Kent

Find fairy tale castles, a treasure house fit for a king, the home of Churchill and a world-renowned garden dedicated to beauty. These are just some of Kent’s highlights along with spectacular coastline, ancient woodlands and rolling downs. Discover what to see and do in the Garden County of England.

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A view of the path through the Golden Rose Avenue with flowers in bloom on either side at Chartwell, Kent

Place

Chartwell

Family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill

View of historic stone building with green grass and deer in front of the building. There is blue sky with a few clouds and a partial view of a green-leaved tree on one side.

Place

Knole

Take in the scale and magnificence of this 600-year-old estate with its courtyards, showrooms, Gatehouse Tower and acres of parkland.

The Rose Garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Place

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Historic, poetic, iconic: a refuge dedicated to beauty. Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst Castle and created a world-renowned garden.

Place

Scotney Castle

Ruined medieval castle. Victorian mansion house. Rolling parkland. Ancient woodland. Picturesque garden. With romance, drama and nature around every corner, Scotney is truly a castle for all seasons.

Blue sky over the half-timbered west front of Ightham Mote, a moat in the foreground

Place

Ightham Mote

Outstanding 14th-century moated manor house, gardens and estate

Image of visitor walking along the clifftop at the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent on a sunny day in August

Place

The White Cliffs of Dover

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

Pink roses in the Italianate Rose Garden with the fountain and a glimpse of the view in the distance

Place

Emmetts Garden

Interesting hillside garden with year-round features

The Orchard in April at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Gardens in Kent

Spring blossom by the house at Scotney Castle, Kent

Houses and buildings in Kent

A summer view across the Weald of Kent from Mariners Hill, a National Trust countryside site in Kent

Countryside and woodland in Kent

People walking dog at One Tree Hill, Kent

Walking in Kent

Family visitors flying kites by the South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent, on a sunny day in August

Family-friendly places in Kent

Dog-friendly places in Kent

People sat at tables enjoying eating and drinking inside the tea-room at Knole in Kent

Places to eat in Kent

A garden volunteer kneeling in the lower Alpine area at Emmetts Garden in Kent

Volunteering in Kent

Let little explorers loose in the outdoors. They'll love squelching in mud kitchens, scrambling across natural play areas and running free across open meadows at places like Chartwell, Knole and Sissinghurst Castle Garden.

Mother, father and child between them walking in the garden at Sizergh, talking animatedly. They're surrounded by green trees and plants.

Family-friendly places in Kent

Find inspiration for your next family day out in Kent, with nature-themed activities ranging from spotting fish to bug hotels.

Summer holidays in Kent

Pick up a parkland adventure pack at Knole, clown around at Scotney Castle and try a host of sporty activities across our places as part of the National Trust’s Summer of Play (sponsored by Starling Bank).

Discover year-round interest in walled gardens, vegetable plots and borders – and one of the most famous gardens in the country.

Visitors admire the stone columns and plants in the re-created Delos garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Summer highlights

Kent’s Head Gardeners and gardening experts reveal their summer highlights. From hopelessly romantic old roses at world-famous Sissinghurst Castle Garden, to new exotic planting at Scotney Castle. Plus stunning Wealden views from Chartwell, and a slice of Italy in the rose garden at Emmetts Garden. Pause in Ightham Mote’s Quiet Garden, surrounded by 700 centuries of history. Fast forward to the early twentieth century in the rose garden at nearby Bateman’s, designed by Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling. For boutique beauty, try Smallhythe Place, Quebec House or Lamb House.

Apple blossom with the house in the background at Chartwell, Kent

Spring highlights

Gardens in Kent burst into life in springtime. From sunshine-yellow daffodils at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, to beautiful blossom across the gardens at Chartwell and a sea of tulips at Emmetts Garden. The orchards are soon filled with fruit tree flowers, including heritage varieties in delicate pink and white. Magnolia trees are a particular favourite, lining the paths later in spring at Chartwell and Sissinghurst. Blue skies bring with them beautiful reflections in the lakes at Ightham Mote, whilst Scotney’s Flower Festival spreads spring cheer into the mansion house too. Discover more highlights for the spring season in Kent.

A view over the misty garden at Ightham Mote manor house, complete with small bridge, pond and shrubbery

Winter highlights

Explore rich evergreens at Emmetts Garden and garden water features at Chartwell and Ightham Mote. Keep your eyes peeled for the pure white of snowdrops as they begin to grow. Our gardens offer peace and tranquillity in the winter months. Wrap up warm and take in their structural beauty.

Autumn leaves in the foreground at Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Kent, with the ruins of the fourteenth-century moated castle in the distance

Autumn highlights

With gardens filled with colour and orchards hanging low with fruit, autumn is a great time for a day out at National Trust places nearby. Catch late flowers in the Purple Border in early autumn at Sissinghurst, and breathe in the intoxicating scent of the Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum (toffee apple tree) near the North Lake at Ightham Mote. Dahlias and sunflowers continue to bloom in the early autumn sunshine at Chartwell. Later in the season, spot weird and wonderful mushrooms emerging at Emmetts Garden.

A large portrait of a man from the 18th century dressed lavishly is carried over to a wall to be re-hung in a historic house

Article

Restored masterpiece at Knole

A full-length portrait of John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset (1745-1799), gazes imperiously over the showrooms at Knole once more. After expert cleaning and conservation, visit Knole to see the eighteenth century masterpiece by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) in vivid colour and newly restored detail. Watch a short video to hear how expert conservators, including in the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole, transformed the Duke back to glory.

