Hever Castle & Gardens
Hever Castle & Gardens
Hever Castle & Gardens
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the intriguing second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. The castle is a romantic double moated 13th-century castle which houses historic 16th-century portraits, paintings, furniture, tapestries and treasures. Comprehensive information on the history of Hever Castle can be found in the guide book and audio tours are available from the Hever Shop, Visitor Centre or castle entrance. Visitors can explore the magnificent gardens for all seasons which include Italian, Rose and Tudor gardens, topiary, yew maze and splashing water maze, or take a stroll around the informal areas of Sunday Walk and Anne Boleyn's Walk. Hever hosts a number of special events throughout the season including gardening events with the head gardener and his team. Family fun includes jousting tournaments each summer, one of our most popular events.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Kerry M34 contributionsBeautiful HeverHever Castle oozes history and charm and the castle grounds are magical. David (one of the castle guides) was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Hever and took the time to engage with us which was lovely. Myself and my partner stayed within the grounds for a few nights at the bed and breakfast (Astor suite) which allows you access to the grounds when all the visitors have left. We walked around the grounds at night which was so atmospheric and gave you more time to absorb the greatness of the place.Thank you for visiting, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay!Written October 12, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 9, 2023
- Lynandbenji C144 contributionsAmazing Hever CastleAnn Bokeyn's childhood home has been wonderfully restored. Stayed in the Hever Castle Accommodation Anne Boleyn Wing. Beautiful high quality furnishings. A really special place to stay. Castle and gardens are stunning. A pilgrimage point for Ann's modern day fans.Thank you for visiting, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay!Written October 12, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 10, 2023
- Sue K2 contributionsExceeded our expectations!Our expectations of our stay at Hever Castle were high and we weren’t disappointed. The room was beautifully furnished and luxurious. The price of our room we considered was not expensive and included in the price was continental and cooked breakfast, entry to the castle and the stunning gardens and 10% off any purchases made in the cafe and gift shops. We had a wonderful two night stay and have recommended to family and friends that a visit to Hever Castle is a must!Thank you for your lovely feedback, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again soonWritten October 18, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 17, 2023
- WonderarStevenage, United Kingdom1,084 contributionsSo pretty.Was gifted vouchers which were about to run out so took oportunity to go. Such a pretty place! Lovely grounds to walk around too including the big lake walk. A bit over the top with all the Anne Boleyn/Anne of Cleves info but interesting never the less. Lovely grounds as well. A very nice visit in such a pretty property.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 17, 2023
- Dave W5 contributionsStay and visitWhat a location to stay... Yes stay. I booked an overnight stay within the grounds of hever castle, with that you get an amazing nights stay, fantastic breakfast in a stunning room and entry to the grounds and castle. We followed the website and got taxi to and from hever and would recommend the pub Henry 8th suggested was wonderful and short walk take a tourch if it's dark (this time of year ) as even though there are small lights to guide you hard to see puddles etc. The grounds even though out of season are still spectacular and the castle was brilliant the staff are superb,friendly and professional.Thank you for your lovely feedback Dave, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again soon!Written October 20, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 19, 2023
- Vicky OGloucester, United Kingdom5 contributionsSo much to see!A great day out! We visited on a very showery day but still managed to spend about 5 hours. Could easily stay from open till close on a nicer day, so much to see, & so many lovely spots to stop & take in the views! My 7yr old did the audio tour of the house & found it very interesting. Will definitely be visiting again but will take a picnic next time as found the tearoom quite expensive!Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your visitWritten October 30, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 28, 2023
- Pam Munday-Chanin99 contributionsGreat staff elevate visit.Lucy in the Castle,waitress in cafe and charming young man serving ice-cream are stars,you are lucky to have them as employees The castle is a wonderful building and the experience interesting. I think the signage during tour could be clearer I felt a bit trapped at times but think this was because it was half term(50 years qualified as a teacher,probably bit tired of kids screaming!!!) The weather prevented us exploring the stunning grounds(saw lots on Gardeners' World on BBC 2 later)Would be good to offer reduced rate for second visit as you would probably think twice about £40++ return fee.Thank you for your feedback Pam, we are pleased to hear you enjoyed your visitWritten October 30, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 28, 2023
