Grain Coastal Park

The Thames estuary sprawls out in front of you at Grain Coastal Park, a proper working landscape where industry and wildlife somehow share the same space. It's not going to win any awards for manicured gardens - this is raw, genuine salt marsh and shingle beach territory just outside Sheerness, where you might spot curlews and brent geese rather than postcard-perfect views.

What makes it worthwhile is exactly that roughness. The walking trails loop through the reserve without fuss, and the birdwatching is genuinely good if you time it right - winter migration brings the serious twitchers out. The shingle beach itself is windswept and moody, the sort of place that gets under your skin rather than dazzles immediately. Families won't find much in the way of facilities or entertainment, but older kids with any interest in wildlife will get something real from it. Allow a couple of hours for a proper walk.

It's free to access, which helps when you're staying at Sheerness Holiday Park or Haven Kent Coast Holiday Park nearby - both are within easy reach. Neither holiday park will set the world alight, but they're convenient bases if you're after a week on the Kent coast. Grain works best as part of a bigger mix rather than your main event. Pair it with the attractions in Sheerness itself or venture along the coast - it's the kind of stop you'll appreciate more on the way to somewhere else than as a destination in itself.