elf visit kent

Until Christmas

10 years 10 years.

Extend the Christmas Magic this year and visit Quex Illuminations at Quex Adventure Farm Park.

Once Santa has returned to the North Pole, explore the Elf Express woods at your own pace enjoying the thousands of lights and illuminated installations. Wander at your own pace and spend some time with the Reindeer nestled deep within the Elf Woods. New for Quex Illuminations, enjoy the projection mapping light show at the Round Tower that brings the listed building to life after-dark.

Quex Illuminations is the perfect moment for reflection during the hectic festive period. 

While you’re enjoying the festive spectacular, grab a German Sausage from the large BBQ or a glass of steaming Mulled Wine. Complete your walk under the stars with a perfectly festive Baileys Hot Chocolate or Festive Hot Drink.

Quex Illuminations – the perfect after Christmas outing for the whole family.

Please note, Quex Illuminations is a separate event to The Elf Express and while using a similar route to the Elf Express does not visit all areas, include a visit to Santa or a Gift from Santa’s Toyshop .   The Illuminations Light Show at the tower will take place at 6pm each evening.

£10.00/Adult £8.50/Child 

SANTA & ELF VISITS  

Once again we will be providing magical Christmas visits from Santa & The Elf On The Shelf.

To register your interest - please subscribe.

We will be emailing and providing you first options for home visits from the Christmas characters. 

Every year we are fully booked - Do Not Miss Out!

We will be covering Essex, London.

Areas in Kent & Hertfordshire will require minimum 1 hour bookings.  

Experience Christmas at Kent Life

Home > Experience Christmas at Kent Life

Join us for our award-winning Christmas Experience!

COMING SOON!

A festive extravaganza awaits you at our Christmas Experience! Get ready to say “Ho Ho Ho!” as you embark on a magical journey. The highlight of your visit will be meeting Father Christmas himself in his enchanting grotto. Little ones will be thrilled to choose a special gift from the wonderfully stocked toy shop.

But that’s not all! You can immerse yourself in the holiday spirit by graduating from Elf School, indulging in heartwarming Christmas films, exploring the delightful sweet shop, and even building your very own teddy bear*. Be sure to catch an enchanting live show and make a stop at The Snow Inn for delectable festive treats and drinks. And don’t forget to hop on The Jingle Express for a merry ride!

For a tasty treat, head to Mrs Christmas’s Kitchen where you can unleash your creativity and decorate gingerbread. Adults can savor a complimentary cup of mulled wine or a non-alcoholic alternative, accompanied by a scrumptious mince pie.

Our friendly farmyard animals are excited to meet you too! Don’t miss the chance to visit them and even feed them*, or why not make some special reindeer food* to take home and ensure Father Christmas’s reindeer are well-fed on Christmas Eve?

Rest assured, you’ll receive a detailed itinerary of all the exciting activities from Twinkle Toes the elf prior to your visit. And the best part? Our ticket prices include all-day access to Kent Life, so you can arrive at any time and enjoy the festivities to the fullest. Get ready for a Christmas experience like no other!

*small additional charge applies

All of our ticket prices include all day access to Kent Life.

• Friday 15th December
• Saturday 16th December
• Sunday 17th December
• Monday 18th December
• Tuesday 19th December
• Wednesday 20th December
• Thursday 21st December
• Friday 22nd December
• Saturday 23rd December
• Sunday 24th December

Please note that the time you book for is the time you will meet to enter the Grotto. You are welcome to arrive anytime before your booked time slot and experience the other activities, however – please ensure you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your Grotto booking.

We advise that you arrive early to make the most of your experience at Kent Life.

Ticket Prices

Important information.

• All bookings are non-refundable, or transferable, and we cannot make changes to booked time slots – so please ensure you are able to visit on your chosen date and time.
• In the event that Kent Life needs to cancel the event due to government guidance, or for reasons beyond our control, we will be in touch with you to discuss your options.
• All bookings are subject to these terms and conditions .
• Disabled children pay the full child price, but are entitled to bring a carer free of charge. The carer tickets do not need to be pre-booked.
• Sadly we cannot allow dogs to this event.

• EXPLORE Find out all about the amazing parts of our site that make Kent Life such a fun day out!
• PLAN YOUR VISIT Opening times, prices, how to get here, and annual memberships.
• EVENTS We've got events for all, all year round- from our annual hop festival to Christmas and Fireworks celebrations!
• ABOUT US We've been going quite some time - as has Kent! Check out our story here.

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FARMYARD CHATTER

The magical Kent Christmas wonderland with Santa's grotto, elf school and ride on Jingle Express

Visiting Father Christmas in his grotto is just one of the wonderful things children can do at this very special gem in Kent

• 12:00, 14 OCT 2023

A stunning attraction in Kent will transform once more into its award-winning Christmas wonderland which will have children - and possibly parents - jumping up and down with excitement. The unique Kent Life Heritage Farm Park set in 28 acres just outside of Maidstone , really pulls out the stops for families at the festive season.

In fact, its Christmas event is so good, it won a gold award last year at The Beautiful South Awards. And it returns next month, so not too long to wait, running from November 25 to December 24.

And judging by the comments on TripAdvisor from happy visitors last Christmas, you're in for a "magical" time. It will have a Santa's grotto, Elf School, a Snow Inn and even a ride on a red Christmas train, The Jingle Express. The highlight for youngsters at this "festive extravaganza" will be visiting Father Christmas in his grotto and they can choose a special gift from the well-stocked toy shop.

Read more: Stunning garden centre 5 miles from Kent with a Santa's grotto and impressive Christmas displays

Read more: Virtual reality 'magical sleigh ride' to see Father Christmas is coming to Kent

But there are plenty of opportunities to get into the Christmas spirit, as children can graduate from Elf School, watch heartwarming Christmas films and explore the sweet shop. There will be live shows, which have also been praised on TripAdvisor, and don't forget to visit the wonderful sounding Snow Inn for treats and drinks. And who doesn't love a ride on a Christmas train?

You can hop on The Jingle Express, driven by an elf of course, and go for a merry ride around the farm. There is also gingerbread decorating at Mrs Christmas's Kitchen, where grown-ups can have a free cup of mulled wine, or non-alcoholic alternative, with a mince pie.

Children will even be able to make reindeer food to take home, so they can put out for Santa's visit on Christmas Eve. Before your visit, you'll receive a detailed itinerary of all the activities from Twinkle Toes, the elf.

On TripAdvisor , one visitor last Christmas wrote: "The whole experience was truly magical." Another said: "Just returned from the most magical day at Kent Life."

"The Christmas experience is fantastic value for money, with activities to keep children occupied for hours. The attention to detail is amazing. We made reindeer food and decorated gingerbread men as well as seeing Father Christmas in the enchanting big top."

"The site being largely outdoors meant our two-year-old burnt off energy and got some fresh air as well as getting in the festive spirit. I would recommend this award winning experience to anyone with small children."

And the fantastic thing about Kent Life, which is next to the M20 , is there are friendly farmyard animals to see. You can feed them, but it is a small additional charge.

The Christmas at Kent Life ticket includes all-day access, so you can arrive any time and enjoy the "festivities to the fullest", said the team.

Father Christmas arrives and Christmas at Kent Life begins on Saturday, November 25. And there are SEN (special educational needs) sessions.

