Kent

Find fairy tale castles, a treasure house fit for a king, the home of Churchill and a world-renowned garden dedicated to beauty. These are just some of Kent’s highlights along with spectacular coastline, ancient woodlands and rolling downs. Discover what to see and do in the Garden County of England.

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Chartwell

Family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill

Knole

Take in the scale and magnificence of this 600-year-old estate with its courtyards, showrooms, Gatehouse Tower and acres of parkland.

View of historic stone building, with blue sky and cloud above, green grass in the foreground and a large green-leaved tree to the left.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Historic, poetic, iconic: a refuge dedicated to beauty. Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world-renowned garden.

A view of the Rose Garden from the Elizabethan Tower at Sissinghurst

Scotney Castle

Ruined medieval castle. Victorian mansion house. Rolling parkland. Ancient woodland. Picturesque garden. With romance, drama and nature around every corner, Scotney is truly a castle for all seasons.

A view across the moat towards the old castle with flowers in the foreground

Ightham Mote

Outstanding 14th-century moated manor house, gardens and estate

The White Cliffs of Dover

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

Emmetts Garden

Edwardian hillside garden with year-round features

Pink roses in the Italianate Rose Garden with the fountain and a glimpse of the view in the distance

Quebec House

Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759)

The Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent, filled with colourful summer flowers. Beyond is the Elizabethan Tower with a backdrop of blue skies filled with light clouds.

Gardens in Kent

Spring blossom by the house at Scotney Castle, Kent

Houses and buildings in Kent

A summer view across the Weald of Kent from Mariners Hill, a National Trust countryside site in Kent

Countryside and woodland in Kent

People walking dog at One Tree Hill, Kent

Walking in Kent

Father and his three sons playing chase in the garden at Chartwell.

Family-friendly places in Kent

Dog-friendly places in Kent

People sat at tables enjoying eating and drinking inside the tea-room at Knole in Kent

Places to eat in Kent

A garden volunteer kneeling in the lower Alpine area at Emmetts Garden in Kent

Volunteering in Kent

There's always so much to see and do at National Trust places in and around Kent that it's hard to keep track. National Trust places near you have a whole range of new experiences and exciting activities so whatever your interest, you'll find something to suit you. Read on to see what's coming up near you.

‘Churchill: Image and Power’ – the Uniform Room at Chartwell

Following a major conservation project, made possible by generous donations and supporters’ legacies, the Uniform Room at Chartwell has been transformed to showcase Sir Winston Churchill’s newly restored uniforms. ‘Churchill: Image and Power’ explores how Britain’s wartime Prime Minister became one of the most recognisable figures in history.

Two conservators adjust a hat at on a Winston Churchill mannequin beneath lettering on the wall which says Churchill.

A Century of Costume Exhibition at Scotney Castle: 1 September-2 November

Curated to mark the launch of the National Trust’s new book 100 Things to Wear: Fashion from the Collections of the National Trust, this exhibition showcases 20 rare outfits and accessories from the large textile collection at Scotney Castle collection, some never seen before. Spanning 1890 to 1990, these pieces offer a unique glimpse into the lives and wardrobes of the Hussey family, who lived at Scotney Castle until 2006.

The Sissinghurst Series

The Sissinghurst Series hosts garden experts with a focus this year on the evolution of the English Garden.

The 2025 Sissinghurst Series line up at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Discover Knole's hidden attic spaces

Hidden above the grandeur of the showrooms lie Knole's attics - sometimes inhabited but more often used for storage, these spaces have evolved over the centuries with each generation. Find out more about the history of the spaces as well as witchmarks and unusual items that have been discovered.

Long view down a covered area with a ceiling with beams showing, wooden floorboards and a window at the end.

Ightham at War Exhibition

The Ightham at War: Prisoners With Parallel Fates exhibition tells the extraordinary stories of two men at war, one a captured British soldier, the other a downed German pilot, both connected by Ightham Mote. Through personal photographs, letters, and wartime memories you'll discover the personal stories of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson, who earnt a distinguished war record before returning to, and eventually inherited Ightham Mote, and Helmut Ortner, the survivor of the crash of a Messerschmitt airplane on the Ightham Mote estate on 15 August 1940.

