Sissinghurst Castle Garden

A view of the tower from the garden orchard

Early morning light in the lime walk at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Early morning light on the estate at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent, with sheep grazing placidly

Important notice -

Currently outdoor spaces are open along with the shops and restaurant with limited refreshments. From 17 May some indoor spaces including the coffee shop will also open with social distancing measures in place. Please book in advance for weekends.

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.

Please book ahead before visiting Check availability

Overview
Opening times
Prices
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us
Property map

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops and countryside locations are open to visit. Many houses in England and Wales have reopened, with houses in Northern Ireland expected to reopen from 24 May. Advance booking for visits helps us keep everyone safe and socially distanced. At quieter times such as weekdays, booking shouldn't be necessary, but to guarantee entry we recommend booking in advance, especially at weekends and bank holidays.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

What's on

Sissinghurst Castle Garden Kent

Please book ahead before visiting

The garden, shop and plant shop, granary restaurant offering a reduced menu and estate at Sissinghurst Castle Garden are currently open. From Monday 17 May some of our indoor spaces including the library, tower, gatehouse display and coffee shop will re-open with social distancing measures in place. Please book in advance on weekends and busy days to help keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing. You’ll need to book your tickets by 3.00pm the day before your visit. Members can book for free, while non-members will need to pay when booking. We'll be releasing tickets every Friday. 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.

Book now

Timed entry to Sissinghurst Castle Garden (17 May - 23 May)

Tue 18 May 2021

+ 5 other dates

10:00-16:30

Book your timed entry to visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

What to expect from your visit

The garden, car park, restaurant, shop, plant shop and toilet facilities are currently open. From 17 May the library, gatehouse, coffee shop and tower will also re-open, with new social distancing measures in place. We've introduced advance booking to keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing.

Mindfulness trail

Enjoy some peace and tranquillity this summer with our mindfulness trail around the estate, focusing on your wellbeing and mental health. After what has been an uncertain and anxious time for many, we think now more than ever is a good time to take a deep breath and let your worries fade away as you explore the great outdoors. Make your way to visitor reception and pick up a map to help guide you on a relaxing stroll through the countryside.

A woodland filled with bluebells in the Spring — Walk through the bluebell wood

Bluebell woods

Read on to find out more about the bluebells here at Sissinghurst and what makes them so important to the Kentish countryside.

A girl and her dog walking in the woods — Refresh your senses with a walk in the countryside

Spring walks

Spring is a great time to put on the walking shoes and take a stroll through the countryside. Some of our estate pathways are still recovering from the adverse weather this winter and so may be muddy in places. Please keep to the paths as best you can to help us conserve the delicate wildflowers that enhance the verges.

Man with drone — Drone usage at our places

Flying drones at our places

Drones can be flown above our places only if special permission is given. Click here for information about the National Trust's policy on the use of drones.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Eating and shopping

Woman holding takeaway hot drink — Pick up a coffee

What refreshments are available?

Our Granary restaurant is operating a takeout only service and is open daily serving a range of hot and cold drinks, sweet bakes, sandwiches, pasties, sausage rolls and ice-cream. Please comply with social distancing measures. Please note we can only accept card payment at this time. We look forward to welcoming you back and know that you’ll support us to make this a safe experience for everyone.

Shopping at Sissinghurst

The shop and plant are open everyday between 10-5.30pm. Read on to find out more about shopping at Sissinghurst.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

History

Sissinghurst rose Valentine's card from 1955, in Vita's writing room

Vita in love

Explore the fascinating relationships of Vita Sackville-West and discover the people that she held closest to her heart.

Vita's desk in the Writing Room showing her pen and ink stand, writing block, glasses and a photograph of Virginia Woolf.

The literary life of Vita Sackville-West

Discover more as the Collections and House team shine a new light on Vita Sackville-West and her passion for literature.

The library at Sissinghurst in the 1940s

Our history

From castle to prison, working farm to world renowned garden, Sissinghurst's past is nothing but varied and each of its incarnations have added to its story

The garden

Find out more about the layout and development of a world famous garden.

The gazebo

Find out more about the little white building perched at the end of the moat in the orchard.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Our work

An artist’s impression of what Frogmead might look like after a flood event

Returning frogs to Frogmead

Read on to learn about our new flood management project and how the work that we're doing will further increase biodiversity on our estate.

Behind the scenes

The work we do behind the scenes at Sissinghurst Castle Garden is very varied, from our rangers on the estate to gardeners and our house stewards with their conservation work in the castle.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Art and collections

Our collections

Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Sissinghurst Castle Garden on the National Trust Collections website

Search the collections

General

We advise visitors to follow government guidelines for travelling to the property. The gardens, shop, toilets and estate are open. Our collection spaces will re-open from 17 May.

Our Granary restaurant is open daily offering a take out service only. Go to Eating and shopping for more information.

Please go to What’s on to book your visit

Dogs on leads are welcome around the wider estate but aren't able to go into the formal garden.

Areas may be closed for some periods for conservation reasons

Paths in the garden may become slippery in the garden after rainfall and in the winter, please wear sturdy footwear.

Cameras are welcome in the garden, but due to the narrow paths please don't bring any tripods or camera stands with you.

There are many changes of levels, steps and slopes around the garden, please take care.

There's no picnicking in the formal gardens. However please use the benches in the vegetable garden or make use of the grass opposite visitor reception or around our estate.

Water - please be aware that there are unfenced lakes, moat and ponds around our estate.

Baby carriers are no longer provided and therefore visitors will need to bring their own as pushchairs are not allowed in the formal garden.

Please wear sturdy footwear when walking around the estate as some of the paths can become very muddy.

Some of the estate paths may be closed as a result of the recent heavy rainfall.

Family

Our formal garden is inaccessible to pushchairs and buggies. You can park your pushchairs by visitor reception whilst viewing the formal gardens. Pushchairs can be used on the 450 acres of the wider estate.

Baby carriers are no longer provided and therefore visitors will need to bring their own.

Water - please be aware that there are unfenced lakes, moat and ponds around our estate

Baby-changing facilities

There's no picnicking in the formal gardens. You can picnic on the tables and benches at the top of the vegetable garden

There are many changes of levels, steps and slopes around the garden, please take care.

Paths in the garden may become slippery in the garden after rainfall and in the winter, please wear sturdy footwear

Access

Designated disabled parking in the main car park

There is currently no mobility buggy service available.

Water - please be aware that there are unfenced lakes, moat and ponds around our estate

There are many changes of levels, steps and slopes around the garden, please take care.

Adapted toilet on level ground at visitor reception and via ramp at restaurant

Wheelchair users might find some areas of our garden challenging due to uneven paths and steps

Paths in the garden may become slippery in the garden after rainfall and in the winter, please wear sturdy footwear

Due to its fragile nature we are unable to allow food, drink or buggies in the garden, please bring a carrier with you

Full access statement is below, but please note that some parts of this property may be closed on your visit.

Please note: wheelchair route map in access statement has been temporarily altered but still offers access in the garden.

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£10.00

Child

N/A

£5.00

Family

N/A

£25.00

One adult family

N/A

£15.00

Car parking

N/A

£4.00

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£15.00

Child

N/A

£7.50

Family

N/A

£37.50

One adult family

N/A

£22.50

Gift Aid

Standard

Amount paid by visitor

£11.00

£10.00

Tax refund from Government*

£2.75

£0.00

Total received by the National Trust

£13.75

£10.00

Tuesday 18 May

Wednesday 19 May

Thursday 20 May

Friday 21 May

Saturday 22 May

Sunday 23 May

Monday 24 May

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Important notice -

More about this place

Visiting this spring