In and around Canterbury
“Café des Amis is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in Canterbury. They serve delicious food from Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines at fair prices. This combined with the joyous Latin music and genuinely excellent customer service makes for a brilliant atmosphere. Cousins Lounge, a pool and snooker lounge with a bar, is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed evening with a few friends. You can enjoy quite a few games of pool for a very good price.”
Shameer Jafar – Marketing with a Year in Industry
“Canterbury’s new climbing centre, Chimera, offers a great opportunity to try out something new, while having a great workout. The student discount makes it even more appealing! The Escape Kent, escape rooms in Canterbury, are a great way to bond with new housemates or society members. The challenging but fun puzzle-based immersive experience is definitely worth the visit.”
Connie Lowman – Marketing
“Bishops Finger is a sports pub in the middle of St Dunstan’s in Canterbury. Flat screens are scattered around the pub, ensuring you have a good view of whatever game you go to watch. Grab yourself some wings and a pint and enjoy a great night out.”
Tavimba Chisenga – Multimedia Design and Technology
“In Canterbury, my top three restaurants are Café Des Amis, Korean Cowgirl and Saint Smokey’s. All restaurants are affordable and with great reviews. For nights out, I’d recommend Loft as the best nightclub and bar in Canterbury. It’s in the centre of town, and the entry price and drinks are cheap. For a fancy night out, The Pound and The Ballroom are a must to visit at least once.”
Brayan Cadena-Najera – Marketing
In and around Medway
“Great Lines Heritage Park in Chatham is really beautiful when the weather is nice. There’s a bird’s eye view of Medway, which looks amazing at sunset. For clubbing, Tap ‘n’ Tin in Chatham on Monday night, which is student night, is fun and lively. The club has three floors with a huge range of music genres from old-school, Britpop and indie rock music to drum ‘n’ bass and dance music. Chatham Bowl in the Pentagon shopping centre is fun with a big group. My flatmates and I have found it cheap but cheerful entertainment during weekday evenings.”
Niamh Daly – Business and Management with a Year in Industry
Coast
“Easily accessible by car, train or bus, Deal is a wonderful seaside town to visit – especially when the weather is nice. Featuring two castles, a pier with great views, and a quaint high street, you could easily spend a day exploring some of the hidden gems that the town has to offer. If you’re looking for food, Middle Street Fish Bar offers some of the best fish and chips in Kent. Alternatively, try out one of the many locally run gastropubs which sit right by the sea.”
Jeremy Lee – Digital Arts
“One of my favourite places I’ve found is Steep Street Coffee House in Folkestone. The walls are covered in beautiful old books and they do some incredible cakes, it’s a lovely place to go during the winter. During exam season though, when my friends and I are in need of a study break, we love going to Botany Bay beach near Broadstairs. It instantly feels like we’re on holiday even though we’re only a few miles away from university.
Annabel Graves – History with a Year in Data Analytics
“One of the places that is great to visit is the Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate. It’s free entry, although donations are welcomed. It has many pieces that are interesting to look at — I enjoy popping in to see the new exhibitions. For more active adventures, Dover Cliffs are amazing. When the weather’s good you can see the French coast.”
Pati Zarzycka – Film
“I would recommend visiting Whitstable by bike – students can hire a bike cheaply on campus and take the path towards Whitstable. It is a great way of experiencing what Kent has to offer. Or take a trip to Broadstairs and experience the underground World War Two tunnels. It is a great way to learn more about English culture and visit one of the best beaches in the UK. Dover is a lovely place to spend a few hours. You can visit the castle for a very reasonable price and the white cliffs are amazing. It is definitely a must-visit place.”
Brayan Cadena-Najera – Marketing
“MFA Bowl is a great, Hollywood-esque, bowling alley in Whitstable which makes for a great chill night out with your friends. Simply hop on a bus from Canterbury bus station and take the 30-minute journey to the bowling alley for hours of fun.”
Tavimba Chisenga – Multimedia Design and Technology
Countryside
“My favourite place in Kent is Broadwater Warren, in Tunbridge Wells. It’s only a few minutes away from a busy town centre but is a hidden expanse of beautiful natural forest full of amazing wildlife year-round. It has cinematic views, loads of butterflies and birds, and it’s the best place on Earth to walk a dog!”
Ellie Barrett – Digital Arts with a Year in Industry