Cliffs of Dover
The most famous cliffs in Britain (sorry, other cliffs) are free to admire, though The National Trust does charge for parking. Arrive on foot, and you’ll pay nothing except the price of slightly wobbly legs from the climb.
These chalk cliffs have been welcoming and/or warning visitors for centuries. They’re ridiculously photogenic and make you feel patriotic whether you want to or not.
There’s car parking near the Visitor Centre at Langdon, postcode CT16 1HJ, with additional parking at Wanstone. For full details of accessibility, facilities and charges for parking see the National Trust website. If you arrive at the cliffs by foot, there is no charge.
The Kent Downs
The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is vast: 850 square kilometres (that’s 328 square miles) of rolling hills, ancient woodlands, and the sort of countryside that makes you understand why people write poems about nature.
With over 50 locations to explore, you could spend months here without paying a penny. The website has a handy travel planner, which is considerably more organised than most of us.
There are many hiking trails to explore, offering spectacular views of the landscape. Here you’ll find ancient bluebell woodlands, internationally rare chalk grassland, and ragstone villages.
With over 50 specific and varied locations to explore, you’d better check out the Kent Downs website before you go. The site has a handy travel planner, giving you the best routes and low impact options to visit.
Kent’s Beaches
Margate Beach, Viking Bay, and Broadstairs Beach are all free to enjoy, though you’ll inevitably spend money on chips, ice cream, or both. It’s the law.
Add fossil hunting to your beach day; Kent’s coastline is brilliant for finding ancient treasures, though “treasures” might be overstating things slightly.
The Turner Contemporary
JMW Turner was obsessed with Margate’s light and kept returning to paint its “ever-changing skies and seascapes.” The Turner Contemporary is built where he used to stay, and entry is completely free. Usually there isn’t a Turner on display! However until April 2026 you can see his ‘Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate’ as part of the Turner 250, marking 250 years since his birth.
The gallery is a 15-minute walk from Margate station, giving you time to work up an appreciation for modern art or at least pretend you understand it.
Entry to the gallery is free, and it features a range of special collections and events throughout the year.
Just a short walk along the seafront from Margate train station with car parking available at The Rendezvous.
Do check their website before visiting, as some areas close while new exhibitions are set up.
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a proper treat; a Royal Harbour with history, literature, and architecture. Plus, it has one of the rare King Edward VIII postboxes (there are only 271 in existence, making it rarer than common sense).
The undercliff walk to Broadstairs is part of the Viking Coastal Trail and ends near the beach Dickens wrote about in David Copperfield. It also ends near Morelli’s ice cream parlour, which sadly isn’t free; but life’s too short for principles when faced with proper Italian gelato.
Take our word for it, Ramsgate is well worth a short break at any time of the year, with many of the best parts open and free to all.
While in Ramsgate, see if you can spot one of those last remaining King Edward VIII postboxes.
Ramsgate is just over an hour away by train from London and easily accessed from the M20 if you’re travelling by car or coach.
Rochester
Unlike Canterbury, Rochester cathedral is free to visit and is the second-oldest cathedral in the country, founded in 604CE, making it almost as old as some of my jokes.
The Guildhall Museum is also free and houses a collection that follows a timeline through Medway’s history. You can see the 17th century chamber Dickens featured in Great Expectations, touch a 200,000-year-old axe and admire the Seaton Tool Chest – the most complete example of an 18th century tool chest in the whole world.
However Rochester castle is not free, unless you are an English Heritage member, but a stroll around the outside will demonstrate how in 1215, it endured a two-month siege by King John, who used the fat of 40 pigs to fire a mine under the keep!
If that’s too much excitement for you, take a stroll through the Victorian centre for a bit of window shopping and sustenance at one of its many cafés and restaurants.
Like most of Kent, Rochester is easily reached via the M25 London Orbital and the M20. Trains from London are frequent, with a journey time around an hour and a half.
