Family Christmas Trails in Kent 2026

Family Christmas Trails in Kent 2026:
Festive Woodland, Garden & Castle Trails

Wrap up warm and head outdoors for a festive family adventure! Christmas trails are one of the best-value ways to enjoy the season in Kent, with little ones hunting for elves, following clues through the woods or spotting hidden deer in historic houses, often with a small prize at the end. Many are free with admission, or just a few pounds per trail sheet.

We’ve updated our guide for 2026 with the best family Christmas trails across Kent, from country parks and National Trust gardens to a museum elf hunt, listed in date order to help you plan. Just click through to each listing for prices, opening times and booking details.

Last updated: 5th November 2026

Here is our full list of festive family trails across Kent, listed in date order to help you plan your visit.

🎄 Elf Trail & Festive Songs Trail | The Guildhall Museum 📍 Where: Rochester
🗓️ When: 14th November 2026 to 2nd January 2027 (Tuesday to Saturday)
🎁 Highlights: Find the elves around the museum and work out which one has Dickens’ missing quill pen, which he needs to finish writing A Christmas Carol, while older children can try the Festive Songs Trail, plus drop-in Christmas crafts on selected Saturdays. Included with admission: adults £5, children £1.10.
👉 Full Christmas at the Guildhall Museum details →

🎄 I Follow the Fox Festive Family Activity Trail | Chartwell 📍 Where: Westerham
🗓️ When: 19th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027 (closed 24th & 25th December)
🎁 Highlights: Follow a festive family trail around the garden inspired by Rob Biddulph’s picture book I Follow the Fox, with a prize at the end, as part of Churchill’s Colourful Christmas, while the house is decorated with festive trees inspired by Churchill’s love of painting. Trail £3.50, plus admission.
👉 Full Churchill’s Colourful Christmas at Chartwell details →

🎄 Christmas Family Trail | Knole 📍 Where: Sevenoaks
🗓️ When: 21st November 2026 to 3rd January 2027 (closed 24th & 25th December)
🎁 Highlights: Little ones can follow a spotter trail to find the wooden deer hidden around the showrooms, as part of A Christmas Woodland Wonder, with festive courtyards, a giant wreath and the sparkling Great Hall. Free with admission, and National Trust members go free. Dogs on leads are welcome in the parkland.
👉 Full Christmas at Knole details →

🎄 A Fairytale Christmas | Scotney Castle 📍 Where: Lamberhurst, near Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: 21st November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
🎁 Highlights: The Victorian Mansion House is decorated with scenes from much-loved fairytales, and outside, families can pick up a trail sheet for the Gingerbread Man Trail and see how many gingerbread characters they can find around the estate. Free with admission, and National Trust members go free.
👉 Full A Fairytale Christmas at Scotney Castle details →

🎄 Wallace & Gromit – A Cracking Christmas Caper | Leeds Castle 📍 Where: Maidstone
🗓️ When: 21st November 2026 to 3rd January 2027 (closed Christmas Day)
🎁 Highlights: The Leeds Castle Diamond has vanished just before its grand Christmas unveiling, so join Wallace & Gromit’s Anti-Theft-O Security team and follow the clues through the Castle’s grand rooms, keeping an eye out for Feathers McGraw, Preston and Shaun and his flock, with live performers at weekends and in the school holidays. Included with daytime admission: adults from £34.50, children from £24.50.
👉 Full Wallace & Gromit – A Cracking Christmas Caper details & tickets →

🎄 Winter Scavenger Trail & Christmas Woodland Rescue Trail | Lullingstone Country Park 📍 Where: Eynsford
🗓️ When: 1st December 2026 to 3rd January 2027, 10am to 2pm
🎁 Highlights: Pick up a trail sheet and pencil and follow the clues on a set route around the park, with a prize for every completed sheet – the Winter Scavenger Trail runs until 18th December, then the Christmas Woodland Rescue Trail takes over. £3 per trail, and parking charges apply.
👉 Full Christmas at Lullingstone Country Park details →

🎄 Christmas Trail | Betteshanger Park 📍 Where: Deal
🗓️ When: 5th to 24th December 2026 (selected dates)
🎁 Highlights: Follow the Christmas Trail through the park, solving clues and finding festive surprises along the way, with photo opportunities and a Christmas treat at the end. £13 per child, including entry for two adults.
👉 Full Christmas Trail at Betteshanger Park details & tickets →

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🎄 Festive Reindeer Trail | Salomons Estate 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: 5th to 24th December 2026 (selected dates)
🎁 Highlights: After a visit to see Santa, little ones can search for hidden doors on the way to a well-earned hot chocolate. Santa’s Grotto and trail: Child: £33, adults and parking: Free
👉 Full Festive Reindeer Trail at Salomons Estate details & tickets →

🎄 Kringle’s Kitchen Chaos | Shorne Woods Country Park 📍 Where: near Gravesend
🗓️ When: 19th to 23rd December 2026
🎁 Highlights: The cookie-loving Kringle Kaboo is on the loose, and elves Zap and Sprinkles need young bakers to help save Mrs Claus’s secret recipe on this hour-long festive adventure in the woods. Children £15, adults £3, and parking charges apply.
👉 Full Kringle’s Kitchen Chaos details & tickets →

🎄 Elf Workshop & Nutcracker Quest | Brockhill Country Park 📍 Where: Hythe
🗓️ When: 20th to 22nd December 2026
🎁 Highlights: Enrol in the Elf Workshop to saw and paint a wooden Christmas decoration to take home, then set out on a woodland Nutcracker Quest. Children £8.50, adults £1.50, and parking charges apply.
👉 Full Christmas at Brockhill Country Park details & tickets →

Picture Credit: © Gaby Fishman Fosbery at unsplash.com

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