But no, it seems all they want to do is take your money as if making up for the losses of lockdown as so many businesses are doing without providing the service you are paying for. Discover the history of Hever Castle, its owners and inhabitants as you travel through time from its construction in 1383 to the present day. Entry to the Castle, Water Maze and Play Areas is on a first come first served basis. In the 15th and 16th centuries the Boleyn family added the Tudor dwelling within the walls. On a sunny day the water maze is massively popular, but we had it all to ourselves, which was brilliant! Is there at least air circulation? Top ways to experience Hever Castle & Gardens, Private Day Tour to Historic Hever Castle from London, Full-Day Tudor Tour to Hampton Court Palace and Hever Castle from London, Dover Shore Excursion. Subscribe Newsletter. Online tickets cannot be purchased on the day of your visit. The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by William Waldorf Astor. There's a beautiful lake that you can take a leisurely walk around too. Get in touch to book a tee time or find out more about membership +44 (0)1732 700771. Top 10 Places to Visit with kids in South East London, favourite beaches to visit which are a short drive from South East London. There are four separate categories of ticket types when visiting Hever Castle. www.hevercastle.co.uk This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There are approximately 115,000 snowdrops across the estate, the locations being marked on a map you would have received on arrival. It has the oldest working original portcullis in England. Visit just 3 times to start saving. [9], The castle has been Grade I listed since 10 September 1954; that was after the addition of the Tudor village, "a picturesque cluster of guest cottages".[10]. Other features include the 13th century Gatehouse that houses the oldest working portcullis in England, while a number of mazes are also scattered throughout the grounds including a yew maze, water maze, and tower maze. Private guided tours can also be booked in advance. An Adventure day at Barracudas Activity Camp! Disclosure: If you happen to make a purchase after clicking though any links from Thimble and Twig, I will receive a small commission. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. We were sorry to hear you were disappointed by your visit. Visit just 3 times to start saving. Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the 2nd wife of Henry VII. You could spend an entire day on the grounds alone. Guided tours are also available. Hever Castle is a very interesting and historic castle and is a great place to visit for everyone. Hever Castle in Kent is a picturesque Tudor mansion famous for being the family home of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Hever Castle has a great set of play areas well kitted out for kids of all ages. They built the Tudor family home within its outer walls. The original medieval defensive castle with its gatehouse and walled bailey was built in 1270. Hever Castle (/hivr/ HEE-vr) is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48km) south-east of London, England. Discover magnificent award-winning gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds. I just recently read that there's no air conditioning in this wing. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Required fields are marked *. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Despite its modest architecture, it played an essential role in the history of England. There are many options for walks, suiting people of all ages and energy levels. Some believe that Anne was born at Hever, perhaps in 1501, although the evidence for this is sketchy at best. There is also a museum of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry. In 1903, it was acquired and restored by the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor, who used it as a family residence. 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. Enter American-born William Waldorf Astor. Ghost of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle. We were sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with your visit. The majestic location of Hever Castle in Kent is inextricably linked to the doomed relationship between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The fact file includes information about the history of the building as it changes over the centuries, who lived there and a brief part about the castle today. The castle was used as the location for a music video by Libera in 2006. Cant take dog in the castle sadly but gardens are fine. Cruise Terminal to London with stopover at Hever Castle, Canterbury Cathedral Hever Castle and Dover Castle Private Tour, A winter adventure to the World's most Haunted Village & Haunted Castle, Coronation celebration at English Castles and Gardens. At one point the King noticed Anne herself, and began to visit her at Hever. For the Sensory Garden Tour, tickets are 19.05 each and tickets for the classic Garden Tour are 17.00 each. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. Towering cathedrals, ancient Roman wall art, huge wartime forts and Charles Darwin's house are just a few of the historic attractions that Kent has to offer. Come and explore our top picks. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. [16] The grounds of the castle include a yew maze, planted in 1904. Touristsecrets.com uses cookies to improve your experience and to show you personalized ads. 