- Alexandra JDudley, United Kingdom111 contributionsBeautiful and informativeI have been several times to Hever castle over the years and each time there's something new, some discovery or display that I haven't seen before keeping it fresh and exciting. Even without that I love revisiting it, as its so many layers of history overlapping each other, from medieval times to the 20th century, and the way things are laid out and explained skips none of these periods. Everything is well displayed and explained (there is an optional audio tour as well). For me, the books of hours especially are remarkable and always a highlight. The tour around the house is designed in such a way that you can comfortably see everything within an hour or so, and then if you want to go round again once you get back to the courtyard you can. Like all castles, you'll need to wear decent shoes to get about, some of the flooring is uneven and some of the corridors are pokey, and there are stairs aplenty. The grounds outside the castle are equally beautiful, having some lovely walks. We usually come in the autumn because the turning of the leaves is particularly spectacular here, especially the red ivy which creeps across the façade of the castle, reflected in the water in the moat. Lovely! This place is of course a must see for anyone obsessed with Tudor history, but it also has a lot of other interesting pieces and is definitely not a one trick pony.Thank you for your lovely feedback Alexandra, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your visit and we hope to see you again soon!Written November 6, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 6, 2023
- SandN255355Mildura, Australia116 contributionsA Memorable Experience.Large beautiful grounds with a lot of easy flat walking. High standard throughout the castle. Very informative. A great day out for couples or families. Nice cafe, gift shop and toilets. Would love to visit again as there is so much to see in only the few hours that we had available. Highly recommend a visit.Thank you for your lovely feedback, we are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit and hope to see you again soon!Written December 8, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 7, 2023
- Victoria J5 contributionsAn incredibly magical place to visitEvery second of our visit was perfection From the moment we arrived at the B & B accommodation, we were greeted by lovely staff and a beautiful atmosphere! Our room was stunning with amazing views of the castle. Every inch was clean and decorated beautifully. Breakfast was delightful in the christmas decorated dining hall, food was delicious! The castle itself was amazing, I am one of the biggest Anne Boleyn fanatics you’ll ever meet and I loved the displays/tour round the castle. The history of the building was fascinating and such wonderful displays of art and artefacts. Into the gardens, the magic continued! The Christmas lights trail was well thought out and gave us a couple hours of a lovely nighttime walk. Cannot fault a single thing of our visit, even the shop was mesmerising!! I can’t recommend this place enough, an absolute pleasure to stay/visit here.Thank you for your lovely feedback Victoria, we are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay with us and we hope to see you again soon!Written December 10, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 10, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3,960 reviews
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SB01
Sonning Common, UK941 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
This is an excellent family attraction. The landscaped grounds are lovely and great to walk through. Expect to spend an hour or so walking around the lake. The formal gardens are stunning and beautifully laid out amidst the temple remains, next to the lake.
Of course the main attraction is the small but striking castle, home to two of Henry VIII’s wives. Currently you need to pre-book to enter the grounds and then the castle is approx £3 more - great value. Due to Covid numbers entering are limited so queueing for an hour is almost certain, but the time passes quickly as there is audio to listen to and some boards with additional information. Once inside you are self guided at your own pace. The interiors are in wonderful condition and worth the wait. How ironic we had to have an American save this piece of British history.
Kids will enjoy the play area, the water maze and boating on the lake.
Decent cafes serving reasonably priced food, including vegan sausage rolls.
Of course the main attraction is the small but striking castle, home to two of Henry VIII’s wives. Currently you need to pre-book to enter the grounds and then the castle is approx £3 more - great value. Due to Covid numbers entering are limited so queueing for an hour is almost certain, but the time passes quickly as there is audio to listen to and some boards with additional information. Once inside you are self guided at your own pace. The interiors are in wonderful condition and worth the wait. How ironic we had to have an American save this piece of British history.
