Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Spring at Sissinghurst — Spring colour at Sissinghurst

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

Important notice -

We’ve re-opened the garden and estate. You will need to book your visit in advance and arrive at the garden gate within your 30 minute slot. Check What’s On for latest information and to book. You will be turned away if you arrive without a booking.

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

Family walking in the woodland at Box Hill, Surrey

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

We’ve opened more than 135 gardens and parks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through advanced booking. Tickets are released on Friday for the following week. More than 200 coast and countryside car parks are open across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read this article to find out what's open and what to expect from your visit.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

What's on

Sissinghurst Castle Garden Kent

Please book ahead before visiting

The Garden and Estate at Sissinghurst Castle Garden are open. 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. Please note the booking is for entry into the garden and you should head straight there on arrival. We’ll be turning people away who arrive and haven't booked. We're looking forward to welcoming you back.

Book now

Timed entry to Sissinghurst Castle Garden (10 August - 16 August)

Wed 12 Aug 2020

+ 4 other dates

10:30-11:00

+ other times

Book your timed entry to visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Eating and shopping

Stop off at our shop

Our shop has now re-opened. In line with government guidance visitors will be required to wear a face covering from 24 July. 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 Sissinghurst for everyone, for ever.

What refreshments are available?

Our Granary restaurant will open from 10 July, and our outdoor food outlet is open serving a limited range of takeaway hot and cold drinks and some light snacks. We’ve introduced new safety measures including closure of our seating areas, screens at our till and collection points, and waymarked routes. We’ll also only be accepting card payment. We look forward to welcoming you back and know that you’ll support us to make this a safe experience for everyone.

Helping you eat out

From 3 August you'll be able to get 50 per cent off your bill, up to a maximum of £10 per person on food and drink bought at and consumed at our café (excluding alcoholic drinks), through the government's Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. The scheme applies from Monday to Wednesdays only and ends on 31 August.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

History

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’re sorry but the tower, library, gatehouse exhibition and the south cottage are currently closed. The gardens, toilets, shop and takeaway from the coffeeshop and estate will be open.

Please go to What’s on to book your visit

Our Granary restaurant will open from 10 July, and our food outlet is open serving a limited range of takeaway hot and cold drinks and some light snacks. Go to Eating and shopping for more information.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Areas may be closed for some periods for conservation reasons

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

In line with government guidelines you'll be required to wear a face covering in our shops, cafes and food outlets in England from 24 July. Please bring one with you

Family

PLEASE NOTE: Our formal garden is inaccessible to pushchairs and buggies. You can park your pushchairs at the Garden Gate House 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 opposite visitor reception and around our estate

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, carriers are provided from visitor reception.

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

£8.00

Child

N/A

£4.00

Family

N/A

£20.00

One adult family

N/A

£12.00

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

£11.45

£10.40

Child

£5.75

£5.20

Family

£28.60

£26.00

Group Adult

Minimum group size 15

N/A

£9.40

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

Wednesday 12 August

Thursday 13 August

Friday 14 August

Saturday 15 August

Sunday 16 August

Monday 17 August

Tuesday 18 August

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Important notice -

More about this place

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