Cheap ferry to Dunkirk and mooch the town eating out about and buying nice food to bring back,
Cost us less than thirty quid for the ferry last time we went, worked out cheaper than the return train fare for two to London..

Slowjo - where abouts, got a friend who has a holiday let that way, Bodsham to be precise.

The Turner Contemporary in Margate
Creative Quarter in Folkestone is a pleasant afternoon, throw in the Leas and Lower Coastal Park (great for young kids), walk to Sandgate is a pleasant day.
Hastings (Old Town) and crazy golf is a good day out.
Rye and Tenterden very pleasant.
Deer Park at Mersham for a walk, and also a great place for wine tasting the Vinorium I believe.
If you've done Dover, War Tunnels are great, as is the National Trust park above the docks.
Deal is really nice too, couple of good coffee shops pleasant pier, couple of Castles, good golf courses if you like that, nice beach stroll too.
You won't be too far from Wye either I suspect, good walking, as is Kings Wood near Challock.
Sissinghurst Castle?
Think you'll find something there to do.

Happy to help!

Bear

Some great ideas from bear.

I'd add a few things:

Clay shooting near Canterbury. 15 quid for 25 shots, just turn up and shoot.
Book a half hour riding lesson, loads of stableyards across the county.
Loads of great walks and Sunday lunches.
There's loads more - amazing orchards, farm shops and markets etc.

10 miles east of Ashford? Wye? Chilham?

head to canterbury if you want a town/city.
if you head Rye way then the old town of winchelsea up on the hill is worth a look and less tourists than Rye. dungeness and rye harbour for a walk.
just whatever you do avoid Ashford, it is the pox-hole of the south.

Wye is closer than 10 miles, I'm going Bodsham, Hstingleigh, but looking at map my old village of Lyminge is due east about 10 miles away.....

in which case he's staying at Sibton Park and the HBP apartments. Lovely location.

Lyminge forest, or Covert woods for walks. And good for biking, can lend bike if needed......

Good spot, maybe Elham? Lovely area with great walks, pubs etc. spring is springing in the county now, in a couple of weeks time it's going to be in full swing, great time to visit.

Lots of good ideas there. Add Whitstable to the list.
Pop in to Herberts Cycles and meet the most enthusiastic
cycle shop owner around.

Ashford is not the pox hole there are worse towns.
It has alot of railway history if thats your thing.

Cafe stops: Lord Whisky, Rhodes Minnis.
Chilham square.
Mrs Mollets, Appledore, for a posh stop.

Some good options mentioned above, cant think of any more at the mo.

Right, lets give him some pubs now too.....

For nice food, French service Timberbatts in Bodsham, try to see if there is one of the magic nights on whilst you are down. Best steak I've had round this way.

Great micro pub in Folkestone - The Firkin, oh and one of the best curry houses too round the corner - Copper and Spices. Not a typical curry but I suppose would be described as Asian fusion food. It is brilliant though.

The Hop Pocket, Bossingham.

Bear, been meaning to try out that curry place sounds like it's worth a go. Oh and that pub too!

Red Lion @ Baddlesmere
Duke William @ Ickham
The Tankerton Arms @ Tankerton
The Old Neptune, The Black Dog, The Ship Centurion & The Royal Naval Reserve @ Whitstable
The Rose @ Wickhambreaux
The Parrot & The New Inn @ Canterbury
The Plough @ Stalisford Green
There's a start!

granny - curry is excellent, pub fantastic too, my local so a bit biased but great to pop out to for a couple of beers and home.

Oh and the Krishna curry house in Whitstable is well worth a punt.

Go to Lydden Hill race circuit and watch some car racing. There's probably a rally cross event that weekend, I think they usually run one at Easter. Spectacular!

Get on a train to France or London

Cor blimey I almost forgot, Hornby model railway museum, Margate!!!

The red lion at snargate then a look around Fairfield church near appledore, the key is hanging up outside the house opposite. (Yes you do go up to the door and help yourself to the key)

Talking of Margate, how about the shell grotto?

All the things/places that Bear/Yossarian said - but please note: Ashford itself is a DUMP.

Kids might like Howletts/Port Lympne.
Walk at Stodmarsh Nature Reserve, followed by food at the Red Lion.
Then you're not too far from Fordwich where there's an interesting little museum in the tiny town hall. Check opening times though, only a day or two a week in summer.
There's often a company that hires canoes at Grove Ferry and Fordwich, so you can spend a couple of hours on the river between the two.
Whitstable harbour market and town are nice, plus you can take kids ten pin bowling.
Quite a few museums in Canterbury, also Saint Augustines abbey. Go for the day, visit a museum, do some shopping, hire a punt on the river.
Lots of castles around: Deal, Walmer, Leeds.
Roman fort at rich borough.
Broadstairs and Sandwich both worth a visit.
Walks at Samphire Hoe.
Walking in the downs above Wye.
Manston spitfire museum.
Visit some of the nice villages/pubs: Ickham, Wickhambreaux, Chillenden, Pett Bottom.

Well done the Kent chapter!

Battle of Britain memorial at Capel le Ferne.
Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkindge.
Go Karting at Buckmore park or its cheaper at Lydd.
If the Bluebells are out then Kingswood near Challock is stunning.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway.
Perry Woods for walking if its been raining as its sandy.
Shelly's in Chilham square for the best cream tea around.

And if the weather is really poor don't right off the 12 screen multiplex at Ashford if you want to see a film.

Ashford is not the pox hole there are worse towns

According to wikipedia, in 2005 Ashford was voted the fourth-best place to live in the United Kingdom. People are strange.

And I would mention the cliff walk between Dover and the Warren, Folkestone,though it is 25 years since I have been there.

Been away from the computer for a bit!

Bear we are staying somewhere called (I think) Gt Stotting - or similar.

Blimey you lot....more things to do than I can shake a stick at!

Thanks for all the input.

Slowjo - Stowting? If so decent pub in village (Tiger), and nice walks along the downs.

That's the one! :o)

Kent & East Sussex Railway? Steam train from Tenterden down to Bodiam, a stroll around the castle & some lunch.

A quick note of thanks to all who gave me some ideas. We had a really good time and I really must take my bike down next time.Unlike us flatlanders, you have things called hills and they look intriguing!

The museum at Brenzett was a real gem. The sad thing is that I only gave it an hour and a half in the mistaken belief that is all it would take.