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.

Places to visit

0

Top places to visit in Kent

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.

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.

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.

Ightham Mote

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

The south east corner of the house reflected on the moat

Emmetts Garden

Edwardian hillside garden with year-round features

Autumn colour in the rock garden. Vibrant burgundy acers, red, orange and gold foliage alongside evergreens and pale pink flowers among the rocks.

White Cliffs of Dover

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

Smallhythe Place

Once a medieval shipyard, a working farm, and later the home of Victorian actress Dame Ellen Terry, Smallhythe Place is full of charm and history.

Quebec House

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

Stoneacre

Medieval yeoman's house and garden

Top things to do in Kent

A view of the Elizabethan gatehouse tower from the autumnal gardens at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Gardens in 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

A family walks along a path covered in fallen leaves, with the house in the background at Knole, Kent

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

Christmas and New Year

Christmas in and around Kent

This Christmas, enjoy a festive day out at a National Trust place in and around Kent with all the family. Visitors can look forward to beautifully decorated historic houses, cosy with candlelight and sparkling with Christmas trees. There are also outdoor experiences with lights and life-size sculptures. It’s the perfect way to create unforgettable festive memories.

A family admires a Christmas tree in the Orangery at Knole, Kent, with orange and silver baubles and a dried orange slice decoration

A Fairytale Christmas at Scotney Castle

21 November - 3 January. Step into a beautifully decorated Mansion House inspired by beloved fairytales and treasures from the Scotney collection, set off on a Gingerbread Man trail through the grounds, and enjoy twinkling illuminations after dark on selected evenings throughout December. With festive experiences for all ages, it's the perfect place to gather family and friends, make magical memories and get into the Christmas spirit together.

Entrance pathway illuminated with colourful lights at Scotney Castle

Churchill's Colourful Christmas at Chartwell

19 November - 3 January 2027*. Experience the magic and wonder of Christmas at Chartwell. Explore beautifully decorated rooms in the house inspired by Winston Churchill's love of painting. Enjoy festive trees, seasonal music and enchanting displays. From Christmas markets to live carol music, creative workshops to a festive family trail inspired by Rob Biddulph's 'I Follow the Fox, there’s something for everyone to enjoy for Christmas at Chartwell. *Selected rooms of the house are decorated and open for self-led visits 27 November - 3 January 2027 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

A fountain of butterflies and flowers on the dining table and colourful butterflies among garlands and Christmas trees in the Dining Room at Chartwell

A Christmas Woodland Wonder at Knole

21 November - 3 January. Celebrate the festive season with a magical walk through Knole’s grand courtyards, decorated with trees and garlands. Step into the Great Hall to find a magnificent, sparkling tree and centuries-old long table adorned with nature-inspired woodland decorations. Continue your journey through the beautifully decorated showrooms and search for charming deer decorations hidden in a free spotter trail. Wrap up and head into the parkland for a winter family trail.

Christmas tree decorated with red, gold and orange baubles, with small lights and topped with a red box. There is a large portrait paintings on the walls either side of the tree. There is wooden panelling below these paintings, a wooden bench with a green foliage garland laid along it, and a chequered stone floor.

Snowdogs™ Discover at Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex

28 November - 10 January. Discover ten brilliant Snowdog™ sculptures as you make your way through the dazzling winter garden. You can expect a trail that is filled with active game stops, interactive activities, seasonal surprises, and joyful fun for all the family to enjoy. Along the way, discover ten hand-painted sculptures made in collaboration with Wild in Art, inspired by this nostalgic Christmas animation.

Snowdogs™ Discover Sheffield Park and Garden

Family friendly fun

Family-friendly places in Kent

This autumn, discover the best places to visit with your family in Kent. With welly walks, puddles and crunchy leaves there is something for everyone this season.

activities, activity, autumn, autumnal, child, family, fun day out, gardens, GB, Great Britain, Halloween, jdscotneyautumn2023, Kent, London and South East, London and South East region, LSE, LSE region, October, outdoors, outside, people, Scotney Castle, Silly Skeletons, trail, treasure hunt, U7s, UK, United Kingdom, visit, visiting, visitor, younger

Exhibitions and events

New Ideas and Old Loves: Sissinghurst and Italy

Explore how Vita Sackville-West was swept up in the romance of 20th century Italy through the artistry and loves in her life. A new exhibition opening on 26 September 2026.

The autumnal colour in the garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden with the Elizabethan Tower in the distance beyond.

The Story of the Westerham Foundlings - An Exhibition at Quebec House in collaboration with Coram

Explore the fascinating story of the 18th century children left in the care of the Foundling Hospital. Discover the role of maternal love tokens, and see those created by school children of today.

A Coram Foundling Hospital Token. a piece of fabric with a red and blue flower and blue polka dots pinned to a hand written note asking to take care of the child left in the care of the Westerham Foundling Hospital.

Top gardens to visit in Kent

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

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

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

Castles and forts in Kent

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.

Oldbury Hill

Discover the remains of an Iron Age hill fort

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.

Coast in Kent

The Kent coast is home to towering chalk cliffs and grass downland teeming with wildlife. Pack your binoculars and get ready to take in some fantastic views.

The White Cliffs of Dover

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

South Foreland Lighthouse

Striking and historical lighthouse high on The White Cliffs of Dover

Fan Bay Deep Shelter and Gun Emplacement at The White Cliffs of Dover

Explore Fan Bay Deep Shelter, the sound mirrors and gun emplacement in an immersive, hard-hat and head torch tour with our expert, friendly guides.

The interior of Fan Bay Deep Shelter in The White Cliffs of Dover in Kent, showing its arched corrugated steel construction

Outdoor activities in Kent

Cycling, riding and running at Toys Hill

With a network of bridleways, there are plenty of ways to explore Toys Hill including horse riding, mountain biking, road cycling and running on a 6km Run England route.

A cyclist enjoying a ride along a leafy lane in the Kent countryside

Walking at Toys Hill

Discover lots of walking routes, points of historical interest and wide-ranging views at one of Octavia Hill’s favourite places. Visit to see the landscape that inspired her.

Spring sun through the trees at Toys Hill, Kent

Places to stay in Kent

2 Bettenham Cottages

Immerse yourself in rolling farmland and peaceful countryside. This cosy cottage is the perfect getaway for friends and family.

Priest's House

Sitting on the edge of Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens, this is the perfect spot for garden lovers.

Scotney West Lodge

A pretty gatehouse on the Scotney Castle estate, with a tucked-away garden.

Sustainable travel

Whether you're looking to travel by train or bus. Plan your visit using greener travel options.

Sustainable travel in Kent

There are a number of sustainable travel options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Kent, whether you're looking to travel by train or bus.

A family of four enjoying a walk through a wooded area on the parkland at Knole in kent

Sustainable travel in Sussex

There are a number of sustainable travel options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Sussex, whether you're looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot.

Cyclist at Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex

Find your local Kent supporter group

Supporter groups in Kent

Join your local supporter group in Kent to meet people and enjoy talks, visits, holidays, outdoor volunteering and other social and fundraising events.