Churchill's Hellfire Corner Defence Uncovered After 50 Years

New tours available now. The story begins in May 1940, just after the Dunkirk evacuation. With the threat of German invasion looming, Prime Minister Winston Churchill demanded superior artillery positions along the Dover Promontory to control the Dover Strait. This led to the fastest and largest expansion of coastal artillery in UK history. Construction of the Fan Bay Battery began in October 1940, with three heavy guns installed by February 1941. After the war, the site was decommissioned, and much of it was buried or left to nature. But thanks to recent restoration efforts by staff and volunteers, visitors can now explore this once-secret stronghold and get a glimpse into Britain’s World War Two coastal defences.

Image of a circular concrete gun emplacement with the sea in the background

Last chance for Summer of Play

Don't let the games end! Make the most of the last days of Summer with a whole range of family-friendly fun all designed to inspire young minds and encourage little legs to explore. From wild play zones and creative crafts to nature trails and historic castles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Why not try them all?

Two children peer through a summer play installation

Last chance outdoor theatre and film

The scene’s set, the soundtrack queued, and every seat fluffed. All we need now is you. Make the most of warm summer days and evenings and book your place for theatre and cinema all set against the gorgeous garden and historic backgrounds of Knole, Chartwell and Emmetts Garden. Hurry, don't miss out, tickets are limited.

An audience enjoying an outdoor theatre performance

Let little explorers loose in the outdoors. They'll love squelching in mud kitchens, scrambling across natural play areas and running free across open meadows and parkland at places like Chartwell, Knole and Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Family Events in Kent

Summer holiday adventures in Kent

This summer, National Trust places in Kent offer a perfect mix of history, nature, and adventure for all ages. Whether you're exploring Knole’s grand estate, discovering Winston Churchill’s legacy at Chartwell, or enjoying wildflower walks at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, there’s something for everyone. With family-friendly trails, outdoor theatre, and hands-on activities, summer is the ideal time to experience Kent’s most beautiful places and make family memories you'll never forget..

Hands-on learning

Whatever your children are interested in and learning at home or at school our places are jam-packed with learning opportunities for families and home-schoolers and you can beat the crowds by coming before the school holidays. From exciting explorations about World War Two at Chartwell or Fan Bay Deep Shelter, Tudor History at Ightham Mote, Armour displays at Bodiam Castle, Archaeological discoveries at Knole and Smallhythe or the nature trails at Scotney Castle, Sissinghurst Castle Garden or Emmetts Garden, come and learn something new about Kent's amazing heritage, history and wildlife.

Perfect for pre-schoolers

From toddlers to children under 5 you'll find a delightful range of family-friendly events and play activities designed to spark curiosity and a sense of adventure. From enchanting garden trails at Scotney to engaging playtime sessions at Knole, little explorers can enjoy safe and exciting spaces while you relax in picturesque surroundings. Midweek during term time is a wonderful opportunity to avoid the crowds and experience our family nature play areas, join in with characters like Peter Rabbit and The Very Hungry Caterpillar and soak up the sunshine in our gardens.

A man pushing a pushchair along a path through lawned gardens with two toddlers – one walking behind and the other in front of him

Little People, BIG DREAMS trail at Chartwell

Little People, BIG DREAMS® at Chartwell encourages kids to be bold, be brave and dream big. Discover artists, activists and adventurers as well as scientists, musicians and writers on a trail that takes you through the gardens and house with activities inspired the bestselling picture-book biography series. Six of the 25 featured characters were selected by the children and teachers from nearby Crockham Hill Primary School. 19 July–7 September 2025, 10am–4pm. Normal admission applies. £3 for lanyard with activity pack.

Discover year-round interest in walled gardens, vegetable plots and borders – and one of the most famous gardens in the country.

Summer highlights

Kent’s Head Gardeners and gardening experts reveal their summer highlights. From hopelessly romantic old roses at world-famous Sissinghurst Castle Garden, to new exotic planting at Scotney Castle. Plus stunning Wealden views from Chartwell, and a slice of Italy in the rose garden at Emmetts Garden. Pause in Ightham Mote’s Quiet Garden, surrounded by 700 centuries of history. Fast forward to the early twentieth century in the rose garden at nearby Bateman’s, designed by Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling. For boutique beauty, try Smallhythe Place, Quebec House or Lamb House.

