If you go to England, without a doubt, you can not miss the opportunity to visit the incredible Hever Castle, Hever. This charming place has a lot of activities that will keep you entertained throughout the day. From imposing gardens to large and beautiful buildings of the time will leave you speechless. Take a unique and unforgettable experience.
Activity/Place Highlights
It is impossible for you to get bored a second in this place. You can start your day with a walk through the main attraction, the huge and beautiful gardens. Walk among the daffodils, among the camellias, the tulips, the dahlias, the azaleas, in addition, there are more than 3 thousand roses and many more varieties of flowers that give life and fill the environment with color.
Hever Castle offers you a walk along Lake Hever in rowboats after a leisurely stroll along the coast. You can admire all kinds of birds, from woodpeckers, herons and swans. The tour of the lake is approximately 1 hour. In addition, you can also take a ride in rowing boats, which you can rent in the same lake.
Enjoy the twists, turns and surprises in the labyrinths of the castle gardens. Also, there are activities such as archery, medieval fair with knights in the month of May, there is also a military museum, shops, restaurants. In addition, for the little ones, there is an adventure park. Do not forget to take your swimsuit!
How to get there
Hever is 30 miles (48 km) southeast of London. The nearest airport is London Gatwick Airport (LGW). From the airport, if you do not have the possibility to rent a car, you can take a train from there to Hever and then take a taxi to the castle. However, you save more time by renting a car to the castle directly.
When to Go
You can visit the castle gardens and admire the crocuses in March and April. If you are a fan of roses, between July and August they are at their best. In addition, in the autumn the beautiful dahlias are protagonists.
How long
It is the perfect place to spend a whole day with your family or friends. Throughout the day, there are activities to do, in fact, it is possible that one day you can not get to know all the surprises that Hever Castle has for you. However, if you have the opportunity, stay in the castle grounds to enjoy a great weekend and go to each end.
Opening and Closing Hours
The grounds of the castle open their doors at 10:30 am, however, the castle gates welcome you from 12 noon until 5 pm. They open every day from April 1 to October 31. They also open some days a week at other times of the year.
Planning
If you want to buy your tickets, you can buy the tickets of the day at the gates of the castle or book on the website. The tickets will be sent to your email. It is important that you know that you can not change the date of the tickets, nor can you buy tickets online for the same day. If you want more information about tickets, go to the Hever Castle website.
Inside Information
Medley Court is a self-catering property sleeping seven that can be rented for a week. Guests have the run of the grounds after day visitors have gone home and have rooms where you spend the night. On the other hand, you can also stay in a luxury Bed and Breakfast that offers the castle to spend the night.
History
The story comes alive at the beginning with a castle that belonged to the Boleyn family, built in 1270. In this place lived all his childhood, Anne Boleyn, Queen of England for 1000 days, in addition, the second wife of King Henry VII and also, mother of Isabel I. Since 1557 the castle was in the hands of different families and was declining. However, the splendid castle and double-toned gardens you visit today are more due to William Waldorf Astor.
About 400 years after the time of the Boleyns, this man turned the place into a dream playground. Astor was the richest man in America, he moved to Great Britain in 1891. In 1903, he bought a very damaged Hever, where he dedicated himself to restoring the castle.
Websites
www.hevercastle.co.uk. www.kinghenryviiiinn.co.uk
Other nearby attractions
Since you are in the south of England, you can not miss one of the most famous destinations in this area. The white cliffs of Dover will give you spectacular views. Walk around the place on foot or by bicycle and observe the war memorials and lighthouses along the way. In addition, you can see the most preserved lighthouse in Europe with more than 1000 years. Connect with nature and history and have fun.
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