Swanley Park

We absolutely love Swanley Park! It's definitely a favourite 5 star summer destination for us as we can't wait to get in the splash pool when the suns out! But the biggest plus for my boys is the mini trains, wooo, wooo!

We start our visit by parking in New Barn Road for £2 all day, pay on the door. We usually choose to travel in style to the opposite end of the park and wait at the little platform for the mini train. They do have a carriage you can put Pushchairs in too so you won't miss out. Trains run from April through to end of September at weekends and weekdays in the school holidays. We get a return fare which is £1 kids £1.50 adults or £4 family of 4. Or if just one way is 70p and £1. The kids love it and all the volunteers running it are fab. Mine particularly like watching the trains going on the turntable and waving to the drivers. Follow their facebook page for info. Swanley New Barn Railway

The train deposits you right next to all the action. If it's a hot day the splash pool is where it's at, the pool, grass area and little toddler play ground is surrounded by fencing and gates which helps if u have speedy toddlers. The grass area can get busy if it promises to be a hot day so either get your spot early (10-10:30am) or later in the afternoon when people tend to move on. If you don't fancy sitting on the ground you can hire a nice stripey deck chair! The pool has a flat section of rubbery matting with various points that randomly squirt water, which is great for everyone. Then there is the adjoining paddling pool which is deeper in places than others but shallow, so won't get near your knees. Access is completely free!

The splash pool is directly outside the café which sells everything from tea, cake, burger & chips to ice cream and buckets & spades! Usually along side there is a small bouncy castle and a few ride on mini bikes for a small charge. The toilet block is just to the right of these. They are not great loos and when it's busy  the queues for the ladies can be huge so not good with a desperate child in tow. Recommend you take any opportunity to make the kids go when it's quiet and take a porta potty if anyone's a bit hit and miss!

So you've had plenty of splashing, ate your picnic, played on the littlies play bit and got sand everywhere, now what?!... Pack up your kit and head over to the play park which has equipment for the little and big ones all within a fenced area. It has all the usual slides, climbing frames, swings and climbing wall, plenty to keep them busy. There isn't much shade on a hot day so don't forget your hats! Obviously the surrounding area consists of the 'park' so lots of grass for running around, playing ball games and trees if you need some shade. And there's usually an ice cream van parked up should you not be able to cope without a 99!

Home time? Not quite if you've got a few quid to spare. The pond/mini lake normally has row boats, pedalos and kayaks for hire. There are usually plenty to go around and everyone gets a life jacket or buoyancy aid just in case. We've also done a bit of pond dipping here, there are a few points that make it easy to access the water and you can usually spot a dragonfly or two.  We usually take the train back to the car but it is a pleasent walk if you still have the energy.

Please note this season the park amenities are under new management, they have already added a new mini golf course which we are looking forward to checking out. There are also various events held at the park throughout the year including outdoor cinema, fireworks, inflatables week so check them out on Facebook. Swanley Park 

Best For:Toddlers; Under 12s;
Recommed:Kids Swimwear, Picnic Rug, Porta Potty, Football.
Time:3-6hrs

Lower Leas Cliff Coastal Park

Lower Leas Cliff Coastal Park in Folkestone is definitely in my top 10 'Destination Play Parks'! If you look up from the beach you wouldn't even know it was there hidden between the trees...

There are car parks at either end of the park but we park at the harbour end as there's plenty of spaces and it's relatively cheap. The car park on the left opposite the Leas Lift is £3 for 4-12hrs (In the Winter it's free to park on the road) There are also good public transport links to Folkestone taking you in to the town centre which is a short walk to the seafront and the park.

When you enter the park from the harbour end you walk through well laid out gardens. There are various pathways to wonder around including bridges and great views of the sea. The boys love to run around the different routes or use their scooters or bikes! The main route and some of the other paths are wheelchair accessible. This section of the park is also relatively flat. There are plenty of benches and picnic spots and the kids particularly like sitting on the grass ampi-theatre.

When you reach the 'Fun Zone' the first play area you come to is the sunken pirate ship! Complete with crows nest, ships wheel, communication pipe and rigging! There are benches in the playground but also opposite for the oldies. All the play apparatus in the park is surrounded by sand which is always a hit with the littlies. The good thing about the pirate ship is the toddler and primary age kids can play together and they only disappear from view when venturing inside the broken ship.