Here are the dates for Father Christmas:

• Saturday, November 25 (SEN sessions 10.15am – 12.45pm)
• Sunday, November 26 (SEN sessions 10.15am – 12.45pm)
• Saturday, December 2
• Sunday, December 3
• Saturday, December 9
• Sunday, December 10
• Friday, December 15
• Saturday, December 16
• Sunday, December 17
• Monday, December 18
• Tuesday, December 19
• Wednesday, December 20
• Thursday, December 21
• Friday, December 22
• Saturday, December 23
• Sunday, December 24

You can arrive anytime before your booked time slot, but makes sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before. The SEN sessions create the opportunity to meet Father Christmas in a cosy and calm setting. There will be lower music, dimmer lights, and staff will make sure everyone "feels comfortable and has time in the grotto".

The leading lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos rates Kent Life, saying the working farm and visitor attraction on the original site of Sandling Farm is "not just a step back in time for the parents but also a heap of fun for the little ones too".

It said why it rated Kent Life as a great place to visit all-year round. It said: "Open throughout the year, Kent Life tells the Kent farming story and provides a fun family day out discovering more than 200 farmyard animals including donkeys, alpacas, sheep, pigs and goats as well as indoor and outdoor play areas, and Kentish gardens and orchards. You are in danger here of having too much to do with your offspring.

"Visitors can turn the clock back and experience Kent’s farming heritage in the Vintage Village, which is made up of reconstructions of original rural Kent buildings that have been re-built brick by brick– decked out as it would have been in the Second World War period.

"From the Ice Cream Festival in the summer right through to Santa’s Grotto at Christmas, Kent Life also hosts a series of seasonal special events throughout the year, catering for the whole family."

How to book tickets for Christmas at Kent Life

Buy Christmas Tickets including SEN session via Kent Life's dedicated festive page here . Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 2AU.

Details of getting there by car, public transport, bicycle and even by boat on the Kentish Lady, which sails from the centre of Maidstone, can be seen here . Get in touch with Kent Life with any enquiries: email at [email protected] or by phone on 01622 763 936.

Parking: Parking is free and there is a disabled car park near the entrance. Overflow car park on busy days. Dogs : Dogs are welcome but on leads and clear up mess.

Don't miss out! Discover more Christmas things to do and see in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE.

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Elf Hits Downtown

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As you explore downtown Kent this holiday season, look for the Main Street Kent Elf!

Find the Elf in 10 participating businesses and be entered for a chance to WIN a $25 Kent Card to spend in Kent!

Find ALL 30 and be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $500 Kent Card!

Simply submit the online form by Jan. 2, 2024 with short descriptions of where you found the Main Street Kent Elf, and we’ll have a random drawing from all entries on Jan. 5, choosing our lucky winners! Happy Holidays and thank you for supporting local business!

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Elf Express LTD

The Real Life Elves Of The North Pole

Bringing The Christmas Magic to You!

Our Elf Story

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and all the #ELFGANG are getting ready in the workshop for another magical year ahead. 

Making all the toys can be hard work, so it's nice for us Elves to have a little break from The North Pole workshop and what better way than to come visit you guys at your very own home. 

Magic like no other, Elves who never forget! See your child’s face light up when their Elf knows so much about them. 

Professional performers with bags of energy, larger than life individual characters, no Elf is the same. Laugh, smile, love and make magical memories. 

Make us part of your family tradition. 

They just love it and as the kids say 

“It’s a real ELF”! 

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Christmas Trails and Light Walks

Get together with your family and friends this Christmas to create beautiful festive experiences and long-lasting memories. Start your magical adventure by exploring the winter trails through various festive gardens or stunning Kent Country Parks .

Be sure to check out our Events and Be Inspired pages for lots more to do this Christmas.

Join in the festive fun by exploring the beautiful Christmas trails....

Experience the wonders of colourful festive lights...

To take a look at more festive events happening across Kent, click here.

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Father Christmas & Elf Home Visits In Essex

Father christmas & elf home visits in essex, london, kent and the south east.

Ladies & Gentleman please let me introduce you to Essex’s amazing and spectacular Father Christmas & Elf home visits. We can provide at home experience with our elf visits or a visit from both Father Christmas & cheeky elf companion.

All home visits are roughly about 20 minutes long and include meet & greet with the cheeky elf or father christmas, story time, a check on the good & bad list & the opportunity for lots of photos!

Book One Of Our Realistic & Out Of This World Father Christmas & Elfs In Essex, Kent, London & The South East

All of our team are actors and know how to bring that christmas snow white feeling that makes you excited for the most festive time of the year!

We can supply both elf visits & also our amazing ‘Father Christmas & Me Experience’ which includes both an elf & Father Christmas and with all home visits you know you’re in for a treat.

CHRISTMAS HOME VISIT PACKAGES

Elf Home Visit Buy Now

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Meet & greet ​, a check on father christmas’s good & bad list.

Father Christmas & Elf Visit  Buy Now

25 Minute Home Visit From Father Christmas & His Magical Elf

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You are here: Home > What's on > The Magical Christmas Elf Trail

The Magical Christmas Elf Trail

Join us for a Christmassy trail through the magical woods of Bewl Water.

Spot the elves as you go along and take in the Christmas spirit with a Kit Kat reindeer rewarded to you, if your complete the trail!

A map can be collected from the café at the start.

(The elf trail will run throughout the day – no need to book)

Book Tickets

Visit the website for more information

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Map & directions, opening times.

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Elf express.

Marvel at the lights, listen to the stories and take part in challenges. Watch the big Elf Show at the Round Tower then walk down Candy Lane and through Santas Farm. Finally head to Elf Kingdom, where Santa is waiting for you and visit his toy shop for a present.

Adult (off peak) - £12.95

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Child (peak) - £26.95

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30 things to do in Kent with kids

There’s a lot of competition for my favourite UK county – but if you’re counting most visited, it’s probably Kent which tops the list. Not least because there are so many fab days out in Kent with kids.

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But there’s also a huge variety of things to do in Kent with kids: visit the coast, explore a string of castles, head into the countryside, find animal attractions… you can even drive giant diggers or go to a vintage theme park.

And while there’s plenty to fill a UK family holiday, Kent is also ideal if you’re looking for days out from London . So if you’re wondering where to go in Kent with kids, here are my top picks to start you off.

Contents - click to jump to a section

Kent castles and historic houses

Hever castle.

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.

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

As well as being able to explore the Castle itself, where Anne Boleyn grew up and 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 early for good views, and wait for the royals to arrive, or follow them down from the castle entrance.

For more of the best castles in Kent with kids , check out my top picks

Dover Castle

Another fabulous Kent fortress packed with history. There’s more than ancient history to be discovered at Dover Castle too, with wartime tunnels used for naval operations during the Second World War, although the site has seen 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

Leeds Castle

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. 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

Scotney Castle

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 visited).

If you’re visiting Scotney Castle with kids, there’s masses of room to race around in between the historic buildings too, although the natural play area is a huge temptation with plenty of options to play with, 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

Knole 

On of the highlights of a visit here is being able to see a herd of wild deer, as well as an impressive collection of 17th-century furniture on a trip to Knole near Sevenoaks, which started life as a medieval archbishop’s home before finding its way into Henry VIII’s hands.

Mary I lived here before it passed to the Sackville family, who made it their home for centuries – there’s now a fabulous collection of portraits for anyone interested in art.

Kids get the opportunity to dress up in Tudor era clothes as well, while there’s also a treasure trail aimed at ages 6 to 12 to follow through the rooms. Bring a pencil and paper and you can try your hand at the nature-themed brass rubbing as well.

