Diggerland Kent Medway Valley Leisure Park Roman Way Rochester Kent
First up, the Dig-a-Round. This is a roundabout, but instead of cars, you sit in massive dumper trucks that spin around. The kids screamed with laughter while I tried not to spill my coffee. It’s surprisingly fast, and the grown-ups waiting in line looked just as hyped as the toddlers. You can feel the raw power through the steering wheel—it’s ridiculous and brilliant.
Then there’s the Groundshuttle. Imagine a giant, powered dumper truck, but it’s a ride that bounces and shakes you over bumpy terrain. My daughter described it as “a monster truck for babies,” which is weirdly accurate. Pro tip: Hold onto your phone, because that thing will shake it right out of your pocket. I almost lost mine to a puddle, and I would’ve blamed the machine, not my own clumsiness.
But the main event? The Digger Simulator and the actual, real-life diggers you can drive yourself. Yes, you. After a quick safety briefing (very serious, very British), you climb into a genuine JCB and get to scoop up giant piles of dirt. My inner nine-year-old was screaming, and my actual 38-year-old self just grinned like an idiot. The controls are surprisingly intuitive, but don’t worry if you dig a hole instead of a pile—everyone does. It’s part of the charm.
Diggerland - Kent Photos
For the little ones (and the not-so-little ones).
There’s a whole area called Diggerland Junior for kids under 1.2 meters. It’s scaled down, but it’s still real, working mini-excavators. Watching a three-year-old operate a hydraulic arm with intense concentration is one of life’s pure joys. They take it so seriously, and you can’t help but be proud of their tiny, muddy achievements.
Oh, and the Spinning Digger? That’s a ride where the digger arm spins you around in a full circle, about 40 feet in the air. My stomach did a little flip, but the kids were fearless. I chickened out and filmed them from the ground—much wiser. (I’m not ashamed. My dignity lives to fight another day.)