Thanet Taekwon-Do and Kickboxing Centre

If your kids are bouncing off the walls by day three of a Thanet holiday, the taekwon-do and kickboxing centre in Birchington might be exactly what they need. It's a proper working sports venue where you can watch classes or sign the children up for a taster session if they're keen on martial arts. The instructors know what they're doing, and there's something satisfying about watching a room full of focused kids in their dobok belts, all moving in sync. Worth ringing ahead to check what drop-in classes or visitor sessions they offer - the details aren't straightforward online, which is typical of smaller sports clubs.

This isn't a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. You're not going for the view or the history. You're going because your seven-year-old wants to try kung fu and you need an actual venue that's run by people who know the sport rather than a holiday park activity coordinator. Families with older kids who've already got a martial arts interest will get the most from it. Younger ones might find sitting and watching other people train a bit tedious, but a hands-on session changes that entirely.

Birchington itself is close enough to Birchington Vale Holiday Park (2 miles away) that you could easily fit this in as a morning activity before heading back for lunch. The Foxhunter Park is a bit further out at 4.8 miles, but still manageable if you're planning a day trip to the area. Check opening hours first - don't just show up on the off-chance.