Visitors admire the stone columns and plants in the re-created Delos garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Autumn highlights

With gardens filled with colour and orchards hanging low with fruit, autumn is a great time for a day out at National Trust places nearby. Catch late flowers in the Purple Border in early autumn at Sissinghurst, and breathe in the intoxicating scent of the Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum (toffee apple tree) near the North Lake at Ightham Mote. Dahlias and sunflowers continue to bloom in the early autumn sunshine at Chartwell. Later in the season, spot weird and wonderful mushrooms emerging at Emmetts Garden.

Autumn leaves in the foreground at Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent, with the ruins of the fourteenth-century moated castle in the distance

Winter highlights

Explore rich evergreens at Emmetts Garden and garden water features at Chartwell and Ightham Mote. Keep your eyes peeled for the pure white of snowdrops as they begin to grow. Our gardens offer peace and tranquillity in the winter months. Wrap up warm and take in their structural beauty.

A view over the misty garden at Ightham Mote manor house, complete with small bridge, pond and shrubbery

Spring highlights

Gardens in Kent burst into life in springtime. From sunshine-yellow daffodils at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, to beautiful blossom across the gardens at Chartwell and a sea of tulips at Emmetts Garden. The orchards are soon filled with fruit tree flowers, including heritage varieties in delicate pink and white. Magnolia trees are a particular favourite, lining the paths later in spring at Chartwell and Sissinghurst. Blue skies bring with them beautiful reflections in the lakes at Ightham Mote, whilst Scotney’s Flower Festival spreads spring cheer into the mansion house too. Discover more highlights for the spring season in Kent.

Apple blossom with the house in the background at Chartwell, Kent

National Trust places in Kent and East Sussex are offering British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted tours, making history and heritage more accessible to Deaf visitors and allowing more visitors to engage fully with the stories behind these iconic sites.

Chartwell British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted Highlights Tours

23 September, 6 December 11am-12pm Join an experienced guide for a small-group tour exploring Winston Churchill’s life at Chartwell, his home for over 40 years. With BSL interpretation, visitors can join an intimate tour of select rooms in the house at Chartwell and learn about its renowned collection, making history accessible to all in this one-hour experience.

A volunteer guide and a BSL interpreter give a tour of Chartwell, Kent.

Emmetts Garden British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted History Tours

23 September, 6 December 1-2pm Explore the history of Emmetts Garden with a National Trust guide and BSL interpreter. This tour highlights key areas of the Edwardian garden, sharing its heritage and seasonal beauty. Pre-book your place to enjoy this unique experience.

BSL British Sign Language tour at Emmetts Garden led by Head Gardener and BSL Interpreter

Bateman's British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted House Tour

13 October 2-3pm Join a small-group BSL tour at Bateman’s, the former home of Rudyard Kipling, renowned for The Jungle Book and Just So Stories. Explore the Jacobean house, its collection, and the history of the Kipling family, guided by an experienced volunteer with simultaneous BSL interpretation.

Four people standing outside a stone building, engaged in conversation. One of them is demonstrating British Sign Language.

Knole British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted Highlight Tours

9 October 10:30-11:15am Book your place on this highlights tour of the showrooms which offers access to the house and it's magnificent collection at Knole with simultaneous BSL interpretation from Heritage Interpreters. This tour will last approximately 45 minutes and is reserved for Deaf people, but can still be enjoyed by accompanying visitors. Normal admission to Knole applies. As well as a ticket for this tour, please pre-book an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person.

Volunteer with a group of visitors in the Stone Court at Knole, Kent

Knole British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted Attic Tours

3 September and 9 October 13:30-14:15pm Explore the spaces hidden above the showrooms and see a different side to Knole with simultaneous BSL interpretations from Heritage Interpreters. This behind the scenes attic tour will take in the decorated ceilings, graffiti, witchmarks (also known as ritual protection marks) and artefacts found in the Retainer's Gallery, South Barracks and Upper King's Room. This tour will last approximately 45 minutes and is reserved for Deaf people, but can still be enjoyed by accompanying visitors. Normal admission to Knole applies. As well as a ticket for this tour, please pre-book an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person.