Ightham Mote

There are some fun trails to follow for kids at Ightham Mote , although the grounds, gardens and crooked beamed house with its moat are always a hit too.

With everyday items like a vintage rocking horse and more gruesome historic sights, including an oubliette, there are plenty of things to catch younger visitors’ attention too. Outside, you can hunt for the secret garden as well as walking past the lake to the natural play area – or follow one of the walking trails if you want to venture further.

Not far from Sevenoaks, Ightham Mote is also a great option if you’ve only got a couple of hours in Kent with kids to spare, although you could also happily spend a lot longer here, especially on a sunny day.

Here’s what we got up to on a short visit to Ightham Mote with kids

Home to the Churchill family from the 20s, there are gardens, woodland and ground to explore beyond the house at Chartwell , including a natural play area and dens. Follow the ‘Life and Legacy Trail’, one of several walks with facts about the Churchills along the way.

Keep an eye out for Jock as you explore too – Winston Churchill’s will stated that there should always be a marmalade cat named Jock, with a white bib and four white socks. The current furry inhabitant is number 7.

For a great place to stay near many of the area’s National Trust sites, check out my review of luxury glamping in Kent with kids in one of the Luna Domes at Hoath House

Groombridge Place

There’s a huge amount for families at this country estate on the Kent-East Sussex border, a private family home for centuries until it was opened to the public in 1994.

Beyond the formal gardens and 200 acres of parkland for you to explore at Groombridge Place with kids, you’ll find an enchanted forest, play areas and other activities.

Wander forest paths past pools, tree swings, zip wires, a maze and even a recreated pirate ship to climb and swashbuckle in.

Throw in giant swings, a giant chess set, a variety of animals from chicken to deer and even an owl and raptor centre with flying displays, and you’ll need more than one day to explore. Older kids will love the Sherlock Holmes museum too, with its tribute to author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

For more ideas of things to do in Sussex with kids , check out my top picks if you’re also venturing across the border

Animal attractions

Port lympne.

If you fancy visiting a small slice of Africa without having to get on a plane, it’s hard to beat Port Lympne , near Hythe – this safari park is home to some fantastic wild creatures from giraffe to gorillas and big cats. 

And along with the animals, you can also discover a very convincing dinosaur forest, plus some lovely views across the English Channel.

Even more excitingly, you can stay here overnight too. We spent a night in Rhino Lodge, a converted gatehouse with rhinos at the bottom of the garden, but you can also wake almost face to face with tigers and lions too.

Check out my full review of a stay and visit to Port Lympne

The Big Cat Sanctuary

If it’s big cats that are the biggest attraction for you, you can also get the safari experience without having to go to the airport at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Ashford (though just with cats here).

They also offer experiences where you can see the cats up close, including the chance to hand feed one if your kids are over the age of 16, or keep an eye on their open days.

Howletts Wild Animal Park

At Howletts Wild Animal Park you can get up close and personal with an amazing variety of animals, from anteaters to elephants, and even lemurs at the sister park to Port Lympne.

Howletts , near Littlebourne, is home to the largest herd of elephants in the UK and there are more than 390 animals to spot during your visit – plus as you enjoy yourself, you’re helping their conservation efforts.

While you’re there, you could also hop in a safari jeep and explore the park just as you would if you were in Africa. There are also options for spending the night that will allow you to be immersed in the lives of the lions or rhinos as well.

The South of England Rare Breeds Centre

The perfect day out in Kent with young kids, the Rare Breeds Centre is a toddler and preschooler favourite. The focus is on helping protect and conserve rare breeds (the only one in Kent to be approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust) although from kids’ point of view, it’s a fabulous chance to get close to smaller farm animals.

You can pet some of the littlest, including giant rabbits and guinea pigs, plus there are goats, horses and more to see, along with grounds to roam, soft play and tractor rides at the site near Ashford.

Read my review of a day at the Rare Breeds Centre in Kent with a toddler

Another fabulous family day out in Kent with toddlers and younger kids, Kent Life near Maidstone has an outdoor play area as well as indoor soft play for rainy days in Kent with kids, the chance to ride donkeys, rampage around in pedal tractors, take a ride on the land train or tractor trailer, and to paint pots.

Plus there are animals galore to meet, including bottle feeding the lambs at Easter, and seeing other farm animals such as pigs, horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and alpacas.

It’s also home to the Kent Owl Academy, with 12 different owls, including live shows and some special experiences suitable for kids aged six and up.

Check out this great review of a family day out at Kent Life from My Tunbridge Wells

Wildwood Trust

Wildwood Trust (formerly Wildwood Discovery Park) near Herne Bay is a conservation park that focuses on British wildlife, with over 200 animals, including some that you just won’t see in the wild anymore like bears and wild cats.

Their work includes projects to return species to the wild, plus some clever enclosures let you spot hibernating and nocturnal animals, as well as scrambling through rope walks above the bear enclosure.

Adults can even get close (safely!) to bears, wolves, and the adorable arctic foxes in their special experiences, plus there are also options for younger kids such as becoming junior rangers for the day for ages seven to 11.

Kent theme parks

The chance to play with genuine diggers is every toddler’s dream come true – and just as much fun for bigger kids. Including very big kids, as I discovered when we visited Diggerland in Kent .

It’s an unexpected idea for a theme park, but with rides and the digger activities, plus other play areas to explore, this is a fantastic family day out.

Read my full review of what it’s like to play with a JCB at Diggerland

Dreamland Margate

Step back in time at Dreamland , where kids (and adults) can discover vintage thrill rides, including traditional favourites that are perfect for younger kids.

There’s also a special play area just for kids under eight and a roller disco for the whole family as well as bigger thrills for older ones (and you can check any height restrictions on the website).

You buy tokens to use as you go (preferably paying using contactless) depending how many rides you fancy. Previously, you’ve been able to buy wristbands in advance for unlimited rides to get the most for your money, but this option has been stopped for the time being.

Museums in Kent with kids

Canterbury roman museum.

With its long history, there’s plenty to discover in Canterbury apart from its famous cathedral (though that’s worth a look as well!) – not least several interesting museums.

And one of the best museums for kids in Canterbury is the Roman Museum ; set underground and built around the remains of a Roman town house, it’s a great way to visualise yourself back in Roman times as you venture down to the original street level.

As well as seeing the fantastic mosaic floor, still in place, there’s an introduction to Roman Canterbury plus activities for kids such as trying on a toga, making your own mosaic, handling real Roman objects and even trying to uncover treasure.

It’s worth knowing that pricing has changed from April 2023 – previously there was no charge for children, which was great if you were looking for budget and free days out in Kent with kids – but now children aged 5+ pay a 50% rate.

For more ideas of Roman sites in the UK to visit with kids , check out this post

Dover Transport Museum

Another great option for young kids fascinated with different forms of transport – the Dover Transport Museum is home to different types of vintage transport, set among some retro shop fronts.

There’s also a model railway to play with and a taxi and bus hunt for children – plus this is a great one to take the grandparents to.

Your ticket also gets you free return access for the next year.

Maidstone Museum and Bentliff Art Gallery

The museum houses over 6,000 artefacts including local history but also pieces from farther afield, such as ancient Egypt and Japan. There are also collections focusing on archaeology and costume, plus you’ll find temporary exhibitions and school holiday activities.

