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The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Castles · South East England

Hever Castle

In or near Hever.

Norman & medieval♿ Wheelchair: limited👪 Family-friendly4.8 · 13,765 Google reviews

Hever Castle — Grade I listed country house in Hever, Kent, England, UK.

Hever Castle, castles in Kent

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Hever · 1.5 km
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Hever Castle, the nearest railway station is Hever, located 1.5 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TN8 7NG. Please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Hever Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1271. Designed by http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/8173f6951d921903447a8876a49378bd. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Address: TN8 7NG. Wikidata describes it as: "Grade I listed country house in Hever, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.1869°, 0.1139°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Hever Castle ( HEE-və) is located in the village Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48 km) south-east of London, England. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, spent her early youth there after her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505. The castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. It later came into the possession of King Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Summary from the official site

Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, is set within 125 acres of beautiful grounds. Visitors can explore its award-winning gardens and learn about its rich history.

Read more on the official property page.

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: High Weald
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Hever Castle ( HEE-və) is located in the village Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48 km) south-east of London, England. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family. Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, spent her early youth there after her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505. The castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. It later came into the possession of King Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. The Grade I listed castle is now owned by the Guthrie family's Broadland Properties.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

There have been three main periods in the construction of this historic castle. The castle's oldest part dates to 1270 and consisted of the gatehouse and a walled bailey. It was then owned by James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele. The second period was when the castle, then in need of repair, was converted into a manor in 1462 by Geoffrey Boleyn, younger brother of Thomas Boleyn, Master of Gonville Hall, Cambridge. He added a Tudor dwelling within the walls. The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by William Waldorf Astor. Geoffrey Boleyn's grandson, Thomas Boleyn, inherited the castle in 1505. He lived there with his wife Lady Elizabeth…

Description

Hever Castle is now a tourist attraction, drawing on its links to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, its mazes, gardens and lakes. There is an annual event programme with assorted events, including jousting tournaments and archery displays in the summer months and an annual patchwork and quilting exhibition in September. The castle has also become the venue for a triathlon and open water swimming. The castle has three floors containing antique furniture, Anne Boleyn's prayer books, instruments of torture, and a large collection of Tudor paintings. There is also a museum of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry. The remains of the original country house timbers can still be seen within the stone…

Visiting

The castle has been used as a location for music videos. The 2020 drama-thriller television series The Third Day used the castle as a filming location. The Loggia on the lake was used as the location for a peace conference in the comedy-drama tevelvision series The Great. Scenes from the second season of the Star Wars series Andor were filmed at the castle, doubling for Naboo. It was previously used for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Movie productions that have filmed on the property include The Princess Bride and Inkheart.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.1869, 0.1139
County
Kent
District
Sevenoaks
Parish
Hever
Postcode
TN8 7NG
Parliamentary constituency
Tonbridge
Established
1271
Nearest railway station
Hever1.5 km

Sources

Featured in these 3 guides

Other places nearby

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Where to eat & stay near Hever Castle

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Places to eat & drink

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Hever Castle?
Hever Castle is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode TN8 7NG), in the parish of Hever.
What is Hever Castle?
Hever Castle — Grade I listed country house in Hever, Kent, England, UK.
How do I get to Hever Castle?
The nearest railway station is Hever, about 1.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode TN8 7NG.
When was Hever Castle built?
Built or established in 1271. Designed by http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/8173f6951d921903447a8876a49378bd.
Is Hever Castle a listed building?
Hever Castle is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
Is Hever Castle a protected site?
Yes — Hever Castle is part of the High Weald National Landscape (AONB) and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
Does Hever Castle charge admission?
Hever Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Hever Castle?
The nearest railway station is Hever, about 1.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode TN8 7NG.