Hever Castle & Gardens: History & Visiting Guide 2026

ByMagdalena Marsden

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century romantic castle set in a beautiful gardens with lakes and woodland. The castle is most famous for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife.

Originally constructed in the 13th century as a country house, Hever Castle was converted into a regal, defensive castle in the 1400s. After passing through various owners, it was purchased by William Waldorf Astor in 1903 and restored to its former glory.

When you visit Hever Castle you will get to see the historic rooms where Anne Boleyn grew up, enjoy the stunning gardens, admire rare Tudor portraits, and can enjoy regular events ranging from knight jousting to Christmas celebrations.

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Is Hever castle worth visiting?

I’ve visited Hever castle on several occasions and for four years I also had a stall at the Quilting Festival (mine was an artisan chocolates…) and spend whole three days during the festival, which gave me more chance to explore the grounds.

I love the gardens and the castle setting probably more than visiting the actual castle, but the rooms inside are also interesting to see. From my first visit about 25 years ago, I remember the water maze most – I’ve never has so much fun ‘walking’ through a maze!

The adult ticket prices are quite pricey (but no more than other types of castles or attractions), but they are great value if you stay for the whole day. There is plenty to do and see at Hever, so I’d suggest to plan to arrive in the morning and stay for the day to make the most of your ticket.

Appart from visiting the castle and the gardens, you can also have a leasurelly lunch or cup of tea at the tearoom or restaurant, go for a walk in the grounds in the afternoon (and the Lake Walk), check out the water maze and the different children playgrounds (if you have children with you.).

It’s also worth checking the castle even schedule, because the various festivals during the year are often included in the entrance ticket, meaning that there is even more to do when you arrive and the ticket is even better value.

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Hever Castle History

Hever Castle was originally built in the 13th century as a country house. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn family, including Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I .

Anne Boleyn lived at Hever Castle as a child and it is where she caught the eye of Henry VIII in the 1520s. After Anne’s execution in 1536, Henry VIII took ownership of Hever Castle.

In the late 16th century, Hever Castle passed to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, as part of her divorce settlement .

Over the next few centuries, Hever Castle had various owners including the Waldegrave family and the Meade-Waldo family. It fell into disrepair during this time.

In 1903, the wealthy American business magnate, William Waldorf Astor, purchased Hever Castle and restored it. He also built new Tudor style houses and gardens around the castle, where you can stay now if you decide to visit Hever Castle overnight.

After Astor’s death in 1919, his son took over until 1983, when he sold the castle to the current owners, the Guthrie family.

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Gardens

The castle is surrounded by magnificent gardens that are divided into a lot of different areas. My favourite one is the formal Italian Garden, but you can also see topiary garden with a ‘chest set’ and take a walk around the lake to see more relaxed flower planting.

The top gardens around the festival theatre are also worth visiting as you will find beautiful seasonal planting there and also woodland walks and little lake with more natural flower planting.

What else to see & do

Yew Maze: Get lost in the traditional English Yew Maze, which is over 100 years old

Water Maze: Try to reach the center of the Water Maze without getting wet—a splashy challenge for all ages and especially great on a warm summer day!

Boating: Enjoy rowing boats, pedalos, and canoes on the picturesque lake (all boats have historic names of queens and kings)

Archery: Have a go at archery and test your skills in this classic activity

Lake Walks: Stroll around the beautiful lake and take in the scenic views. The walk can take up to 45 minutes, so make sure that you allow plenty of time.

Playgrounds: Kids can enjoy adventure play areas such as Tudor Towers and Acer Dell, with climbing frames, swings, and an aerial runway.

Shopping at Hever Castle

There is a large souvenir shop with books, toys, games and local produce as you walk in from the car par. There is also a plant shop (with smaller selection of gardening related souvenirs) next to the main restaurant at the Italian Gardens.

The Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry Military Museum

At this museum you can learn about the nearly 200 years history of two distinguished British Army regiments: the Kent Yeomanry and the Sharpshooters.

The museum was officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra on 6th September 2015 and you can find it tucked away from the main path as you walk down from the car park.

Inside the museum, you can find displays with uniforms, medals, weapons, and personal stories from regiment members. There are interactive displays and audio-visual presentations that bring the regiments’ stories to life.

The museum highlights the regiments’ roles in major conflicts, including both World Wars and more recent deployments. You can also see historical vehicles, including a WWII-era tank parked outside the museum.

Films & Television filmed at Hever Castle

Hever Castle has been a prime filming location for historical dramas and period pieces because it has well-preserved Tudor architecture. Some of the films and television shows that have been filmed at Hever Castle include:

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) – This historical drama about Anne Boleyn starred Richard Burton and Geneviève Bujold. Many scenes were filmed in and around Hever Castle, which was Anne’s childhood home.