Based in an Elizabethan mansion – Chillington Manor – there’s also a dinosaur section, including information on the ones which would once have stalked this part of Kent. Maidstone even has a dinosaur on its shield!

Even better, there’s no entry charge (except for some of the special activities and temporary exhibitions) if you’re looking for free days out in Kent with kids.

Historic Dockyard, Chatham

This is a fantastic slice of British history, the very dockyard where some of the ships that helped conquer the world’s oceans were built – and there’s the chance to discover everything from a Victorian Sloop to a Second World War Destroyer and a Cold War submarine.

More than 400 warships were built here, including the three which you can board and explore.

And as well as exploring the different ships, there are other tours and experiences to discover including the centuries-old techniques of master ropemakers, while kids can try completing Mission Explore with a code to crack if you tick off the missions and facts to discover along the way.

Tickets to the Historic Dockyard Chatham are valid for a year – make sure you book on to any tours you want to take, including the HM Submarine Ocelot, as soon as you arrive.

Lashenden Air Warfare Museum

There’s an impressive collection of parts of planes from Second World War wrecks at the Lashenden Air Warfare museum near Headcorn – not far from Leeds Castle, if you’re looking for a couple of different Kent days out with kids in the same area.

As well as vintage aircraft and other unusual displays such as a gyro kite and the world’s only fully restored and operational pillbox of its type, you can also see live flybys and there are festivals during the summer which are great for families.

Other family days out in Kent

Whether you’re looking to get outdoors to explore or for other ways to keep kids entertained, try these other things to do in Kent with kids, including plenty of inspiration for sunny days.

The Hop Farm family park, has long been a favourite day out in Kent with kids but will be closed throughout 2023 for maintenance – reopening tbc.

Druidstone Park

EDIT: Currently closed: This fantasy park set in the countryside with dragons, goats, and enchanted mushrooms, it’s sure to spark the imagination of children of all ages.

As well as feeding animals, there is a fantastic adventure play area at Druidstone Park , in Blean, plus the Enchanted woodland with its deer and carpet of bluebells if you visit in spring.

Jeskyns Fairy and Elf Village

Fairy and elves have set up a little village in the woods, with even the smallest legs enjoying this magical little walk at Jeskyns Fairy and Elf Village near Cobham.

Perfect for younger kids, you can find tiny residences including Acorn Apartments, Mushroom Manor, The Old Boot Inn and Tree Top Village, plus a sand pit play area and different walking trails.

If you’re visiting Kent with your dog, it’s worth knowing that unfortunately the elves are frightened of them so no four-legged friends allowed inside.

Bluebell Hill Nature Reserve

Not purely for bluebell season, Bluebell Hill is a gorgeous place to go for a picnic and chance to get outdoors, as well as to see some of Kent’s natural beauties.

Keep your eyes peeled and you might even see voles at the nature reserve near Aylesford. There’ll almost certainly be butterflies in the summer when the grass is dotted with wild flowers.

Canterbury Spy Mission Trail

One of my favourite ways to explore a new place with kids, there are two treasure trails to choose from in Canterbury, including the spy mission treasure trail – perfect for taking in some of the highlights, as well as taking you to corners you might easily miss otherwise, it’s a very fun way to get kids exploring.

The two-mile loop trail takes around two hours to complete as you crack the case to complete your mission (and you can get some clues by text if you need to).

For another fun way to discover Canterbury, you can also go punting to get another view of the city and relax at the same time.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

There’s nothing like the novelty of riding a steam train and at Kent & East Sussex Railway , you can enjoy chuffing around the countryside in one of the classic carriages or stop by to watch the engines.

The route from Tenterden will take you into Sussex with the last stop within walking distance of Bodiam Castle .

Keep an eye out for special appearances from Thomas the Tank Engine, and with older kids, there are also a number of walking trails if you’re looking to combine a journey with a hike.

Pirate Cove Adventure Park

There’s not 18 but 36 holes of adventure golf at Pirate Cove , all with a swashbuckling theme – you’ll venture onto a pirate ship and into smugglers caves as you practice your strokes on the two courses.

There’s also a genuine boating experience if you fancy testing your sea legs too, with shark-themed boats, all next to Bluewater shopping centre.

Kent seaside

There are beaches galore to discover in Kent, including classic British seaside, unspoiled wild stretches, sand, shingle and rockpools – so many miles to explore that I could write a whole string of posts just on the best Kent beaches!

If you’re looking for the best sandy beaches in Kent with kids , I’ve got a dozen to start you off though.

And below, I’ve included a few of my favourites in this corner of the south east, whether you’re looking for a day trip or a longer stay at the Kent seaside.

One of my favourite spots on the Kent coast, it’s as much fun looking for shells on the shingle beach, combing through the treasures as the waves crash, as wandering past all the little boutiques (some for kids, plenty for adults) or picking up some great fish and ice cream too.

If you’re looking for sandy beaches, you need to head along the coast towards Margate, but we’ve very happily filled a weekend break here without sandcastles, and it’s great for crabbing, as well as being dog friendly.

There are some fantastic cycle paths here to explore further, including the fabulously named the Crab and Winkle Way which leads to Canterbury, plus some great street art in Whitstable itself.

Check out my favourite things to do in Whitstable with kids

Broadstairs

One of my own favourites, it’s also one of the first UK beaches my daughter ever went on – make sure you stop at Morelli’s for ice cream at some point, while there are helpful boardwalks if you’re visiting Broadstairs with a baby (no dogs allowed from May to September).

As well as all the open stretches of sand, Botany Bay in Broadstairs is great for fossil hunting and rock pooling – again, there are restrictions on dogs on the beach between May and September.

Or you can join the Viking Coastal trail cycle and walking route here too.

A visit to Herne Bay always reminds me of seaside breaks from my own childhood – a proper old-fashioned family funfair, including helter skelter and carousel, as well as more shingle beach and shallow pools to explore with a net.

There’s fish and chips galore too, plus ice cream of course, and if you wander a little further from the town, those brightly coloured beach huts which always seem so quintessentially English to me. Away from the main beach, you’ll find areas which are dog-friendly too.

You can pop into the Seaside Museum while you’re there too, with its mammoth tusks and a display of some fossils found locally.

For more ideas of great UK days out with kids , check up my round-up of the best from across the country

*last updated 2023*

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN KENT WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains paid promotion by Tunbridge Wells literary festival and affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Main image/Leeds castle image/girl with book/evabluebells/Canterbury courtesy of Depositphotos; Wildwood wolf/Historic Dockyard Chatham copyright Visit Kent; Dreamland Margate copyright Visit Kent/Kallaway PR; all others copyright MummyTravels

Award-winning family travel blogger and mum to the mini traveller, aka Minnie. Together we've visited Europe, America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, tried a cruise and a road trip, and survived countless long-haul trips. London (UK) based. Serious beach habit.

Kent is a definitely a county I want to visit with the kids (when we are allowed to travel again!). So much to do there.

So much, isn’t there – I think I could easily have written a top 50! Definitely top of my list as soon as travel is back on the cards.

Love this. What a great list! So many ideas. My kids love being outdoors, and I love finding new/different ways to keep them entertained. Thank you!

Thanks! You can never have too many ideas to entertain kids 😉

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Best places to see Santa in Kent 2023

Christmas is just around the corner, there's no time to wait! Santa is loading his sleigh, and he shan't be late! To celebrate this Christmas in style, our friends over at Kent Attractions have compiled the top places in Kent to catch Santa on his travels!