News

See 'incredibly rare' Roman finds at Smallhythe Place

Roman finds have gone on display in the tearoom at Smallhythe. The head of a figurine of the god Mercury - one of less than 10 ever discovered from Roman Britain – was discovered during a dig there last summer. There are also tiles stamped with the mark of the Roman fleet (the Classis Britannica) and an intact pot, all dating from 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The discoveries were 'quite exceptional', says archaeologist Nathalie Cohen. In the main house, discover the story of Victorian actress Ellen Terry. Open Wed to Sun from 28 February.

A woman hangs a large watercolour painting of a buffalo onto a wood-panelled wall

Article

Rare Jungle Book illustration at Bateman's

An original illustration from 'The Jungle Book' has gone on display at Bateman’s, family home of the story's author Rudyard Kipling. The large watercolour is one of just four known to have survived from a set of 16 painted for the book by the Detmold twins. See more illustrations of the much-loved tale from around the world in a new display. Plus, browse illustrated story editions and hear a reading of the classic tale in our new cosy reading space.

Oil painting on Changed Priorities Ahead road sign of teazels and goldfinches

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Nature art exhibition at Scotney Castle

With a display in the old castle and a trail in the garden, 'Changed Priorities Ahead' showcases the work of nature artist, Nessie Ramm. Nessie paints our native wildflowers with exquisite detail as they thrive undisturbed on roundabouts, slip roads and laybys. Using metal road signs as her canvas, her large-scale art renders visible the wildness and value of these unloved spaces.

Join us as we celebrate the UK’s annual Festival of Archaeology from 13th – 28th July 2024. Find lots of events and activities happening in Kent.

Knole

Get up-close to artefacts uncovered at Knole, or join a guided parkland walk revealing its fascinating archaeological history (18, 21, 23 July, £7.50, booking essential). There’s a family day on 22 July. Dress up for archaeologist selfies, test your sorting skills and join archaeology-inspired arts and crafts. Book admission to guarantee entry.

Children taking part in Dig for History, an archaeology day, at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

Smallhythe Place

Previous digs have revealed Smallhythe’s story as a medieval shipbuilding site and Roman settlement. Pay a visit to see some of the team’s fascinating finds. There are also drop-in meet and greets with the dig teams and an evening talk with our expert archaeologist, Nathalie Cohen. On 13 & 14 July join us for Smallfest, a family celebration of archaeology with drawing, games and more.

A child digging in contains as part of the Festival of Archaeology

Bodiam Castle

A real-life archaeological dig launches at Bodiam’s Roman Wharf area on 27 July. From ‘behind-the-rope’ and after-hours tours to expert meet-and-greets, there’s loads of ways to get involved with 'Bodiam100'. For more archaeology-themed fun, get hands-on with finds from previous digs on Fridays, 10am to 3pm. There's also medieval-inspired crafts for kids on select dates in August.

Place

Scotney Castle

Ruined medieval castle. Victorian mansion house. Rolling parkland. Ancient woodland. Picturesque garden. With romance, drama and nature around every corner, Scotney is truly a castle for all seasons.

Woodland pathway through Oldbury Hill, Kent

Place

Oldbury Hill

Discover the remains of an Iron Age hill fort

The Kent coast is home to towering chalk cliffs and grass downland teeming with wildlife. Pack your binoculars and get ready to take in some fantastic views.

Place

The White Cliffs of Dover

Magnificent coastal site overlooking the English Channel

A man and a child are walking a black-and-white dog through a grassy field towards South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent. The lighthouse is painted white and stands against a grey cloud that's hanging in the sky.

Place

South Foreland Lighthouse

Striking and historical lighthouse high on The White Cliffs of Dover

A cyclist enjoying a ride along a leafy lane in the Kent countryside

Activity

Cycling, riding and running at Toys Hill

With a network of bridleways, there are plenty of ways to explore Toys Hill including horse riding, mountain biking, road cycling and running on a 6km Run England route.

Spring sun through the trees at Toys Hill, Kent

Activity

Walking at Toys Hill

Discover lots of walking routes, points of historical interest and wide-ranging views at one of Octavia Hill’s favourite places. Visit to see the landscape that inspired her.

Christmas tree decor at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Christmas in Kent

Kent's famous houses will be decorated for Christmases gone by, from a sparkling 1930s Champagne Christmas at Chartwell to a sumptuous Tudor Christmas at Ightham Mote. Have fun on new family trails with games, activities and festive characters. Keep an eye out for visits from Father Christmas himself on select dates and locations too. There are magical late-night openings, lights events and festive fairs. And it goes without saying that our cafés and tea-rooms will be filled with warming treats and Christmas lunches. Discover what's instore at National Trust places this Christmas in Kent.

2 Bettenham Cottages

Immerse yourself in rolling farmland and peaceful countryside. This cosy cottage is the perfect getaway for friends, family and one well-behaved dog.

Priest's House

Sitting on the edge of Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens, this is the perfect spot for garden lovers.

Oldbury Hill Campsite

A peaceful woodland campsite near National Trust attractions, and an hour from London by train.

Whether you're looking to travel by train or bus. Plan your visit using greener travel options.

Bicycle leaning against a wall at Ightham Mote, Kent.

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Sustainable travel in Kent

There are a number of sustainable travel options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Kent, whether you're looking to travel by train or bus.

Cyclist at Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex

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Sustainable travel in Sussex

There are a number of sustainable travel options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Sussex, whether you're looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot.

A tour group in woodland at Scotney Castle, Kent

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Supporter groups in Kent

Join your local supporter group in Kent to meet people and enjoy talks, visits, holidays, outdoor volunteering and other social and fundraising events.

See all events

Event

Summer of Play at Knole

Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent

There's lots of fun to be had this summer at Knole. From Monday 22 July - Sunday 1 Septembr, join us for cricket, boules and try your hand at croquet.