Thatcher would be proud Looking around Hever, many would be left with the impression that the owners are enormous fans of Anne Boleyn. The unfortunate wife of Henry VIII is, after all, the main focus of the exhibition and makes an appearance on much of the marketing material. But look a bit closer, and the more astute visitor may notice a different, more 'true blue', streak permeating the house. Yes, Labour voters clutch your pearls, but the proprietors appear to be worshippers of none other than Margaret Thatcher. (More so than Ms Boleyn, I would wager.) In the castle, visitors are treated to a near life-size oil painting of the union basher. And for those lucky enough to stay in the guest house for the price of £300 per night, they will find a letter written by the Iron Lady to thank the castle for her stay that has been framed and hung in one of the hallways. Among the owners personal possessions, I note Ms Boleyn has not received a similar dose of affection. Of interest is also the fact that this castle, its stunning gardens and water maze, owe their amazing condition to our friends across the Atlantic. Most stately homes in Britain are now virtually on their knees, with years of decline and underinvestment in the country reflected in their faded carpets, moth-eaten curtains and peeling paintwork. Hever, however, has avoided this fate for the good reason that it was bought by... gasp... an AMERICAN. Horrifying as it may sound, Mr Astor - who owes his astounding wealth to the rise of New York City - purchased the castle and injected nothing short of a fortune into it in order to create the attraction that we see today. Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit so often absent in Britain, he then had the vision to order the construction of a second moat, a lake, a walled Italian garden complete with artefacts from Pompeii, a 'wall waterfall' and to direct the gardeners to shape some bushes like a chess set. I don't think he was involved in the water maze, so loved locally, but its presence reflects Hever's enduring ambitious spirit. Perhaps it was this spirit that so inspired Margaret Thatcher to write of Hever: 'I have seen several castles and large country houses but none as perfect as Hever.' read more

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If you are visiting London, Hever Castle is a must do. Only a 90 minute drive from London hotels, the trip is well worth the wait upon arrival. From its sprawling vistas to the castle itself this place is a real treat. There is a large lake on site that offers rowing, an area that allows you to try your hand at archery and even a place to see falconry. There are jousting exhibitions and plenty of food from the cafe or restaurant on site. The REAL gem is the castle. Home for Queen Anne Boleyn from 5 years old to 12 one can only imagine the wonder this place brought her. The castle provides an audio tour in several languages so there is no issue there. (The staff are marvelously kind and helpful in the castle and in the dining areas and gift shop.) It's small but chock full of informative history about Anne Boleyn as well as those who lived in the castle after her death. If you are looking for a respite from the concrete jungle and noisy planet that is London, Hever provides you with lots of peace and quiet Tour the rose garden or just sit and enjoy the views and shade from the trees. It's an idyllic setting and a trip that will make your visit to the UK complete. read more

Hever Castle - Lovely walkway to the castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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Hubby and I visited Hever to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We spent the day at Hever, so I am splitting my review into several sections to review the Castle, B&B, Cafe, and Gift Shop separately. Getting to Hever Castle was fairly easy from London on the Southeastern train from London Bridge station. We chose to walk the mile from Hever Station to the Castle. The walk would have been good on a beautiful day, but our day was wet and damp, and the dirt path through the fields became a wet and muddy walk without the sun. It would have been a terrible walk if we had luggage rather than our backpacks. We chose to schedule a taxi back to Hever Station for 8 pounds. We expected exceptional service at Hever Castle, but except for Susan and the historian staff at the Castle, the staff at the B&B, Cafe, and Gift Shop were not friendly and seemed to hate their jobs. HEVER CASTLE - 5* The Castle and Gardens are a five-star experience. The gardens are massive and beautiful to stroll and enjoy. The Castle is seeped in history. While visiting, take off the audio headset, and take time to speak to the historians on site. Susan, one of the historians, is a wealth of knowledge and had information that the audio guide did not have. Wonderful visit to walk in the steps of Tudor England. Visit to the Castle and Gardens are included in our bed and breakfast stay. HEVER STAY - 2* It was a little disappointing that Hever B&B staff did not make our anniversary a little more special. Our room, the Tulip, on the Astor wing had a beautiful four poster bed, but it was very hard and uncomfortable that it did not give us a good night's sleep. The only electrical outlets were by the desk that need a US plug converter. No USB plugs available. We found a USB port on the tv for a slow laborous charge of my phone. Breakfast is served early and includes a continental breakfast bar and hot breakfast order. Do not load up on the continental breakfast items first, if you are interested in ordering hot food, as the servers do not share that hot food available until after you sit down from the continental buffet. MOAT CAFE - 2* The Moat Cafe in the Gardens is only open for lunch and not dinner. Hot food is only served after noon, not a minute sooner. The food is middle of the road ok. It is the only place at Hever Castle that does not take American Express. GIFT SHOP - 2* Like the cafe, the staff was not friendly. They were "busy" stocking inventory and never acknowledged us. Questions were met with short attitudes on the verge of being rude. We stood at the till for over ten minutes, and had to finally tell one of the ladies that we were ready to check out. read more

