Riverside Leisure Area

"Great place for a family walk or if you have pets. Has dedicated play areas for kids and places for dogs. There is an onsite cafe with toilets near the entrance. Friendly staff"

"A relaxing place to take your dog for a walk you can watch the ships go by and take in beautiful landscapes. Please do not feed the ducks bread it is bad for them!"

"A well maintained leisure area its near Gravesend river side, enjoy sunset with peace & serenity. Great track for running, wonderful play area for kids, small basketball court to play, equipped with exercise machines. Plenty parking around area."

"Riverside Leisure Area (Gravesend Promenade) is a great place to visit if you have the time. There is plenty of grass and benches that runs along the River Thames for around a third of a mile or so. A good place to take the children, they can run around and play. You have great views of the Thames and across it to Tilbury (where Queen Elizabeth I gave her most famous speech). You can see all manner of sailing vessels passing by from cruise ships, cargo vessels and private boats. If you are into watching all manner of ships go by, then this is a good place to camp out! There are plenty of places to sit including on the grass – if you wish. You can get close to the water as there are areas of pebbles, also lots of mud when the tide goes out, so be careful! There is a café (The Promenade Café). You can get ice creams, cold drinks and some hot items too, they do a nice bowl of chips. Inside and outside seating is catered for. I have always found the staff to be polite and helpful, though service can be slow at times. There are public toilets next to the café including one for the disabled which needs a Radar Key. Close to the café is New Tavern Fort and gardens. It was built during the American War of Independence to guard the River Thames against French and Spanish raiders. It was redesigned and rebuilt in the mid-19th century. It was also manned during World War 2. The public can enter and have a look around. Inside there is lots of grass and trees with plenty of benches and other seating areas available to sit and relax. There is various weaponry on display, including a couple of 6 inch guns overlooking the river. You can get to the top of the fort which provides great views of the river and park. A great place to take the children, they can get up close to all the guns on display! The gardens to one side of the fort are beautiful and tranquil. A place to sit and drink in the beauty of the trees and other plants. Do not miss this area. Behind the café is the small park. There is a lake with a fountain at each end and plenty of seating available but on a dry day you can sit on the grass and watch the swans and ducks paddle around. There are pathways throughout the park leading to various exit/entrances, a place to go even on a damp day. There is also a statue on a column of General Gordon, yes, him of Khartoum! There are lots of different trees, some quite tall; plenty of shade available for those who like to get out of the sun. I do believe fishing is allowed, (probably with a permit). There is plenty of room for the children to run about and play. Plenty of people walk their dogs here too. In front of the fort, by the river is a sort of gym area. A couple of basketball rings as well as various gym equipment for the public to use. There are also two area with play equipment for children, one next to the café for young children and another one near the lake for older children. A ferry operates just a little further on. You can use it to get to Tilbury on the other side of the Thames. I do not think it is operating at this time. There is car parking at the rear of the fort. You have too pay, though there are a few disabled parking places available."

"A few things to do here rolled into one Riverside Leisure Area. Forts, Parks, Gyms, Beach, Boats, Guns, Bridges, Lakes, Swans, Piers and Ice Creams. A nice place just outside G Town centre. (10 min walk) There are toilets and a cafe to keep you refreshed here too. Shame about the weather today and I missed a decent shot of the promanade as a whole. Seeing the massive container ships sale that close by is a site to see in its self."