Max Mannouch
27th April 2022

For those looking for a short weekend get away, look no further than North Kent. From quaint countryside towns to historic dockyards, there is plenty to see and do here. For those who like to try something new why not tour and taste from our many distillery and breweries? Or those who enjoy the outdoors can take long strolls along country paths. There isn't much more you could ask for!

Tour Britain's Oldest Brewery

In the heart of Faversham, is Britain's oldest brewery - Shepherd Neame. What's brilliant and about this brewery is you can take the tour and see how their iconic brews are made, taking you through the process from grain to glass. Once you've finished your tour, we recommend heading into the market town of Faversham where many of the local pubs serve Shepherd Neame beer fresh from the brewery. 

Credit: whyilovefaversham

Standard Quay - Faversham

Standard Quay is just a short stroll away from the Shepherd Neame brewery, and is well worth your time when you next visit. Standard Quay is located on the banks of Faversham Creek and is made up of small local businesses each selling something different and unique from freshly cooked food to antiques. Better still, it's less then 2 minutes away from the Iron Wharf dockyard, which is also well worth a visit when you are down there.

Credit: MyKentPhotos

Faversham Market Place

A 900 year old market and the oldest in Kent. Faversham market place is full of local produce and gifts which will make for great souvenirs when returning home. The market is surrounded by many local businesses too offering freshly cooked food, Shepherd Neame drinks to sample, and wares to browse.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

With over 400 years of maritime heritage to discover, Chatham's Historic Dockyard makes for the perfect day out. Explore and climb aboard a cold war submarine, a WW2 destroyer and a Victorian sloop. The Dockyard has many exhibitions and attractions to interact with and will make for a great day out for any budding historian. 

Credit: MaxMannouch

Gillingham Football Club

Founded in 1893, Gillingham Football Club is sure to make for a fun day out if you're a fan of the beautiful game. At the time of writing, Gillingham FC play in League One, so be sure to keep an eye out for the latest fixtures. The stadium is a 10 minute walk away from the nearest train station, making it easily accessible.

Invicta Dynamos - Ice Hockey

The Invicta Dynamos are Medway's national league ice hockey team. The rink seats 800 people, and when teams aren't playing you can take to the ice and test out your moves. The rink is open all year and is great fun if you want to try something just a little bit different.

Credit: paul_chiswick

Rochester Castle

Opened in 1087, Rochester Castle is rich with history, and makes for an excellent day out exploring Rochester's cobbled streets. Rochester Castle has multiple exhibitions and events going on throughout the year so make sure to check their website for a more information.

Royal Engineers Museum

The Royal Engineers Museum is Kent’s largest military museum. The museum boasts an impressive collection with highlights including Wellington's map from Waterloo, Zulu War weapons, a Harrier Jump Jet, 25 Victoria Crosses and an enormous V2 Rocket. Discover why a large section of the Berlin Wall now lives in the Museum and how one solider gained the respect of the Chinese Emperor.

With extra events, children’s clubs and family activities throughout the year, there really is something for everyone at this fascinating museum!

Copper Rivet Distillery

The Copper Rivet Distillery is an exciting and dynamic new Medway based craft distillery. They're the only spirit maker in Kent, and are based in the historic and magnificent Victorian Pump House No. 5. The distillery is also open for tours. Come meet the team to see how they make and produce their range of spirits, explore and see first hand the distilling process in action, and savour some of their spirits for yourselves. 

Credit: Ship & Trades

Ship and Trades - Food, Drink and Rooms

Located on the water front of Chatham, the Ship and Trades boasts a beautiful maritime heritage and settings. The ship and trades offers all sorts of food and drink for you to enjoy and offer many vegetarian offers too. If you're visiting from outside of Kent, the Ship and Trades also offer rooms for you to extend your time in North Kent. With 15 different rooms to choose from, you're sure to feel right at home.

Credit: Pier Five

Pier Five 

Pier Five offer a relaxed setting on the Chatham water front. The modern bar and restaurant host local draughts on tap and freshly cooked food to enjoy on the riverside terrace.