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ quite like taking your children to see Father Christmas in his twinkling Santa’s grotto.

You don’t have to visit Lapland to visit Father Christmas, there are plenty of magical experiences much nearer home.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Santa’s grottos in Kent that (at the time of writing) still have availability. Make sure you book your visit in advance to avoid disappointment!

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Romney

Travel by train to Santa’s grotto and enjoy some seasonal treats.

The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway has been running its popular Santa Specials since 1981. Santa Specials include a return train journey from New Romney to Hythe, seasonal refreshments, and the main event – a visit to Santa in his Grotto.

Their quiet train will run on Sunday 26th November at 15:20 this year. This experience will be tailored to passengers with special needs, autism and enhanced sensory needs.

Take a train straight to Christmas...

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham

This December you’re invited to step into the centre of the secret world at The Dockyard and help Mrs Claus save Christmas from catastrophe. Your little ones will need to master the supernatural skills and learn the elf code before graduating from Elf Academy and solving the mystery of the missing clausometer. Once you’ve saved Christmas, your journey will end in a magical meeting with Father Christmas. He’ll be so pleased, he’ll present your little ones with a special gift to take home.

Have a holly, jolly Christmas!

Hever Castle, Edenbridge

Whilst the ever-popular pre-booked grotto experience has nearly sold out, there are still some mid-week daytime slots that are perfect for pre-schoolers. For those not visiting Santa there’s still plenty to do. Take a walk through the beautifully decorated castle rooms, discover a heartwarming story on the Christmas trail and enjoy fun fairground rides. If you're are visiting after dark, witness the enchantment of the castle, gardens and lake festooned with fabulous colours and twinkling lights.

Capture the spirit of Christmas…

Kent Life, Maidstone

A festive extravaganza awaits you at Kent Life. Get ready to say, “Ho Ho Ho!” as you embark on a magical journey. The highlight of your visit will be meeting Father Christmas himself in his enchanting grotto. Little ones will be thrilled to choose a special gift from the wonderfully stocked toy shop. But that’s not all! You can immerse yourself in the holiday spirit by graduating from Elf School, taking a ride on the jingle express and watching a Christmas movie or live show.

Jingle on your journey through Kent...

If you already have your visit to Father Christmas booked and are looking for a few more festive days out, then here are a few more ideas!

Enjoy the great outdoors with Christmas lights at Walmer Castle and Leeds Castle . Enjoy festive wreath making at The Powell Cotton Museum and Brogdale or sing along at one of the services and activities at Canterbury Cathedral .

Christmas charity events in Kent

Christmas Markets in Kent

Christmas events in Kent

Christmas Trails

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

The R&K Guide To Moscow

The World Cup is upon us, but you could argue that it’s already a relic from another era, a time when Putin was looking for peaceable engagement with the West, before he annexed Crimea and unleashed his trolls on the world. But if ordinary Russians are supposed to play the part of pariah, they haven’t been told. It has been a long time since Moscow was this pleasant to visit. The city center is safe, sanitized, ready for your visit. Yes, the calm is a sign of an increasingly efficient autocracy. But we’ve known Moscow through many iterations, and for the casual visitor, this is one of the best yet. (Visit our St. Petersburg guide here.)

How To Do Moscow

Quick hits what to eat, quick hits what to drink, quick hits what to see, features from moscow, more city guides, r&k insider.

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• Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation, Moscow
• Guide to Russia

What is the history of Gorky Park?

• In the pre-revolutionary period, Gorky Park was a city dump and wasteland, which was cleared in 1923 to host the All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition
• In 1928, a huge park was planned on the former site of the exhibition. It would not just be a place of leisure, but a place to proudly display Soviet culture and daily life
• Gorky Park has remained a cultural hub ever since, and has been renovated and added to over the years to make it one of Moscow’s top attractions today

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation

Gorky Park is the most famous park of Moscow, created during the Soviet period as a hub for relaxation and cultural activities. The park is beloved by Muscovites and tourists alike, who visit in all seasons to stroll, enjoy sports, admire the park’s attractions, and attend cultural events. Gorky Park is the central part of an ensemble of four green spaces – Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve – which curve around the southern bank of the Moskva River to the south-west of Moscow city centre. Here you may spend some time and enjoy nature and contemprary art during your vacation in Moscow .

History of Gorky Park

Imperial russia.

In the 17th century, the eastern bank of the Moskva River beyond Moscow’s city limits was home to floodplain meadows, where palace horses grazed. From the mid-1850s, events such as cockfights, fistfights, and races were held here, and by the 20th century this area had become a city dump where the unemployed and homeless people of Moscow lived, which remained this way until the Soviet period. This wasteland lay in stark contrast to the adjoining Neskuchny Sad – ‘merry garden’ – which lay to its south, an area of aristocratic country estates and elaborate gardens.

Soviet Russia

Photo from  https://parkseason.ru/

Following the October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin travelled around Moscow to find a suitable site for the first All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition, which would reveal opportunities for socialist development of agriculture and industry. Lenin decided on the wasteland alongside the Moskva River, which was cleared with a programme of community work. In 1923, the exhibition began. It encompassed 250 pavilions dedicated to different themes of agriculture and industry, and was divided into thematic zones, such as villages, livestock, crops, engineering, railways, republics of the USSR, and foreign countries. The organisation of the exhibition demarcated the future layout and size of Gorky Park, and the paths, ‘zones’, and main square of the exhibition have been preserved until the present day. In March 1928, Moscow City Council decided to establish a park of culture and recreation on the site of the former exhibition, which would also encompass the Neskuchny Garden. Moscow’s residents were instrumental in the construction of the park – they voiced their desires for events spaces, physical education and leisure facilities, and gave up their weekends to build the park. The park’s main architect was Konstantin Melnikov.

Did you know? Konstantin Melnikov also helped to construct Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Rusakov Worker’s Club, one of Moscow’s Constructivist masterpieces .

Over 100,000 Muscovites flocked to the opening of the park on 12th August 1928. The brand-new park was equipped with two theatres, a cinema, nursery, reading room, restaurant and café, music stages, sports arenas, rowing boats, and even a giant helter-skelter slide. Unfortunately, because of the vast size of the crowd and the general excitement, the park was damaged and closed until September.

Did you know? The park was not named after Maxim Gorky, writer and founder of Socialist Realism, until 1933.

In 1929, Betty Glan – at the mere age of 26 – became director of the park. She decided to reconceptualise it, uniting leisure, design, and ideology with the help of Moscow’s most eminent architects, designers and artists. Over the next decade, more cultural venues were established in the park, the Pushkinskaya Embankment along the Moskva River was developed, and the landscaping of the park was carefully cultivated. Architect Alexander Vlasov was particularly influential, and won the Grand Prix at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris for his design of Gorky Park. This period under Glan’s directorship until 1937 was known as the ‘golden age’ of Gorky Park, which became not just a place for recreation, but a public space where Soviet culture and everyday life could be proudly displayed.

Did you know? During the Second World War topical events were held in Gorky Park, such as the championship in bayonet combat, grenade-throwing competitions, and air defence training. What’s more, an exhibition of captured enemy weapons – tanks, artillery, aeroplanes, and more – was organised in Gorky Park and continually updated throughout the war.

