Five Kent museums to visit on a rainy day
As the weather gets colder and the rain starts to drizzle, it can be difficult to stop the kids bouncing off the walls at the weekend.
If you need a fun, cheap and, most importantly, dry place to take the family in the winter months, we’ve got five great Kent museums that are brimming with fascinating facts…
THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE, Canterbury
Housed inside a Grade II listed building in the heart of the city, The Beaney is a hub for historical artefacts, art displays and kids’ activities. There’s lots to see, including the natural display of birds and butterflies, collections from Asia, Africa and Europe, art from the Baroque and Pop eras and the original Bagpuss puppet from the TV show that was filmed in Kent in the 1970s. It’s also located right on the main shopping street, close to the historic Canterbury Cathedral and picturesque Westgate Gardens, so there’s plenty to do if the weather clears up.
Details: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 11am to 4pm. No booking required, however some exhibitions and activities are priced separately.
CRAB MUSEUM, Margate
What better way to celebrate the seaside than with a museum dedicated to shellfish? The quirky Crab Museum shares how these small beach-dwelling creatures have a huge impact on our biodiversity and tells the unbelievable story of the giant Margate crab. This attraction is certainly on the unusual side, but if your kids are sick of going to the same old museums then this will definitely give them something new to look at.
Details: Open Friday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. No booking required.
GUILDHALL MUSEUM, Rochester
This former courtroom and council chamber was featured in Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations and is part of the town’s rich literary history. Inside, there’s a Making a Mr Dickens gallery all about the Victorian writer’s life in Kent, as well as paintings of Medway’s notable figures over the years. There are also archaeological objects, including a 200,000 year old axe, a full-size reconstruction of a Medway prison hulk from the 1700s and the world’s most complete set of 18th century cabinet maker’s tools
Details: Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. No booking required. Adult entry costs £5.
DOVER MUSEUM
Find out all about the history of this port town at the Dover Museum. The main exhibition is the Bronze Age Boat, the remains of which were discovered in 1992 by archaeologists in Dover and are thought to be around 3,500 years old. The rest of the museum, which has been operating since 1836, features scale models that show how Dover has changed since medieval times and items that have been collected from the Anglo-Saxon period.
Details: Open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm. No booking required.
SPITFIRE AND HURRICANE MEMORIAL MUSEUM, Ramsgate
Admire a collection of 1940s Spitfire aircraft, learn about the pilots who flew during the Second World War and discover how Manston played a part in Britain’s wartime past. The current display includes the Spitfire MkXVI, which saw combat action in Germany in 1945, and the Hawker Hurricane, a classic fighter plane built in 1944. You can also have a go on the exhilarating flight simulator - however, please note this is at an additional cost.
Details: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. No booking required for general admission, but the flight simulator must be booked in advance.
