Leeds Castle Maidstone Kent Downs Yalding Gardens Teapot Island

Yalding Organic Gardens & Tea Pot Island

There's a choice of pretty rural bases around Maidstone in the heart of Kent Downs country. Yalding is a particular highlight with its fine selection of attractions including the fascinating Tea Pot Worl and Yalding's acclaimed organic gardens.

There are 14 different gardens currently at Yalding's organic garden complex, some of which are historical gardens like the Tudor Knot Garden. Gardeners looking to spot a few rare plants would do well to head here to Yalding. Attractions include the Woodland Trail Walk, the Apothecary Garden and checkout the Edwardian influenced Herbaceous Borders. There's a children's garden here too!

Garden Organic Yalding, Benover Road, Yalding, Near Maidstone, Kent ME18 6EX. Tel. 01622 814650. 10am - 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday from Sat 31st March until 29th October.

Well worth a visit too in Yalding is the brilliant Tea Pot Island, where you'll discover a huge collection of around 3,500 teapots on display. Kids can decorate their own teapots to take away, and there's a cafe serving cream teas (with river views) on-site. Tea Pot Island, Hampstead Lane, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent. ME18 6HG. Tel. 01622 814541. Peak season opening from April to September, Mondays to Fridays 10am to 4pm, Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holidays 9am to 5pm. Telephone for opening times outside of peak season.

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Leeds Castle Kent

Kent has a number of dramatic castles - you'd expect it in the English county that has long served as main defensive barrier for the rest of England. If you had to pick the most striking of Kent's Castles, it would have to be Leeds, although Dover and Rochester are equally impressive but perhaps less aesthetically pleasing.

Leeds Castle was extensively renovated after 1920 when the bankrupt Wykeham-Martins were bought out by an American Heiress who later became Lady Baillie. Heiress Olive spent a huge sum on lavishly renovating the interior and adding a swimming pool. There's 900 years worth of history prior to Olive's entrance. Numerous Medieval Queens lived here, hence Leeds Castle's nickname, Lady's Castle. Different historical periods are apparent in the mix of architecture from Medieval Gatehouse which remains much as it was in the 13th century to Norman foundations, Tudor towers, parts of the 19th century country house and 20th century glamour features added by Olive including cinema, tennis courts and so on.

The mix of features gives this island Kent Castle a real edge. Add to this the 3000 Leeds Castle Estate (500 acres of which is stunning parkland surrounding the property), crammed with gardens, lakes and ponds, a duckery and aviery, a maze and grotto, kids playgrounds, a golf course and golf shop, cafes, picnic areas, a dog collar museum and a vineyard. A veritable entertainment complex with something for all the family. They host music shows and entertainment events here too. Check the Leeds Castle webguide for details.

Leeds Castle, Hollingbourne, Nr. Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1PL. Tel: 01622 765400. (Leeds Castle is situated just to the south east of Maidstone, easily accessible off the M20, Junction 8 - follow the brown signs).

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Kent Downs & Weald Around Maidstone

Maidstone and around makes for a perfect location from which to explore the Low Weald area and the Kent Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) since 1949. The Low Weald is distinctive for its wooded scarp, hedge, hedgerow and small pasture landscape. North of Maidstone, the 153 mile long North Downs Way scoots on up towards Rochester then on north of Sevenoaks and into Surrey. The remains of medieval Thurnham Castle are situated just off the North Downs Way north of Maidstone. See also the White Horse Wood Country Park at Thurnham.

Also within the area is one of the Kent Wildlife Trust's main visitor centres at Tyland Barn. A huge converted 17th centuy barn, Tyland houses an extensive wildlife exhibition on the area, with plenty of hands on stuff for the kids and adjacent nature reserve with trails, ponds, a chalk bank, bird watching hides and scrub habitats. A cafe and shop are on-site - checkout the Kent Wildlife Trust's webguide for directions to Tyland Barn.

For maps and more information on nature reserves and woodlands in the Maidstone area, Low Weald and elsewhere along the North Downs Way and within the Kent Downs, checkout the Kent Downs and North Downs Way webguides.

Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3BD. Tel. 01622 662012.

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Kent County Show & Showground

The Kent Showground is ideally located within the heart of the region, easily accessed off both the M2 and M20 motorways and near Maidstone. The Showground plays host to some of Kent's biggest and most popular events including the annual July Kent County Show and covers a mammoth 200 acres. Features events alongside the Kent County Show include big antique and craft fairs and garden shows.

The Kent County Show is hugely popular within the region and is Kent's largest outdoor event. Various zones include an Agricultural Zone exploring 'Why Farming Matters' Emphasis is firmly on local produce with livestock competitions, numerous trade-stands with everything from luxury clothing to quality local farm produce. Book tickets on-line via the Kent Showground weblink right.

Free parking is available in the four on-site car parks and the show runs for three days usually Fridays to Sundays mid July annually.

Kent Showground, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF. Tel. 01622 630975.

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Maidstone Area Golf Courses

Weald of Kent Golf Course, Hotel & Business Centre, Maidstone Road, Headcorn, Kent, TN27 9PT. Tel. 01622 891671.

West Mailing Golf Club, London Road, Addington, Nr. Maidstone, Kent, ME19 5AR. Tel. 01732 844785. Two superb 18 hole/Par 70 golf courses are on-site.

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