Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Golden avenue of pleached lime trees in the gardens at Sissinghurst

Important notice -

To avoid disappointment please book your visit in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. If you do not book, we cannot guarantee admission. Check What’s On for latest information and to book.

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

Adults and two children taking an autumn walk amongst the trees

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. Many historic houses are open in England. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at weekends and school holidays. In line with Welsh Government legislation, all places in Wales will close from 24 October to 9 November. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Read this article to find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

What's on

Sissinghurst Castle Garden Kent

Please book ahead before visiting

The garden, restaurant, shop and takeaway café at Sissinghurst Castle Garden are open. We've introduced advance booking to 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. Please note the booking is for entry into the garden and you should head straight there on arrival. 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 (26 Oct - 1 Nov)

Thu 29 Oct 2020

+ 3 other dates

10:30-11:00

+ other times

Book your timed entry to visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Explore inside

The Cottage Garden in April at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Discover South Cottage

The South Cottage at Sissinghurst Castle Garden is one part of a fragmented set of buildings that Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson called home. Venture inside and you'll discover intimate spaces including their bedrooms, flower room and Harold’s Book Room.

Roses climbing the walls at Sissinghurst

Discover the Long Library at Sissinghurst

Discover the Long Library at Sissinghurst on your next visit. With a rich and varied history, and part of the small number of buildings that remain, it is a true glimpse into the past.

What to expect from your visit

The garden, restaurant, shop and takeaway café at Sissinghurst Castle Garden are open. We've introduced advance booking to keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Eating and shopping

What refreshments are available?

Our Granary restaurant is open daily serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks, sandwiches, salads, hot food and ice-cream. We’ve introduced new safety measures including reduced seating both indoors and outdoors areas, screens at our till and collection points, and waymarked routes. Please comply with social distancing measures and ensure you are wearing a mask when visiting the servery. 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.

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.

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

View from the Nuttery at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

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 is currently closed. The gardens, toilets, shop and estate are open.

Please go to What’s on to book your visit

Our Granary restaurant is open daily serving a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks, sandwiches, salads, hot food and ice-cream. Go to Eating and shopping for more information.

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.

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

Visits are limited to the long library, south cottage and gatehouse exhibition to ensure social distancing and entry is not guaranteed on the day you visit.

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 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

N/A

£8.00

Child

N/A

£4.00

Family

N/A

£20.00

One adult family

N/A

£12.00

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

Thursday 29 October

Friday 30 October

Saturday 31 October

Sunday 1 November

Monday 2 November

Tuesday 3 November

Wednesday 4 November

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Important notice -

More about this place

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