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A great day out for the family - a nice compact castle, with an audio tour just long/short enough to keep kids attention, and covering all sorts from the Astor family's residence, the sagas of the Boleyns and Waldegraves, up to medieval torture instruments. Beautiful grounds, as well as an excellent adventure playground, and a compact but interesting military museum. Well worth the entry fee! read more

Staying at Hever Castle was an absolutely fabulous B&B experience! We stayed in the Astor Wing, which benefits from air conditioning! The rooms themselves were charming and comfortable. The staff was uniformly gracious and helpful! The overall ambiance was wonderful! The courtyard in front of the Astor Wing bloomed with flowers and a lovely fountain. Of course having access to Hever Castle and, especially, it's amazing gardens is a huge benefit for staying there. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the excellent breakfast. Both hot and cold offerings were fresh and delicious and the ambiance was delightful! So occasionally splurging gives you a memorable treat and the Hever experience was definitely that! read more

Our first visit to a castle while in England and we we not disappointed. The grounds are beautiful and visiting in July, we got the rose garden in full bloom. What a treat! The rooms are decorated with ornate furnishings and the woodwork on the walls, columns and tables is very impressive. The history of the house and its importance, which was the ancestral home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, is displayed throughout, with paintings, embroideries, sections of letters and such. read more

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The history of Hever Castle, located in the village of Hever, Edenbridge, Kent, England, dates to 1270, and had its beginnings as a country house. This is where Anne Boleyn spent her childhood years and first met her future husband, King Henry VIII. Though not large by any means, it is immaculately maintained and carries a lot of history. The lush grounds surrounding Hever are definitely worth seeing. Any visit near Kent deserves a trip to Hever. read more

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Hever Castle is a great castle to check out. As it's a bit off the beaten path, it seems less popular with tourists. A good friend of mine who is enamoured of the Tudors was in town and really wanted to check out Hever, so we hopped on a train and had a little adventure. If you arrive by train, you have the option of calling a cab (boring) or taking the footpath to the castle (more fun!). The footpath is really more of a ramble that takes you through a few pastures and along a couple country roads and eventually brings you to the gates of the castle grounds. The walk is about a mile and half the journey is covered with brambles where we happily picked berries and nibbled as we walked. The castle itself is quite pretty, but not restored to one time period or another as it reflects the changing ownership & styles of life there over the past many centuries. The grounds also have lovely manicured gardens, a garden shop, a cafe, and a lake that offers boat rental. When we went there was also some sort of family event on offer where you could try you hand at archery, etc. Fun! While not as big or offering as much access to the grounds as other castles, Hever is still really worth the visit and is incredibly easy to get to from London. read more

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This was a perfect place to explore for us. Smaller than Dover and Winsor Castle tours, it gave us a chance to see a very historic place, without the exhaustion and crowds. Also, I was lucky enough to be accompanied, by two lovely ladies, so "guy well taken care of," here. Here Ladyship is a fan of anything Anne Boleyn, and this a home of the Boleyn family being passed to her father in 1505. Anne apparently spent her childhood here, so you'll be exposed to 700 years of history. Don't worry, no pop quiz when you finish the tour. However, this a great family place. Water maze for the kids, and other things for their amusement. We arrived early by car, but the parking was very easy and tell them if there is a member of your party, who has issues walking. They can guide you, to where you can park closer. We were early so we walked past the castle, down to a beautiful lake. There are some areas where you can sit and relax, probably have a little picnic here. If you didn't bring your own food, there's a great cafe/restaurant, where you can purchase drinks and many different food selections. I enjoyed a very good tuna wrap, with a nice cold one, and some chips. The ladies were quite pleased with there selections, and there are picnic tables with umbrellas, in case one of those pesky little rains show up. You can spend all day here exploring, tour of the castle is at your own pace, and there are rooms available, as they have weddings here, and many other events. If your tired of hitting the big sites, take a day and relax here. 700 years of history, in a beautiful area. read more

