hever castle fun facts
In the 15th century, Geoffrey Bullen, great grandfather of Anne Boleyn, acquired Hever. Hever Castle is every child's imaginary castle complete with a moat. Hever Castle still has one of Henry VIII's private locks, taken with him on his various visits to noblemen's houses and fitted to every door for his security. During their custodianship have invested greatly in the historical integrity of the estate and are helping to make Hever Castle more environmentally friendly. The castle was used as the location for a music video by Libera in 2006. We endeavour to ensure an enjoyable, engaging and memorable experience for all in a beautiful, fun and safe environment. Beautiful place! What attractions are near Hever Castle & Gardens? All in all, very disappointing and we certainly wont be going back again next year. Today the Estate has something for everyone. Find out more about the biomass woodchip boiler and ecologically sound sewage systems that are in place. Nestled in the Kent countryside, Hever Castle is a relatively small fixture in the rural landscape. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Trains run from London Victoria and London Bridge (via Oxted or East Croydon) to Edenbridge Town Station. Trains run from London Victoria and London Bridge (via Oxted or East Croydon) to Edenbridge Town Station. We visited on 10th February after seeing the promotion for the 'free snowdrop self guided walk' on the official website. He and Anne initially enjoyed a loving relationship, however after around 1,000 days as queen she fell from favour and was beheaded in 1536. Celebrate spring by helping the Easter Bunny find their sweet treats as part of an Easter egg hunt around the grounds. Enjoy the other reason why Hever Castle is so popular: the golfing! But it gets worse: We paid our 20 each. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The original medieval defensive castle with its gatehouse and walled bailey was built in 1270. The gardens are massive, with multiple lawns, mazes, themed gardens and even a lake. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. Many thanks to Hever Castle for a lovely family day out*. Disclosure: If you happen to make a purchase after clicking though any links from Thimble and Twig, I will receive a small commission. At intervals, the stones tilt and hidden water jets spurt out streams of water to soak the unwitting visitor. After several years of wanting to visit Hever Castle, we finally managed to achieve a day trip and we certainly weren't disappointed. Hello~ I've reserved 2 nights in the Astor Wing for late July. Broadland Properties purchased Hever Castle and its collection from the Astor family in 1983. The oldest part of the castle is the outer fortified wall and the massive gatehouse. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. that the guy at the kiosk would have said, there isn't actually much to see. Sir Geoffrey's grandson, Thomas, was born in 1477 and in 1498, he married the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, Elizabeth Howard. Henry VIII often used the nearby Bolebroke Castle to conduct his courtship with Anne. Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit! . There is also a museum of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry. Comprehensive information on the history of Hever Castle can be found in . Good location, lovely room, excellent breakfast, helpful staff, what more could you ask of a b&b plus the added attraction of being able to enjoy the castle grounds with nobody else around. There are over 4000 types of roses (who knew there were that many?!) Visit it today to explore its early medieval keep, its Tudor rooms, and its 125 acres of exquisite gardens. Would highly recommend Hever Castle to anybody interested in English history and in particular, the story of the Boleyns. The castle is very interesting, but it is the grounds that make the trip worthwhile. For the Sensory Garden Tour, tickets are 19.05 each and tickets for the classic Garden Tour are 17.00 each. As one of the best golf clubs in Kent and only one mile away from the castle entrance, The Hever Castle Golf Club offers a 27-hole golf course for all golf enthusiasts of all abilities. Top 10 Places to Visit with kids in South East London, favourite beaches to visit which are a short drive from South East London. Cruise Terminal to London with stopover at Hever Castle, Canterbury Cathedral Hever Castle and Dover Castle Private Tour, A winter adventure to the World's most Haunted Village & Haunted Castle, Coronation celebration at English Castles and Gardens. The fact file includes information about the history of the building as it changes over the centuries, who lived there and a brief part about the castle today.Children will be able to conduct their own research after reading this fact file, including finding out more about what they . At one point the King noticed Anne herself, and began to visit her at Hever. If you plan well ahead, you may even get to spend the night. Astor's heirs continued to use Hever as one of their family homes until the 1970s when it was sold to a Yorkshire family who maintains it as part of their private property group. There are four separate categories of ticket types when visiting Hever Castle. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. GET IN TOUCH ABOUT VENUE HIRE +44 (0)1732 861 800. For any history buffs with a specific interest in the Tudor period, Hever Castle is an inimitable opportunity to spectate and observe a different and more personal facet to the period. Henry VIII often used the nearby Bolebroke Castle to conduct his courtship with Anne. Hever Castle, 30 miles southeast of London, was the home of two of Henry VIII's queensone tragic and one luckyand the pet project and home of America's richest man in the late 19th century. top ten best things to do in South East London with kids! The last entry to the castle and grounds duringthe main season (31st March 26th October) is at 16:30 with the final exit of visitors scheduled to be approximately 18:00. It was Anne Boleyn's girlhood home, where Henry VIII courted her (as well as her older sister Mary who was his mistress first). The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by William Waldorf Astor. We showed him the website where it clearly said it was and he said, "But the moment you pass this kiosk, you are entering the gardens and for that you have to pay" I was, and still am, totally perplexed. Experience 700 years of history at the romantic double-moated 13th century castle once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. You can hire arowingboator pedalo for thelake during some summer monthsand the whole area feels simply magical and special. Hever Castle (pronounced HEE-vr) is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48km) south-east of London, England. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He bestowed it upon Anne of Cleves in 1540 as part of the settlement following the annulment of their marriage. We visited Hever Castle and grounds and it was a lovely day out. Some believe that Anne was born at Hever, perhaps in 1501, although the evidence for this is sketchy at best. What regal phantoms will the investigation reveal? It was Henrys love for Anne and her insistence that she became his wife rather than his mistress that led to the King splitting from the Church in Rome and creating the Church of England, forever altering the course of English and European history. In the 15th and 16th centuries it was the home of one of the most powerful families in the country, the Boleyns, who modernised the existing dwelling within the walls. It is extremely misleading. Splash about the water maze to be found deep within the grounds of Hever Castle. From educational trails around the magnificent gardens to playgrounds and wildlife-spotting, Hever Castle is a fun and educational day out for you and your family, all a short drive away from the M25. In the latter half of the 15th century, the castle was bought, along with Blickling Hall (in Norfolk) by Geoffrey Bullen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1540, Henry gave the castle to another of his wives. The ground open at 10:30 a.m. and the castle opens at noon. Hiya, Since 1271, Hever Castle has stood proud within the tiny English village of Hever in Kent. That was the only down side for me but I do realise that the staff were just following regulations and at all times were friendly and courteous, apologising non-stop for the long delays. Your email address will not be published. Most people know the story of Ann and Henry and Hever's place in that story but it is so much more. A luxury collection of 28 stunning bedrooms located in the Astor Wing & the Anne Boleyn Wing, an Edwardian Wing attached to the Castle and connected inside. $$ - $$$ British Pub Vegetarian Friendly. Eventually, he had acquired a large personal fortune, became Lord Mayor of London and was knighted. Thank you for your feedback Katie. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There is a large lake where during some months to can ride on pedalos or row boats. Indeed, we were proud to offer our visitors 3 kilometres of lighting on site, our Festive Forest Trail (a unique concept that was written, illustrated, designed and handmade by our Design Manager), character actors, owl encounters, huskie encounters and Castle as part of their entry ticket with no additional charge for parking. Hever Castle ( pronounced HEE-vr) is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48 km) south-east of London, England. Once inside the castle, you can't overtake people who take a long time to view certain rooms or items, and so you are often left standing in doorways as most rooms only accommodate two people at a time. And if not does anyone know if there are restrictions on bag sizes in the castle? See 987 traveller reviews, 1,417 candid photos, and great deals for Hever Castle Bed and Breakfast, ranked #1 of 3 B&Bs / inns in Hever and rated 5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. It is a very special place. Get in touch to book your stay +44 (0)1732 861800. From her time at the French chteaus of the Loire Valley to her untimely end at the Tower of London, each site provides a piece of the story that has captivated audiences for over 500 years.