31 January 2018

Interesting Things To Do In Kent This Month: February 2018

Hever Castle snowdrop days
Image: Hever Castle

1 February: Harry Potter Book Night, Maidstone

Calling all Potter fans: Waterstones in Maidstone is one of many venues across the UK hosting a Harry Potter Book Night with free games and activities on a wizarding theme. Alright it's aimed at kids, but adults, it's probably worth begging, borrowing or stealing a child for the night if you don't have your own.

2 February: New burlesque night, Tunbridge Wells


This one caught my eye on Twitter: a new cabaret and burlesque night is livening up Tunbridge Wells, with music from swing trio The Dad Pack and a performance from burlesque artiste Lulu Vesper on opening night. Ooh la la.

10 February onwards: Snowdrop walks, Hever

Hever Castle snowdrops
Image: Hever Castle

See in spring in the glorious grounds of Hever Castle, which has been laced with 70,000 snowdrop bulbs of varying colours. Wander your way through the floral carpet, or take a longer walk around the perimeter of the lake.

10-18 February: Vintage Valentine's tea, Hurst Green

Merriments Gardens vintage afternoon tea
Photo: Merriments Gardens
This one tips over into East Sussex rather than Kent, but it tickled my fancy for afternoon tea so I'm allowing it. Merriments Gardens (excellent name!) is serving up a vintage themed afternoon tea for Valentine's Day, with sandwiches, scones and cakes served up on vintage china. One for the Instagrammers, me thinks. Note that the gardens themselves don't reopen until March - this is all about the food.

15 February: Fish and chip train, Tunbridge Wells

Spa Valley Railway Tunbridge Wells
Image: Spa Valley Railway
You'd struggle to find a more British event than this; a fish and chip lunch on a steam train. It's one of the Spa Valley Railway's themed trips, running from Tunbridge Wells out to Eridge and back again, with your lunch served to you at your seat - followed up by ice cream. If you can't make it this time round, the event is repeated semi-regularly.

18 February: Snowdrop Sunday, Sevenoaks


I flippin' love flowers, so here's another chance to see this year's snowdrops, this time at Great Comp Garden in Platt near Sevenoaks. This place takes its snowdrops very seriously, with a plant fair where galanthophiles (snowdrop collectors to you) can get their hands on varieties of the plant. If you're less serious about snowdrops, you can still wander through the garden and see them at their peak, along with hellebores and other February flowerers.

24 February onwards: Rye Bay Scallop Week, Rye

Rye Bay Scallops Week 1066 Country
Image: 1066 Country

Again, this one's slightly further afield, and it's one for the foodies among you. Rye Bay Scallop Week is an annual celebration of seafood with special meals, cookery demos, markets, live entertainment and quizzes, all around the humble scallop. 


About these listings: These are just a selection of the more interesting and unusual events taking place in and around Kent this month. I select events for inclusion based on what I find interesting myself, as I hope these will interest you too. I'm based in West Kent, so geographically they're centred around this area - although I do chuck the occasional further-afield event in if I think it sounds interesting enough to warrant it. Got a suggestion for a inclusion in future event listings? Contact me.

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