Kids will enjoy the play area, the water maze and boating on the lake.
Decent cafes serving reasonably priced food, including vegan sausage rolls.
Written September 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vince H
Skelton-in-Cleveland, UK529 contributions
Aug 2021
After several years of wanting to visit Hever Castle, we finally managed to achieve a day trip and we certainly weren't disappointed. Although it is called a castle it is more like a large stately home and the rooms are beautifully furnished and you can easily imagine the Boleyn family living here all those years ago. The audio guide is an excellent addition with very informative commentary which brought the rooms to life. Although there was a queueing system in place, you could easily stay and view each room at leisure. There was no pressure of time constraints and non-flash photography was allowed in all rooms, which is unusual for a building of this age. The gardens and lake were beautiful and boat trips and boat hire were available, although we did not participate in either. The only minor setback was that the service in the restaurant was quite slow, although one of the assistants did open an additional till to help customer flow-through. The outdoor barbecue was very nice and there was ample picnic spaces throughout the grounds. The afternoon tea looked really nice although we did not have one. The gift shop had a good selection of souvenirs with a price range to suit all budgets. Would highly recommend Hever Castle to anybody interested in English history and in particular, the story of the Boleyns. Although we did not have children with us we did notice a play castle for children in the grounds. During our visit we noticed several family friendly/children activities taking place, such as archery and children's 'slaying the dragon'.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky H
Hastings, UK343 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
The castle gardens are really beautiful and there is a lot to see. The one way system around the gardens could be better but for the most part us pretty good. Hiring a rowing boat or a pedalo is a must on the lake, it's great fun and you get to see plenty of wildlife, after you can take a walk around the lake which gives some lovely views.
There are plenty of food establishments on site with the Pizza and Ice Cream stall being particularly nice.
The only downside to the visit was going in the castle itself, you cannot pre book a timeslot for the castle which means we were queueing for an hour inside. Once inside the castle there can only be a maximum amount of people inside which means you will be queueing again. I feel that it would have been better for Hever to have just put in pre booked timeslots so that they could control the flow of people a bit better.
Overall a lovely visit.
There are plenty of food establishments on site with the Pizza and Ice Cream stall being particularly nice.
The only downside to the visit was going in the castle itself, you cannot pre book a timeslot for the castle which means we were queueing for an hour inside. Once inside the castle there can only be a maximum amount of people inside which means you will be queueing again. I feel that it would have been better for Hever to have just put in pre booked timeslots so that they could control the flow of people a bit better.
Overall a lovely visit.
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah LP
3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Visited today with our 3 year excited to watch the jousting event. We had an arrival time booked for 1200-1215 but traffic was clear so we actually arrived at 11.45. We were fully prepared to be asked to wait but we were let straight in - not sure what the point of a booked time slot is then. Also no limit on how long you can stay so it just gets busier and busier.
We were informed that there was a one way system in place around the property and arrows to help guide us however from the outset it was very unclear, the arrows kept changing direction and no one seemed to be paying much attention to it.
Our plan was to spend some time in the play park then take our lunch to the jousting field. However, quite country to the lack lustre attempt at a one way system, a strict 30 minute time slot was in place for the play park and a 20-30 minute queue. Not feasible with a 3 year old and being 6 months pregnant.
Instead we wandered round the beautiful gardens and walked down to the lake. No one way systems for the gardens or walking to the lake. There was no hot food to take away from the restaurant near the jousting field so we had to go back to the restaurant on the other side of the property and were then given directions for the longest way round back to the jousting field instead off the cut through we discovered afterwards.
Finally arrived at the field with our food only find a massive queue to be allowed on to a huge field. We are still trying to work out why we were asked to queue to sit in a huge field and also turned away from the field due to a maximum capacity. I repeat; the field was huge and also on a hill so we could have seen the action from anywhere we chose to sit.
We did have a lovely time today as the grounds and buildings are beautiful and the food; not bad. We understand that things are different now but Hever don’t seem to know what bits of the guidance to include or reinforce.
We were informed that there was a one way system in place around the property and arrows to help guide us however from the outset it was very unclear, the arrows kept changing direction and no one seemed to be paying much attention to it.
Our plan was to spend some time in the play park then take our lunch to the jousting field. However, quite country to the lack lustre attempt at a one way system, a strict 30 minute time slot was in place for the play park and a 20-30 minute queue. Not feasible with a 3 year old and being 6 months pregnant.
Instead we wandered round the beautiful gardens and walked down to the lake. No one way systems for the gardens or walking to the lake. There was no hot food to take away from the restaurant near the jousting field so we had to go back to the restaurant on the other side of the property and were then given directions for the longest way round back to the jousting field instead off the cut through we discovered afterwards.
Finally arrived at the field with our food only find a massive queue to be allowed on to a huge field. We are still trying to work out why we were asked to queue to sit in a huge field and also turned away from the field due to a maximum capacity. I repeat; the field was huge and also on a hill so we could have seen the action from anywhere we chose to sit.
We did have a lovely time today as the grounds and buildings are beautiful and the food; not bad. We understand that things are different now but Hever don’t seem to know what bits of the guidance to include or reinforce.
Written August 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to feedback on your experience at Hever Castle. We have time slots in order to ensure that there is a steady flow of visitors into the grounds, with no large crowds gathered at the entry points. If there is no queue, and a visitor arrives a time slot before or after their allocation, we are happy to let them come in. We have a maximum capacity for the day, and once this is reached you can no longer book online. We have a one way system on pathways that are not wide enough to allow for social distancing, and as our grounds span 125 acres, we do rely on our visitors to respect one another by remaining two metres apart at all times. There are maps that detail the one way system on line and at the ticket huts themselves. We introduced timed play sessions for the playgrounds when we reopened them on 4th July. This is to ensure that we can limit the capacity in the playgrounds at any time, and clean the equipment between uses. Directions given by the team member in the restaurant reflected the one way route that we have in place, with visitors approaching the jousting field via the Italian Garden, rather than via Two Sisters Pond, as the latter would have meant going against the system in place. The field is, indeed, large however in order to remain COVID Secure compliant we had to limit the number of visitors and lay out socially distanced space for individuals to occupy. We remain consistent in our messaging, we have one way systems and maximum capacities in place, request that visitors wash their hands frequently and respect social distancing when on site.
Written September 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SW01
Surrey, UK45 contributions
Nov 2020 • Family
We visited Hever Castle on a daytime ticket (not including Santa). We paid £58 for three adults and a child.
So I appreciate the historic beauty of the area, and that the castle was closed due to covid. However I really feel that the price we paid was not good value for money. Yes there are 125 acres of grounds however, due to the time of year alot of the bushes and plants were quite sparse, so we couldn't really appreciate the magnificence of the chess pieces for example. The Yew maze was closed and the Peter pan trail was not very long at all, quite literally five minutes. There were no fairground rides or attractions or no live actors roaming the grounds. The children's play area was open, however our family personally would not make use of this as we don't think play areas are a good idea for us at this time due to covid. Hever Castle does say there is no time limit on their christmas daytime tickets so we could have stayed to see the evening lights come on, which is great; however we arrived at 12 and found that after an hour it was too cold and there was not that much to do to keep us there til it got dark. I am really disappointed because although I understand there will be limited things available because of the virus, I feel that £58 to walk around the garden was just too excessive. I'm sure it is lovely at night with the lights but I do not recommend a daytime visit (without Santa).
