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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.
Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 2AB
Important notice
The viewing platform at the top of the Tower is closed this morning due to high winds forecast. Our team will continue to monitor the weather, with the aim to reopen the platform by midday.
Opening times for 19 December 2024
Asset Opening time Garden 11:00 - 16:00 Estate 10:00 - 16:00 Restaurant 10:00 - 16:00 Shop 10:00 - 16:00 Tower 11:00 - 15:30 Long Library 11:00 - 15:30 Coffee Shop Closed South Cottage Closed The garden opens at 11am and closes at 4pm. The collection spaces open at 11am and close at 3:30pm. Last entry to the garden is at 3:15pm.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Per car £4.00 Whole property
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £14.30 £13.00 Child £7.20 £6.50 Family £35.80 £32.50 One adult family £21.50 £19.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Bookshop
Plant shop
Car park
Car parking is free for National Trust members. If you are not a member, car parking is £4 and can be paid at Visitor Reception.
Restaurant
Dogs are not allowed inside the restaurant but are allowed in the outdoor seating area.
Coffee shop
Our coffee shop has reopened and is located near the car park, next to our plant shop. Please visit our Opening Times for the daily opening hours.
Shop
Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads are welcome around the wider estate but are not allowed in the formal garden or the vegetable garden. If you wish to enter the garden with an assistance dog or another guide animal, please speak to Visitor Reception.
Toilet
Toilets and disabled toilets are available next to Visitor Reception and the Restaurant.
Guided tour
Please visit our Events section for more information on garden and property tours.
Designated disabled parking in the main car park. Adapted toilet on level ground at visitor reception and via ramp at restaurant. Due to narrow pathways, pushchairs are not allowed in the main garden but carriers are welcome. There is a step free route around the property and garden, but please note that this may be difficult to navigate due to uneven terrain. Unfenced lakes, moat and ponds around the estate.
Accessible route and/or map
Accessibility routes are available on our main map of the site or upon request at Visitor Reception or the Garden Gate.
Level access to shop
Accessible toilet
Disabled toilets are available next to Visitor Reception and at the Restaurant.
Narrow corridors
Changing Places
We offer baby changing facilities on site.
Seating available
Designated parking
We offer several accessible parking bays in our car park, and offer bicycle parking down by Visitor Reception. Upon arrival, our stewards will direct you where to go.
Steps/uneven terrain
Drop-off point
Drop-off and pick up at Visitor Reception, if required.
Wheelchairs available
Wheelchairs are available but must be booked before arrival.
Level access to food outlet
By road
2 miles north-east of Cranbrook, 1 mile east of Sissinghurst village on Biddenden Road, off A262. Keep a look out and follow for the National Trust brown signs, we are on the left if coming from Sissinghurst village and on the right if coming from Biddenden and Headcorn, there are black signs before the turning for our driveway.
Parking: 160 metres, £4 parking (non-members).
Sat Nav: Look out and follow for the National Trust brown signs, the sat nav may take you to the wrong address. The turning for Sissinghurst Castle Garden is on the left from Sissinghurst village and on the right when coming from Biddenden and Headcorn, there are black signs just before the turning for our drive on both sides.
On foot
From Sissinghurst village, go past the church to the footpath on the left, signposted to Sissinghurst Castle. The path can get muddy and is slim on the approach to the main drive. Once on the main drive, there's no designated path for pedestrians. Half way down the drive towards the house and garden, there is a clapper stile on the right where you can go along the hedge line in the field if you prefer.
By train
Staplehurst, approximately 5 miles. Please note that taxis should be booked in advance.
By bus
Arriva 5 Maidstone to Hawkhurst (passing Staplehurst train station), alight Sissinghurst, 1¼ miles walk - From Sissinghurst village, go past church to footpath on left signposted to Sissinghurst Castle. The path can get muddy and is slim on the approach to the main drive. Once on the main drive, there's no designated path for pedestrians. Half way down the drive towards the house and garden, there is a clapper stile on the right where you can go along the hedge line in the field if you prefer.
By bicycle
NCN18, 8 miles. You can cycle to Sissinghurst from Staplehurst station, see this link which takes you down quiet country lanes after a short section on the A229 from the station.
Arriving by Taxi
If you arrive by taxi in the morning, please ensure you have pre-booked a return journey or have arranged transport home for when you leave, so as not to run the risk of not being able to book during peak times.
Planning your visit
Article
Planning Your Visit
There are lots of things to consider whilst planning your visit to Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Whether it's your first visit or your 100th, find out all the need to know information here.
PDF
Article
An Elizabethan Christmas at Sissinghurst
Enjoy a festive atmosphere in our quieter months with traditional decorations, Christmas trees, wreaths, and yule logs.
Project
Project
Reimagining Delos at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Find out more about the final phase in developing the Delos garden at Sissinghurst Castle, reimagined from Vita and Harold’s original vision.
Article
Family activities at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Enjoy a fun-filled family day out at Sissinghurst Castle Garden this season. With our gardens, lakes and over 400 acres to explore, there's something for everyone.
Article
Visiting Sissinghurst Castle Garden with your dog
Sissinghurst Castle Garden is a one pawprint rated place. Dogs are welcome so you can feel at ease when strolling through the estate. Here's some useful information to help you enjoy your walk.
Article
Group visits at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Visiting as a group to Sissinghurst Castle Garden couldn’t be easier; here’s how to arrange a group visit.
Highlights
The Garden
A symbol of love and horticultural ambition, created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the early 1930s. Designed in a series of 'rooms' with summer highlights including the Rose Garden and the White Garden.
Vegetable Garden
A No Dig garden bursting with fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit, having achieved Organic accreditation in 2023 from the Soil Association.
Tower
Home to Vita's Writing Room. Vast panoramic views of the formal garden, working farm and 450-acre wider estate from the very top.
Library
Nicknamed 'The Big Room', this atmospheric space was originally used for entertaining by Vita and Harold and is now home to exhibitions throughout the year.
Plant Shop
Take home a living piece of Sissinghurst with plants and seasonal vegetables that are grown right here on site.
Shop
Seasonal gifts ranging from stylish homeware, locally produced products, books and more.
The Second-hand Bookshop
A wide range of donated books ready to start their new chapter in life.
The Old Dairy Cafe
Serves hot and cold drinks, tasty light bites and cakes. Indoor and outdoor seating available. See opening times for more information.
Spotlight events
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An Elizabethan Christmas at Sissinghurst
Travel back to the Elizabethan era at Sissinghurst this Christmas. Dress up for a festive masque in the Oast, practice your royal greetings in the Tower, book onto a delicious Christmas lunch, and much more. Runs 23 November 2024 - 5 January 2025, excl. 24 & 25 December
The Yuletide Trail
Explore festively decorated areas across the site, dress up as Lords and Ladies of the Manor, practice your royal greetings in the Tower, decorate a yule log, compete to be the 'Queen of the Bean', and put your children in charge for the day at our Childermas station. Runs daily between 23 November 2024 and 5 January 2025, excluding 24 & 25 December.
Aesme Studio garden display (until 28 February 2025)
Don't miss a new garden display in collaboration with Aesme Studio. Rose hips, everygreen, berries, vines, and more, transform the vista around the garden entrance archway and the bottom of the Elizabethan Tower. Offering visitors something a little different this winter, this display reflects the delicacy of the changing seasons, and will be refreshed each month of its run.
The South Cottage 1935 (4 January 2025 - 26 February 2025)
The South Cottage reopens for a new sensory experience that will immerse you in the sights, sounds, and smells of a day in the life of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in 1935.
Radical Relationships (Until 30 March 2025)
This display puts Sissinghurst Castle Garden at the heart of a 20th century literary network, celebrating its LGBTQ+ heritage. Featuring objects, letters and books, many of which have never been on show before.
Things to see and do
Article
An Elizabethan Christmas at Sissinghurst
Enjoy a festive atmosphere in our quieter months with traditional decorations, Christmas trees, wreaths, and yule logs.
Article
The garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Explore the garden at Sissinghurst, with its vibrant planting schemes and architectural planning, and discover why it ranks among the most famous gardens in England.
Article
Exploring the buildings at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Climb the Tower at Sissinghurst for views of the whole garden and peruse thousands of books in the Library.
Article
Family activities at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Enjoy a fun-filled family day out at Sissinghurst Castle Garden this season. With our gardens, lakes and over 400 acres to explore, there's something for everyone.
Article
The estate at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
With 460 acres of beautiful Wealden countryside there’s plenty of space to explore, run around, walk the dog, cycle and spot wildlife on the estate at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.
Article
The vegetable garden at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Find out more about the veg, fruit and herbs we grow in the vegetable garden at Sissinghurst and what happens to the produce after it’s picked.
Eating and shopping
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Eating at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Try tasty dishes in the Granary restaurant or a quick pitstop in the Old Dairy coffee shop at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, using ingredients fresh from the vegetable garden. Serving between 12pm-3pm.
Article
Shopping at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Find a souvenir of your visit with plants grown in the nursery, gifts and souvenirs telling the stories of Sissinghurst in the gift shop and a vast collection of second-hand books.
Top trails
Trail
Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Estate walk
Explore highlights of the 450-acre estate around Sissinghurst Castle Garden on this circular walk, taking in a 16th-century tower and Sissinghurst Castle Farm.
Places to stay
Priest's House
Sitting on the edge of Sissinghurst Castle’s gardens, this is the perfect spot for garden lovers.
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.
Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse
Located on the grounds of Sissinghurst Castle Garden, this stunning Victorian Farmhouse offers a luxurious bed and breakfast service in the very heart of the Weald of Kent.
Upcoming events
Event
The Yuletide Trail
Discover how Christmas was celebrated at Sissinghurst over 400 years ago with our festive family trail.
Event
Christmas at Sissinghurst Castle Garden (23 Nov - 5 Jan)
Join us for an Elizabethan Christmas at Sissinghurst Castle Garden this festive season. Runs between 23 November and 5 January, excl. 24 & 25 December.
Event
'Radical Relationships' display (1 June 2024 - 30 March 2025)
Explore how Vita, Harold and their inner creative circle did not fit with early 20th century societal norms of gender and sexuality. A display told through the books in Vita and Harold's collection.
Event
Aesme Studio: Winter at Sissinghurst
Take in this brand new floral installation in the garden during the winter months, in collaboration with Aesme Studio.
Event
The South Cottage 1935
The South Cottage reopens for a new and immersive 'living museum' experience in January and February 2025.
Event
'Between the Covers with Vita' Exhibition (10 February 2025 - 7 September 2025)
This new exhibition explores the literary prowess of author Vita Sackville-West, accompanied by colourful commissioned artwork by Sarah Tanat-Jones. Runs 10 February 2025 - 7 September 2025.
Event
Private Morning Tours at Sissinghurst
Experience a private tour of our historic garden in the early morning light before we open to the public.
About Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Vita Sackville-West, the poet and writer, began transforming Sissinghurst Castle in the 1930s with her diplomat and author husband, Harold Nicolson. Harold's architectural planning of the garden rooms, and the colourful, abundant planting in the gardens by Vita, reflect the romance and intimacy of her poems and writings.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden was the backdrop for a diverse history; from the astonishing time as a prison in the 1700s, to being a home to the women’s land army. It was also a family home to some fascinating people who lived here or came to stay. We've undertaken research to find out more about Vita and Harold's original design and we are taking steps to recapture the vision that they had. Keep an eye out for changes we are making around the garden this year. Don't miss the vast panoramic views from the top of the Tower, the working farm and the 450-acre wider estate.
Our work
Project
Project
Reimagining Delos at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Find out more about the final phase in developing the Delos garden at Sissinghurst Castle, reimagined from Vita and Harold’s original vision.
News
Gardeners' Cuttings
Discover what Sissinghurst Castle's garden team is up to each month with their popular Gardeners' Cuttings updates.
Article
Flood management and frogs at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Learn about our flood-management project and how the work that we’re doing is helping to further increase biodiversity on our estate.
History
Article
Who was Vita Sackville-West?
Discover the life of prolific writer and passionate gardener Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson at Sissinghurst Castle Garden.
Article
LGBTQ+ History at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Discover the LGBTQ+ heritage at Sissinghurst Castle Garden and how this history has shaped the world-famous garden that is enjoyed by many visitors today.
Article
The history of Sissinghurst Castle Garden
From castle to prison, working farm to world-renowned garden, Sissinghurst's past is nothing but varied and each of its incarnations have added to its story.
Art and collections
Sissinghurst Castle Garden's collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Sissinghurst Castle Garden on the National Trust Collections website.
Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
Go behind the scenes and hear from the experts and conservators who look after many treasured objects in this new BBC programme, including Vita's Writing Room and a Terracotta pot at Sissinghurst Castle Garden which feature in episode 2. Catch up on the series so far on BBC iPlayer here.
Support us
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Volunteering at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Whether you’d like to make a difference, take up a new hobby or share your skills and experience with us, we're always on the lookout for new members to join our volunteering team.
Supporter Groups
Learn more about our local Supporter Groups who help with important conservation work at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, and at other properties across the UK. Donations from these Groups have gone towards conserving historic items such as the pictured storage jar, known as a butter jar, in the White Garden at Sissinghurst.