Instagram story viewer> @exploringasfive_> Posts

Jade & family | Days out & Travel - Kent, London, Essex & Beyond

@exploringasfive_

9K

followers

3665

following

Come with us as we find the BEST places to visit with Kids in Kent & beyond
Days out 🍦| Travel ✈️ | Food finds 🍔 | Lifestyle 🌸 | DM to collab

POSTS STORIES REELS

I’VE FOUND FREE CAMPING IN KENT 👀⛺️

And when I say FREE… I mean FREE. 😱

We’ve just discovered The Swan Inn in Little Chart, Ashford — a beautiful country pub that has a secure camping field where you can pitch up for FREE! 🏕️

The catch? You simply buy a meal at the pub… and honestly, that was absolutely no hardship because the food was DELICIOUS! 🤤 And really reasonably priced too.

This place has such a gorgeous, peaceful countryside feel. You’ve got:
🐴 Beautiful horses roaming freely in the field
🌳 Nature all around you
🛝 A lovely little play park for the kids
💦 A stream running alongside the campsite
🍽️ Delicious, reasonably priced pub grub
🚿 Clean shower facilities
🚽 Clean toilets
⛺️ FREE camping!

There’s currently no electric hook-up, but there are sockets available at the pub which you can use to charge things or blow up air beds etc.

And honestly, it was just what we needed — camping, nature, happy kids, friendly horses and a lovely country pub all in one place. 🥰

A HUGE thank you to Emma, the lovely landlady, for offering this amazing little camping spot. ❤️

If you’re looking for a cheap family camping night in Kent this summer, SAVE THIS ONE! 📌

📍 The Swan Inn, Little Chart, Ashford, Kent

#Kent #KentWithKids #KentDaysOut #FreeCamping #CampingInKent *Invite by @exploringasfive_

🎮 GAME ON for Oliver’s 9th Birthday! 🎮
He’s been begging for a gaming bus party for years and this year was finally the year — and wow, it did not disappoint! 😍

From Xbox and PlayStation battles to all the best games, music pumping and 9 of his best mates — it was the ultimate gamer’s dream! 🕹️🎉

Jack from @gameon.mobilegaming was absolutely brilliant with the kids and made the whole thing such a blast! 🙌
If you’ve got a gaming fan, this is the party to book! 💯
The BEST cake as always by @bakedwithlovebyamie
#Gifted #GameOnGamingBus #BirthdayPartyGoals #GamingParty #GameOn #KidsBirthdayInspo #PartyIdeas #Level9Unlocked #BirthdayFun by @exploringasfive_

✨ All aboard The Midnight Express! 🚂💫
[Ad] Ever stayed in a luxury double-decker bus? Well, let me tell you… this was pure magic with @hoogaretreats ✨

From the full-size roll-top bath in the bedroom 🛁 to the private garden, log-fired hot tub, and even a separate cosy dining room for games and late-night feasts — every inch of this place has been so thoughtfully designed. 🕯️🌿

Sleeping up to 8 people with two doubles, two singles, and a clever downstairs bed setup, it’s perfect for families or a group getaway. The whole place is totally transformed — you’d never believe you’re inside a bus! 😍

If you love Harry Potter vibes, Orient Express glamour, and unique stays with a touch of magic… this is one you cannot miss! 🖤🚃

Also ft. The BEST overnight bag for Harrison from @calliegifts (use code Dearl796 for 15% off site wide) and his super cool outfit ready for exploring from @miniolieuk (Use code HARRISON20 for 20% off) and perfect hot tub vibes matching swimwear from @werturtl

#HoogaRetreats #TheMidnightExpress #UniqueStaysUK #LuxuryRetreats #DoubleDeckerDream #HotTubGoals #FamilyGetaways #UKStaycations #HarryPotterVibes #OrientExpressFeels #HiddenGemsUK #werturtl #miniolie #calliegifts by @exploringasfive_

🧠💚 SLIME, ZOMBIES & A WHOLE LOT OF MESS!

Have you seen the new Splatterbrain game by TOMY?!

The idea is simple… you reach inside a zombie head filled with slime and rummage around to find the different facial features to build your own zombie! 👀

There are 3 different ways to play, including matching pairs, completing your own zombie head and racing to find all the pieces first.

Now, if your kids love slime, they’ll probably love the concept of this one! 😂

BUT… let’s just say there’s a LOT of slime involved! It’s definitely messy, and my biggest question afterwards was… what exactly do you do with all that slime once you’ve finished playing?!

