Last Updated on 18/06/2023
Hever Castle is Anne Boleyn’s childhood home; the infamous Tudor Queen Consort, and is a beautiful 13th-Century Castle in Kent that is often referred to as the “Anne Boleyn Castle”.
If you’re not a Tudor history buff, you may wonder whether Hever Castle is worth visiting? Let me assure you, whether you are intrigued by Tudor history or not, what can be sure is that you will be captivated by the beauty of Hever Castle and the exquisite 125 acres of gardens on the estate.
In this post, I’ll be sharing how to visit Hever Castle, what to do and the best time to visit.
Visiting at a later date? Pin the below image to Pinterest to read the post another time!
Hever Castle – Anne Boleyn’s Childhood Home
“Hever was a small turreted island among the green lushness of the fields of Kent. The jumbled red-tiled roofs glowed in the golden light, the grey stone of the walls was reflected in the still waters of the moat so it looked like two castles, one floating on another, like a dream world of my home.” – The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Anne Boleyn is a name ignited in Tudor history; famous for being the second wife of tyrannical King Henry VIII who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church to marry her, mother of Tudor Queen Elizabeth I and iconic for her initial “B” pearl necklace.
When it comes to King Henry VIII’s six wives, Anne Boleyn is the name that has stood the test of time. Often depicted as Henry VIII’s most calculating wife (most likely accrued from men who disliked her swift climb to power), and a trait which ended in her demise and most notably, her head being chopped off with an axe on the green at The Tower of London.
One thing for sure is that she was a woman who knew what she wanted and a strong woman at that. She captured the heart of King Henry VIII, elevated her family name and paved the way for her daughter Queen Elizabeth I’s reign over a patriarchal kingdom.
Anne Boleyn grew up at Hever Castle and lived there during different stages of her life, including before and during her marriage to King Henry VIII. The Castle built in the 13th Century, had been in the Boleyn family for 77 years from 1462-1539. After Anne’s father Thomas Boleyn’s death, Henry VIII took possession of Hever Castle and gifted it to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, as a divorce settlement.
Despite being the home of two Tudor Queen consorts, this medieval castle will always be known as “Anne Boleyn Castle” due to the series of events Anne Boleyn was involved in that ultimately changed the course of British history forever.
Before I delve into what to do at Hever Castle, the best things to see and more Hever Castle history, let’s start with practical information such as getting to Hever Castle from London and the best time to visit to help you plan your own trip!
How to Visit Hever Castle from London
Hever Castle makes for a great London day trip to enjoy some peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the capital; a notion which we indeed enjoyed on our visit as we browsed the exquisite gardens and learned about the history of the estate.
Hever Castle is located in Kent, South East England on the Kent/Surrey/Sussex border and is nestled in the heart of the rural countryside in the village where it takes its name, close to Edenbridge and surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Hever Castle is located around 30 miles (48 km) from London; a journey which takes around a 1-hour drive. The best way to get to Hever Castle from London is by car or by taking an organised day trip from London. To visit Hever Castle by car from London, simply take the junction 10 exit off the M23.
For those visiting Hever Castle from the north (like me, from Milton Keynes), you will need to take the M1 South, join the M25 and drive through The Dartford Tunnel. The Castle is signposted on junctions 5 & 6 of the M25 and the Hildenborough exit of the A21.
Parking at Hever Castle and Opening Times
There is plenty of free parking at Hever Castle, including accessible spaces to ensure you can visit the Castle with ease. The staff at Hever kindly allowed us to return our picnic basket back to the car before exploring inside the castle.
Hever Castle’s opening times differ depending on the time of year, but generally, the castle is open to the public from 10:00 am, with the last garden entry between 3-4.30 pm.
It is advisable to check the Hever Castle website before planning your visit as they are sometimes closed for private events at different points during the year.
