With the heat of summer of 2022 now a fading memory and the darker nights and colder weather soon to be upon us, it can only mean one thing. October half term is approaching!

It is a time when many families can get away to enjoy a few days together before the run-in to Christmas. The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is the perfect destination to give everyone from granny to the grandchildren the opportunity to try out new experiences and create new memories.

The Kent Downs AONB offers something for all the family all year round, and the late autumn period is no exception: from nature lovers to thrill seekers, foodies to history buffs, there's no end of experiences to inspire a half-term break this October. From making spooky potions with ingredients that you collect in the woods, to pumpkin carving and having a frightfully good time hearing scary stories by Lantern Light - you are in for lots of treats in the Kent Downs AONB. Find out more about these half-term events here. 

Easily accessible by public transport and well connected by road, the Kent Downs AONB also offers a wide range of accommodations to suit all preferences and budgets. So, it's easy to see why Kent's Heritage Coast within the Kent Downs was ranked number four on Lonely Planet's list of the world's best regions to visit in 2022. 

Here's just a small selection of the experiences that can be enjoyed in the Kent Downs AONB this autumn. There are lots of things going on and a full list of experiences can be found at www.kentdowns.org.uk/up

• Chow Downs: Feed your soul – and the family! - in the most enchanting locations.
  https://kentdowns.org.uk/experiences/out-to-the-woods-chapattis-on-a-chula
• Adventure Downs - With the wind in your face and fresh air in your lungs you'll find time-short thrills through to epic weeklong escapades. https://kentdowns.org.uk/itineraries/outdoor-fun-in-the-kent-downs/
• Natural Downs – Cultivate the mind with experiences that celebrate and nurture the land and local way of life.
• Learn the ancient of mosaic while surrounded by nature
• Draw Downs – Witness an inspiring coast and countryside that will ignite your creative fire.
• Create your own work of art from clay under the expert eye of This Art of Mine, a pottery studio that sits atop a peony farm

We have also tried to make the decision-making easier by suggesting family-friendly itineraries based on specific interests: 

•  Cultural Exploits for all the Family
•  Outdoor Fun in the Kent Downs AONB
•  Family Adventures in the Kent Downs AONB

Full details of the experiences on offer can be found at https://kentdowns.org.uk/up  

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Editors Notes

About Kent Downs AONB
All of England's landscapes are important, but National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are our most iconic and beautiful places. Based on their geology and history, these characteristic landscapes contain swathes of ancient woodland, deep peat, and grassland, and many of our most threatened species such as the red squirrel, curlew, and water vole. Protected landscapes represent our shared heritage and national identity and are home to many of our rural communities and businesses. They also support our nation's health and wellbeing as unique places to experience natural beauty and tranquillity.

Kent Downs and North Downs Way National Trail (which runs through the Kent Downs) is recognised as an exceptional place to visit – with a thriving sustainable tourism offer valued by visitors and tourism businesses.

It offers dramatic views, vibrant communities, a rich historic and cultural heritage and diverse wildlife and habitats making it a worthy landscape for national protection. It is the eighth largest AONB and, along with the High Weald AONB, covers 33% of Kent's land area providing a wealth of opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and benefit from this outstanding landscape.

Introduction to the Experience project
EXPERIENCE is an innovative tourism strategy to boost visitor numbers in the off-peak season across six areas in England and France. By offering new autumn and winter 'experiences', regions will extend their tourist seasons and bring money into local economies all year round to develop sustainable tourism.

The aim is that EXPERIENCE will generate 20 million new visitors by the end of the project (March 2023), spending €1 Billion. The project area will increase visitor value (€) by 5% in the off-season alone.

Experiential tourism is a growing travel trend based on regional uniqueness. Travellers seek off-the-beaten path, 'live like a local' authentic experiences throughout the year. All of them looking to try something new.

Since the start of the project in 2019, we have worked with local businesses and partners to develop more than 30 new experiences within the Kent Downs AONB and on the North Downs Way.