Walk up hill to the next little stop where you'll find the Spiders Web and then on from there is the 'big adventure play'. This huge construction incorporates, traditional and tube slides, ladders, stairs, tunnels, bridges and zip wires! And if that all sounds far too tiring there are lots of benches for taking it easy. Obviously aimed at the Over 5s it spans both sides of the path and is a hive of activity so make sure the big ones know where to find you! Just behind the benches to observe all this adventuring is the start of the under 5s section...

...there is a suspended boat and a net hammock again surrounded by sand. If you walk up to the next level there is a little wooden house and various tipping and sieving devices for playing with the sand. There are further sections with the wobbly ride on things and a another construction type bit for shifting sand (with a handy stop your toddler from escaping gate).

By which point I'm usually in serious need of a wee and a cuppa! But luckily this is the top of the park where the public loos are, with baby change/disabled loo too. If you walk down the steep slope between the loos and the park ranger hut you will probably be forced to stop at the sand pit and the sit on diggers. But don't worry just a little further down some steep steps there is the café!  (not very buggy friendly but do - able,  less steps is if you go around and come up from the beach) They do the usual variety of teas and coffees with various cakes and lunches on offer. And of course the obligatory summer ice creams! I usually abandon the buggies, kids and other adults and opt for take outs; But there is a large veranda over looking the beach for eating in protected from the wind by plastic surround or some tables inside.

If that wasn't enough you can then walk down to the stoney beach. There is a nice area directly below the café with some benches up against the sea wall so a good place for a play. Or take a stroll/scoot along the sea front if the kids have any energy left.You can then make your way back through the park or along the front. If you've got time you might want to take the kids on a little trip on the The Leas Lift up the cliff to the town for a small charge. The restored Victorian water balanced Vanicular is open daily from April through the Summer.

Time: 3-6hrs
Best For: Toddlers, Under 5s, Under 12s
Recommend: Picnic, Scooters, Bucket & Spades.

Whitstable Castle

We all love a trip to the bubble and our favourite stop is Whitstable Castle. There is a great little adventure playground complete with a pirate ship with rigging to climb and a slide for a quick escape! The kids love the roundabout and finding the piles of gold coins. It originally had running water too but I haven't seen this work for a few years now but the kids still play in the channels and enjoy winding the water pump handles. There are benches in the play area and only one gate to get in and out so less escapees.

When the weather is warm we take a picnic and put blankets down on the lawns in front of the castle. We take the scooters too so the kids can have a scoot around the paths although we have to be a bit more wary now since the 7yr olds are more likely to mow down little old ladies. If it's a bit chilly or you can't be bothered with a picnic, the castle has The Orangery Tea Rooms which also does take-out hot drinks which can come in handy. Although if the picnic fairy has failed us we normally take a very short walk to The Beach Cafe in Beach Walk, we love a bucket of chips with our sarnies!

After lunch we head for the beach which is practically opposite the castle. Walk through Tower Hill Tea Gardens and you pop out at the top of the slope/steps down on to the beach. Whitstable is a stoney beach but there are patches of shingle/sand which we use for some art attack stylee drawings. Followed by stone stacking and the more common stone skimming or chucking in the sea. You can take a stroll along the path by the beach towards Tankerton which is a good surface for scooters. In the summer we may just be persuaded to fork out for ice creams before home time, there is normally an ice cream van parked up in Beach Walk or pop back to the tea gardens.

There are various events held at Whitstable Castle throughout the year. During February half-term this year they had the Fairy Scavenger Hunt throughout the grounds and the next event is an Easter Egg Hunt. There is usually a fun day during the summer holidays which includes free activities, entertainment, facepainting etc. As well as the obligatory Christmas Fayre for a bit of gift shopping and Santa's grotto which you can visit for a small charge. Visit the website www.whitstablecastle.co.uk or follow on Facebook for current event information.

You can park at the castle for 3 hours maximum which is free and normally just long enough provided it's only a quick trip to the beach. There is parking just as you drive in the side gate on Tower Hill but there are also more spaces further in if these are full. You can also park on Tower Hill road for free and down towards Tankerton but finding a space can be tricky at popular times. Alternatively there are a few 4 hour pay & display spaces in Beach Walk or the Castle is only a 5 minute walk from the central car park 'The Tank'.

There are public toilets in the castle grounds near the play park as well as facilities in the café and the castle itself. There are also public toilets right by the beach.

Best for: Toddlers; Under 12s;
Recommend: Scooters, Picnic & Rug,
Time: 3hrs or 4-5hrs (with scoot along the beach)