1-Bedroom Hot Tub Shepherd's Hut in Maidstone

Leeds Castle stands on islands in a lake formed by the River Len, about 7 miles south-east of Maidstone in Kent. It is a Grade I listed estate, and a castle has stood on the site since Saxon times. The building you see today is mostly early 19th century, remodelled in a Tudor style.

Tip: Look out for the painting of Henry VIII meeting Francis I of France, and the doublet worn at the Battle of Maidstone, both on display.

Howletts is a wild animal park in the parish of Bekesbourne, near Canterbury, set in about 90 acres of ancient parkland. It opened to the public in 1975 and is run by a charity, the Aspinall Foundation, so your ticket goes towards its conservation work.

Tip: Book online in advance: it gives you access to the park's wet weather policy. Check the talk and feeding boards by the gatehouse when you arrive.

Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Kent, guarding an important river crossing on the London road. Its great Norman keep of Kentish ragstone was built about 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. It has three floors above a basement and still stands 113 feet high. A tall forebuilding with its own defences protects the entrance.

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit at West Kingsdown in Kent. It began as a grassy hollow used by cyclists and motorcyclists in the 1920s and 1930s, and became a tarmac car and motorbike circuit in 1950. It later hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986.

Tip: Check the event calendar on the Brands Hatch website before you go, as the track activity changes day to day and each event has its own Book Now link.

Dreamland is an amusement park and entertainment centre built around a traditional English seaside funfair in Margate, Kent. The site has hosted amusement rides since 1880, and the Dreamland name dates from 1920, when the Grade II* listed Scenic Railway wooden rollercoaster opened. The park was restored and reopened in 2015 after years of closure, following a public campaign to save it.

Tip: Check the What's On page before you go: events show age guidance, and popular ones can sell out, so book ahead.

Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England. It stands on the site of one of the oldest Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site, along with St Augustine's Abbey and the ancient Church of St Martin.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime museum on 80 acres of the former Royal Navy dockyard in Kent, which claims to be the world's most complete dockyard of the age of sail. The site has over 100 buildings and structures, from the Georgian and Victorian periods through to the present day.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden was created by the writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, who bought the run-down farmstead in 1930. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is Grade I listed. The design is a series of enclosed "garden rooms" linked by straight walks, and the White Garden is the best known of them.

Tip: Pushchairs aren't allowed in the main garden because of narrow paths, but baby carriers are fine. Dogs on leads can use the wider estate but not the formal garden. Check the National Trust page for opening times and any closures before you go.