Last minute Christmas break

Schnakie Canterbury and Sandwich are lovely and Don’t forget broadstairs, whitstable, Faversham, Tenterden and so many other attractive places to visit if you rent a car. Otherwise a day in London by train is a good option. Bluewater by train or bus if she likes shopping ( pRobaBly crowded though).
Glad we could help. Have a lovely time.

What a lovely reply.

Thanks for your lovely suggestions! I forgot about Canterbury - on my doorstep practically! Visitors always love that. Plus I might be able to rent a car (I do drive) and go someplace like Sandwich. I just needed your suggestions to jog my imagination. Sitting around by oneself does tend to dull it!

You could book a meal out on Christmas day. Almost every hotel and pub does that these days so you should be able to find one locally that is not booked out and at a variety of prices.

Public transport is limited Christmas Day - 27th, but if your friend is coming a few days before Christmas and staying after the 27th, then as others have pointed out, there are many places you can get to by public transport, from coastal towns to local towns like Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Canterbury and of course, go up to London.

If you can’t get booked in a hotel overnight how about ringing a nice hotel not too far from you and book afternoon tea or something like that.
If your friend is not British then she might be interested in looking around the county which has some lovely places to visit that you can get to by train perhaps. Canterbury, coastal, London of course. The list is endless. I hope you have a lovely time.

There was 20 years difference in my lovely friend and myself but we got on so well and both shared the same sort of entertainment as she was a terrific sport. Everything we did we did together so I always assume that close friends are the same worldwide.

I imagine that all sorts of events take place in Kent but a lot of places have to be pre-booked before Christmas. There will be a few hotels who cater for Christmas but they're not cheap around £250 each for 2 nights but that's for a full Christmas menu Eve and the Day itself.
I'd go if that was me.