So I appreciate the historic beauty of the area, and that the castle was closed due to covid. However I really feel that the price we paid was not good value for money. Yes there are 125 acres of grounds however, due to the time of year alot of the bushes and plants were quite sparse, so we couldn't really appreciate the magnificence of the chess pieces for example. The Yew maze was closed and the Peter pan trail was not very long at all, quite literally five minutes. There were no fairground rides or attractions or no live actors roaming the grounds. The children's play area was open, however our family personally would not make use of this as we don't think play areas are a good idea for us at this time due to covid. Hever Castle does say there is no time limit on their christmas daytime tickets so we could have stayed to see the evening lights come on, which is great; however we arrived at 12 and found that after an hour it was too cold and there was not that much to do to keep us there til it got dark. I am really disappointed because although I understand there will be limited things available because of the virus, I feel that £58 to walk around the garden was just too excessive. I'm sure it is lovely at night with the lights but I do not recommend a daytime visit (without Santa).
Written December 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry that you were disappointed with your visit. Our entry price is benchmarked against similar privately owned heritage attractions. Our website includes all relevant information regarding what is open on the day of your visit.
Written December 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
steve321167
Maidstone, UK37 contributions
Feb 2020
Had not been for about 10 years with my last visit being in the summer when the grounds are at their best.
Considering it was February, the temperature was in single figures and two storms had swept through the area, the team that maintain the grounds had done a fantastic job in restoring order. The castle is small but there are many rooms and some fascinating history from two different periods. The connection to Henry VIII may be the main draw but the Astor family restoration and development of the estate is also well explained.
There is currently some garden construction going on, many sculptures are covered for winter and the path around the lake is flooded but that said it was still well worth a walk around the grounds
My only major criticism is around the ticket pricing structure. First of all; there is less to see in the winter months and yet the price is the same as summer. The other thing is the annual pass which costs three times the cost of a day ticket. A small reduction in the winter price or another option to revisit again once in summer for a reasonable extra fee would make more sense to me so I will not be returning as I would have liked to have fdone
My advice is to visit in summer when you can enjoy the grounds at their best, as there is not enough there to make multiple visits worth while at the prices charged.
Considering it was February, the temperature was in single figures and two storms had swept through the area, the team that maintain the grounds had done a fantastic job in restoring order. The castle is small but there are many rooms and some fascinating history from two different periods. The connection to Henry VIII may be the main draw but the Astor family restoration and development of the estate is also well explained.
There is currently some garden construction going on, many sculptures are covered for winter and the path around the lake is flooded but that said it was still well worth a walk around the grounds
My only major criticism is around the ticket pricing structure. First of all; there is less to see in the winter months and yet the price is the same as summer. The other thing is the annual pass which costs three times the cost of a day ticket. A small reduction in the winter price or another option to revisit again once in summer for a reasonable extra fee would make more sense to me so I will not be returning as I would have liked to have fdone
My advice is to visit in summer when you can enjoy the grounds at their best, as there is not enough there to make multiple visits worth while at the prices charged.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. We were pleased to hear that you had a lovely visit, we hope that you enjoyed the Audio Guide which is now included in the cost of Castle entry. As you say, our team have worked incredibly hard throughout February to make good areas affected by the recent inclement weather, we will ensure that your comments are passed on. We have a small section of our Italian Garden currently undergoing conservation, this requires a small detour but doesn’t preclude the enjoyment of the garden itself.
In regards to our ticket prices, we are a privately owned estate and receive no government funding, nor are we able to partake in schemes such as Gift Aid, therefore we rely on our entry prices alone to fund the ongoing maintenance and conservation of the Castle and it’s grounds. Nevertheless, we are confident that our prices offer good value for money, with the various walks around the grounds, Miniature Model Houses exhibition, Military Museum, Yew Maze, Garden Exhibition, Water Maze, the Castle itself and events that take place throughout the year at no extra charge to the visitor. This is absolutely the case for our Annual Pass holders who have unlimited access as well as added benefits that are listed on our website.