It’s one of those games that will divide parents and children, I think! The kids might love the mess, but I’m not convinced about the clean-up or what happens to the slime afterwards. 🙈

Would your kids love this one, or would you be hiding it from them? 😂

#Splatterbrain #TOMY #SlimeGame #KidsGames #FamilyGames *Gifted by @exploringasfive_

🇮🇹🍕 Fancy a little taste of Italy in Maidstone?

We recently visited Vesuvius, a family-run Italian restaurant tucked away on Lower Stone Street in Maidstone.

With roots in Naples, Southern Italy, the family bring traditional Italian cooking and family recipes to Kent, with a menu featuring pizzas, pasta, meat and seafood dishes.

But one thing I particularly loved about this restaurant? There’s no children’s menu! 👀

Now, before you think that’s a bad thing, hear me out…

Because everything is freshly made to order, little ones can actually choose ANYTHING from the adult menu and they’ll simply make it into a smaller portion!

How brilliant is that? No separate kids’ menu limiting their choices, just proper food made fresh for everyone. ❤️

The kids went for pizza and lasagne, and it’s always lovely finding restaurants that cater for the whole family without making little diners an afterthought.

📍 Vesuvius, Lower Stone Street, Maidstone, Kent.

Have you been before? 🇮🇹

#Maidstone #MaidstoneRestaurants #KentFoodies #KentRestaurants #KentFoodGuide *Invite by @exploringasfive_

🦄✨ WE FOUND A REAL-LIFE UNICORN WOODLAND! ✨🧚‍♀️

If your little ones love all things magical, you NEED to add My Little Unicorn in Surrey to your family day-out bucket list!

We visited this enchanting woodland and honestly, it’s like stepping straight into a fairytale! 🥹

There is SO much for little ones to discover, from meeting and brushing the gorgeous little unicorns, dressing up as their favourite characters and getting creative with unicorn-themed crafts, to exploring the magical fairy trails and hidden pixie villages.

And of course, the highlight has to be the chance to actually RIDE a unicorn through the woodland! 🦄

There’s also a play area, glitter makeovers and so many little magical touches dotted around that make the whole experience feel so special.

The Ultimate Unicorn Encounter lasts around 1.5 hours and is packed with activities, making it so much more than just a pony ride.

A perfect experience for little unicorn lovers and one that I think would make such a lovely birthday treat too!

📍 My Little Unicorn, Ash Green, Surrey (near Guildford)

🎟️ Experiences are pre-booking only, with different sessions available throughout the year. Standard Ultimate Unicorn Encounter tickets are currently £70 per child, including two adults and parking.

Save this one for your next magical family adventure! 💕

#MyLittleUnicorn #SurreyDaysOut #FamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #UnicornExperience *Gifted by @exploringasfive_

✨ A YEAR OF YES ✨

My little bit of motivation for 2027! 🤍

I’ve been sent this gorgeous book, A Year of Yes by @manifestation.pulse and I think it’s going to become my go-to for the year ahead.

Inside you’ll find a daily affirmation for every single day of the year, alongside space to reflect, journal and write down your thoughts. A little moment each day to pause, reset, focus on the positives and give yourself that much-needed pick-me-up. ✨

I’m all for going into 2027 with a more positive mindset, a little more self-belief and saying YES to the things that make me happy!

It’s available to purchase now on Amazon, and I’ll pop the link in my Linktree in my bio. 🔗

I also think this would make such a lovely Christmas gift, ready for someone to start the new year with, or simply a thoughtful gift for anyone who could do with a little encouragement and positivity right now. ❤️

Here’s to a year of YES! 🥂

#AYearOfYes #DailyAffirmations #Manifestation #PositiveMindset #ChristmasGiftIdeas [Ad] by @exploringasfive_

🎃 A little Halloween baking magic! 👻🍪

We headed along to Cook Stars – Making Cooking Child’s Play for their Halloween special, run by the lovely Rebekah!

The kids got stuck into making, baking and decorating their very own Halloween cookies, followed by a lovely lunch and some arts and crafts. Basically, an afternoon of everything my three love!