The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) – Starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, this film included scenes shot at Hever Castle, although it was set at the Boleyn family home of Blickling Hall in Norfolk.

The Great (2020-present) – This comedy-drama TV series features Hever Castle prominently as the exterior and interior of the Russian imperial court.

Bridgerton (2020-present) – Hever Castle stood in for Clyvedon Castle in this popular Netflix series.

The Crown (2016-2023) – Hever Castle was used to depict Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire in the Netflix series.

Staying at Hever castle

Hever Castle is fairly remote, which makes the option of staying at the castle even more appealing. If you have the time (and the budget) you can stay in one of the mock Tudor houses built at the beginning of 20 century by the Astor family.

Rates are starting from £180 per night for a standard double room in low season and are higher during peak seasons and weekends. For example, a Saturday night in July costs around £350 for a standard double room. Larger suites like the Medley Court accommodation can cost over £1000 per night.

Refreshments

The Moat Restaurant is right opposite the castle shop as you walk down from the car park and has both self-service and table ordering parts of the restaurant, offering light lunches, sandwiches, cakes, coffee, and tea. There is plenty of outdoor seating, including separate seating for picnics. There is also an ice-cream window with local – Jude’s – ice-cream.

There is even more seating at the Guthrie Pavilion Restaurant, which you can find on the side of the Italian Gardens.

There is also a Coffee & Doughnuts van and sometimes also a pizza truck. There is also another ice cream stand and Loggia Bar at the end of the Italian Gardens with the views of the large lake.

For a refined experience, you can also book afternoon tea in the historic Tudor Suite Dining Room and Sitting Room, available on weekends.

You are also welcome to bring your own food. Picnicking is permitted on the castle grounds and there are plenty of areas to sit in and enjoy your food.

Hever Castle Opening Times

Hever Castle & Gardens are open most of the year, but take a short break in January and February.

  • Grounds open at 10.30 am, castle opens at 12pm
  • Last entry to castle is 1 hour before closing time, last entry to the whole complex is 90 minutes before closing time.
  • Closing times are:
  • February to March: 5pm
  • April to September: 6pm
  • October: 5pm
  • November to January: 4pm

The car park closes at the same time as the main area, so make sure that you allow a good 15 minutes to walk up to the car park to get your car.

Ticket Prices

  • Adult: £24.65 online/£27.40 on entry
  • Senior/Student: £24.30 online/£21.85 on entry
  • Child (5-17 years): £13.65 online/£15.15 on entry
  • Child (0-4 years): Free
  • Parking is free and included in your entry ticket

Family tickets are available as well as annual tickets. You can also purchase slightly cheaper tickets for gardens only.

You can also get free or discounted entry if you are member of the following: RHS, Historic Houses (weekdays access only and not during holidays or weekends), Tesco Club Vouchers, Gardener’s World 2 for 1 entry or Armed forces (20% discount)

Car parking at Hever Castle

The main car park is now outside the castle grounds and accessible straight from the main road. There are car park attendants, that guide you in and show you where it’s the nearest available parking spot. If you have a mobility difficulties, disabled car park is also available close to the old ticket entrance inside the castle grounds – just ask the staff to direct you. Car parking is free.

Are dogs allowed at Hever castle ?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Hever Castle, but with some restrictions:

  • Dogs are welcome in most outdoor areas of the gardens and grounds, but must be kept on a lead at all times.
  • Dogs are not allowed inside the castle, restaurants, cafes, shops, mazes, or adventure playground.
  • The only exception is for registered assistance/guide dogs, which can go anywhere on the grounds.
  • There are dog waste bins provided around the grounds to clean up after your dog.
  • Water bowls are also provided in certain locations for dogs.
  • Dogs are not permitted in any of the accommodation on site.
  • Well-behaved dogs are welcome in designated dog-friendly rented holiday cottages near the castle.

How to get to Hever Castle

Address: Hever Road Nr Edenbridge TN8 7NG

Getting to Hever Castle is easy as it is situated three miles Southeast of Edenbridge off the B2026 between Sevenoaks and East Grinstead in the village of Hever.

It’s much easier to get there by car, but it’s also possible to use the train and either walk or take a local taxi.

Those traveling by road can exit the M25 at junctions 5 or 6 and follow the brown tourist signs. For those using satellite navigation, the postcode is TN8 7NG.

If you want to traveling by train, then take a train from London Victoria and London Bridge (via Oxted or East Croydon) to Edenbridge Town Station and then take a taxi for three miles to the castle or walk. Taxis can be booked in advance. Unfortunatelly, there are no regular bus services to Hever Castle.

This blog post was originally published on 18 January 2024 and last updated on 3 May 2025

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