When William the Conquerer came to England in 1066 he brought with him the concept of the castle. He and his men of which there were 12,000 at most, needed rapidly to make themselves secure amongst a potentially hostile population of one and a half million, and simply…
Distance:
4.8 miles
away
Chiddingstone Castle, a squire's home with Tudor roots, hidden in lovely unspoiled Wealden countryside yet only 35 miles from London, was once the seat of the Streatfeilds, and has retained an intimate, timeless appeal through all changes. Chiddingstone Castle is open to the public during the summer…
Distance:
6.3 miles
away
Please note that the house and gardens are now closed to the public until further notice due to a change in ownership.SQUERRYES COURT is a beautiful 17th century manor house which has been the Warde family home since 1731. It is surrounded by 20 acres of attractive and…
Distance:
12.4 miles
away
13th Centruy castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Set in award winning gardens, yew and water mazes. Miniature model houses exhibition. Restaurants, shops, and special events.‐ Wheelchair access partial‐ Groups accepted‐ Picnic area‐ Coach parking‐ Kentish fare‐ Refreshments‐ Parking on‐site‐ Dogs on leads onlyOpen daily…
Distance:
7.4 miles
away
St Leonard's Tower is one of the most impressive buildings in Kent, built by Bishop Gundolf, who also built Rochester Cathedral and the White Tower of London.The tower stands almost to its original height and takes its name from a chapel dedicated to St Leonard that once stood…
Distance:
12.6 miles
away
The interior of this beautiful 17th‐century house, Rudyard Kipling's home from 1902 to 1936, reflects the author's strong associations with the East. There are many oriental rugs and artefacts, and most of the rooms including his book‐lined study are much as Kipling left them. The delightful…
Distance:
11 miles
away
The ruins of a house of 'white' canons, first founded in C.1208, are now set in an 18th‐century landscape. Rooms in the Georgian Dower House are also open to the public.…
Distance:
6.2 miles
away
Bought by Sir Winston for its magnificent views over the Weald of Kent to Sussex, Chartwell was his home and the place from which he drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms and gardens remain much as they were when he lived…
Distance:
11 miles
away
Nestling in a sunken valley and dating from 1320, the house has features spanning many centuries. These include the Great Hall, Old Chapel, crypt, Tudor chapel with painted ceiling, drawing room with Jacobean fireplace, frieze and 18th‐century wallpaper, and billiards room. The recently opened South West Quarter includes…
Distance:
9 miles
away
Knole's fascinating historic links with kings, queens and the nobility, as well as its literary connections with Vita Sackville‐West and Virginia Woolf, make this one of the most intriguing houses in England. Thirteen superb state rooms are laid out much the same as they were in the 18th…
Distance:
9.8 miles
away
Winner of the Historic Houses Association Christie's English Garden of the Year Award 1999. A quintessential English Garden, located in South East England, surrounding a private Grade I listed timber‐framed house, dating from 1550 and enlarged in 1720.The Gardens offer a sumptuous blend of romantic landscaping, imaginative…
Distance:
9.6 miles
away
Set in the rural Weald of Kent surrounded by picturesque countryside and ancient parkland, Penshurst Place and Gardens has changed little over the centuries. This mediaeval masterpiece has been the seat of the Sidney family since 1552 and retains the warmth and character of a much‐loved family home.…
Distance:
4.5 miles
away
This Grade I‐listed gabled house in the beautiful village of Westerham has features of significant architectural and historical interest. It has 16th‐century origins and was extended and changed in the 18th and 20th centuries. Quebec House was the childhood home of General James Wolfe and contains family and…
Distance:
12.4 miles
away
Designed in the Picturesque style around the ruins of a 14th‐century moated castle, the garden has spectacular displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia in May and June, wisteria and roses rambling over the ruins in summer, and trees and ferns providing rich colour in autumn. There are fine…
Distance:
7 miles
away
Philip Webb, friend of William Morris, designed this family house in the 1890s. A showpiece of the Arts & Crafts Movement, it is decorated throughout with Morris carpets, fabrics and wallpapers, complemented by contemporary paintings, tapestries and furniture. The house retains its original electrical light fittings. The beautiful…
Distance:
11.9 miles
away