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A perfectly cool day to visit the Hever Castle and Gardens. The grounds are breath taking with many flower gardens with such a large variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. The hightlight in the garden was to observe a white swan on her nest. And later a coot on nest. Both nests were built in the water. Nature at its best. The castle itself is comparative small to others. I would recommend the audio tour to learn more detail about Ann Boleyn, her struggles with Henry VIII, the passing of the castle through families and finally restored by an American in Waldorf- Astor family. One can spend the day in the gardens. A day in the gardens with a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread and a nice cheese. You must visit in Kent. . read more

An absolutely gorgeous, historic, family friendly piece of English heritage. I've been twice, once with my daughter and once with my parents who were visiting from America. Both times were brilliant. This is an amazing place to pack a picnic and plan on spending a day just wandering around and enjoying the grounds. For the real history lover (me! me!), a visit inside the castle itself will just tickle you silly. It's impossible not to walk around, imagining Anne Boleyn doing exactly the same. Helpful hint for families: Pack a towel and a change of clothes for the kidlets. The water maze is too fun to skip! read more

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I have to admit to being a bit of a History nerd when it comes to the Tudor Period and so my love of Hever Castle was inevitable. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn it is full of historical artifacts and information relating to Henry VIII's reign as King of England. Fairly modest in size given it's castle status, it is more akin to a stately home. The tour of the house takes you through the history of the house from the days of Anne Boleyn to the 19th Century ownership of Hever by Williams Astor, the richest man in America. Incredibly well preserved and cared for both inside and out, the inside of the house remains furnished with a large portion of it's original 16th Century furniture. The grounds alone provide entertainment for a full day out, with both a traditional hedge maze and a more whimsical water hazard maze, come and have a go archery and a gorgeous picturesque lake to walk round or alternatively hire a rowing boat fit for five (£12 for one hour). I would advise from experience that at least one member of your party have some concept of how to row. Unfortunately Hever Castle is not a part of the National Trust and so a visit can prove a bit pricey for a family. They do sell family tickets, however I would advise, if you are a Tesco shopper, use your Tesco clubcard vouchers, entrance to both the house and gardens was a mere £5 this way. read more

I've loved coming here ever since I was a small, annoying and obnoxious child. We originally stayed here because I was studying Tudors at school, but years on I still love it here. The castle is very interesting and beautiful, as are the gardens. While the castle isn't massive, it's still a decent size and there's lots to see. The gardens are really big. The maze is a lot of fun, and there's several ice cream stands in the garden, which is always good (provided you like ice cream). Also lots of ducks in the garden. As a child I really enjoyed the water maze (although bring a change of clothes!) and the playground. The cafes are very good- they can be crowded at certain times of day but other times they're pretty much empty. The food is good. The hotel is amazing, and fancy af. While it's expensive, it's definitely luxury and worth it in my opinion. The breakfast served in the hotel is great too. Overall, I highly recommend. read more

I'd never been to Hever before and I really enjoyed myself. The entrance price was more than I would have expected however upon seeing the gardens it was worth it. Although It was raining on and off on the day I went but it was still very beautiful. I visited towards the end of the Autumnal season- My husband and I packed a picnic and ate on a bench overlooking the lake. I had so much fun in the maze- I got lost initially but finally made it through (before my husband, yes!). We arrived in the early afternoon and had plenty of time to explore. Definitely recommend for a outdoorsy day out! read more

