Goodnestone Park Gardens
The family seat of Julian, 22nd Lord FitzWalter, with connections to Jane Austen.
Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1PL
Facilities
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
Free parking
-
Garden only
-
Mostly wheelchair accessible
-
Pet friendly
-
Picnic area
-
Shop
Goodnestone Park was built in 1704 by Brook Bridges who had recently purchased the estate. The date of the house is scratched onto a brick on the main front.
During the early 18th century the house was surrounded by extensive formal gardens recorded in a view by William Harris. These disappeared later in the 18th century when Sir Brook Bridges, the 3rd baronet and great-grandson of the builder, replaced the gardens with a landscape park in the fashion of the time
Formal terraced gardens, with recently planted ‘Millennium’ parterre, surround the house which Jane Austen frequently visited, and overlook 18th century parkland. In 2014 the 18th-century Serpentine Walk was reinstated, following the route familiar to Jane Austen on her visits to her brother who lived at Goodnestone.
Three walled gardens with mixed borders redesigned since 1960 give long vistas. The site also features an arboretum with a lime avenue and mature woodland.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Opening Times and Visitor Information for Goodnestone Park
Goodnestone Park is a historic estate in Kent, offering a variety of attractions including gardens, a café, and a stately home. Below is a detailed summary of the opening times and conditions for each attraction:
Gardens
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 to 16:00. Last admission is at 15:00.
- Christmas Closure: Closed from 22nd December to 4th January inclusive.
- Special Closures: The grounds immediately around the manor house (areas 3, 4, 5, and 6) will be closed to garden visitors when the house is occupied. Upcoming closure dates include:
- Tuesday 9th – Saturday 13th December
- Tuesday 16th – Thursday 18th December
- Admission: Tickets are available from the Old Dairy Café or the Honesty Box when the café is closed. Admission prices are as follows:
- Adults: £7.00
- Students: £4.00
- Children (6-16): £3.00
- Family (2 adults + 2 children): £17.00
- With carer: £3.00
Old Dairy Café
- Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.
- Christmas Closure: Closed from 22nd December to 7th January inclusive.
- Booking: Recommended for groups of 6 or more.
Manor House
- Availability: The house is available for exclusive hire. Public visits are by appointment only, and details of house tours for 2026 will be published later.
Events
- Christmas at the Old Dairy: December 2025. Includes Christmas Afternoon Tea and festive Set Lunch. Booking is essential.
- Workshops:
- Block Printing Pure Irish Linen Napkin Workshop: Wednesday 10th December 2025.
- Linocut Seasonal Greetings Cards Workshop: Friday 12th December 2025. Fully booked.
- Mindfulness in Nature: Saturday 28th February 2026 and Saturday 28th March 2026.
- Staff Making Workshop: Saturday 7th March 2026 and Saturday 11th April 2026.
For further details, contact the estate directly or visit the respective sections for each attraction.
Historic Houses members visit for free.
From Wednesday to Sunday, Historic Houses members’ details will be recorded as usual. On Mondays and Tuesdays we would be grateful if members could leave a note of their names and membership numbers in the honesty box.
Adults: £9
Getting here
Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1PL
Located east of B2046, at south end of village.
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