Visit Hever Castle by Train from London
Whilst we visited Hever Castle by car and used the free parking on site. If you do not have access to a car or would prefer not to drive, there are several trains each hour leaving London Bridge towards Uckfield, stopping at Hever. The fastest journey time is approximately one hour and an off-peak day return ticket, purchased in advance, costs around £13.40.
The castle can be reached by train from London Bridge or London Victoria to Edenbridge Town followed by a 20-minute taxi journey.
The castle is located about 1 mile away from the train station. You can walk halfway, then take the TW8 bus towards Hever Church, or make the entire journey by foot, which takes around a 20-minute walk from Hever station to the Castle.
Taxis you can pre-book to take you to Hever Castle are as follows:
Relyon Taxis – 01732 054863
Country Hire & Go Taxis – 07723 054863
If you’re flying in to visit Hever Castle, Gatwick Airport is located 30 mins away and Heathrow Airport is 1 hour away.
The Best Time to Visit Hever Castle
Any Tudor fan will know, the court comes alive in the Spring and Summer months and things are no different at Hever Castle, with an array of events such as jousting being highlights of the Summer calendar and a great spectacle, particularly for those visiting with younger children to get an insight into Tudor life.
Whilst not guaranteed (it is England after all), it is generally when the weather is at its driest to make the most of the grounds on the Hever Estate, where visitors can enjoy ice cream and even take a picnic to Hever Castle.
As you can imagine, the best time to visit Hever Castle is in the Summer months to truly see the flower gardens at Hever Castle at their best. More on the Hever Castle gardens further down in this post!
However, equally, Hever Castle at Christmas enables you to experience Tudor life at Christmas, see the festivities on offer, including an insight into what a Tudor Christmas dinner would look like! Nothing beats a mega roast dinner, which I’m sure was an absolute feast during the Tudor period! It goes without saying, Christmas at Hever Castle sounds like an event not to be missed!
Hever Castle History
Hever Castle has an extensive and fascinating history dating back over 700 years. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII lived at Hever Castle as a child and spent much of her youth there until she was sent to the French court to learn etiquette in preparation for life at the English royal court, where she served as Lady in Waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon before her short-lived reign as Queen consort herself.
The castle then passed to Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry VIII, as part of her divorce settlement from the King.
After changing hands several times, the castle was eventually bought by American Millionnaire, William Waldorf Astor (the owner of the luxury hotel chain Waldorf Astoria), at the beginning of the 20th century, who conducted extensive restoration work on the property whilst it was still being used as a family residence.
The Astor family invested a significant amount of money to restore the estate, including the installation of The Italian Garden, which was designed to display William Astor’s collection of Italian sculptures and also features the formal Loggia fountain; inspired by the famous Trevi fountain in Rome. To find out more about the restoration of the castle, as well as the creation of the lake and gardens head to the aptly named Astor Wing of Hever Castle.
Hever Castle is now owned by the Broadland Properties, founded by The Guthrie Family, who like their predecessors have continued to preserve the historical integrity of the estate, whilst undertaking required renovations, as well as enabling the public to visit and uncover the fascinating Hever Castle history for themselves.
What to Do at Hever Castle
To find out what’s on at Hever Castle – check out the main website events page, which includes various activities throughout the year, including:
Jousting – A quintessentially English sport, which was popular in Tudor times. Head to Hever Castle in the Summer months to watch the Knights of Royal England battle it out!
Falconry displays – Another popular Tudor pastime. Head to Hever Castle to see the birds of prey in action and learn more about this fascinating hobby.
Archery & Shield Painting – Have a go at archery (available all year round) or get creative and design your own coat of arms!
Tudor Cooking – Take a step back in time and learn how to cook like a Tudor! Available during school holidays, this is a great activity for families.
Hever Castle Mazes – There are two mazes at Hever Castle – The Hedge Maze and the Water Maze. Both are great fun for kids (and adults!) and are open all year round.
Inside Hever Castle
Hever Castle is a castle that looks like it has been plucked straight from a fairytale, with a drawbridge, a moat, which would have been traditionally used to protect the castle from invaders, a great hall and four-poster beds.
As well as the beautiful grounds, Hever Castle also has a range of fascinating rooms and exhibits to explore, which help bring the history of the castle to life.
Here are some of the highlights:
The Astor Wing – The Astor Wing has a range of exhibitions detailing the history of the castle, as well as the Astor family’s time here and all their work to restore Hever Castle to its former glory.
Anne Boleyn’s Bedchamber – This was thought to be Anne Boleyn’s childhood bedroom, complete with an inscribed wooden bed frame and has been restored to look as it would have during her time at Hever Castle.
King Henry VIII’s Bedchamber – This room was made fit for a king during Anne’s courtship with King Henry VIII, with a large four-poster bed, fireplace, tapestries and a ceiling dating back to 1462, which is believed to be the oldest in the castle. The mannequins included in the bedchambers helps to bring the courtship between Anne Boleyn and Henry VII to life and adds to the magic of their timeless tale.
The Long Gallery – This is the longest gallery in any moated castle in England and was used as a place for exercise during bad weather. It’s now home to a collection of Tudor portraits, depicting the Tudor dynasty, as well as, a permanent selection of artwork from The War of The Roses.
The Tudor Kitchen – The ideal spot to see what a Tudor kitchen would have looked like and learn about the food that would have been eaten in this period, including those served during great feasts.
The Book of Hours Room – The focus of this room is a beautifully illuminated Book of Hours, which was owned by Anne Boleyn and is one of the highlights of the castle. These personal prayer books belonging to Anne Boleyn bear her signature and are intrinsic to Hever Castle; Anne’s childhood home.
The Queen’s Chamber – Described by David Starkey as having “one of the best selection of Tudor portraits after the National Portrait Gallery” has an impressive collection of portraits of Henry VIII’s wives.
I highly recommend the audio guide, included in the price of your ticket, which is really informative and points out all the key features of Hever Castle (including small details you may otherwise miss) as you browse the many artefacts and period features.
Hever Castle Gardens
Hever Castle Gardens are set over 125 acres, and combines both timeless Tudor and Italian design, as well as a quintessential English rose garden with 5,000 rose bushes, immaculately sculptured hedges, a Pompeian wall and a giant topiary chess set.
One of my favourite books written about the Tudor era is Phillippa Gregory’s “The Other Boleyn Girl”; a tale depicting the rise of the Boleyn family and the rivalry between Anne and her sister Mary as they vie for the affection of King Henry VIII, whilst both serving as ladies in waiting for Catherine of Aragon; Spanish Queen Consort to the Tudor King.
Mary, sent away from the court to Hever Castle, cites the singing birds, the smell of honeysuckle and “the lushness of the meadows by the river, the way they shimmered white and yellow with flowers, and the blaze of red poppies in the wheatfields.” Whilst describing how Hever Castle looked in the 1500’s, the meadow of wildflowers at Hever Castle are easily my favourite aspect of visiting the castle and gardens today.
The Hever Castle wildflowers frame the castle in the distance perfectly.
The castle gardens at Hever Castle are spectacular and have certainly not lost their charm as depicted in The Other Boleyn Girl.
Is Hever Castle Worth Visiting?
The ivy covering the castle walls gives Hever Castle a magical feel and makes it look as though it has been plucked straight from a storybook, but it’s the Tudor history, intrigue and beautiful gardens that set Hever Castle apart from other castles I’ve visited.
If you’re interested in English history, then a visit to Hever Castle is a must! This castle has it all; fascinating history, beautiful gardens, and plenty of activities for all the family. History aside, Hever Castle is worth visiting even for those looking for a picturesque place to explore as a London day trip.
One thing’s for sure is that a visit to Hever Castle Anne Boleyn’s childhood home will provide you with an insight into Anne Boleyn’s timeless Tudor love affair with tyrannical King Henry VIII that turned English history on its head (quite literally!)
Jaz
xoxo
Other UK Day Trips to enjoy:
London Christmas Lights Walking Route