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Ightham Mote
Outstanding 14th-century moated manor house, gardens and estate
Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT
Important notice
House, Gardens, Café, Shop and Estate are open as usual.
Booking is not required.
Opening times for 16 July 2024
Asset Opening time House 11:00 - 16:30 Café 10:00 - 17:00 Estate Dawn - Dusk Garden 10:00 - 17:00 Shop 10:00 - 17:00 Due to essential maintenance works, the house, gardens, café and shop will be closed to the public on 1 July 2024. The car park and estate will remain open. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £17.60 £16.00 Child £8.80 £8.00 Family £44.00 £40.00 1 adult, 2 children £26.40 £24.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Registered assistance dogs welcome in all areas of the site. Dogs on leads welcome on the wider countryside walks all year round. Dogs allowed in the gardens (but not the house) from September - February. Dogs welcome on the café veranda all year round, dogs inside the café at the manager's discretion.
Guided tour
Introductory talks about the House and Garden, plus tours of the Tower, take place daily from March to October (weather dependent and subject to volunteer availability).
Book shop
Our second-hand book shop is located in Laundry Cottage.
Shop
Cafe
Toilet
Located by the café and shop. Baby changing facilities available in both.
Car park
The garden is steep in places with steps and gravel, cobbles and grass pathways - please speak to staff on arrival for the best route for your needs. Disabled parking is available near visitor reception but there is some gravel in areas of the car park. Pushchairs are permitted in all areas of the garden, but please take care. Please leave your tents, gazebos and barbecues at home, along with ball games, trikes, bikes and scooters as we are not able to allow these in the garden. Bike racks are located within the walled garden car park. Cameras are welcome but due to narrow paths please do not use tripods or stands. Take care, there are many open water areas around the garden.
Accessible route and/or map
Accessible route in the garden and South Lake. Ground floor of the house is accessible.
Level access to shop
Accessible toilet
Level access/terrain
Braille (guide or menu)
Powered mobility vehicle available
Our Tramper mobility scooter is available for visitors to use around the garden and on some of our estate walks. Please call 01732 810378 for more information and to book in advance (line monitored Monday to Friday).
Designated parking
Blue badge parking is available near Visitor Reception.
Ramped access/slopes
Drop-off point
Contact Visitor Reception on arrival or call in advance on 01732 811732.
Seating available
Induction loop
Available in the Café and Shop.
Steps/uneven terrain
Paths in the garden may become slippery after rainfall, please take care and wear sturdy footwear.
Large print (guide or menu)
Transfer available
Our volunteer-driven shuttle buggy is available.
Level access to food outlet
Wheelchairs available
Our manual wheelchairs are available for visitors to use around the ground floor of the house, gardens, shop and café. Please call 01732 810378 for more information and to book in advance (line monitored Monday to Friday).
By road
6 miles north of Tonbridge on A227 - follow the brown sign to the left along High Cross Road, towards Ivy Hatch and turn left onto Moat Road; 6 miles south of Sevenoaks on A25 - follow the brown sign to the right along Coach Road. 16 miles west of Maidstone on A20/A25 - follow the brown sign to the left along Coach Road.
Parking: Free parking for National Trust members. Non-members; £3 per car. Coin payment only. Please follow instructions from staff and signage on site when you arrive.
Sat Nav: Please use TN15 0NU
On foot
Ightham Mote is just off The Greensand Way - the long distance walking route across Surrey and Kent.
By train
Hildenborough (4 miles) and Sevenoaks (7 miles) are both on the London Bridge / London Charing Cross to Hastings mainline. Sevenoaks (7 miles) is also on the Thameslink line from Bedford. Borough Green and Wrotham (3½ miles) are on the London Victoria to Ashford line. Taxi ranks / phones are available at most stations.
By bus
Book ahead the Go To Service Bus from Sevenoaks Station by calling 01732 463964 or download the 'Go to Sevenoaks' app and book online.
By bicycle
The roads around Ightham Mote are single carriage-way country roads with National Speed limits. The nearest cycle route is the Tonbridge to Ivy Hatch Loop (see www.cycle-route.com for more details). Bike racks are available near Visitor Reception.
Planning your visit
Summer of Selby Spies
Discover the shadowy story of the Selby family at Ightham Mote this summer and their connection to the mysteries of Elizabeth I’s court and secret schemes of Mary Queen of Scots. Take on code-breaking challenges and follow new spy-themed trails indoors and through the gardens. Plus enjoy historical re-enactments, battling knights and even take part in crafts which reveal more about Ightham’s Tudor legacy
Article
Visiting Ightham Mote with the family
With walks, trails, a natural play area and acres of nature there is plenty to keep the family occupied on a visit to Ightham Mote. Read on to find out how to get the best out of your visit.
Article
Volunteer opportunities at Ightham Mote
Find out more about volunteering at Ightham Mote and how you can play your part in looking after 700 years’ worth of history and bringing its stories to life.
Article
Visiting Ightham Mote with your dog
Ightham Mote is a one pawprint rated place. With so much space to explore your four-legged friend won’t be bored on a day out at Ightham Mote. Find out where they can go and what facilities are available on your visit.
Article
Group and education visits to Ightham Mote
Find out more about booking your group or school for a visit to Ightham Mote and the information you need to help you plan your trip.
Highlights
House
Romantic moated manor house with 700 years of history, architecture and stories under one roof.
Garden
Nestled in a hidden valley, 14 acres of tranquil garden, pleasure grounds, orchard, water features, lakes and woodland.
Estate
Over 500 acres of landscape carved from woodland, in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Natural play area
Splash in the natural stream, and play with the chimes, balance beams and stepping stones.
Mote Café
Serves tasty hot and cold food and cakes. Indoor or outdoor seating, enjoy the veranda outside with dogs welcome too.
Shop
Seasonal accessories and gifts, food and plants. Locally made products and souvenirs.
Second-hand bookshop
In Laundry Cottage, a wide variety of second-hand books of all genres for all ages.
Things to see and do
Selby Spies Exhibition
Dive into the intriguing world of the Selby family, who owned Ightham Mote for nearly 300 years. Discover how they helped foil plots against Elizabeth I, their role in Mary Queen of Scots' secret schemes, and their connection to notorious Tudor spymasters.
Article
Visiting Ightham Mote with the family
With walks, trails, a natural play area and acres of nature there is plenty to keep the family occupied on a visit to Ightham Mote. Read on to find out how to get the best out of your visit.
Article
The garden at Ightham Mote
The garden is at its most colourful during the summer months. With vibrant colours, the buzz of wildlife and space to relax in the historic pleasure grounds, it’s time to make the most of nature.
Article
The house at Ightham Mote
Enter this medieval half-timbered house across a cobbled courtyard and into the hushed interior. Discover dark wood panelling, huge fireplaces and a mix of furnishings inside.
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The estate at Ightham Mote
As the weather becomes warmer, wildlife, trees and wildflowers come alive across the Ightham Mote estate, while and birdsong fills the air.
Top trails
Trail
Ightham Mote circular walk to Knole
This circular walk from Ightham Mote passes along the Greensand Way, through areas of outstanding natural beauty to Knole Park and back to Ightham Mote.
Trail
Ightham Mote circular walk to Oldbury Hill
Enjoy a picturesque circular walk from Ightham to Oldbury Hill, passing through an area of mixed woodland as well as fish ponds and an old quarry.
Trail
Ightham Mote circular walk to Old Soar Manor
This historical circular walk links two National Trust places dating to medieval times, while also taking you through the ancient woodland of Scathes Wood and into Fairlawne Estate.
Trail
Ightham Mote circular walk to Wilmot Hill
Enjoy the Kentish countryside from the Ightham Mote estate as you walk the periphery of a large part of its 580 acres. The walk incorporates Scathes Wood, the Greensand Way, Wilmot Hill and Broadhoath Wood.
Eating and shopping
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Eating and shopping at Ightham Mote
Pop into the Mote Café for something warming at end of a walk. In the shop you can pick up a special gift, plant or homewares. Don’t forget to look in the second-hand bookshop.
Places to stay
Oldbury Hill Campsite
A peaceful woodland campsite near National Trust attractions, and an hour from London by train.
Upcoming events
Event
Sargent’s Palette in Bloom Display
Join us this Spring for our series of displays celebrating renowned artist John Singer Sargent!
Event
Exhibition: Selby Spies
Discover the shadowy story of the Selby family at Ightham Mote this summer and their connection to the mysteries of Elizabeth I’s court and secret schemes of Mary Queen of Scots.
Event
Selby Spies: Garden Trail
Explore the garden as you discover the shadowy story of the Selby family at Ightham Mote
Event
Selby Spies: Spies, Plots and Uprisings
Join us for two long weekends of historical reenactments at Ightham Mote this summer, filled with spies, plots, and uprisings!
About Ightham Mote
Hidden away in a secluded Kent valley, is this perfectly preserved medieval moated manor house. Emerging from the natural landscape almost 700 years ago, Ightham Mote is built from Kentish ragstone and great Wealden oaks. While its architecture and decoration trace the development of the English country house, its owners provide the stories of a once-cherished family home, evoking a deep sense of history. In the tranquil gardens there are streams and lakes fed by natural springs, an orchard, flower borders and a cutting garden. The wider estate offers walks with secret glades and countryside views.
History
Article
The history and owners of Ightham Mote
Uncover the 700-year history of this fascinating medieval house and estate. Discover all about the owners that shaped it over the centuries, their connections and lifestyles.
Art and collections
Ightham Mote's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Ightham Mote on the National Trust Collections website.
Article
John Singer Sargent oil sketch of Elsie Palmer returns to Ightham Mote
The enigmatic face of Elsie Palmer, one of renowned artist John Singer Sargent’s most famous subjects, has returned to the English country house where he painted her.
Our work
Article
Our work at Ightham Mote
From the annual winter clean to one of the National Trust’s largest conservation projects, find out more about how Ightham Mode is cared for and what goes on behind the scenes.
Project
Project
Unlocking the future at Ightham Mote
Find out about the project to develop a new visitor centre and restore the walled garden. Discover how these exciting plans will improve facilities for visitors.
Support us
Article
Volunteer opportunities at Ightham Mote
Find out more about volunteering at Ightham Mote and how you can play your part in looking after 700 years’ worth of history and bringing its stories to life.