Bedgebury National Pinetum
This beautiful arboretum has over 10,000 trees and shrubs, hiking, running and cycling trails to explore plus a special Play Trail for children. Entry is free, though parking charges apply, because … Well, someone has to pay for all those trees.
It’s deep in the countryside, so you’ll need a car; but it’s worth it for the sheer variety of conifers. Yes, you can get excited about conifers; it’s allowed.
As a rural attraction, Bedgebury is most easily reached by car and parking charges apply. The arboretum hosts a range of events throughout the year, including guided walks, so worth checking the Forestry England website.
Whitstable Harbour
Whitstable harbour is perfect for watching boats, chatting to fishermen, and eating fish and chips on the harbour wall. The harbour browsing is free; the seafood isn’t, but when you’re this close to proper Whitstable oysters, resistance is futile.
• 8 reasons to visit Whitstable
High speed trains will get you from London St Pancras to Whitstable in just over an hour, but taking a slower train gives you better views of the countryside! By car from London, the A2/M2 route is the most direct.
Dymchurch Beach
When the sun’s out, Dymchurch beach is perfect for a free family day out, though you’ll need to check tide times as the beach disappears completely at high tide. When the tide is out, there’s a huge expanse of sand that makes children very happy and parents very grateful for free entertainment.
Leysdown Beach
An underrated beach, often overlooked due to its location, but brilliant for a quiet stroll. It’s flat, the tide goes out quite far, and out of season it’s ideal for dog walking.
Sandwich
This preserved medieval town is free to wander through. The town centre is a designated conservation area with its historic buildings, ancient churches, and the sort of narrow streets that make you grateful for modern town planning while simultaneously missing the character of the old days.
The town walls are still largely intact, and you can walk along them for free while pretending you’re defending against Danish invaders.
Bonus: Kent’s Hidden Gems
Tonbridge Castle Grounds – While the castle interior charges admission, the grounds and gatehouse are free to explore.
Mote Park, Maidstone – 440 acres of parkland with a lake, perfect for family picnics and pretending you’re organised enough to pack proper sandwiches.
Dunkirk Mill, Canterbury – A working watermill that’s free to visit (though donations are appreciated, and frankly, they deserve them).
The Greensand Way – A 105-mile walking route through Kent’s most beautiful countryside. You don’t have to do it all at once; that would be showing off.
Top Tips for Your Free Kent Adventure
- Check opening times; free attractions can be surprisingly fickle about when they’re actually open.
- Parking charges may apply; remember that “free” often means “free except for the parking,” which is the British way.
- Weather happens; it’s Britain. Pack layers and waterproofs, and be prepared to find indoor alternatives.
- Download apps; many attractions have free apps with extra information, making you feel terribly modern and efficient.
- Keep an eye out for the Kent Big Weekend; this annual event offers free tickets to many paid attractions throughout the county.
Getting Around Kent
By Train: Kent is brilliantly connected to London, with high-speed services getting you to most places in under an hour. Perfect for day trips when you want to feel like you’ve had a proper adventure without the expense of staying overnight.
By Car: The M25, M20, and M2 will get you anywhere in Kent, though parking charges are as inevitable as rain at a British barbecue.
By Bus: Local buses connect most towns and villages, though timetables can be more of a rough guideline than a firm commitment.
Kent proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a brilliant time. From Roman ruins to medieval cathedrals, from stunning coastlines to ancient woodlands, the Garden of England offers more free entertainment than you can shake a stick at (and stick-shaking is also free, should you feel so inclined).
So pack your sensible shoes, charge your phone for photos, and set off to explore Kent’s free treasures. Your wallet will thank you, and you’ll discover that some of the best things in life really are free; even if the parking isn’t.
Remember: while these attractions were free at the time of writing, it’s always worth checking current information before setting off. Britain has a proud tradition of suddenly charging for things that used to be free, usually with very little warning.
Where to next?
• 8 good things for a country walk
• A day out at Michelham Priory
• 5 English Heritage sites in Sussex