Agricultural Museum

The Street, Brook
Ashford TN25 5PS

agriculturalmuseumbrook.org.uk

The museum at Brook forms part of an attractive and historic group of buildings consisting of Court Lodge farmhouse, with its medieval moated site, manorial barn and hop oast. The adjacent Church of St Mary is a fine example of Norman and Early English work. In the barn there are most of the items from when the horse was the power round the farm such as turnwrest ploughs, seed drills, reapers and wagons (click thumbnail on right). In the largely intact oast house are items associated with hops and other small items.

Ashford Borough Museum

The Old Grammar School, The Churchyard
Ashford TN23 1QG

ashfordmuseum.org.uk

Built in 1635 by Sir Norton Knatchbull to house the newly founded Ashford Grammar School. On view are photographs of old Ashford, Ashford at War, local archaeological and geological discoveries, artefacts from an old established Ashford pharmacy plus exhibits of everyday life.

Beaney Art Museum & Library, The

18 High Street
Canterbury CT1 2RA

thebeaney.co.uk

The Beaney is an art museum and library situated in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury.

Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives & Museum

The Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road
Beckenham BR3 3BX

bethlemheritage.org.uk

Founded in 1247, Bethlem Royal Hospital is now located in Beckenham, South London, as part of the wider South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The Archives and Museum service is dedicated to the history of mental health treatment, and includes historical and archival material as well as a large art collection. Collections: Collections illustrate aspects of mental health and mental healthcare. They include archives of Bethlem Hospital (the original 'Bedlam') and the Maudsley Hospital (founded in the 20th century, influential in psychiatric teaching and research).

Bexley Museum at Hall Place

Hall Place, Bourne Road
Bexley DA5 1PQ

hallplace.org.uk

A fine Grade 1 Listed country house built in 1540 for Sir John Champneis,Lord Mayor of London, and extended in the 17th century. Open to the public with free admission Hall Place is set in beautiful formal gardens on the banks of the River Cray.

Blue Town Heritage Centre

69 High St Blue Town
Sheerness ME12 1RW

thecriterionbluetown.co.uk

The Blue Town heritage centre is a mixture of museum, music hall, cinema and educational and research facility. It is adjacent to Sheerness dockyard and its aims are to promote and preserve the history of Blue Town and the Isle of Sheppey.

Brenzett Aeronautical Museum Trust

Ivychurch Road
Brenzett, Romney Marsh TN29 0EE

brenzettaero.co.uk

The Romney Marsh Wartime Collection is a unique collection of wartime equipment, remains recovered from aircraft crash sites and memorabilia collected and donated to the museum since its formation in 1972. The exhibition is located within the original buildings used as a Hostel for the Women's Land Army during the war, and part of the exhibition is devoted to those ladies - some of their graffiti is still evident today.

Canterbury Heritage Museum

Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR

canterbury-museums.co.uk

Discover Canterbury's history, from millions of years ago to the present, explored through interactive displays in an amazing medieval building. Includes Anglo-Saxon treasures, Oliver Postgate's Thomas Becket story, the Tudors, Joseph Conrad's study, the Blitz gallery, Stephenson's original Invicta railway engine, Rupert Bear and the real Bagpuss. Around the museum are over 30 exciting hands-on activities for families - you can write your name in Viking runes, sniff medieval poo, investigate finds like an archaeologist, try on Elizabethan costume and listen to wartime memories.

Canterbury Roman Museum

Butchery Lane
Canterbury CT1 2JR

canterbury-museums.co.uk

Explore the Roman town beneath your feet. Canterbury's underground Roman Museum is built around the remains of a Roman town house with mosaics preserved where excavated.

Canterbury Tales, The

St Margaret's Street,
Canterbury CT1 2TG

canterburytales.org.uk

Ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era? At The Canterbury Tales you can do just that. Step into medieval Canterbury and accompany Geoffrey Chaucer and his colourful pilgrims on their magical journey from London to the Shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury. Along the way, their stories of love, romance, jealousy and trickery are vividly re-created with all the humour of Chaucer's famous tales. The Canterbury Tale is a fascinating and accurate portrayal of life in medieval England during the 14th century.

Canterbury West Gate Towers

St Peter's Street
Canterbury CT1 1TF

After the Cathedral, the West Gate is Canterbury's next eye-catching landmark. It has stood for six centuries on guard over the road to and from London. It is the largest surviving medieval gate in England.

