During this latter period of ownership, the castle fell into a poor state of repair, during which time it was leased to various private tenants. Private guided tours can also be booked in advance. A rose garden, mazes, fountains, ornamental gardens. It covers an area of almost 600 square metres, and has hedges up to 2.75 metres high. When his father, John Jacob Astor III, died in 1890, he became the richest man in American. But it gets worse: We paid our 20 each. Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the intriguing second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century. Hever Castle was built in the 13th century as country house belonging to James Fiennes, 1st Baron Say and Sele, and first consisted of a large Hall and a number of surrounding outbuildings. Set satellite navigation devices for postcode TN8 7NG. This page was last modified on 25 April 2023, at 23:22. The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by William Waldorf Astor. I just recently read that there's no air conditioning in this wing. Staying here for bed and breakfast is a charming and immersive historical experience. 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. The castle gardens contain a wide range of features, including an Italianate garden (including Fernery), rose gardens, herb garden, and topiary. If you plan well ahead, you may even get to spend the night. Lots to do for the whole family and great place for children to discover English history. The Meade Waldo family bought Hever Castle in 1749. Also the beds were so comfortable it was like sleeping on a soft pillow. This is with the exception of 24th December and 27th December to the 1st January, where doors close at 15:00 and last exit at 16:30. Family (2 children + 2 adults, 1 adult + 3 children). All in all, very disappointing and we certainly wont be going back again next year. A superior selection of unique, self-catering holiday cottages situated throughout the UK in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Hever Castle in Kent intrigued the kids the most because theyve heard of Henry VIII and his infamous wives! This diverse offering and the independent ownership of the Castle make Hever a truly unique place to visit, stay, work and experience. 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. Hever Castle & Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Rent a canoe, rowing boat or pedalo from the Edwardian boathouse and glide serenely along the lake and take in the stunning views of the lake and its surroundings. The Boleyns transformed it into a stunning Tudor residence and when in 1505 Thomas Boleyn inherited Hever, he further added to its splendour. For a private guided tour across the castle and garden, a single ticket is 30.90. Lovely gardens and the roses were spectacular. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. Any serving members, veterans and their families of the Armed Forces may be able to receive special discounts at certain times throughout the year. Hever Castle - History, Rooms & Tours Hever is 30 miles southeast of London, 3 miles southeast of the village of Edenbridge. It is extremely misleading. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. However, the kids did get very wet as they had so much fun going in and out of the fountains so make sure you pack waterproofs or a spare change of clothes for a family day trip. Hever Castle is every child's imaginary castle complete with a moat. google_ad_height = 90; 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. Hever Castle still has on display one of the personal locks that Henry took with him on visits to homes. Hever Castle is a proper English Castle with a moat drawbridge, pillars, stone walls, and huge topiary guarding the entrance. Icon of 1960s Britain: Who Was Mary Quant? Whether if youre wanting to treat yourself to a quick cup of Joe or a full-fledged meal, the Moat Restaurant is the best place to dine and drink with all the family in tow. 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! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. During our visit we noticed several family friendly/children activities taking place, such as archery and children's 'slaying the dragon'. Amazon specifically requests I tell you this: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Take in the stunning sights of the grounds of Hever Castle and munch on a slice of pizza while youre at it. Its also a great time to visit the water maze. As one of the best golf clubs in Kent and only one mile away from the castle entrance, The Hever Castle Golf Club offers a 27-hole golf course for all golf enthusiasts of all abilities. Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the intriguing second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. 10 Most Beautiful Castles in New York State, Top 18 Things to Do in the Midlands of England, Stay Cheaper By Staying Close to - Not in - London, Every UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK, Anne Hathaway's Cottage - The Complete Guide to Shakespeare in Love, 48 Hours in Stratford upon Avon - A Pictorial Guide, Top 20 Most Popular UK Cities for International Visitors. With Yvette Fielding, David Wells, Johnnie Fiori, Ciarn O'Keeffe. A luxury collection of 28 stunning bedrooms located in the Astor Wing & the Anne Boleyn Wing, an Edwardian Wing attached to the Castle and connected inside. Kind Regards Absolutely fab experience! The castle is very interesting, but it is the grounds that make the trip worthwhile. In 1983, the Astor family sold the castle to Broadland Properties Limited, which is run by the Guthrie family. The Water Maze is a conundrum with a difference! [17], The castle can provide accommodations for visitors who wish to stay overnight, including 28 rooms that can be rented in a B&B format. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. There are two play areas which connect- Acorn Dell has been designed to allow children to freely explore and use their imagination- its totally natural including a living willow structure, a giant sandpit, a mound with three tunnels to clamber in and a climbing frame with a large slide. I was worried about taking Archie (aged 3) into the castle - I wasn't sure they'd be impressed with a little one running around but the staff were very friendly. It was then owned by James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele. For garden it was Around 14.00 for adult & 9.00 for child. [3], Geoffrey Boleyn's grandson, Thomas Boleyn, inherited the castle in 1505. The last entry to the castle and grounds duringthe main season (31st March 26th October) is at 16:30 with the final exit of visitors scheduled to be approximately 18:00. Hi there, Hever Castle & Gardens is privately owned and not part of the National Trust. 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. For any history enthusiasts who want to see a personal side of the Tudor period, visiting Hever Castle is an opportunity not to be missed. Disclosure: If you happen to make a purchase after clicking though any links from Thimble and Twig, I will receive a small commission. Gradually it fell into decline before William Waldorf Astor invested time, money and imagination in restoring the Castle. There is a large lake where during some months to can ride on pedalos or row boats. The gatehouse was built in 1270 and is the oldest part of the castle. The service you offer is exemplary, and we cant wait to return to your wonderful establishment. Hever Castle (/hivr/ HEE-vr) is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48km) south-east of London, England. Today it presents a stunning glimpse into the splendour of those close to the Tudor crown, and provides a personal look into the life of one of British history's most intriguing female figures. Since castles weren't used much for defense by the 16th century, their additions were comfortable living spaces. Top 10 Places to Visit with kids in South East London, favourite beaches to visit which are a short drive from South East London. Hever Castle - Tudor History The castle's oldest part dates to 1270 and consisted of the gatehouse and a walled bailey. The only minor setback was that the service in the restaurant was quite slow, although one of the assistants did open an additional till to help customer flow-through. Get in touch to book a tee time or find out more about membership +44 (0)1732 700771. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. 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. . its like something out of a fairy tale! DIY Childrens Room Door Letters: Craft Challenge #1. X. What restaurants are near Hever Castle & Gardens? Today it presents a stunning glimpse into the splendour of those close to the Tudor crown, and provides a personal look into the life of one of British historys most intriguing female figures. In the 15 th and 16 th 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. Hever later passed into the ownership of another of Henry VIIIs wives, Anne of Cleves, and from 1557 onwards it was owned by a number of families including the Waldegraves, the Humphreys and the Meade Waldos. Guided tours are also available. Following this and her fathers death in 1539, Hever Castle was given to Henry VIIIs fifth wife Anne of Cleves as part of their annulment settlement. Attractions at Hever Castle & Gardens This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Hever Castle: All You Need To Know In 5 Minutes | TouristSecrets The bedroom believed to have belonged to Boleyn may too be explored with her bed also on display as well as the room Henry VIII stayed in during their courtship. Hello~ I've reserved 2 nights in the Astor Wing for late July. It really was the day of my dreams! [15], The remains of the original country house timbers can still be seen within the stone walls of the fortification, while the gatehouse is the only original part of the castle. In later years the castle passed through many different hands before in 1903 it was acquired by American-British millionaire William Waldorf Astor, who restored it to its former glory and adopted it as a family residence. 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. Facts and Information. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The gatehouse and the walled bailey of this first house remain. 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. The Road to the Crown - Elizabeth I's Coronation Procession, Built by a Giantess? We endeavour to ensure an enjoyable, engaging and memorable experience for all in a beautiful, fun and safe environment. Kids are little for such a small amount of time..were here to help you create their wildhood full of magical outdoor adventures. Hever Castle & Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor