Outdoor Activities in Dover

For most families with children, yes, or close to it. Big historic sites reward wandering, and wandering takes time you cannot predict in advance. Go in expecting it to be the day, and treat anything else you manage as a bonus. That way you are not hurrying children past the bit they were finally enjoying in order to reach something else.

First, and booked. Dover Sea Safari depends on conditions and on somebody else's availability, so it dictates the shape of the day rather than fitting into it. Once it is confirmed, build around it. If it falls through, you want the alternative already chosen, not invented on the spot while five people look at you expectantly.

Open ground with something to look at and few stairs. Samphire Hoe Beach and St Margarets Bay ask less of small legs than a large historic site does, though you should check parking and surfaces with each before committing. A railway visit at East Kent Railway is also worth considering, since sitting down is a genuine feature when the youngest member of the party is two.

Two of the five carry an indoor flag as well, which gives you a partial answer rather than a full one. Ring ahead to establish how much of a visit is genuinely under cover, because a site can be flagged indoor and still involve long stretches in the open. A wet day here is best met with fewer plans rather than different ones.