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. he must have liked the location so much that he spent 6,500 on it for the duration of 9 years between 1179 and 1188, which was most of his income! A number of rooms may be explored throughout Hever Castle that each represent the elegance of the Tudor era and the wealth of its past inhabitants. A superior selection of unique, self-catering holiday cottages situated throughout the UK in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Other productions that have filmed on the property include The Princess Bride and Inkheart. After several years of wanting to visit Hever Castle, we finally managed to achieve a day trip and we certainly weren't disappointed. Although we did not have children with us we did notice a play castle for children in the grounds. Beautiful place! The castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. Watch this stunning video of the castle and gardens . This diverse offering and the independent ownership of the Castle make Hever a truly unique place to visit, stay, work and experience. Hello~ I've reserved 2 nights in the Astor Wing for late July. Astor had moved to England after a failed political career in America and various family squabbles. See 987 traveller reviews, 1,417 candid photos, and great deals for Hever Castle Bed and Breakfast, ranked #1 of 3 B&Bs / inns in Hever and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The gardens are massive, with multiple lawns, mazes, themed gardens and even a lake. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Spanning more than 600 years, the history of Hever Castle is rich and varied. the King Henry VIII pub is literally just across from the entrance to Hever Castle. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The Italian rose garden has to be one of the highlights of Hever Castle. At intervals, the stones tilt and hidden water jets spurt out streams of water to soak the unwitting visitor. 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. The Hever Castle estate has a wealth of history; most recognisably the home of two of Henry VIII 6 wives. From visitor experience executive to events coordinator, weve got something for everyone. 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. Broadland Properties purchased Hever Castle and its collection from the Astor family in 1983. The British pie - 10 fun facts you didn't know. Brochure Hever Castle From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. In 1983, the Astor family sold the castle to John Guthrie (1906-1992), chairman of the family-run business, Broadland Properties Limited. 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. He bestowed it upon Anne of Cleves in 1540 as part of the settlement following the annulment of their marriage. Day tickets include entry to most events except where stated, some additional charges may apply see WHATS ON pages. Reasonably interesting place, positives: some history to see. The Hidden Hever Tour is only available for groups up to 15 people. It is extremely misleading. A luxurious four bedroom five star gold rated property, forming part of the Astor Wing and accommodating up to 8 guests. Facts and Information. 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. Anti-Slavery and human trafficking statement. There are also an adventure playground and water maze on the grounds. This page was last modified on 25 April 2023, at 23:22. Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, spent her early youth there after her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505. A downloadable Tudor History Trail is aimed at families with children. 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. There is a large lake where during some months to can ride on pedalos or row boats. When his father, John Jacob Astor III, died in 1890, he became the richest man in American. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Discover more facts about castles, or learn more about the Tudors. If so, take a look at our vacancies. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Astor created the lake and the gardens; he also opened the luxurious Waldorf Hotel in London. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Hever hosts a number of special events throughout the season including gardening events with the head gardener and his team. The gardens are for some family fun in a place teeming with history, much like Warwick Castle. Thank you for your feedback Katie. This is what I call a castle surrounded with its splendid grounds loved hiring the headphones made its magic come alive knowing all the history cant wait to visit again. 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. When Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn, died in 1539, the house reverted to the CrownHenry VIII. Dining rooms for breakfast are available in both the Astor wing and Anne Boleyn wing. Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. You should have no problems. Chapter 2 : History of the Castle. Kids are little for such a small amount of time..were here to help you create their wildhood full of magical outdoor adventures. 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. Heres where to dine out when nothing else but a show-stopping historical setting will suffice. This informative Hever Castle fact file is great to use with KS2 as a quick guide to this interesting building. For visitors travelling by car, the castles postcode is TN8 7NG. Get in touch to book a tee time or find out more about membership +44 (0)1732 700771. Our hard work has been recognised by various organisations so we wanted to share the good news with you. It covers an area of almost 600 square metres, and has hedges up to 2.75 metres high. 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. Join our Adventure: Get all ourtips for kids outdoor activities and grab your FREE nature scavenger hunt!