In the post-war decades new attractions were continually added to Gorky Park. These included the majestic 24-metre triumphal arch at the entrance to the park, an astronomical observatory (which remains open today), the famous Ferris wheel (unfortunately dismantled in 2008), and a fountain with lights and music.

Russia today

Photo from  https://countryscanner.ru/

The Gorky Park ensemble continued to flourish as a centre of culture and recreation in post-Soviet Russia. The adjoining Muzeon Park of Arts was founded in 1992, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art was established in Gorky Park in 2008. The ensemble underwent serious reconstruction in 2011. Many new sports facilities were added, including centres for beach sports and extreme sports, bicycle paths and sports equipment rental hubs, and much effort was devoted to reviving original buildings, sculptures, and landscape compositions. Two years later, the embankment of the Moskva River from the southern tip of Zamoskvorechye Island all the way to Sparrow Hills was redeveloped and pedestrianised, making it possible to peacefully walk or cycle along the Moskva for many kilometres.

What can you do at Gorky Park today?

• Explore the park and see architectural attractions, fountains, and beautiful gardens
• Visit Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gorky Park Museum
• Go boating on the lakes and stroll down the Pushkinskaya Embankment
• Rent bicycles or scooters, skateboard, and visit the sports centres

What can you do at Gorky Park?

Park attractions.

While exploring the treelined paths of Gorky Park, you’ll come across a number of attractions. To the west of the main entrance, near the river, is a beautiful geometric bandstand used for music and literary evenings in the Soviet period. As you head down the central alley of Gorky Park from the main entrance, you’ll see a statue of Maxim Gorky on your right, and discover the light and music fountain with its dancing jets of water – find the schedule of its performances here .

Did you know? Don’t be afraid to feed the red squirrels and birds you encounter on your walk around Gorky Park – there are even vending machines which sell special food for the animals!

The southern section of Gorky Park is occupied by the Golitsynsky Garden. In 1802, the Golitsyn Hospital was founded here as a hospital for the poor; it still adjoins Gorky Park today. Gardens were created as a relaxation place for patients, extending from the hospital building to the riverbank, and included landscaped gardens, a Chinese Bridge, and two ponds. On the riverbank is the Rotunda of the Golitsyn Hospital, which has been preserved since the 19th century. There is also a rose garden and fountain by the Bolshoi Golitsynsky Pond.

Did you know? In the Golitsynsky Garden is also located an unusual architectural monument – a public toilet designed by Alexander Vlasov in the 1930s, which is recognised as an ‘object of cultural heritage’!

Outdoor activities

Gorky Park’s extensive and varied grounds aren’t only good for walks! You can relax on the water by renting boats to sail on the Pionersky and Bolshoi Golitsynsky Ponds, or visiting the Olivkovy Beach on the Pushkinskaya Embankment to sunbathe. As well as this, you can hire bicycles, electric scooters, longboards or even roller skates to explore the park and embankments, play table tennis, visit the sports complex to play football, basketball, handball, badminton or volleyball, or visit the Vans skatepark or Nike sports centre for workouts and classes such as rooftop yoga.

Gorky Park Museum

Photo from  http://themedium.ru/

Visit the Gorky Park Museum, located in the left pier of the entrance arch. The current exhibition is dedicated to Gorky Park in the ‘golden age’ of the 1930s, and shows the development of Moscow’s central park through the eyes of Betty Glan. There is an observation deck on top of the arch, which offers a lovely view over the park and Moscow’s skyline.

Did you know? In the entrance arch there is also a gift shop where you can purchase balls, frisbees, blankets, and other items to enjoy your visit to Gorky Park.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo from  https://muzeolog.com/

In Gorky Park you will find Garage Museum, Russia’s first philanthropic institution dedicated to contemporary art, founded in 2008 by Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova. 10 major exhibitions are hosted each year to showcase the work of established and up-and-coming artists. Also organised are a rich programme of events including curator-led excursions, workshops, masterclasses, lectures, concerts, performances, festivals, and film screenings at Garage’s outdoor cinema. Read our article about Garage Museum of Contemporary Art to learn more.

Food and drink

There are plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants dotted around Gorky Park, where you can stop for a quick coffee or enjoy a long meal with a view. They include the stylish lakeside café Ostrovok (Little Island) and upmarket restaurant Vremena Goda (Seasons) which serve European and Russian food, colourful lakeside Thai restaurant Lebedinoe Ozero (Swan Lake), trattoria Merkato with its huge summer terrace, restaurant Syrovarnya (Cheese Factory) with a menu focused on its homemade cheese, food-truck court Restoparking which is stylised as a drive-in café, and ice-cream and tea shop Chaynaya Vysota.

What’s nearby?

Gorky Park is bordered by Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve. This huge ensemble curves for eight kilometres along the bank of the Moskva River, providing a beautiful oasis of green in Europe’s biggest city.

Muzeon Park of Arts

Photo from  https://new-magazine.ru/

Muzeon Park of Arts is the largest open-air sculpture museum in Russia, home to 1,000 sculptures by Soviet and Russian sculptors, including those by famous artists. A large part of Muzeon is occupied by the New Tretyakov Gallery , which houses Russia’s most complete exhibition of national art from the 20th century to the present day. The pedestrianised Krymskaya Embankment which extends alongside Muzeon has recently undergone redevelopment, and is one of Moscow’s most popular spots to relax.

Neskuchny Garden

Neskuchny Garden is the oldest park in Moscow, founded in 1728 by Prince Nikita Trubetskoy, who threw fantastic festivities in his manor house and gardens – neskuchny means ‘merry’ in Russian. Many other noble families also built their country estates in this area, which became a public park and garden after being acquired by the royal family. Today, the Neskuchny Garden is home to historical buildings, fountains, and gardens from the 18th and 19th centuries, sports facilities, an open-air theatre, and a huge greenhouse which supplies flowers to Gorky Park.

Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve is a huge forest park lining the steep bank of the Moskva River and the only specially protected nature area near the city centre. It is home to ecological trails, ponds, natural springs, rare species of plants and animals, many spots for picnicking, cafes, and a mini zoo. At the bottom of the park lie the Vorobyovskaya and Andreevskaya Embankments, with promenades along the Moskva River, a beach, and piers offering boat trips. As with Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills is hugely popular for sports and outdoor activities in all seasons. A new winter sports complex with snowboarding, ice skating, and ski tracks and jumps is currently under construction. When the weather is pleasant, you can rent a bicycle to ride the 8 kilometres along the river from Muzeon to Sparrow Hills.

Essential information for visitors Address and contact details Gorky Park, Krymsky Val, 9, Moscow, 119049 Website:  https://park-gorkogo.com/ Email:  [email protected] Telephone: +7 (495) 995-00-20 Nearest metro: Oktyabrskaya (570m), Park Kultury (860m) Opening hours and tickets

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Russia's capital has so much to offer, from the Kremlin and the Metro to the Old Arbat street and the Tretyakov Gallery. Besides these sites, you will also visit a fascinating country estate which today is quite off the beaten path, Gorky Estate, where the Soviet leader Lenin spent the last months of his life.

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Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills

The history of the gorky.

The park was built in Soviet times between the two world wars and named after the author Maxim Gorky at the time. Up until the turn of the century, the area not far from the center was only a residential area with huge estates and then, in the turmoil of the civil war and shortly afterwards, served as an illegal landfill where citizens and entrepreneurs disposed of their garbage. After intensive cleaning in the early communist years, the site was first used as an agricultural exhibition in the mid-1920s until the Moscow City Council decided to set up a park here that was accessible to all citizens of Moscow. After all, this was supposed to take a full ten years of construction. Throughout the entire Soviet period, the park was incredibly popular and familiar to every Soviet citizen, whether from Moscow or not.

Rebirth after basic renovation

However, after the end of the Soviet Union, the area fell into disrepair – cheap hustle and bustle like shooting booths and slowly rusting rides shaped the sad picture. Only outsiders got lost in the park, which lived more from its reputation than from the sad reality. Only with the fundamental and just as expensive renovation in 2011 did the Gorky become the park it was once loved by the locals. Especially the promenade along the river with its large sunbathing areas in summer and the numerous ice rinks for ice skating in winter now attract thousands of locals to Gorky every day. Countless food and café stands scattered across the site provide visitors with everything imaginable – from Georgian delicacies, a decent café to traditional Russian kvass, or ice cream and smoothies in summer.

Concerts, art and privacy place

Even bigger crowd pullers are just the concerts in the park and these have a long tradition here. In 2018 alone, David Guetta, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Killers and Lana del Rey performed numerous international music greats Open Air. But even outside the big events there is always something to see in the Gorky. The modern art center “Garage” (website https://garagemca.org/en ) in the park holds regular art and design exhibitions. In addition, the art center gave the park the largest children’s playground in all of Russia for its 90th birthday in 2018. Numerous play equipment, including 29 different swings alone, are the perfect place to spend a few hours with the youngsters. Pedal boats can also be rented at several locations in the park, for example at the Andreevsky ponds, which is also suitable for children. Sports courses for adults are held regularly in the park. From jogging to yoga or Pilates there are organized courses – beach volleyball fields, soccer fields and an open air fitness studio offer further opportunities to do sports. Afterwards, beer gardens invite you to linger – all of this happens primarily in the central part of Gorky Park, known as the Neskuchny Garden. Would you like to experience Gorky Park and the magic of Moscow by yourself? Then you need a visa first – you can find out how to get it here !

Away from the central part: Muzeon and Sparrow Hills

In the section called Muzeon north of the Crimean Bridge there are over 1000 statues, Soviet monuments and modern art facilities. This open-air museum-like section of the Gorky invites you to take a walk that takes you past oversized and pompous Soviet busts as well as avant-garde art objects of the 21st century. Surrounded by statues of Lenin, this section looks partly surreal. The Stalin statue in particular, which had its nose removed, magically attracts visitors. For photographers, the sometimes slightly rusty busts and remains from the Soviet era offer great motifs. If you’d like to improve yourself as a promising photographer, you can even take a photography course in the park at Photoplay ( https://photoplay.ru/courses/workshop/photoplayatgorky.html ) At 2900 rubles, i.e. just under $ 41, this is significantly more affordable than comparable products in Asia or Australia. No wonder this section is considered an Instagram paradise for Moscow’s exploding hipster scene. Events are also held time and again in the Muzeon – for example, the warm months over and over here are held cinema screenings outdoors. Russian classics such as international cinema are shown. You have absolute peace in the Sparrow Hills, which also belong to the park but are spatially separated from the other part. About four kilometers further along the Moskva River out of town is this section of the Gorky Park, which is largely natural. There, just opposite the large Luzhniki Stadium on the other side of the Moskva River, where the Olympics and the World Cup finals have already taken place, there is another privacy place in the middle of Moscow. At the highest point of the Sparrow Hills, to which a cable car leads, you have a fantastic view of Moscow.

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Moscow’s Top 13 – The Main Attractions of the Russian capital

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• #Luxury travel
• #Unusual Moscow
• #Jewish Heritage
• #Russian traditions

Top 10 places for a day trip from Moscow

• #Russian History
• #Special Interest
• #Suburbs of Moscow

Moscow offers tourists many great sights to see, but if you ask locals, they will tell you that Moscow is not all there is to Russia, so it’s worth getting away sometimes. Without exploring further, you miss something of the Russian unique character. If you wonder what to visit near Moscow, we recommend you 10 places where a tourist can go for a refreshing recreation, new impressions, and acquaintance with Russian history and culture.

01 Sergiyev Posad

Sergiyev Posad is one of the most beautiful towns located around Moscow. It’s not only famous for its monastery, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, but also for the fact that it’s the only town in the Moscow Region that is included in the Golden Ring of Russian cities. Its cities and towns influenced the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church. But the main thing which one should visit Sergiyev Posad is the Lavra for sure. You may spend there all day, walking around and enjoying the sense of its power and strength. You absolutely have to buy some honey cakes as souvenirs for friends and feed Lavra’s pigeons when entering the monastery. Besides, you may visit Sergiyev Posad State History and Art Museum-Reserve, which has quite an impressive collection, take a look at the displays in the National Museum of Toys, and taste truly Russian food in local cafes and restaurants.

You can reach Sergiyev Posad by suburban electric train, by bus, or by car. The electric train departs from the Yaroslavsky rain terminal every thirty minutes, and the trip lasts for an hour and a half. You may take a bus near the ‘VDNKh’ metro station, and you’ll be in Sergiyev Posad in an hour and a half at least and in two hours at most. Your car will take you there in an hour and a half at most, too. You should drive the Yaroslavskoye highway. 

If you want to look at a city that combines hi-tech and historical past, you should absolutely visit Kolomna. It is one of the most famous ancient cities in Russia, a beautiful port on the Oka River. Kolomna has its own Kremlin, which is made of red brick, like the Moscow Kremlin. Inside it, you may find many monasteries and churches, including the one in which Dmitry of the Don, Prince of Moscow, and Grand Prince of Vladimir, had his wedding to the Grand Duchess of Muscovy Eudoxia of Moscow. There is still a reserved residential area which is called Posad, right in the Kremlin territory. The buildings date back to merchants’ times. There are some interesting churches, too. In 2006, the Kolomna Speed Skating Center, known as the Kometa Ice Rink, was opened. Its futuristic look contrast the picturesque views of the ancient Kolomna Kremlin and its beautiful churches.

The best way to reach Kolomna is an electric train that departs from the Kazansky rail terminal. The trip lasts for two and a half, or one hour and forty minutes by the Ryazansky express. You can also choose a bus from the Vykhino metro station (1.4 to 4 hrs due to traffic jams) or a car.

03 Shakhmatovo

Shakhmatovo was a manor of the well-known Russian lyrical poet Alexander Blok. His grandfather Andrey Nikolaevich Beketov bought it, and young Blok used to spend it there every summer. Later, he moved there with his wife Lyubov Mendeleeva, who was the daughter of the famous chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. Blok’s grandfather decided to buy Shakhmatovo because of its picturesque views. They are really very nice, and the better time to visit this place is spring and summer. According to his own project, Blok’s mansion is a wooden house built by the poet but burnt by peasants in 1921. It was rebuilt in 2001, and since that time, it often holds big events and excursions. There is also a stable in Shakhmatovo territory, and everyone interested may ride a horse, or rent a bicycle in the summertime, or ski in wintertime.

Shakhmatovo can be reached by car because other options combine train departs from the Leningradsky rail terminal, then changes to bus till the Tarakanovo manor, then goes by foot, or bus from the Vodny stadion metro station, and then also by foot. Travel time is 1.4 hrs.