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This place is AMAZING!! I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet since visiting England back in April 2016. Hever Castle was one of the places I was most looking forward to seeing while in Europe, mainly because I got to spend TWO NIGHTS AT THE CASTLE!!! How cool is that?! This castle is where Anne Boleyn grew up, and to me that's simply fascinating. To roam around the grounds and the castle of where such a famous lady in England's history is simply fantastic. I loved learning the history of the grounds and the audio tour of the inside of the castle is well worth the money. The grounds surrounding the castle is breathtaking, and I highly recommend taking the boat tour on the lake and buying a bad or two or three of duck feed to feed the ducks too. Such a fun place! We did spend two nights in the cottage that is attached to the castle. It has the 1600's vibe to the cottage and it is just so cute and quant. They do serve breakfast in the morning as part of your stay, but lunch and dinner is on your. There is a café on the grounds and a pub within walking distance, but there really is nothing else around (unless you have a car or call a cab). Staff here is super friendly and helpful too. We were originally going to stay for just one night, but decided to stay an extra night and they were able to accommodate us. One of my favorite parts of the staying here at night is buying a glass or two of wine and sitting in the sitting area by the fireplace and reading a book. So fun and relaxing!! If you're ever in England, please check this place out! It's less than two hours by car from the city of London and well worth to stay at least one night in the castle itself. Cheers! read more

Hever Castle is one of the most beautiful chocolate box castles I've visited, and one of the best preserved tudor homes in England. We visited on the very first weekend of opening for the spring season in late February and it was a great time to visit - the snowdrops were out and the gardens were very peaceful. Hever is a great day out: there's the history of the castle with helpful guides on hand to tell you about each room, there's miles of gardens and walks to explore, including the lovely Japanese tea house part-way round the lake, and there's a range of cafes serving lunch and afternoon tea. It's a great place to take the family or to go as a couple. We travelled by train to Hever from Waterloo, changing once. The journey takes just over an hour but is worth it - with a lovely walk through Hever village to compliment the countryside. read more

The entrance price may seem a little steep (15 pounds) but it is SO worth it! The castle itself is absolutely gorgeous and is set up as a museum that you can walk through. The old furniture it contains is beautiful and lots of interesting facts about the Boelyn family. The gardens are absolutely stunning and massive. There is also a beautiful lake that you can take boat rides in. A super fun water maze at the back - for kids and adults! A yummy cafe with basic drinks and yummy treats. Also a nursery that sells lots of beautiful plants and flowers. A lovely rose garden, lots of fun little walking trails. A brilliant kids play ground. You could spend hours and hours here exploring everything and relaxing on the gorgeous grounds. read more

As a history major and buff, I can't get enough of the castles, palaces, gardens, chateaus of bygone days. Hever Castle is a very special place with spectacularly beautiful grounds, mazes, moats, knot gardens, lakes, miniatures, and of course the castle itself. A beautiful swan greeted us as we arrived. Evidently his kin had all been slaughtered by marauding wild animals. As the only survivor of the massacre he smartly stands right by the ticket booth and the sign to buy food to feed him. And he's very friendly. The castle itself is beautiful inside and out. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, you'll witness gorgeous tapestries, furnishings, painting, and handwritten letters. You'll also learn the legacy of the wives of King Henry VIII. We visited on a rainy day and it was still spectacular. Lots of events throughout the year transpire here. Don't miss the gardens, rain or shine you'll be inspired. Hever Castle is a remarkable gem. Entrance fee for Castle and Gardens is 40 pounds per person. Discounts for seniors, students, and kids under 15. read more

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The ghost of Anne Boleyn supposedly haunts this castle. This is patently absurd. Anyone who knows Anne will tell you that she haunts the Clacket Lane Motorway Services, which used to be the meadow that was the scene of her first kiss with Tom Wyatt. Also, lets get over the idea that she carries her head around. What a bother that would be. Having been beheaded myself I can tell you that while it makes a striking first impression, it's not worth the agro the first time you leave it behind in a cafe or cinema. Anyway the castle itself is pretty to look at if you like that sort of thing. I personally prefer houses because they are easier to heat. Speaking of which, the last time I stayed at Hever, the fireplace in my room smoked something awful. read more

The home of a child Anne Boleyn. We went at Christmas and it was magical. The decorate for the season. Beautiful garden. Don't forget to stop in the church and visit thomas! read more