Brogdale Collections

Brogdale Collections sits just outside Faversham and is essentially a living museum of fruit trees - which sounds duller than it actually is. What you're looking at is the UK's national collection of apples, pears, plums and cherries. Thousands of them. The place was originally established to preserve heritage fruit varieties before they vanished entirely, and it's genuinely fascinating if you're into that sort of thing.

You can walk around the orchards, see historical varieties you've never heard of, and understand why Victorian gardeners were obsessed with getting the perfect eating apple. It's particularly worth visiting in spring when everything's flowering, or late summer when the trees are laden with fruit. The gift shop sells actual heritage fruit when they're in season, which is a nice touch.

History buffs and gardeners will get far more from this than casual visitors, to be honest. Families with young children might find an hour here enough unless they're really keen on the subject matter. It's peaceful rather than thrilling, the sort of place where you actually learn something without it feeling like work.

If you're staying at Painters Farm Camping Site nearby, it's an easy morning visit to break up a camping trip. Pair it with a proper walk elsewhere or a trip into Faversham itself for lunch. Check ahead for opening times and admission costs before you go - they're worth confirming.