Chantry Heritage Centre

Fort Gardens, Commercial Place
Gravesend DA12 2BH

goo.gl

The oldest surviving 14th century building in the Borough of Gravesham. The building fell into disuse after the Reformation. The chapel became an inn towards the end of the 17th century, and later became part of the fort and defence works erected on the site. Today the building is promoted as the Chantry Heritage Centre and houses a range of exhibits relating to Gravesend, Northfleet and the nearby villages.

Chiddingstone Castle

Hill Hoath Road
Edenbridge TN8 7AD

chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Home to a fascinating collection of Japanese Samurai armour, Buddhist figures, Ancient Egyptian artefacts,Jacobite and Stuart paintings and memorabilia. All were collected by the last owner of the castle, Denys Bower.

Colonel Stephens Museum

Tenterden Town Station, Station Road
Tenterden TN30 6HE

hfstephens-museum.org.uk

The Colonel Stephens Museum recording the career of Holman Fred Stephens, light railway promoter, engineer and manager, his family, his railways and his successors.

Cranbrook Local History Museum

Carriers Road
Cranbrook TN17 3JX

cranbrookmuseum.org

Cranbook Museum is an engaging local museum with collections spanning te history of Cranbrook Town, its industry, culture and local nature.

Dartford Borough Museum

Market Street
Dartford DA1 1EU

dartford.gov.uk

Permanent display of local archaeology, reconstruction of a draper's shop and Dartford during the Second World War. Regular temporary exhibitions on a variety of subjects.

Deal Maritime & Local History Museum

22 St George's Road
Deal CT14 6BA

freeuk.com

Exhibits include the Saxon King (the last of the Deal Galleys), many ships models (including the Cutty Sark), colourful figureheads and numerous pictures, prints and memorabilia of the famous Deal Boatmen, the Deal, Walmer, and Kingsdown lifeboat crews and of the Royal Marines stationed at Deal for over 300 years.

Dog Collar Museum at Leeds Castle, The

The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle
Maidstone ME17 1PL

A unique collection of historic and fascinating dog collars has been built up over the years and is now the only one of its kind in Great Britain. Mrs. Gertrude Hunt most generously presented her collection of collars to the Leeds Castle Foundation in memory of her husband, John Hunt, the distinguished medievalist. The collection of over 100 collars and related exhibits has since been added to and enhanced by the Foundation itself.

Dover Museum

dovermuseum.co.uk

Dover Museum is a local history and archaeology museum situated in the town centre of Dover, Britain's historic port town. It is home to the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world's oldest known seagoing boat and a fascinating archaeological discovery.

Dover Transport Museum

Willingdon Road, Whitfield
Dover CT16 2JX

dovertransportmuseum.org.uk

Stroll through the collection of over 50 vehicles housed in two main galleries set in period street scenes of a bygone age, bringing the past, present and future together.

Eden Valley Museum

Church House, 72 High Street
Edenbridge TN8 5AR

evmt.org.uk

An innovative new museum housed in a Grade 2* listed building. This timber framed mediaeval farmhouse helps to tell the story of the people of the Eden Valley. Collections: Local social history including industry, farming, domestic artefacts, painting and prints, costume Archaeology of the Eden Valley Archives.

Finchcocks

Goudhurst TN17 1HH

finchcocks.co.uk

Finchcocks, a fine Georgian manor in Kent, houses Richard Burnett's celebrated collection of over 100 keyboard instruments: harpsichords, pianos, organs and many more. Some forty of them are in full working order, with a staff of professional musicians providing live demonstrations throughout your visit. Finchcocks also invites keyboard players of all ages to play the instruments, and to experience first-hand the sounds that composers such as Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Brahms made as they created their masterpieces, or simply entertained their friends.

Fleur De Lis Heritage Centre

13 Preston Street
Faversham ME13 8NS

favershamsociety.org

The Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre comprises three adjoining grade II listed buildings in Preston Street right in the centre of Faversham. The Heritage Centre, or the Fleur, as it is affectionately known, is owned and voluntarily run by the Faversham Society and offers many facilities for the visitor and locals alike.

Folkestone History Resource Centre

2 Grace Hill
Folkestone CT20 1HD

Get a glimpse of Folkestone's extensive and diverse collection. From Roman wall plaster and woolly mammoth teeth, to mine detectors and early cameras, not to mention our sixth century skeleton.

Gravesham Museum (online only)

Windmill Street
Gravesend DA12 1BE

discovergravesham.co.uk

At the click of your mouse you will be able to glimpse the cultural, social and commercial heritage of Gravesend, Northfleet and the nearby villages.

