Top Holiday Resorts in Kent

Although not the first place to come to mind when considering your Summer holiday options, the English county of Kent is fast becoming one of the nation's favourites for the warmer months. Not only is it a midway point between London and the continent, and so has both British charm and continental influence, but it offers fantastic attractions and beautiful landscape all of its own.

Similarly to other Southern British coastal areas, Kent is renowned for its traditional and charming English beach resorts, gardens and coastlines. Its rural inland areas are regarded as outstanding areas of natural beauty and the South Downs are frequented by wildlife enthusiasts, ramblers and cyclists alike. The abundance of outdoor activities means it is great for family outings, combining light exercise with an appreciation of the countryside and each other.

The county's coastal regions are its most popular, and tourists of all ages enjoy the traditions that come with English sea-side resorts. Many of these old-fashioned English customs are great for kids; coconut-shies, magic shows and Punch and Judy performances for example. For slightly older kids, the fairground rides, pedalos, watersports, funhouses and circuses can be great ways to really enjoy a British Summer! Many of these towns also offer piers, sweet shops and typically traditional food outlets and cafes selling cream cakes, fresh fish and chips and other typical fayre.

As well as offering a fantastic coastline, Kent also has towns and cities of interest such as Dover and Canterbury. Dover, a bustling town, is famously home to the White Cliffs; an international landmark and stunning piece of coastline. Although normally used as a stop off point to France, it is ever becoming a fantastic English holiday destination. In Dover alone there are a variety of things to do, apart from enjoying the scenery. Dover Castle is fantastic for young ones, as it offers a labyrinth of secret wartime tunnels, medieval rooms and an underground hospital to explore and educationally learn a bit about the area's history too. In a similar vein, Kent is home to a lot of Roman ruins, and museums allowing you to dress up as Romans, see their beautiful mosaics and imitate your own; generally experience Roman ways of life. For a more light-hearted day out, Howletts Wild Animal Park is a fantastic facility with hundreds of the world's most interesting species, including the largest family group of Gorilla's in captivity. The area is also home to lots of special outdoor music festivals, summer festivals and regattas.

The area also has a lot of holiday parks, with parks such as Haven, Woodlands Park, Allhallows Holiday Park and Marlie Farm, to name but a few, offering fantastic accommodation, dining out opportunities, classes and sports all on site. Such a holiday park experience means you have the freedom of seeing local sights and hotspots but also the option to enjoy your surroundings without the hassle of travelling around a lot. Classes also mean you can take the time to try a new sport or a new pastime like yoga or painting. It also means that you can ensure your family have a great time in a safe and fun environment.

As weather predictions for this year look good, with meteorologists promising it to be the Summer of the barbeque, Britain's coastal tourism areas look set to enjoy a booming peak season. Whether you enjoy the facilities of a holiday park or stay in a traditional B&B, your children will enjoy all that the English seaside has to offer.