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KentBoyJohn
Kent, UK36 contributions
Oct 2019
Lunch in the Moat Restaurant was less than good. We chose two rolls and when we asked for them we were told to do it yourself which I am sure last year the rolls were unpacked and put on a plate with a little garnish. We were actually charged for three rolls when we only had two and they were both very uninteresting. I had cheeses and ham ploughman’s but the cheese was a slice of plastic burger cheese and a slice of prepackaged ham with very little pickle so it was dry and tasteless. My wife had what was called egg mayonnaise on the receipt but there was no or very little mayonnaise and so it was dry. The restaurant was small and full so we had to sit outside in a scruffy damp seating area on a muddy surface. Next time I will eat before or after our visit.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback, we are sorry you felt the sandwiches you had were of poor quality, we have reviewed the way we serve and present our sandwiches in the Moat and have now gone back to presenting them on a plate.
With regards the till receipt, this is an error on the till receipt as the sandwich is not an egg mayonnaise. Thank you for highlighting this and we will review the till buttons to ensure they match the dish appropriately.
Hever has seen a huge increase in visitor numbers over the last few years and we are aware that the Moat restaurant is now probably too small, especially in inclement weather. However, replacing this is a considerable expense and therefore we have increased the opening days of the Pavilion restaurant to accommodate the increase.
Written February 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bryan B
Sevenoaks, England, United Kingdom81 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We've made numerous visits to the gardens and normally there's always something of interest. However this time a large part of the garden was ' under construction' this meant that a lot of the snowdrops that were in this area are no longer there.
I feel that visitors should be made aware as they're still charging full entry prices.
I feel that visitors should be made aware as they're still charging full entry prices.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to feedback on your experience at Hever Castle and Gardens. We were surprised to hear that you found parts of the garden to be ‘under construction’. Currently, we have one section of our Italian Garden that is undergoing renovation, however, the area is still open to visitors – albeit with a slight detour – but is not an area where we cultivate Snowdrops. However, they can be found throughout our extensive grounds and with the Castle, Miniature Model Houses Exhibition, Military Museum and many garden walks, we feel our entry price represents good value for money.
Written February 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trigtravels
London55 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We planned a visit for our sons birthday which unfortunately turned into a disappointing experience.
The booking process itself is painful, I did this 5 times with an iPhone with the system continually kicking me out. I finally called the office to explain and was given very little help and told there was nothing they could do to help.
We were however told that booking by an iPhone would not work and to use a tablet which we then did - crucial information - why is this not flagged all over the site?
Booking if trying to co-ordinate a family visit with such a short arrival window is also not easy. There should be more flex for young families.
We finally arrived at just gone 4 and were told we had to queue for nearly half an hour to get into the kids playground. (This is the junior one, for the younger children). Again, we did not see this flagged clearly when booking on the website. Trying to queue with a baby and toddler in the heat is not much fun.
We finally got into the play area and it was clear that there was one large group of numerous households meeting up there. Their elder children who should have been in the older park dominated the slide area, pushing in and ended up sandwiching our 3 year old in the slide tunnel which scared him so we had to leave. There were 4 staff all chatting under the umbrella doing nothing to supervise the park or walk round to check.
Finally the website says last exit from the park is 6. We then went for a picnic but by 5.30 were told the castle was closing and we had to leave well before 6 to make it to the car park which would close at 6.
Given the significant price for this experience and that we went for a birthday we felt really let down. From the service given during our phone call prior to arriving, the team on the day and the response from the management afterwards, we felt there was a consistent theme of being disinterested and not listening.
We won’t go back.
The booking process itself is painful, I did this 5 times with an iPhone with the system continually kicking me out. I finally called the office to explain and was given very little help and told there was nothing they could do to help.
We were however told that booking by an iPhone would not work and to use a tablet which we then did - crucial information - why is this not flagged all over the site?
Booking if trying to co-ordinate a family visit with such a short arrival window is also not easy. There should be more flex for young families.
We finally arrived at just gone 4 and were told we had to queue for nearly half an hour to get into the kids playground. (This is the junior one, for the younger children). Again, we did not see this flagged clearly when booking on the website. Trying to queue with a baby and toddler in the heat is not much fun.
