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Kent named Europe's top family holiday destination

Kent is Europe's number one family destination according to Lonely Planet Photo: PA

The 'Garden of England' county has been chosen as the best family destination in a top 10 of Europe holiday hotspots compiled by travel guide experts.

Kent was chosen as the best family destination by Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2015, with County Kerry in Ireland in second place.

Two other UK destinations - the island of Skomer off Wales's Pembrokeshire coast and the nearby Marloes Sands - were combined by the compilers and took ninth place in the 10-strong family holiday list.

A toddler plays in the surf at Broadstairs beach, one of the destinations recommended by Lonely Planet Credit: PA

Singled out were the resort of Broadstairs, which was once home to Charles Dickens, the White Cliffs of Dover and the seaside town of Margate which has become "gentrified without losing its personality".

Kerry in Ireland was described as a destination which "appeals to the imagination of travellers of all ages".

The Ring of Kerry road trip around the country offers "attractions every few miles", while Killarney National Park also gets a mention.

Skomer, sitting in a marine nature reserve, was seen as "sure to enthrall young visitors" while Marloes Sands, a mile-long sweep of beach "does a vanishing act at high tide".

The Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park in Ireland also made the top 10 Credit: PA

Lonely Planet also compiled the 10 best beaches in Europe, with two UK beaches making it into the list.

In sixth place was Bantham Beach near Kingsbridge in Devon which was described as "a true all-rounder" good for surfers, families and walkers.

In seventh place was remote Sandwood Bay in Sutherland in Scotland, where the views more than make up for the cold sea water.

But no UK destinations were chosen in the 10 best European places table which was headed by Icelandic port and fishing centre, Akureyri.

Europe's 10 best beaches:

  1. Jaz Beach, Budva, Montenegro
  2. Peniche Beach, Portugal
  3. Rondinara Beach, Corsica
  4. Cale Goloritze, Sardinia
  5. Vik Beach, Iceland
  6. Bantham Beach, Kingsbridge, Devon;
  7. Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland
  8. Cala Macarella, Minorca
  9. Voutoumi, Antipaxi, Greece
  10. Curonian Spit, Lithuania

Europe's 10 best places for family holidays:

  1. Kent, England
  2. County Kerry, Ireland
  3. Black Forest, Germany
  4. Budapest
  5. Vorarlberg, Austria
  6. Aland Archipelago, Finland
  7. Ibiza
  8. Normandy, France
  9. Skomer and Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire, Wales
  10. Bohinj, Slovenia

Lonely Planet editorial director Tom Hall said: "The destinations have been chosen by our team of European experts.

"Some may be surprising, some are definitely under the radar, but all of them are great places to visit right now."