Now, it was a really simple recipe that you could easily recreate at home… BUT here’s the thing. I absolutely HATE baking with the kids at home (horrible mum, I know 😂), whereas they absolutely love it. So for me, a class like this is worth its weight in gold! They get all the fun, and I don’t have to deal with the flour-covered kitchen afterwards. WIN WIN! 🙌

The Halloween specials are £25 per child. I’ll be honest, I did think this was a little pricey, but then perhaps that’s just because I have too many children! 😜

Rebekah also runs weekly cooking classes every Sunday in Ashford, Kent, and there’s a Christmas special coming up too! 🎄

If you’ve got little ones who love getting creative in the kitchen, this could be a lovely activity to try!

#KentWithKids #KentDaysOut #KidsCookingClass #ThingsToDoInKent #FamilyDaysOut *Invite by @exploringasfive_

🎃 THE PUMPKIN PATCH THAT KEEPS GETTING BETTER EVERY YEAR! 🍂

Our annual visit to @hattersfarm for pumpkin picking and honestly… it’s like a WHOLE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL! 🎃

From endless pumpkins to all the autumnal fun, there’s a reason this place has become a firm family tradition for us.

And they’ve only gone and won BEST BRITISH PUMPKIN PATCH 2026! 🏆👏 Well deserved if you ask me!

Today is actually their LAST DAY of the season and they’re completely SOLD OUT for this year… but honestly, that tells you everything you need to know!

So if you’ve missed out this year, SAVE THIS POST for next Halloween because tickets sell out QUICKLY every single year. Don’t leave it too late!

Another year, another pumpkin picking trip ticked off the family calendar. ❤️

Happy Halloween gang! 👻🎃🧡

#HattersFarm #PumpkinPicking #BestPumpkinPatch #KentDaysOut #PumpkinFestival *Invite by @exploringasfive_

💗 POPPING WITH FUN IN LONDON! 🫧✨

Looking for something a little different to do in London? 👀 We visited Bubblewrap and it was such a fun stop on our London day out! 🫧💕

If you love a sweet treat, this one needs adding to your London foodie bucket list! 🤤 Think delicious bubble waffles, loads of toppings and the perfect excuse to treat yourself while exploring the capital.

Because let’s be honest… calories don’t count when you’re on a day out, right?! 😂🍓🍫

📍 Bubblewrap, London 🇬🇧

Save this one for your next London adventure! 📌

#LondonWithKids #LondonFoodie #LondonDesserts #FamilyDaysOut #ExploringLondon *Invite by @exploringasfive_

As a plus-sized woman training for the London Marathon, one of the things I’ve struggled with most is finding running kit that actually FITS my body and makes me feel comfortable! 🏃‍♀️💗

That’s where @truestrap comes in! 🙌

This running vest has genuinely made me feel so much more prepared for my runs, with everything I need in one place:

💧 Holds 2 soft flask water bottles PLUS a water bladder with a straw on the back
📱 A pocket for my phone
⚡ Plenty of space for my running gels
🔦 A light and whistle for those just-in-case moments

It’s lightweight, practical and means I can head out knowing I’ve got everything I need, without having to think about anything else other than putting one foot in front of the other. 👟

Marathon training is challenging enough without worrying about your kit, and finding things that work for MY body makes such a difference. 🥹

One step closer to 26.2 miles! 🏅

#LondonMarathonTraining #PlusSizeRunner #RunningGear #MarathonTraining #TrueStrap *Gifted by @exploringasfive_

🐮🎃 OUR FAVOURITE FARM IS BACK WITH A HALLOWEEN TWIST! 🧙‍♀️✨

We visited @bockettsfarm in the summer and it quickly became one of our favourite farms… so of course we had to go back for Halloween! 🍂👻

It’s just outside of Kent, but honestly, it’s SO worth the journey for us! 🙌🏻 With 3 kids of different ages, finding days out that keep everyone entertained isn’t always easy, but Bocketts Farm ticks all the boxes! 🐐🐷

And for Halloween, they’ve gone all out with Witches & Wizards Week! 🪄✨

🎃 The pumpkin village
🧪 Spooky science show
🐍 Reptile meet and greets
🐑 Plus all the usual farm fun, animals and activities!

Another brilliant full day out for the whole family, with something for everyone to enjoy! ❤️

If you’re looking for a family day out this Halloween, especially if you’re happy to travel a little outside of Kent, add this one to your list! 👏🏻

📍 Bocketts Farm, Surrey

Save this for your next family day out! 🎃👇🏻

#BockettsFarm #HalloweenDaysOut #KentWithKids #FamilyDaysOut #WitchesAndWizardsWeek *Invite by @exploringasfive_