Penshurst Place & Gardens
Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8DG
Once King Henry VIII’s hunting lodge, the 14th-century Penshurst Place has an impressively regal history, some of England’s most carefully cultivated walled gardens, and a magnificent medieval hall. Here, at the birthplace of poet Sir Philip Sidney, stroll through the acres of surrounding parkland, visit the on-site Toy Museum, and more.
The Basics
Suitable for children and adults alike, enjoy the recently upgraded adventure playground, maize maze, and woodland trails at Penshurst Place and Gardens, before touring the Toy Museum and House. Highlights include the costumes from 2008 film The Other Boleyn Girl and The Baron’s Hall.
You can also explore Penshurst alongside other English gardens during themed excursions which typically stop at Sissinghurst, Wisely, and more; take a day trip into medieval England, including Penshurst, from London; or admire Penshurst Place and Gardens from the air during a time-saving helicopter tour of the region.
Things to Know Before You Go
Film buffs won’t want to skip Penshurst Place and Gardens, which featured in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Mary Queen of Scots (2018)—costumes from the former are housed in the Long Gallery.
Plan to spend up to three hours enjoying Penshurst Place and Gardens.
There’s an on-site restaurant serving cream teas, a café, gift shop, and adventure playground.
You can purchase admission tickets to the house, gardens, and grounds, or just the gardens and grounds; children under five accompanied by a paying adult enter for free.
The gardens at Penshurst Place and Gardens may be tough to navigate for wheelchair users, due to slopes and sometimes uneven terrain.
Only the first floor of the main house is wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
Situated near Tonbridge in Kent, Penshurst Place and Gardens is just 31 miles (51 kilometers) from London and most easily accessible by private vehicle. Follow the M25 south and exit at Junction 5 before following signs for Tonbridge and Penshurst Place. On-site car parking is ample and free. Alternatively, take the train to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, or Edenbridge, before traveling by taxi to Penshurst Place and Gardens.
When to Get There
Penshurst Place and Gardens is typically open daily between the mid-morning and early evening, from late March until early November, although limited weekend hours generally launch in mid-February. The House and Toy Museum generally open and close earlier than the gardens, grounds, and on-site amenities, while the surrounding parkland is freely accessible year-round.
English Walled Gardens
Penshurst Place has some of the most impressive walled gardens in South East England. Complement your trip to Penshurst with visits to the nearby Fulham Palace, Chiswick House and Gardens, or Chartwell. Elsewhere in the country, Alnwick Castle (Northumberland), Tatton Park (Cheshire), and Knightshayes Court (Devon) all have equally impressive walled gardens, replete with seasonal blooms.
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