All the family can enjoy the bank holiday weekend with lambs, sword-fighting and much more happening across the county. Kieran Watkins reports.

Buckmore Park, Chatham

Take advantage of the Turn Up 'n’ Drive days at Buckmore Park this holiday weekend and have a go racing round the famous go kart circuit on Blue Bell Hill. Whether you are a keen racer or have never driven before, anyone aged four and above can get involved and take a kart for a spin, with sessions divided into age groups. High speed circuits and sessions for mums and dads are also available.

Open: Saturday, May 5 to Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 4pm

Cost: From £15 per session

Where: Buckmore Park, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9QG

Contact: 01634 201562 or www.buckmore.co.uk

Chapel Down Vineyard, Tenterden

Enjoy samples of wine and fruit juice on a tour of the award-winning vineyard at Tenterden. Learn about the methods and processing at Chapel Down as you sample both red and white wines. Families can also explore the vineyard and herb garden, with the food and wine store also open throughout the tours.

Open: Saturday, May 5 to Bank Holiday Monday from 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm

Cost: £9 adults, £8 concessions, £2 children, under 12s free

Where: The Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden Vineyard, Small Hythe, Tenterden TN30 7NG

Contact: 01580 763033 or www.chapeldown.com

Drusillas Park, East Sussex

Don’t miss your chance to meet Thomas the Tank Engine favourite the Fat Controller at a special bank holiday event. Ensuring that his engines are running on time and not interfering with the animals, the Fat Controller will be patrolling the park as well as posing for photos and meeting families throughout the day. The rest of the popular animal park will also be open for visitors as usual.

Open: Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm)

Cost: £62 for a family of four

Where: Drusillas Park, Alfriston Road, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5QS

Contact: 01323 874100 or www.drusillas.co.uk

Godinton House and Gardens, Ashford

Join in the traditional May Day celebrations – that include maypole and morris dancing – at Godinton House on Bank Holiday Monday. Children can also explore the gardens on the May Day trail with games and activities along the way. For parents, sample food and drink from Challock farmers’ market, Godmersham Game and Biddenden Vineyard.

Open: Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 4.30pm

Cost: Adults £5, Children £2.50

Where: Godinton House, Godinton Lane, Ashford TN23 3BP

Contact: 01233 643854 orwww.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk

Herne Bay

View cars dating from the 1900s to American classics at the annual Classic Car and Motor Show at Herne Bay. Fully booked with more than 300 exhibitors in the town centre, the event features cars from across the South East as well as live entertainment, craft stalls and children’s entertainers.

Open: Saturday, May 5 from 10.30am to 4pm

Cost: Free

Where: Herne Bay CT6 5JQ

Contact: 01227 868515

Hever Castle

Salute spring this bank holiday at the dancing around the Maypole event at Hever Castle. Join in with the traditional folk and Tudor dancing, where swords and sticks will feature in the lively dance routines. Morris dancers in traditional costume will also be performing. The castle and gardens will continue to be open for visitors throughout the weekend.

Open: Saturday, May 5 to Bank Holiday Monday from 10.30am to 5pm

Cost: Family ticket £37.30

Where: Hever Castle and Gardens, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG

Contact: 01732 865224 or www.hevercastle.co.uk

Howletts and Port Lympne

From big cats to elephants, see the animals of the jungle at the 90-acre Howletts Wild Animal Park or 600-acre Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. A baby Javan gibbon is the latest addition to Howletts. Together Howletts and Port Lympne hold half of the world’s total captive population of Javan gibbon – 11 males and 13 females. Also see the rhinos, small cats, Western lowland gorillas and African wild dogs among other animals.

Open: Daily 9.30am to 6.30pm.

Cost: Adults £23.95, children £18.95.

Where: Howletts Wild Animal Park, Bekesbourne, Nr Canterbury CT4 5EL and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Lympne, Nr Hythe CT21 4PD

Contact: 0844 842 4647 or www.aspinallfoundation.org

Kent and East Sussex Railway

Spend your day on the rails over the bank holiday with the Kent and East Sussex Gala Weekend. The railway will be open to visitors, with passenger and goods trains running along the line as well as brake vans and pump trolley rides. Seven locomotives will be in steam each day, with model railways and the carriage shed on show for families.

Open: From Saturday, May 5 to Bank Holiday Monday from 9.30am to 4.30pm

Cost: Adult £17.50, child £12.50, families £50

Where: Tenterden Station, Station Road, Tenterden TN30 6HE

Contact: 01580 765155 or www.kesr.org.uk

Kent Life, Maidstone

Join in the May Day celebrations on the Kent Life farm where the traditional maypole and morris dancers will be performing. There is also the chance to feed the lambs and for children and parents to join forces in the annual tug-of-war.

Open: Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm)

Cost: Adults £8.95, concessions £7.75, children £6.50, under 3’s and members free

Where: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3AU

Contact: 01622 763936 or www.kentlife.org.uk

Leeds Castle

Fans of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs will love the What the Butler Saw exhibition that has just opened at the castle. Running throughout the weekend, the exhibition looks behind the scenes at the castle in the 1930s, when its owner Lady Baillie entertained high society whilst the servants worked behind the scenes. The exhibition runs untill late October. All the castle’s usual attractions will also be open across the weekend.

Open: Daily 10.30am to 5pm, last entry 3.30pm.

Cost: Entry to the exhibition is included in the usual ticket price – adults £19.75, concessions £17.50, children £12.50.

Where: Leeds Castle, Leeds, near Maidstone ME17 1PL

Contact: 01622 765400 or visit www.leeds-castle.com

Lullingstone Castle

Dig out your swords and put on your armour for a medieval weekend at Lulllingstone. There are chances to watch living history displays and explore the medieval camps. There will also be longbow and crossbow displays, sword fighting and a re-enactment of The Battle of St Alban. Food cooked on the camp fire will be provided and there is the chance to explore the castle and gardens too.

Open: Sunday, May 6 to Monday, May 7 from 10am to 5pm

Cost: Adults £7, children £4, families £18

Where: Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, near Swanley DA4 0JA

Contact: 01322 862114 orwww.lullingstonecastle.co.uk

Mount Ephraim Gardens, Faversham

Enjoy the annual Pat-A-Lamb Day. Children will love getting up close with the spring lambs in the Edwardian gardens of the country estate, surrounded by the beautiful Kent countryside.

Open: Sunday, May 6 to Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 5pm.

Cost: Adults £5, children £2.50, under fours free

Where: Mount Ephraim Gardens, Hernhill, Faversham ME13 9TX

Contact: 01227 751496 orwww.mountephraimgardens.co.uk

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park

Come face-to-face with mini beasts as the Concrete Jungle Show unveils its tantalising selection of insects and creepy crawlies. The grounds of Quex Park, as well as the museum and other attractions, will all be open during this special event.

Open: Bank Holiday Monday from 2pm

Cost: Free

Where: Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park, Birchington CT7 0BH

Contact: 01843 842168 or www.quexmuseum.org

Riverside Country Park, Rainham

Become a ranger for the morning at the 100-hectare park overlooking the Medway Estuary. The park’s rangers are inviting children between five and 12 to explore what the park has to offer as long as they are accompanied by an adult. From pond-dipping to arts and crafts, learn about nature and search for wildlife. Afterwards, there is the opportunity to have a cup of tea and cake at the park cafe. Book in advance.

Open: Saturday, May 5 from 10am to 11am

Cost: Children £1.50

Where: Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Gillingham ME7 2XH

Contact: 01634 337432

Saltwood Castle

Go in search of dungeons and test your archery skills in the medieval grounds of Saltwood Castle, which is hosting the 10th NSPCC Open Garden and Plant Fair. With more than 20 nurseries offering a selection of plants and garden accessories, along with a barbecue and homemade cake stalls, there is plenty to do for the whole family.

Open: Saturday, May 5 from 10am to 4pm

Cost: £5

Where: Saltwood Castle, Saltwood, Hythe CT21 4QU

Contact: 01293 651840 or www.nspcc.org.uk/getinvolved

Swale Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, Sheerness

At the 23rd annual Classic Vehicle Show in Sheerness, see collections including classic cars, motorcycles and military vehicles on the football fields at Holm Place. The experts from the Swale Vehicle Enthusiasts Club will also be on hand to answer questions and speak to visitors, with other attractions and events showing throughout the day.

Open: Sunday, May 6 from 10am to 4pm

Cost: Adults £3, children 50p

Where: Swale Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, Holm Place, Queensborough Road, Sheerness ME12 1HL

Contact: 01795 880544

Victoria Gardens and Promenade, Broadstairs

Make the most of the sandy beach at Broadstairs by joining in the traditional May Day weekend at the Victoria Gardens and Promenade. Activities include beach games, a fun fair and stalls selling curiosities and crafts. Elsewhere, the nearby bandstand will provide live music in the afternoon. The Charles Dickens House Museum will also be open as will be the Lillyputt Mini Golf where families can try their luck at crazy golf. Both are conveniently located close to the gardens and promenade, and will be open throughout the day.

Open: Saturday, May 5 to Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to late

Cost: Free

Where: Victoria Gardens and Promenade, Victoria Parade, Broadstairs CT10 1QS

Contact: 01227 700894 or www.visitthanet.co.uk

Whitstable Castle and Gardens

Entertain the children this bank holiday at the annual May Day celebrations at Whitstable Castle. Organised by the Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions Club, the fun-packed day features arts and crafts, charity stalls and the traditional parade of the Jack in the Green. With music and fancy dress aplenty, the celebrations will help raise money for the charity.

Open: Bank Holiday Monday from 11am to 5pm

Cost: Free but donations welcome

Where: Whitstable Castle and Gardens, Tower Hill, Whitstable CT5 2BW

Contact: 01227 281726 orwww.whitstablecastle.co.uk