Guildhall Museum

High Street
Rochester ME1 1PY

The Guildhall Museum was built in 1687 and is one of the finest 17th century civic buildings in Kent. The main staircase and principal chamber have magnificently decorated plaster ceilings, given in 1695 by Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell who was a Member of Parliament for the city of Rochester at the time. Collections: At the Guildhall Museum you can look at what people made and used so many years ago. Reach back into the past with the help of evidence - from the huge Roman potteries by the river; from the busy farms scattered through the countryside; and from the important Roman town of Durobrivae itself.

Hall Place & Gardens

Bourne Road
Bexley DA5 1PQ

hallplace.org.uk

Hall Place is a Grade I listed Tudor country house originally built in 1537 and also with a 17th century courtyard built by later owner Sir Robert Austen.

Herne Bay Museum & Gallery

12 William Street
Herne Bay CT6 5EJ

canterbury-museums.co.uk

This coastal museum features the story of the Victorian seaside resort of Herne Bay and its surrounding area, with exciting finds from nearby Reculver Roman fort. Displays include local paintings, prints and photos, mammoth tusks and fossils from local beaches, coastal wildlife and a Barnes Wallis Bouncing Bomb prototype from World War Two. Among display themes are seaside holidays and attractions, the town's piers, clock tower and the development of the resort.

Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Historic Dockyard
Chatham ME4 4TZ

thedockyard.co.uk

A unique, award winning maritime heritage destination with a fantastic range of attractions, iconic buildings and historic ships to explore, plus a fabulous programme of temporary exhibitions at No 1 Smithery. Make rope on the Victorian Ropery Tour; be gripped by stories of life aboard our three historic warships and hear of heroic stories in the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection.

Home Front Bus

2 Broadfield Crescent
Folkestone CT20 2PH

homefrontbus.com

Home Front Bus is a unique Living History Experience. The classic double decker bus houses detailed reconstructions of a 1940s living room, a shop, a bombed out street and an air raid shelter, each containing period features and artefacts replicating the sights and sounds on the Home Front during World War 2.

Huguenot Museum

95 High Street
Rochester ME1 1LX

facebook.com

Opening Summer 2015. The Huguenot Museum tells the story of Britain's first refugees: the skills they brought to the UK, their descendants, and relevance to the story of refugees today. 'We help people to better understand the present by learning about the past, enabling us to make connections between Huguenot history and the world around us.'.

Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry Museum Trust

Hever Castle
Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG

ksymuseum.org.uk

Commemorating the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles, Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry, Kent Yeomanry, 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 23rd London Armoured Car Company (Sharpshooters), 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).

Kent Battle of Britain Museum

Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge
Folkestone CT18 7AG

kbobm.org

The most important collection of Battle of Britain artefacts on show in the country. The museum was lucky to acquire one of the sites of Britain's epic struggle for survival in 1940, in what was the greatest air battle of all time.

Kent County Council Arts & Museums

Springfield
Maidstone ME14 2LH

Manages three museums in library buildings at Folkestone, Ramsgate and Sevenoaks.

Kent Firefighting Museum

Kent County Council Fire Department, Straw Mill Hill, Tovil
Maidstone ME15 6XB

kentfirefightingmuseum.org.uk

Displays historical firefighting appliances, equipment, artefacts, photographs and documentary records relating to the history of firefighting in Kent.

Kent Life

Lock Lane, Sandling
Maidstone ME14 3AU

kentlife.org.uk

There's so much new to do at Kent's premier heritage farm attraction. Agricultural tools and machinery, social history - domestic life, working life and the life of hop pickers.

Kent Police Museum

The Historic Dockyard
Rochester ME1 3NJ

kent-police-museum.co.uk

The Police Museum was started as a collection of police memorabilia in the 1960s by officers who felt there was a need to show our history. The museum also provides a service for any research of family history enquiries. The services are available by contacting the museum curator.

Lashenden Air Warfare Museum

Headcorn Aerodrome, Headcorn
Ashford TN27 9HX

lashendenairwarfaremuseum.co.uk

The museum was formed in 1970 with the aim of preserving the aviation heritage of Kent, with particular emphasis on World War II. Also to promote and develop an aviation awareness in the general public, raising money for RAF and other associated charities. Collections: The museum has 5 aircraft on display, including two original World War 2 German aircraft. The Focke Achgelis Fa 330 rotor kite & a Fieseler Fi 103R4 Richenberg piloted V1 flying bomb.