We finally got into the play area and it was clear that there was one large group of numerous households meeting up there. Their elder children who should have been in the older park dominated the slide area, pushing in and ended up sandwiching our 3 year old in the slide tunnel which scared him so we had to leave. There were 4 staff all chatting under the umbrella doing nothing to supervise the park or walk round to check.
Finally the website says last exit from the park is 6. We then went for a picnic but by 5.30 were told the castle was closing and we had to leave well before 6 to make it to the car park which would close at 6.
Given the significant price for this experience and that we went for a birthday we felt really let down. From the service given during our phone call prior to arriving, the team on the day and the response from the management afterwards, we felt there was a consistent theme of being disinterested and not listening.
We won’t go back.
Written August 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback regarding your visit to Hever Castle and Gardens. I responded to the email you sent to our offices with the following:
‘We are aware that some visitors are having issues with booking tickets using their phones, this has been logged with our ticketing provider to resolve.
We make every effort to be as communicative as possible with our visitors, on our website and in the grounds. Our website and information videos state that we will be operating timed sessions in the playgrounds and water maze, and that queuing is possible in these instances. You can find this information on our playground pages and news page.
Our team are more than happy to intervene if it is felt that a group of children are becoming dominant on the play equipment. We recommend that children under 7 use Acorn Dell which is specifically designed for younger children, whilst Tudor Towers is for those 7 - 14; this is due to it being a more energetic area with opportunity for imaginative group play.
I have spoken to our Visitor Experience Manager and raised that there was no staff present within the playground at the time of your visit, she has addressed this with those working. The team have a number of duties to complete throughout the day, and this sometimes requires hand overs with their colleagues, nevertheless, these should be brief and efficient conversations that do not impact on the visitor experience. I would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Hever Castle is a large site, with many areas to explore and multiple car parks. Therefore, we begin to advise visitors of our closing times at 17:40 in order to allow time for individuals to make their way to an area they perhaps wanted to see, pack up after a picnic or visit the facilities before last exit.’
I was saddened to hear that you felt this response displayed disinterest, as we acknowledged issues that you raised and the actions we were taking to resolve these.
Written September 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PARASCOSA
Knebworth, UK266 contributions
Feb 2020
We were looking after our two grandchildren on Sunday (24 Feb) and so we thought we would take them to Hever Castle, a first for us. Upon arrival we were somewhat taken aback by the price for the gardens only (£14 pp for seniors) but, when looking at the map that we were given, there seemed to be a lovely walk around the lake and so we paid the entry fee and set off to have lunch first.
Lunch in the Guthrie Pavilion was reasonable value in pleasant surroundings and then we set off for our walk.
Imagine our surprise and disappointment when we came across a notice, saying: ‘Lake Walk closed today due to strong winds’
Whilst this was a very sensible decision for them to have made, as the risk of branches falling was quite high, NOTHING at all had been said about this when we had purchased our tickets at the kiosk and, given that a large percentage of the gardens and grounds were, effectively, inaccessible, one might have expected some sort of alert to this effect and, possibly, a reduction in the ticket price.
I raised this with Hever Castle, before submitting this review, and all they could say was:
'In regards to your suggestion that the closure of the lake be reflected in our ticket price, unfortunately this is not an offer we are able to currently explore. '
In their response they also said that they hoped that we had enjoyed the falconry display but there was nothing about this in the brochure we were given with our ticket and so we must have missed it!
Lunch in the Guthrie Pavilion was reasonable value in pleasant surroundings and then we set off for our walk.
Imagine our surprise and disappointment when we came across a notice, saying: ‘Lake Walk closed today due to strong winds’
Whilst this was a very sensible decision for them to have made, as the risk of branches falling was quite high, NOTHING at all had been said about this when we had purchased our tickets at the kiosk and, given that a large percentage of the gardens and grounds were, effectively, inaccessible, one might have expected some sort of alert to this effect and, possibly, a reduction in the ticket price.
