Free tickets to Kent’s biggest attractions

Enjoy free family days out, guided walking tours, wine and beer tastings and spa breaks as the returns

Thousands of free tickets to Kent’s biggest attractions will be handed out next month as part of the Kent Big Weekend.

The ballot returns this year with free entry to locations such as Leeds Castle, Diggerland and Dover Castle, as well as tours, wine tastings and guided walks.

The annual event aims to celebrate the county’s many things to see and do with discounted days out.

You can choose from more than 80 attractions and experiences and there is no limit to how many ballots you can enter.

If you are selected as a winner, you will be contacted with details of how to claim your prize.

This year, some of Kent’s most-visited attractions are participating in the Kent Big Weekend, with historic castles such as Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Hever Castle near Edenbridge, Dover Castle and Walmer Castle all giving away free adult tickets.

There are also many family experiences and activities, including a treetop adventure at Go Ape Bedgebury, swimming sessions at Faversham Pools, virtual reality gaming at Elwick Place in Ashford and free tickets to Diggerland in Strood.

For the grown-ups, some of Kent’s top independent breweries and vineyards are offering tasting sessions and tours.

Copper Rivet in Chatham and Maidstone Distillery are both giving visitors a chance to sample spirits, while breweries Shepherd Neame and Curious Brewery will lead tours around their sites.

Several wineries, such as Balfour Winery in Staplehurst and Chapel Down in Tenterden, are also taking visitors through their vineyards and offering wine-tasting masterclasses.

Fans of Kentish ales can apply for the Canterbury Trale, a walking tour of Canterbury with stops at five pubs and breweries and facts about the city’s brewing history.

That’s not the only walking tour on offer; Kent-based walking company Boots On Adventure will be taking a stroll through the bluebells at Blean Woods, while Kent Wildlife Trust is hosting a ‘safari’ through the marshland at Oare, near Faversham.

Museums, such as the Maidstone Museum and Dickens House Museum, and gardens including Godinton House and Great Comp, will also be open.

There’s even a chance to win a relaxing getaway as Bridgewood Manor in Chatham and Reynolds Fitness Spas in Bexley and Sittingbourne are giving away luxurious spa treatments and day passes, while the four-star Abode Hotel in Canterbury is welcoming visitors for afternoon tea.

The Big Kent Weekend takes place on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21.

The ticket ballot is now open and you can apply for tickets online until Easter Sunday.

To find the full list of attractions, visit the Big Kent Weekend website.

Attractions taking part in Big Weekend include Leeds Castle, the Sheps brewery at Faversham, right, and Go Ape at Bedgebury, below right