Scotney Castle

Important notice -

From Monday 16 November - Friday 4 December the Scotney Castle site is closed for filming. The garden, car park and tea-room are all closed for this period. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Romantic garden with view of 14th century moated castle and the Victorian country mansion and - all in a beautiful wooded estate

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

More about this place

Family walking in the woodland at Castle Ward, County Down

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit 

More than 100 gardens and parks and hundreds of coast and countryside places are open in England and Northern Ireland. Following the latest government guidance, all houses in England and Northern Ireland are closed. We're reopening our places in Wales from Monday 9 November for visitors who live in Wales in line with Welsh government guidelines following the firebreak lockdown. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at weekends and school holidays. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.

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Scotney Castle

What's on 

Scotney Castle   Kent

We recommend booking ahead before visiting

To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. However, where space is available on weekdays, pre-booking may not always be necessary. If you do not book we cannot guarantee admission. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. We'll be releasing tickets every Friday. We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

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Upcoming events

See all events

Timed entry to Scotney Castle (5 Dec - 6 Dec)

Sat 05 Dec 2020
10:00-10:30
Book your timed entry to visit Scotney Castle.

A Peter Rabbit™ winter adventure activity trail at Scotney Castle

Sat 05 Dec 2020
10:00-15:00
Join Peter Rabbit™and his friends to locate various activity stations and learn more about rabbits, hedgehogs, mice and more of your favourite countryside creatures.
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Scotney Castle

Things to see and do

Things to see and do at Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle summer garden venetian well-head old castle

Scotney Castle Reopening Information and FAQs 

Our garden, tea-room and shop at Scotney Castle will open from Saturday 5 December and we're looking forward to welcoming you back soon.

Scotney Old Castle reflected in the moat during summer

The Garden at Scotney Castle 

With traditional beds and borders, Scotney Castle is best described as a landscape garden with many unique features including a glade and naturalistic planting.

View of Scotney Castle from the estate

The Estate at Scotney Castle 

The estate at Scotney Castle in Kent offers an array of parkland and woodland with perfect picnic spots, hop gardens and a herd of Sussex cattle.

The Old Castle on a frosty morning

Christmas at Scotney Castle 

This Christmas take part in our family festive trail, enjoy a seasonal treat in our tea-room or pick up those last minute Christmas gifts in our shop.

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Scotney Castle

Eating

A hot drink to go

Eating at Scotney Castle 

Our tea-room is open daily serving a range of takeaway hot and cold drinks, snacks, sandwiches, cake and limited hot food. Due to government restrictions our indoor seating area is currently closed. Please comply with social distancing measures and ensure you are wearing a mask when visiting out tea-room servery. Please note we can only accept card payment at this time.

A Christmas hamper from our online shop

Stop off at our shop 

Our shop will open daily from Saturday 5 December, 10am-4pm. You will be required to wear a face covering, so please bring one along with you. We've also introduced social distancing measures and changes to payment, which will be via card only. It is through your purchases that we are able to continue looking after Scotney for everyone, for ever.

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Scotney Castle

History

Edwards Hussey III and his family on the Bastion at Scotney Castle

The history of Scotney Castle 

Scotney Castle has a long and rich history dating from 1137 and holds some interesting stories about the last inhabitants of the castle, the Hussey family, as well as a former Prime Minister too.

A River Landscape with Jacob and Laban and his Daughters, by Claude Lorrain, 1654

What is the picturesque?  

The picturesque is an aesthetic category developed in the eighteenth-century. It was associated with fashionable landscape gardening, however its cultural significance extended far beyond this.

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Scotney Castle

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