Planning your visit

How to get here

Pre-booking is essential if you wish to use the National Trust car park during your visit to Knole at weekends and during school holidays.

The car park is for National Trust members and paying visitors who wish to visit the National Trust element of Knole, and therefore admission is charged per person at the Gatebox. If you just wish to use the parkland then alternative parking is available in Sevenoaks town. Pre-book online or call 0344 249 1895.

Please use postcode TN13 1HX to get to the main entrance to Knole by car.

Family facilities

• Toilets are located in Green Court and in Conservation Studio building near to Brewhouse Cafe. There are baby changing facilities in both of these locations also.
• There is an enclosed picnic area near the car park.
• There are lifts available in the bookshop, gift shop and Conservation Studio building. There is step-free access to the Visitor Centre, Brewhouse Cafe and toilets.
• Pushchairs and buggies are not permitted in the showrooms or Gatehouse Tower.
• There are lockers available for storing large bags. Please ask in the Visitor Centre.
• Dogs are allowed in the courtyard but not in the indoor spaces, including the showrooms, Orangery, café and shops. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the property. Dogs must be on a lead at all times, including in the parkland.
• There are some hard-standing paths in the parkland, but the rest of the park is rough and uneven ground and can get muddy in wet weather. If walking in the park please keep away from the deer, especially if you have children with you.
• If you’re not sure where to start exploring or don’t know Knole Park very well, why not try one of the suggested walking routes? These colour coded routes start from the front of the house and range from 4-5km each. They are sign-posted and take 50-75 minutes to complete. They are mainly across rough, undulating ground, so not suited to those with mobility issues. The red walk is best suited for visitors with sturdy pushchairs. These routes have been agreed with the park’s landowner, Knole Estate, and follow routes safely away from the golf course. For those looking for a route on hard-standing paths in the park, there are a few options but many of these cross the golf course so please take care if using them. Take a look at the maps displayed outside the Brewhouse Café and by the picnic area before you set off to choose a path that suits you. Alternatively, call in to the Visitor Centre to ask for advice.

Summer holiday activities

Summer of Play 2024 | Mon 22 Jul to Sun 1 Sep

Take your pick from cricket, boules or croquet and borrow a set to play with. If there's a bit of a breeze then we have kites for you to borrow. Or why not become a summer explorer and pick up an adventure pack? You can use it to explore the parkland, find mini-beasts and see which birds you can spot around Knole.
Games, kites and packs are available to borrow from the Visitor Centre (subject to availability). They are free to borrow. Normal admission to Knole applies. Please pre-book at least an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.
Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.

Festival of Archaeology | Mon 22 Jul | 11am-3pm

Celebrate the Festival of Archaeology here at Knole with activities for the whole family to get involved in. Find out what an archaeologist does, try some of the equipment and dig out some 'artefacts' yourself. You'll be able to hear from some of the Archaeology Volunteers at Knole about projects and exciting finds and they will demonstrate some of their expertise.
Have a go at being a 'Heritage Explorer' with a new trail sheet and see how much everyday archaeological evidence you can find around the courtyards and parkland at Knole. Trail sheet available from the Visitor Centre throughout the summer holidays.
Activities are free but please note that normal admission to Knole applies. Please pre-book at least an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.

Nature Makers craft session | Tue 30 Jul | 10.30am-12.30pm

Come along to this drop in session of vibrant and inspiring nature crafts and activities. Children and adults will be able to immerse themselves in the spirit of Knole and nature with different crafts for all. All materials are provided. This session is led by Nature Makers UK, the UK's leading provider of mindful nature art, craft and play experiences for children and adults.
This craft session is £5 per child. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Normal admission applies. Please pre-book an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.

Royal Tudor Week | Mon 5 to Sun 11 Aug | 11am-2pm

Imagine you are a King or Queen for the day. Pose for a family portrait dressed in Tudor costume and parade around the courtyards like royalty. Finish the look off with free crown face painting. One of the most popular Tudor sports was archery, so try our version by competing against family and friends with bean bags to hit the bullseye.
These activities will be taking place in and around Green Court and the parkland. Ask in the Visitor Centre on arrival for more information.
Activities are free but please note that normal admission to Knole applies. Please pre-book at least an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.

Willow weaving | Thu 22 Aug | 10.30am-12pm

Spend time with family or friends and weave a stunning swallow or fabulous flying fish. This project is a great starter willow activity for children and adults. When you are finished you will take home a stunning willow sculpture that can be hung as an ornament either in the garden or in the home. This session is led by Nature Makers UK, the UK's leading provider of mindful nature art, craft and play experiences for children and adults.
£35 per sculpture completed by one adult and one child. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Booking essential: Willow weaving with Nature Makers UK

Explore the historic showrooms and collection

For the last 400 years, the showrooms have been open to visitors rather than inhabited as family rooms. Discover fascinating portraits, textiles, furniture and objects including Stuart-era beds, chairs and tapestries as you make your way from the Great Hall, up a grand painted stiarcase and on into galleries, bedrooms and a ballroom.

Have a go at the Mythical beasts and beautiful birds spotter trail and see how many creatures you can find as you make your way around the showrooms.

Continue your journey around Knole and climb the spiral stairs in the Gatehouse Tower for panoramic views of the parkland. On the climb up you can discover the life and loves of former resident, Eddy Sackville-West and see some rooms as Eddy would have lived in them in the 1920s and 1930s.

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11am. This is a great opportunity to see the team of expert conservators working on precious and historic items. There are also interactive displays giving you the chance to explore the materials, tools and techniques used in conservation work. When the studio is open, volunteers are on-hand to answer questions and share stories about objects being conserved.

The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio

Take a stroll around Knole Park

After a visit to Knole House, why not take a stroll around the park? There are hard standing paths and walking routes of different lengths you can follow - pick up a map from the Visitor Centre or look for the boards situated on the National Trust managed areas of the parkland. Enjoy watching the deer from a distance but please do not approach, pet or feed them. Be aware of golfers as some paths do cross the golf course. Please also be aware that the park becomes muddy after rain.

Eating and shopping

The Brewhouse Café

Take a walk to the Brewhouse Café for lunch or a snack, and choose from a delicious selection of drinks and cakes. There is covered seating available both inside or outside, or enjoy views of Knole Park from the terrace. Highchairs are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Picnics

Knole is a great spot for a picnic. We strongly advise you to use the enclosed picnic area. It has tables, benches and chairs, plus a ramp so it's wheelchair accessible. Please don't feed the deer.
There are rubbish bins in the picnic area or take rubbish home with you - don't leave it for the deer and other wildlife in the park.
Picnics are fine, but no barbecues please.
Thank you for helping everyone enjoy the beautiful parkland.

Shopping at Knole

In the bookshop you'll find a wide selection of new books on gardening, cooking, history, notable figures from Knole's past, nature and the local area. Alongside titles on art history, artists and paintings, you'll find books on how to create you own masterpieces as well as inspiration for budding young artists who want to unleash their creativity. There is also a range of art materials, including watercolour paints, charcoal, pencils and sketch pads. For younger visitors, there's a dedicated section just for children to enjoy. From children’s classics, picture books and sticker books to fact and fiction and current bestsellers, there's sure to be something to keep active minds engaged for a few hours. There are also some pocket money toys to choose from, jigsaws and souvenirs.

We also have a gift shop seling home and fashion accessories, sweets, biscuits, jams, curds and more. For the perfect memento of your visit to Knole, there are pens, pencils, notepads, bookmarks, puzzles, boxes of biscuits and guidebooks to choose to take home with you.

Whatever you buy, every purchase is helping to conserve Knole and help us carry out essential work to preserve the collection.