Light Vessel 21

Pier Approach Road Gillingham Pier
Gillingham ME7 1RX

LV21.co.uk

Ahoy. LV21 is a 40 metre steel-hulled lightship being transformed into a floating cultural facility and maritime heritage centre. Designed to provide a range of services promoting and supporting the creative industries in the Medway area and beyond, whilst celebrating and honouring the maritime traditions of the vessel, LV21 is set to become an iconic landmark on the river Medway.

Lullingstone Roman Villa - English Heritage

Nr Swanley DA4 0JA

goo.gl

Among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain, Lullingstone has been vividly re-displayed, providing a unique - and all-weather - opportunity to trace Roman domestic life over three centuries. Set in the attractive surroundings of the Darent Valley, the villa was begun in about AD 100, and developed to suit the tastes and beliefs of successive wealthy owners.

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery

St Faiths Street
Maidstone ME14 1LH

maidstone.gov.uk

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery is an award winning museum, housed in a beautiful Elizabethan manor house. Highlights include a 2,500 year old mummy; Maidstone's local history; a fascinating journey through time when dinosaurs walked the earth; one of the finest Japanese collections of Japanese art in the country; magnificent 'Old Master' oil paintings; and the splendour of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum.

Margate Museum

Market Place, Old Town
Margate CT9 1EU

wordpress.com

Margate Museum is situated in the vibrant Old Town. The building itself was once the town magistrates court and gaol and boasts many original features.

Powell-Cotton Museum

Quex Park, Park Lane
Birchington CT7 0BH

quexmuseum.org

Museum created by PHG Powell-Cotton (1866-1940) housing his collections from 25 expeditions to Africa and 5 trips to SE Asia between 1889 and 1939 (26 years actually on African soil). Three galleries of amazing animal diorama displays - the finest in this country - depicting more than 250 African and Asian mammals against their natural habitats.

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment & Queen's Regiment Museum

5 Keep Yard, Dover Castle
Dover CT16 1HU

army.mod.uk

Military history from 1572 to present. Story of 12 Foot and 9 County Infantry regiments.

Quebec House - National Trust

Quebec House
Westerham TN16 1TD

nationaltrust.org.uk

Childhood home of General James Wolfe. * Unique collection of Georgian memorabilia * Fascinating Battle of Quebec exhibition * Gabled red brick 17th-century house.

Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum

St Faith's Street
Maidstone ME14 1LH

maidstone.gov.uk

This independent museum has been housed within Maidstone Museum since 1960. It is packed with fascinating, colourful and thought-provoking exhibits.

RAF Manston Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum

Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial, The Airfield, Manston Road
Ramsgate CT12 5DF

memorial.museum

The Memorial Building is situated on one of the very few surviving airfields which participated in the Battle of Britain. RAF Manston was the closest airfield to the enemy coast and bore the brunt of the early Luftwaffe air attacks in the long hot summer of 1940. Collections: Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI (LF) - Type 361 - Serial TB752 - Sqn Code KH-Z: TB752 is one of the few surviving Spitfires with a wartime record.

Ramsgate Maritime Museum

The Clock House, Maritime Museum Pier Yard
Ramsgate CT11 8LS

ramsgatemaritimemuseum.org

Situated in the Clock House on the quayside at Ramsgate Harbour, Ramsgate Maritime Museum focuses strongly on Ramsgate and its immediate environs, with a brief introduction to the rest of the region's maritime past.

Red House - National Trust

Red House Lane
Bexleyheath DA6 8JF

nationaltrust.org.uk

Commissioned by William Morris in 1859 and designed by Philip Webb, Red House is of enormous international significance in the history of domestic architecture and garden design. The unique building is constructed of warm red brick, under a steep red-tiled roof, with an emphasis on natural materials and a strong Gothic influence.

RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection

Lifeboat., The Historic Dockyard
Chatham ME4 4TZ

Housed in an 1848 covered slip, the Lifeboat Gallery contains 17 historic boats, many of which earned their Coxswains RNLI bravery medals. From an 1897 pulling and sailing lifeboat, to the familiar Arun class and Blue Peter inflatable inshore lifeboats, visitors can explore how lifeboats have evolved over the past century.

Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive

Prince Arthur Road
Gillingham ME4 4UG

re-museum.co.uk

The Royal Engineers Museum and Library tell the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and military engineering. It is a story about the Sappers and their courage, creativity and innovation. In peace and war the Corps has been everywhere and involved in everything. The museum holds a particularly comprehensive collection of British medals.

Sandwich Guildhall Museum

Cattle Market
Sandwich CT13 9AH

sandwichtowncouncil.gov.uk

The museum is housed in the Guildhall, a listed building, and tells the story of Sandwich from medieval times. There are many well-designed illustrative panels relating to the history of the town with artefacts dating back to the early 13th century.

Sevenoaks Museum

Sevenoaks Library, Buckhurst Lane
Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ

kent.gov.uk

Sevenoaks Museum is situated inside Sevenoaks Library. The 1980s building was re-developed in 2005/6 and also contains a contemporary art gallery, local studies library and cafe space.

Shoreham Aircraft Museum

13 High Street, Shoreham Village
Sevenoaks TN14 7TB

shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk

The museum houses hundreds of aviation relics excavated by the group over many years from crashed British and German aircraft, as well as items which have been kindly donated. In addition, there is a fine collection of flying helmets, uniforms and insignia.

Snodland Millennium Museum

Waghorn Road
Snodland ME6 5BQ

snodlandhistory.org.uk

The museum is owned and maintained by Snodland Town Council. Admission is free.

St Augustine's Abbey - English Heritage

Canterbury

english-heritage.org.uk

This great abbey, marking the rebirth of Christianity in southern England, was founded shortly after AD 597 by St Augustine. Originally created as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent, it is part of the Canterbury World Heritage Site, along with the cathedral and St Martin's Church. The impressive abbey is situated outside the city walls and is sometimes missed by visitors.

St Margaret's Museum

Beach Road, St Margaret's Bay
Dover CT15 6DZ

helionix.com

Directly opposite the main entrance to the Pines Garden is St Margaret's museum and The Garden Caf?_. The museum, created by the Trustees in memory of Fred Cleary CBE, houses a programme of changing displays on environmental themes and local history. Also on display is a tribute to one-time resident of St Margaret's, Noel Coward.

Tenterden & District Museum

Station Road
Tenterden TN30 6HN

ukpages.net

The museum is housed in a two-storey weatherboarded building, one of the last representatives in Tenterden of a type of industrial building common in the area in the latter part of the 19th century. It serves as a focus for research and enquiry and provides a repository for artefacts connected with the area.

Timeball Tower

Victoria Parade
Deal CT14 7BP

dealtimeball.co.uk

Originally in 1796 a Shutter Telegraph station, the current Tower was built in 1821 as a Semaphore Tower but was later equipped with a Timeball which was raised on a mast on the roof and dropped at 1 pm by a signal fron Greenwich so that the many ships anchored off shore could check their chronometers. There are 4 floors of exhibits, video and interactive displays of signalling, timekeeping & navigation equipment.

Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery

Civic Centre, Mount Pleasant
Tunbridge Wells TN1 1JN

tunbridgewellsmuseum.org

Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery shares the special story of the borough of Tunbridge Wells. Enjoy our wonderful collections, visit our major exhibitions and take part in activities for everyone.

Tyrwhitt Drake Museum of Carriages

The Archbishops' Stables, Mill Street
Maidstone ME15 6YE

maidstone.gov.uk

Maidstone Carriage Museum is home to a unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles and transport curiosities. More than 60 vehicles are displayed, from grand carriages and ornate sleighs to antique sedan chairs and Victorian cabs - even an original ice cream cart.

White Mill Rural Heritage Centre

Ash Road
Sandwich CT13 9JB

whitemillheritagecentre.org.uk

White Mill is a smock mill which retains its original wooden machinery and was restored between 1961 and 1981. It is surrounded by the original outbuildings and millers cottage. White Mill was built in 1760 and still has most of its original wooden machinery.

Whitstable Museum & Gallery

Oxford Street
Whitstable CT5 1DB

canterbury-museums.co.uk

Dive in to maritime history and explore the town. The fascinating displays give townspeople and visitors an idea of why Whitstable is here, how it grew and how it has changed over the years.

Woodchurch Village Life Museum

Susans Hill
Woodchurch, near Ashford TN26 3RE

woodchurchmuseum.com

Woodchurch is a picturesque Kent village which is situated 7 miles from the historic market town of Ashford and 5 miles from the Cinque Ports town of Tenterden. The museum is housed in an 18th century oak-framed barn and 17th century cart shed, on a rural site not far from the village centre.