Apply for thousands of free tickets to top attractions with the Kent Big Weekend 2025

Thousands of Kent residents can get their hands on free tickets to some of the county’s biggest attractions next month.

The Kent Big Weekend returns in April with free tickets to huge tourist attractions such as Leeds Castle, Dover Castle and Historic Dockyard Chatham, as well as exclusive tours and guided walks.

The annual event aims to help people discover great days out on their doorstep and celebrate everything the county has to offer.

The ticket ballot opens from Friday, March 7 to Monday, March 17. You can apply here.

You can apply for as many tickets as you like and, if you are selected as one of the winners, you will be contacted with details of how to claim your prize.

The weekend itself takes place on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.

Popular family attractions, such as Diggerland in Strood, the Kent and East Sussex Railway in Tenterden and the Historic Dockyard Chatham are all participating in this year’s event.

There are also a number of historic castles offering free entry, including Dover Castle, Walmer Castle, Rochester Castle and Leeds Castle near Maidstone.

Adults can enjoy boozy tastings at vineyards like Gusbourne Estate near Ashford and Biddenden Vineyards and take a tour of Britain’s oldest brewery, Shepherd Neame, in Faversham.

There’s plenty of outdoor adventures at Betteshanger Park near Deal and Canoe Wild near Canterbury or, if you prefer to stick to indoor activities, a host of fascinating museums will be putting on special events, including the Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington-on-Sea and the RAF Manston History Museum near Ramsgate.

There will also be relaxing getaways, food and drink experiences and one-off tours that aren’t usually available to the public offered as part of the scheme.

The full list of attractions participating in this year’s event will be available when the ballot opens on Friday, March 7.