However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. From educational trails around the magnificent gardens to playgrounds and wildlife-spotting, Hever Castle is a fun and educational day out for you and your family, all a short drive away from the M25. I suggest you email the website to see if you can enter with larger bags.However as there are some steep stone staircases I think it would be totally impracticable to take anything but a small bag with you. Hever Castle & Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Cant take dog in the castle sadly but gardens are fine. that the guy at the kiosk would have said, there isn't actually much to see. Get in touch to book a tee time or find out more about membership +44 (0)1732 700771. *We were given free tickets in exchange for this blog post. There is an annual events programme with assorted events, including jousting tournaments and archery displays in the summer months and an annual patchwork and quilting exhibition in September. Discover magnificent award-winning gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds. The oldest part of this charming castle was built in about 1270 and was owned by William de Hever, a Sheriff under King Edward I. I feel privileged to say I got married here. Are you trying to find the best British castles to capture with your camera? Coupled with some amazing play areas for kids of all ages its a brilliant day out for families. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As one of only a few traditionally designed mazes in the United Kingdom, the Yew Maze is certainly a feature that one has to experience when visiting Hever Castle. Please advisethanks. Visit it today to explore its early medieval keep, its Tudor rooms, and its 125 acres of exquisite gardens. Taxis are available from Edenbridge Town station, one stop closer to London, but should be booked in advance. The Hever Castle Estate has a wealth of history; most recognisably it was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. We are immensely proud of the team that make Hever Castle & Gardens such a success. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter with Transportation, Boutique Winery Experience in the Fredericksburg Texas Hill Country, Classic 3-Hour Food Tour in Colorado Springs, Evening Food Tour with Girl Power Riders in Ho Chi Minh City | Kiss Tours, See all 9 Hever Castle & Gardens tours on Tripadvisor, See all Hever Castle & Gardens experiences on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Hever Castle & Gardens on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Hever Castle & Gardens on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Hever Castle & Gardens on Tripadvisor. Required fields are marked *. Day tickets can be purchased on admission or online. The castle is very interesting, but it is the grounds that make the trip worthwhile. You can row boats on the 38 acre lake, wander through yew and water mazes, sniff roses, or try your hand at archery. The Grade I listed castle is now owned by the Guthrie family's Broadland Properties. The castle has also become the venue for a triathlon and open water swimming. [12], Hever Castle is now a tourist attraction, drawing on its links to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, its mazes, gardens and lakes. There is also a water maze, opened in 1999, the object of which is to reach the folly at the centre without getting wet, while in the children's adventure playground there is a tower maze (currently undergoing reconstruction). A Head Gardener ticket costs 19.05 each. Unfortunately because of the situation at the moment with the virus, we had to queue for 1 hour and 20 minutes to actually get into the castle as they were limiting the number of visitors, which is understandable, but very tiring. The Castle was to become the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIIIs second wife, who became Queen of England for just 1,000 days. He lived there with his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard and their children George, Mary and Anne (the future wife of Henry VIII). A superior selection of unique, self-catering holiday cottages situated throughout the UK in areas of outstanding natural beauty. We visited Hever Castle and grounds and it was a lovely day out. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There is no added cost to you as a consumer. [5], The property subsequently passed through various owners, including the Waldegrave family from 1557 to 1715, the Humfreys family to 1749 and the Meade-Waldo family from 1749 to 1903. He was the elder son of William . There are approximately 115,000 snowdrops across the estate, the locations being marked on a map you would have received on arrival. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. A range of classes and treatments are available to members and visitors at the Golf Club. There was no pressure of time constraints and non-flash photography was allowed in all rooms, which is unusual for a building of this age. By this time, King Henry had had an affair with Mary, Anne's sister. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For more fun family castles to visit there are plenty to choose from in Dorset! So it was 40 for a stroll round a park. The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by William Waldorf Astor. Winter is here! Experience 700 years of history at the romantic double-moated 13th century castle once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. Astor's heirs continued to use Hever as one of their family homes until the 1970s when it was sold to a Yorkshire family who maintains it as part of their private property group. Manage Settings We were sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your visit. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Would highly recommend Hever Castle to anybody interested in English history and in particular, the story of the Boleyns. This informative Hever Castle fact file is great to use with KS2 as a quick guide to this interesting building. Bring over 600 years of Hever Castle history to life with private guided tours, guide books and enjoyable trails to follow with young visitors. Hever Castle with Kids: A Review - Thimble and Twig This place is too amazing to put into words and give it justice. The second period was when the castle, then in need of repair, was converted into a manor in 1462 by Geoffrey Boleyn, younger brother of Thomas Boleyn, Master of Gonville Hall, Cambridge. Hever Castle & Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor She Grew Up In Hever Castle Anne, along with her siblings Mary and George, was brought up in Hever castle in Kent. I was worried about taking Archie (aged 3) into the castle I wasnt sure theyd be impressed with a little one running around but the staff were very friendly. Hooray for Hever! For authenticity, the museum is designed to resemble a military operations tent, so that visitors feel as if they have been transported through time to observe the true military experience of the past and present of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry. Hiya, They rented rooms to farmers who charged the public to see some of the older parts of the building. Celebrate spring by helping the Easter Bunny find their sweet treats as part of an Easter egg hunt around the grounds. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The gardens are massive, with multiple lawns, mazes, themed gardens and even a lake. Visit just 3 times to start saving. Directory; Subscribe Newsletter. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. Parking at the site is free. With a choice of four function spaces each venue has its own unique character and all areas are available for corporate and private events. We visited on 10th February after seeing the promotion for the 'free snowdrop self guided walk' on the official website. . Get in touch to book your stay +44 (0)1732 861800. Chapter 2 : History of the Castle. Hever Castle's gardens look like they were established hundreds of years ago but most were created by Astor and his gardeners, Joseph Cheal and Son, over the four or five year period during which he restored the estate. For a private guided tour across the castle and garden, a single ticket is 30.90. She and Henry were married less than a year, and she managed to keep her head. Attractions at Hever Castle & Gardens He also created a "Tudor village" beside the castle, parts of which are now a 28-room boutique hotel. We state on our website that tickets are required for entry, but that once within the grounds the snowdrop trail and other activities in the gardens are included in the admission price (unless otherwise advertised). Hever Castle is located within grounds that are not only rich in history, but also a gorgeous spectacle to admire and appreciate. Hever Castle is a very interesting and historic castle and is a great place to visit for everyone. Hever Castle still has one of Henry VIII's private locks, taken with him on his various visits to noblemen's houses and fitted to every door for his security. The Boleyns transformed it into a stunning Tudor residence and when in 1505 Thomas Boleyn inherited Hever, he further added to its splendour. See the stained glass created to commemorate them. The Castle was then owned by a number of families before William Waldorf Astor invested time, money and imagination in restoring the Castle, building the Tudor Village and creating the gardens, lake and golf club. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Our hard work has been recognised by various organisations so we wanted to share the good news with you. Hever Castle Reopens: Visiting With Families | Kidadl We recommend booking Hever Castle & Gardens tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Trains run from London Victoria and London Bridge (via Oxted or East Croydon) to Edenbridge Town Station. Hever Castle is located 30 miles from central London and 3 miles southeast of Edenbridge off the B2026. Tudor Times | Hever Castle (History of the Castle) Take a taxi from the station for three miles to the castle. We showed him the website where it clearly said it was and he said, "But the moment you pass this kiosk, you are entering the gardens and for that you have to pay" I was, and still am, totally perplexed. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. There is an annual event programme with assorted events, including jousting tournaments and archery displays in the summer months and an annual patchwork and quilting exhibition in September. www.hevercastle.co.uk Although there have only been a lucky few to achieve this, the maze provides endless amounts of entertainment and laughter to visitors of all ages. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. However, ticket prices differ when either buying tickets on entry to the castle on the day or pre-ordering online. The castle is still there today, and you can visit it and see the rooms and grounds where Anne and her siblings would have played! The restaurants are also fantastic and have some great vegetarian options. It has 3 slides, cargo nets to climb, two firemans poles and a play castle with its own drawbridge which provides a covered area for playing in when its raining. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Hever Castle Facts for Kids - Kiddle That was the only down side for me but I do realise that the staff were just following regulations and at all times were friendly and courteous, apologising non-stop for the long delays. $$ - $$$ British Pub Vegetarian Friendly. If youre local, you might like our favourite beaches to visit which are a short drive from South East London, many are in Kent or our top ten best things to do in South East London with kids! We visited the gardens only, primarily for the snowdrop displays, I am not a person who enjoys traipsing through the rooms of historic houses. Sir Ernest Shackleton: Facts and Information, Christmas in Australia: Facts About Australian Christmas Traditions, What is Photorealism? The Castle itself was lovingly restored by the Astor family with multiple original features remaining including the impressive Long Gallery details of which are presented on our multimedia guides (included in the price of entry). From visitor experience executive to events coordinator, weve got something for everyone. Today our mission is to conserve and improve the Hever Castle Estate whilst maintaining its integrity, and making its important history available to inform and educate our visitors. If you happen to be a collector of military knowledge, then the KSY Military Museum is an opportunity not to be missed. Those with access needs are encouraged to read our accessibility guide before visiting; this clearly details areas with inclines so that they might plan their visit in advance. The lights they did have were quite spread around the gardens and lake and were somewhat disappointing. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Geoffrey Boleyn's grandson, Thomas Boleyn, inherited the castle in 1505. In the 15th and 16th centuries it was the home of one of the most powerful families in the country, the Boleyns, who modernised the existing dwelling within the walls. Gradually it fell into decline before William Waldorf Astor invested time, money and imagination in restoring the Castle. With a diverse menu of hot food, sandwiches and cake, there is something for everyone. What attractions are near Hever Castle & Gardens? We also got a childrens audio guide for the kids to listen to as they walked around the castle- something Ive not done before but they loved it! [6], In 1903, it was acquired and restored by the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor, who used it as a family residence. It was Henrys love for Anne and her insistence that she became his wife rather than his mistress that led to the King splitting from the Church in Rome and creating the Church of England, forever altering the course of English and European history. Castles did not have toilets, instead people sat on wooden seats called 'garderobes'. An Adventure day at Barracudas Activity Camp! price of taxi from Edenbridgr to Hever Castle. The service you offer is exemplary, and we cant wait to return to your wonderful establishment. In the Book of Hours room two of Boleyns personal prayer books are on display that both bear her signature, while in the Queens Chamber an impressive collection of Tudor portraiture may be found. We didnt manage to see one but they come highly recommended Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII parade around to start the event and the Knights of Royal England entertain the crowds with exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with a Royal Box! The Meade Waldo family bought Hever Castle in 1749. The surroundings, ambience, service, food and accommodation all came together beautifully to leave everyone feeling very fulfilled and appreciated. In August 1535, Henry VIII visited Thornbury for 10 days with his new queen Anne Boleyn, supposedly staying in an octagonal tower room known today as the Duke's Bedchamber. I'm trying to get my head round this. Cawdor and Glamis Castles in Scotland - Macbeth's Castles? Multisport Event Kent | Hever Castle | Castle Race Series Annual Membership provides unlimited admission for 12 months from the date of issue. Although we did not have children with us we did notice a play castle for children in the grounds. Please contact the Estate Office Mon - Fri (9am-5pm) by calling 01732 865224 or emailing info@hevercastle.co.uk. In 1533 Henry shocked the country when he broke with the Catholic Church in order to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn.