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Unlocking the future at Ightham Mote
We’ve reached a major milestone in our ambitious project to secure the future of Ightham Mote. From a sustainable new Visitor Centre to upgraded paths and facilities, discover what’s new and what’s still to come.
A new Visitor Centre and Shop
Located at the southern end of the Walled Garden, the new Visitor Centre offers a warm welcome as you arrive at Ightham. It’s fully accessible, bringing our reception and shop together under one roof.
Pop into the bright, airy shop for the latest National Trust homeware, clothing and more. Take home a piece of Ightham Mote’s charm with garden goodies grown right here on our grounds.
Coffee with a view
Our new café kiosk in the Selby Barnyard is now open too, serving refreshments in a picturesque setting for those walking the wider estate.
Paths into the gardens have been upgraded, to make them easier for buggies and wheelchairs to navigate.
There’s also a chance to see local sculptor Jack Skylark at work in the Walled Garden this autumn. He’s carving an art installation and bench from a 250-year-old oak tree that fell naturally on the estate.
Upgraded parking facilities
We’ve relocated and upgraded the parking facilities. It’s shielded with wildflowers and trees, to preserve the setting of historic areas especially the 700-year-old manor and gardens.
Electric vehicle charge points, bike storage and accessible bays offer accessible and eco-friendly options.
The relocation will help ease traffic on local roads and make it easier to navigate around the whole estate when you get here.
A Greener Future for Ightham Mote
Sustainability is a guiding principle for this project. The Visitor Centre has a living sedum roof, which creates a vital habitat for birds, bees and insects.
We’ve also used carbon negative materials, an air source heat pump and low energy LED lighting.
What’s next for autumn 2024
Next on the to-do list are the final touches to the Blossom Orchard and additional access routes in the gardens. There will also be more planting and fencing around the car park this autumn.
Help us reclaim historic spaces
The work completed so far has enabled us to reclaim historic areas of Ightham Mote, most importantly, the Walled Garden. It has been freed from its use as a car park for the first time in four decades to be gardened for nature, wildlife and with climate change in mind.
Maps of the Walled Garden date back to 1692, 1769 and 1803. The next phase of our project will be to restore it as a formal garden with the help of our local community.
Find out more from the information panels in the Walled Garden, or by emailing ighthammote@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Our cause
We believe that nature, beauty and history are for everyone. That’s why we’re supporting wildlife, protecting historic sites and more. Find out about our work.