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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

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Top places to visit in Kent

View up to the house at Chartwell, lit by winter sun, with a frosty lawn and borders in the foreground
Place
Place

Chartwell 

Family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill

Westerham, Kent

Fully open today
The west front of Knole, Kent
Place
Place

Knole 

Be part of a 400 year history of visiting Knole

Sevenoaks, Kent

Fully open today
A snowy view of the garden entrance at Sissinghurst
Place
Place

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.

near Cranbrook, Kent

Fully open today
Scotney's ruined medieval castle in winter
Place
Place

Scotney Castle 

Romantic Picturesque garden with a 14th century moated castle and a Victorian country mansion - all in a beautiful wooded estate.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Partially open today
Blue sky over the half-timbered west front of Ightham Mote, a moat in the foreground
Place
Place

Ightham Mote 

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

Sevenoaks, Kent

Fully open today
Image of visitor walking along the clifftop at the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent on a sunny day in August
Place
Place

The White Cliffs of Dover 

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

Dover, Kent

Partially open today
An image looking out over the rose garden at Emmetts Garden in Kent with a dusting of white frost over the ground and a stone fountain in the centre surrounded by pruned rose bushes
Place
Place

Emmetts Garden 

Interesting hillside garden with year-round features

Sevenoaks, Kent

Fully open today

Christmas in Kent

Christmas tree decor at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Christmas in Kent 

Look out for giant The Snowman™ sculptures at Knole, inspired by Raymond Briggs' timeless festive tale. Step back in time for a Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote, with roving musicians and a stunning hand-painted festive Tudor Chapel. Enter a magical storybook world at Chartwell and join carol singing over a festive drink. Meanwhile the party will be in full throes at Scotney Castle, for a Swinging Sixties Christmas with glittering trees and original 1960s' outfits. For a cosy Christmas, see twinkling lights, greenery and a Georgian feast at Quebec House.

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.

A view over the misty garden at Ightham Mote manor house, complete with small bridge, pond and shrubbery

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.

Autumn leaves in the foreground at Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent, with the ruins of the fourteenth-century moated castle in the distance

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.

Exhibitions and displays in Kent

Pieces of Persepolis
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Article

A Persian Paradise Exhibition at Sissinghurst Castle Garden 

Love gifts collected by Vita Sackville-West from the ruins of the ancient palace of Persepolis in Persia (now modern-day Iran) are reunited for the first time in nearly a century at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. The pieces of sculpture were gifted by Vita to her lover Virginia Woolf and husband Harold Nicolson. They are part of a new exhibition revealing untold stories, unseen photos and personal mementoes from Vita and Harold’s time in 1920s Persia.

Rudyard Kipling's writing desk in the study at Bateman's, East Sussex

Intricate art installation at Bateman's 

Bateman’s in Burwash, the family home of author Rudyard Kipling, will mark nearly 130 years since the publication of his much-loved classic ‘The Jungle Book’. See a magical installation created by book artist Su Blackwell from copies of Kipling’s original handwritten manuscript.

What's on for families in Kent

Let little explorers loose in the outdoors. They'll love squelching in mud kitchens, scrambling across natural play areas and running free across open meadows at places like Chartwell, Knole and Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

A family of four walking across the grass parkland at Knole in Kent looking for clues on a family trail activity

Family-friendly places in Kent 

Find inspiration for your next family day out in Kent, with nature-themed activities ranging from spotting fish to bug hotels.

Castles and forts in Kent

Scotney's ruined medieval castle in winter
Place
Place

Scotney Castle 

Romantic Picturesque garden with a 14th century moated castle and a Victorian country mansion - all in a beautiful wooded estate.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Partially open today
Woodland pathway through Oldbury Hill, Kent
Place
Place

Oldbury Hill 

Discover the remains of an Iron Age hill fort

Ightham, Kent

Fully open today

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.

Image of visitor walking along the clifftop at the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent on a sunny day in August
Place
Place

The White Cliffs of Dover 

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

Dover, Kent

Partially open today
A man and a child are walking a black-and-white dog through a grassy field towards South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent. The lighthouse is painted white and stands against a grey cloud that's hanging in the sky.
Place
Place

South Foreland Lighthouse 

Striking and historical lighthouse high on The White Cliffs of Dover

Dover, Kent

Closed now

Outdoor activities in Kent

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

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.

Spring sun through the trees at Toys Hill, Kent
Activity
Activity

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.

Places to stay in Kent

The exterior of 2 Bettenham Cottages, Kent

2 Bettenham Cottages 

Immerse yourself in rolling farmland and peaceful countryside. This cosy cottage is the perfect getaway for friends, family and one well-behaved dog.

The exterior of Priest's House, Kent

Priest's House 

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

Sustainable travel

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

Bicycle leaning against a wall at Ightham Mote, Kent.
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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 woman cycling uphill on a road with grass banks either side.
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Article

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.

Upcoming events

Event

An Ant's Christmas at Emmetts Garden (2 Dec - 31 Dec) 

Emmetts Garden, Sevenoaks, Kent

Join us at Emmetts Garden as we celebrate Christmas with a colony of ants.

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 15:30
+ 22 other dates or times
Event

Letters to Santa 

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A free activity for little ones to get creative and let Santa know what they would like for Christmas at our special letter-writing station in the main shop at Scotney.

Event summary

on
10 Dec to 23 Dec 2023
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 13 other dates or times
Event

Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote (18 November - 7 January) 

Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks, Kent

Celebrate the festive season with us at Ightham Mote with a magnificent Tudor Christmas. With a roaring fire, a Tudor feast and music of celebration there's lots for the whole family to discover and enjoy.

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 28 other dates or times
Event

Walking with The Snowman™ at Knole 

Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent

Inspired by Raymond Briggs' timeless festive tale, The Snowman™, this winter at Knole you can discover 12 giant The Snowman™ sculptures in the parkland and courtyards.

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 26 other dates or times
Event

Pooch Passport 

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Enjoy fresh air, great walks and free dog treats - at Scotney Castle and 18 other National Trust properties across London and the South East.

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 29 Feb 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 81 other dates or times
Event

Family trail: Carrot & Co - the Scotney snowmen 

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Spot Carrot the snowman and their friends around the garden in this free, family-friendly festive trail.

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 28 other dates or times
Event

Secret Santas at Scotney's second-hand bookshop 

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Grab some sensational stocking fillers or super Secret Santa presents at the second-hand bookshop - all pre-wrapped and all £2.

Event summary

on
10 Dec to 23 Dec 2023
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 13 other dates or times
Event

Mice at the Mote Christmas Trail 

Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks, Kent

There’s a mouse in the house!

Event summary

on
10 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 28 other dates or times
Visitors at the Christmas market at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.