Templeman Library

The University of Kent's main library sits on the edge of Canterbury, a striking brutalist building that's more interesting inside than its concrete exterior suggests. It's free to enter and genuinely worth an hour of your time if you're passing through the area, especially on a rainy afternoon when you need to get out of the drizzle.

Inside, it's surprisingly pleasant. Proper modern library design - light flooding in from high windows, quiet reading areas that actually feel calm, and enough chairs scattered about that you won't feel like you're intruding on student territory. The book collection is decent but obviously geared toward university study rather than general browsing. What makes it stand out is the building itself - there's something oddly satisfying about brutalist architecture when you're inside it rather than staring at it from the street.

Who'll get most out of it? Not really a family destination, to be honest. Kids will be bored within ten minutes. It's better suited to anyone who likes architecture, or travellers needing a quiet spot to read or work. Students naturally feel at home here, but it's open to the public during the hours listed.

If you're staying at Seasalter Holiday Park or Nethergong Camping nearby, it's a reasonable drive into Canterbury itself, where you'd spend far more time in the cathedral and medieval streets. The library works as a quick diversion on a wet afternoon, not as a main event. Opening hours are weekday evenings until 9pm, which is handy if you fancy a change of pace after a day outdoors.