10 reasons to visit Betteshanger Park this summer

Take in 250 acres of glorious, rolling countryside in a gorgeous setting nestled between Deal and Sandwich; with so much to see and do, adventure awaits at Betteshanger Park!

Pawfest

September sees the return of Pawfest to Betteshanger Park on 9^th and 10^th September.

Pawfest is East Kent’s most popular dog-themed festival, and it’s easy to see why…

From dog shows and Canicross classes to live music and street food, what’s not to love about the Pawfest 2023 itinerary?

Activities to entertain your best fur-iend include the off-lead trail, Muddy Dog trail, Canicross course, Temptation Alley, recall race, two supersized ball pits, and a mini ball pit for puppies!

Looking to pamper your pooch? There’s an excellent K9 Shopping Village featuring a selection of superb stalls selling top canine products and services. By purchasing products and services from the Pawfest K9 Shopping Village, you’ll be supporting local independent businesses; win-win.

Children are welcome at Pawfest, and there’s a spectacular range of activities for your non-furry little ones to enjoy. Pawfest activities for kids include the Kidzone Funfair, face painting, a bouncy castle, and a tombola race!

Live demonstrations will inspire more quality time with your canine. From Canicross and Hoopers to Mantrailing and Click Dog training, you’re bound to find your next, new dog-themed venture at Pawfest.

For foodies, street food traders will be offering a huge choice of fantastic food. If you’d prefer to watch the world go by and relax with a drink in hand, there’s a fully licensed bar, too.

Fetch your tickets for Pawfest from the event’s official site.

Nature

Thanks to its remarkable rural location, in a partially wooded valley, Betteshanger Park is home to a whole host of wonderful wildlife.

The variety of habitats spanning the length and breadth of Betteshanger Park are part of what make it so great for wildlife. Some of the park’s stunning habitats include woodland, scrub, grassland, meadows, lichen heath, and even open water!

Many of the mammals you might see while walking around the more peaceful areas of parkland include badgers, foxes, stoats, squirrels, hedgehogs, wood mice, field voles, and (if you’re super lucky!) deer.

Plants are plentiful at the park, so look out for terrific trees, superb shrubs, awesome orchids, lovely lichens, and fascinating fungi!

Amphibians can be found all around Betteshanger Park, particularly smooth newts, common frogs, and common toads. You may see reptiles around the park too, such as the common lizard, slow worm, and grass snake.

If you’re interested in insects, there are striking butterflies, mystical moths, and dazzling dragonflies to be discovered at Betteshanger Park, such as the pretty peacock butterfly and charming emperor dragonfly.

The Lamp Room

When the weather doesn’t support your summer schedule, Betteshanger Park’s own restaurant is the perfect place for your palate to explore!

The Lamp Room boasts magnificent menus for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, all of which offer plates to suit every taste. A generous children’s menu is also available.

Benefiting from a fully licensed bar, beer terrace, and majestic décor, The Lamp Room is an elegant eatery admired by locals and visitors alike. Dine with family, catch up over a drink with friends, and relax in style at The Lamp Room.

How to Train your Dinosaur

An educational event unlike any other, we recommend RentaDinosaur’s interactive ‘How to Train your Dinosaur’ show, as it’s a fun-filled experience for every dinosaur enthusiast!

Baxter the T. rex and Spike the Spinosaurus are just two of the impressive dinosaurs who will roam the park to perform tricks that dazzle audiences of all ages.

Bouncezilla

Do you know a child who likes a challenge?

Bouncezilla is Betteshanger Park’s ultimate, inflatable obstacle course and will be back for summer 2023!

Kids can run and bounce their way through the octopus-like walls and over air-filled jumps to the finish line, where they’ll be met with delicious food from excellent local suppliers.

Kent’s Roman Festival

The History Project launches Kent’s Roman Festival at Betteshanger Park in summer 2023. Learn everything there is to know about the Roman way of life!

From gladiator shows in the amphitheatre to living history camps and riveting displays, step back in time to join this voyage into Great British history.

Deal Folk ‘N’ Beer Festival

For some fun in the sun, the Deal Folk ‘N’ Beer Festival is celebrating the start of summer with the finest Kentish folk music and brilliant micro brewers!  

Soak up the atmosphere with locally brewed beer and immerse yourself in festival vibes by watching amazing bands perform live in the amphitheatre.

Party!

Having a hen or stag do soon? Head over to Betteshanger Park for a party with a twist…

Enjoy a truly memorable celebration at Betteshanger Park. There’s Battlezone archery, Boonies outdoor assault course, competitive cycling, and a Gel Master arena!

Survive the summer holidays thanks to an incredible choice of activities for kids. Whether your child wants to go fossil hunting or join forest school to learn about bushcraft and orienteering, or they’d prefer an adrenaline rush with battle blasters and target archery, they’ll enjoy endless entertainment at Betteshanger Park.

Heritage Sprint

Kent’s biggest biking event is happening at Betteshanger Park this summer. Watch historic racers blast down the Sprint track and see electric-powered motorbikes pushed to their limits!

As well as the hundreds of impressive machines on display, there’ll be live music, camping, and phenomenal food available at this exciting event.

We’ll Meet Again

Return to the fab forties as Betteshanger Park presents this marvellous military festival and country fair.

There’s something for everyone at We’ll Meet Again, with attractions such as military vehicles and 1940s fashion, as well as a circus workshop and UH-1 Huey helicopter!

For more info. about the amazing array of activities and events happening at Betteshanger Park this summer, visit their website.