04 Zakharovo

It is a manor located in the Odintsovo District of the Moscow Region, where everybody interested may learn more about the greatest Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. In 1804, Zakharova was bought by his grandmother Mariya Alexeevna Gannibal, and young Pushkin was brought here every summer from 1805 through to 1810. He recalled Zakharovo in his poems as well. Now, the house which Pushkin visited as a child doesn’t exist anymore, but it was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century on the former basis. Now it is a quiet and nice place with a museum dedicated to the famous poet's childhood, where one may spend a day enjoying the spirit of the time when young Pushkin ran across manor’s paths. From that time, linden park, approach alleys, and pond were saved. Not very far away from Zakharovo, another place connected to Pushkin’s name is located. It’s called Bolshiye Vyazyomy, and there the young Pushkin’s brother Nikolenka was buried after his death at the age of six.

The best way to go there is by train, which departs from the Belorussky rail terminal and goes to Zvenigorod. You should leave at the Zakharovo station. Travel time is an hour and a half.

05 Borodino

Borodino is truly a sacred place for all those who honor the great Russian past. The Borodino Battlefield held the most important fighting during the Patriotic War of 1812. This place was made a museum area in 1839, just after 27 years after the battle. More than two thousand memorable things are stored in the museum, including some monuments of military honor, architectural objects dated back to the 19th and 20th centuries, and fortification facilities. Besides, there is also an exhibition dedicated to the famous novel ‘War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, who visited Borodino in person and described this battle in his book. Every year, reconstruction events occur in Borodino, which is considered the best for visiting. But if you want to feel the spirit of the battle past, it’s better to visit it in more quiet time.

To go there, you should take a train from the Belorussky rail terminal, leave in Mozhaysk, and then change to the bus. The whole travel time is about 2 hrs.

06 Melikhovo

Melikhovo is considered one of the most important museums dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, one of the brightest Russian writers and playwrights. Chekhov had been living in Melikhovo from March 1892 until August 1899 with his parents and close relatives. Melikhovo is where he wrote his plays “Uncle Vanya” and “The Seagull.” He sold this manor before going to the Crimea, and it became vague after the revolution. But in 1939, it was decided to establish a museum based on Chekhov’s place of living. Anton Chekhov’s sister Maria and his nephew initiated the process, and the museum opened its doors in 1941. Now Melikhovo shows the path of Chekhov not only as a writer but as a doctor and public figure as well. Some paintings of famous artists such as Isaac Levitan and Vasily Polenov, who were Chekhov’s friends, are being stored. It’s a nice place to visit to learn more about Chekov’s life and work.

The best way to reach Melikhovo is by bus, which departs from the Yuzhnaya metro station, and goes to Protvino, Obolensk, or Serpukhov, or by the direct 365 bus. Also, you may choose an electric train from the Kursky rail terminal. Travel time is 1,5 hrs.

07 Abramtsevo

This is another manor connected to the lives of important Russian people — not only writers but also artists. Abramtsevo, located close to Sergiev Posad, was a property of Sergey Aksakov, a writer and a Slavophiles, and later of Savva Mamontov, a well-known patron of the arts. Abramtsevo used to be visited by writers Ivan Turgenev and Nikolay Gogol, poet Fyodor Tyutchev, and such artists as Isaac Levitan, Vasily Polenov, and Mikhail Vrubel, and by the great Russian singer Fyodor Shalyapin as well. The exhibition in the museum is dedicated to famous Abramtsevo owners and guests. It was made a museum in 1917, and its first curator was Alexandra Mamontova, Savva Mamontov’s daughter. The main sightseeing view is a wooden building made in the 18th century and saved in Savva Mamontov's form in the 19th century. There are also some bright buildings such as hut pavilion or hut bath-house. You have to remember that the main manor house may be visited only with an excursion group on the weekend.

Electric train to Abramtsevo departs from the Yaroslavsky rail terminal and goes to Sergiyev Posad or Aleksandrov. You may reach Abramtsevo by bus as well. Travel time is an hour and a half.

08 Yasnaya Polyana

Yasnaya Polyana is known as a place of residence of the famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. He was born there, wrote his novels ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina,’ died and is buried. He’d been living in this manor for fifty years. Yasnaya Polyana is located in the Tula Region, 200 km from Moscow to the south. This manor consists of many interesting and significant objects. For example, the interior of the main house where Tolstoy lived is being kept like it was in 1910 — it was the last year for the writer. All things in the house are considered to be personal belongings of Tolstoy and his family. Besides the main house, the Yasnaya Polyana ensemble includes the so-called Volkonsky house — the house of Tolstoy’s grandfather, the Kuzminskiye wing, which is a part of the oldest house where Tolstoy was born, now non-existent, the birch alley made by Sofya Andreevna, Leo Tolstoy’s wife, stable, ponds, and favorite Tolstoy’s bench. Leo Tolstoy’s tomb is located close to the ravine's edge — it’s where he wanted to be buried.

The whole travel time to Yasnaya Polyana is about 4 hrs as long as it’s located near Tula. It can be reached by train, or by car. First, you should go to Tula by train from the Kursky rail terminal or by bus from the Tsaritsyno, Domodedovskaya, Prazhskaya, or Ulitsa Akademika Yangelya metro stations, and then change to bus, or by trolley bus for Yasnaya Polyana.

09 Polotnyany Zavod

This place which title can be translated into Russian as ‘linen factory,’ is known for its connection to the Goncharov family, from which Natalia Goncharova, Alexander Pushkin’s wife, originated. The real linen factory was built on the bank of the Sukhodrev River in the Kaluga Region in 1718 by Peter the Great order. Goncharov, Natalia’s great grandfather, was one of the companions who participated in the factory’s development. Every companion built his own manor close to the factory’s building, and even for those times, it was quite an uncommon situation. Polotnyany Zavod was visited by the empress Catherine the Great, the Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, and Nikolay Vasilievich Gogol. In 1999, when everybody celebrated the bicentennial of Alexander Pushkin, Polotnyany Zavod was made a museum, and now it welcomes many guests who come to see dramatized excursions and to learn more about Pushkin times. The poet himself visited this place two times, in 1830 and 1834. Polotnyany Zavod has the most picturesque panoramic view in the Kaluga Region.

To go to Polotnyany Zavod, you should take a bus from the bus station near the Tyoply Stan metro station, and go to Kondorovo. It takes a little more than three hours.

Tarus is just another little town in Kaluga Region, which is considered to be typical Russian. It’s located on the left bank of the Oka River and has really magnificent views. It feels like time stands still there. Tarusa managed to preserve the best from the past, and even now, it consists mostly of one-storeyed houses made of wood or stone. They say it’s because Tarusa residents declined railroad construction. This town became popular among Russian intellectuals at the beginning of the 20th century when famous artist Vasily Polenov discovered it and told about Tarusa to anyone in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Tarusa is known to be a hometown for Russian writer Marina Tsvetaeva, whose family spent summertime there. Tsvetaeva museum is a museum every guest of Tarusa should visit for sure. Besides, Konstantin Paustovsky, another famous Russian writer, lived there till his death and was buried in Tarusa. The absolutely must-do in Tarusa is to walk along the embankment of the Oka River.

The best way to reach Tarusa is by direct bus which departs from the bus station near the ‘Tyoply Stan’ metro station. Travel time is about two hours.

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• 1. Sergiyev Posad
• 3. Shakhmatovo
• 4. Zakharovo
• 5. Borodino
• 6. Melikhovo
• 7. Abramtsevo
• 8. Yasnaya Polyana
• 9. Polotnyany Zavod

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