I raised this with Hever Castle, before submitting this review, and all they could say was:
'In regards to your suggestion that the closure of the lake be reflected in our ticket price, unfortunately this is not an offer we are able to currently explore. '
In their response they also said that they hoped that we had enjoyed the falconry display but there was nothing about this in the brochure we were given with our ticket and so we must have missed it!
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review of Hever Castle and Gardens. As you state, you contacted us regarding your experience on Sunday 24th February, and you were sent this reply yesterday evening:
Dear Mr Stringer,
I am writing in response to your email, regarding your recent visit to Hever Castle.
I was sorry to hear that you were disappointed to find Lake Walk closed on Sunday. Similarly to other outdoor attractions, the recent weather has had an adverse effect on the condition of the ground and bridges around our lake. Our operational team walk the route every day to ensure that we are making the best possible decision, with the health and safety of our visitors in mind at all times. I can only apologise for this closure not having been mentioned to you upon purchase of your tickets, we do try to ensure that we give as much information as possible at point of entry, however, it was clearly missed on this occasion – I will feed this back to the Visitor Experience Manager for discussion with her team. In regards to your suggestion that the closure of the lake is reflected in our ticket price, unfortunately, this is not an offer we are able to currently explore. We are a privately owned estate and receive no funding from the government or charitable trusts. Therefore, reducing entry prices as a result of unforeseen closures beyond our immediate control would greatly impact our ability to conserve this magnificent building and its grounds.
I do hope that you and your family were able to enjoy the Bug Trail, children’s activity and nature tent on the Castle Forecourt, Falconry Displays, Miniature Model Houses exhibition, Military Museum, Playgrounds, Yew Maze and other walks within the more formal gardens of the grounds.
Yours Sincerely,
Faye Kelly
Head of Visitor Services
HEVER CASTLE
It is disappointing to see that you have not quoted the entirety of the response regarding changes to ticket prices; hopefully publishing the reply here on TripAdvisor will provide those reading your review with the fullness of context. Additionally, we were surprised to hear that you were unaware of the Falconry Display taking place, this information was on the activity leaflet handed to you alongside the map.
Written February 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hiya,
Is there anywhere to leave bags there? A cloakroom or lockers or something? And if not does anyone know if there are restrictions on bag sizes in the castle?
Written April 19, 2022
I didn't notice any lockers before entering the castle.
I suggest you email the website to see if you can enter with larger bags.However as there are some steep stone staircases I think it would be totally impracticable to take anything but a small bag with you.
Written April 20, 2022
Hello,
I’ve reserved a room in the Anne Boleyn wing but wondering if the Astor Wing is inside the actual castle and would be better?
Written January 10, 2021
there are unfortunately no rooms in the castle my wife and i stayed once but our second booking was cancelled due to the virus...you wont be disappointed a fantastic place we are going again asap
Written January 11, 2021
Does anyone know if I can stand outside the front of the castle and take a picture whilst the site is closed?
Kind Regards
Joe
Written May 10, 2020
No - You would still have to pass all of the ticket booths as the castle is in the middle of the grounds
Written May 11, 2020
For garden it was Around £14.00 for adult & £9.00 for child. It may have been more or less by few pence. Can’t remember.
It was I think £2.00 extra to do the castle and garden together.
Can’t take dog in the castle sadly but gardens are fine.
Written August 26, 2019
Meander423036
Congleton, United Kingdom
Is Hever castle part of national Trust
Written August 15, 2019
Hi there, Hever Castle & Gardens is privately owned and not part of the National Trust.
Written August 15, 2019
Hello~ I've reserved 2 nights in the Astor Wing for late July. I just recently read that there's no air conditioning in this wing. Can someone please tell me if they have stayed this time of year and whether the rooms are comfortable? Is there at least air circulation? Please advise...thanks.
Written June 4, 2019
You should have no problems. The rooms are very airy and as so quiet windows can be kept open too.
Enjoy your stay as it is amazing there.
Written July 6, 2019
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