Castles & Gardens
The Garden of England is full of glorious castles and astonishing gardens. These are some of our favourites around Tenterden.
Bodiam
Bodiam Castle is a 14th Century moated castle built to defend against French invasion during the Hundred Years’ War. It’s looks like exactly like a castle should with towers, turrets and a drawbridge. Travelling to Bodiam can become an adventure in itself if you get the K&ESR steam train from Tenterden.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle
Godinton
Godinton House near Ashford has twelve acres of lovely gardens surrounded by ancient parkland.
Great Dixter
Great Dixter was the family home of gardener Christopher Lloyd and is where he created an atmospheric and picturesque garden surrounding the charming house that is deservedly world famous.
Hole Park
The gardens at Hole Park are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from Spring to Autumn. It’s famous for its spring plantings of snowdrops and bluebells.
Leeds
Leeds Castle has over 900 years of history starting as a Norman stronghold before becoming a palace used by Henry VIII and his first Queen, Catherine of Aragon. It has 500 acres of parkland and gardens.
Pashley Manor
Pashley offers 11 acres of classic English gardens with sweeping herbaceous borders full of tulips, roses and dahlias.
Scotney
Scotney Castle is a 14th Century moated manor house with a celebrated garden designed to the ideals of the picturesque aesthetic and filled with exotic plants.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle
Sissinghurst
The world-renowned Sissinghurst Castle Garden was created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
Smallhythe Place
Actress Ellen Terry’s early 16th Century house and cottage gardens is at Smallhythe in Tenterden. The charming Kentish garden us a haven for wildlife, roses, wildflowers and apple trees.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe-place