Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden
Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the time of Domesday. The World Garden combines plant heritage with cutting-edge horticulture.
Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, Kent DA4 0JA
Facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Picnic area
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Shop
- Accessible parking
- Large font signs and leaflets
- Guide dogs welcome
- Accessible toilets
Set within 120 acres of beautiful Kent Countryside, Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the time of Domesday. The present Manor House and Gatehouse dating from 1497 have been home to the Hart Dyke family ever since. 2025 is a special year as we celebrate our 20th anniversary of The World Garden, created by Tom Hart Dyke in 2005 in the grounds of Lullingstone.
Historic House Members will be welcomed free of charge throughout our Open Season including events during normal opening hours.
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 & Information
Regular Season Opening
The World Garden is open from Thursday 2nd April until Saturday 31st October 2026. During this period, the garden welcomes visitors every Thursday through Sunday (inclusive), as well as on Bank Holiday Mondays, between 11am and 5pm. Last entry to the garden is 4:30pm.
The Manor House is only open during Bank Holiday Weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday) and for all Special Events, until 31st October 2026. Hours are 11am – 5pm. Please note that no guided tours are available at the Manor House.
Selected Bank Holiday Dates
The House and Garden are open on the following non-event Bank Holiday dates: 22nd & 23rd May 2026 and 28th August 2026.
Group Visits
Non-guided group visits to the House and The World Garden are available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Special Events & Tours
Easter Egg Quiz — Easter Weekend Event
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th April 2026, 11am – 5pm
Bank Holiday World Garden Tour with Tom Hart Dyke — Early May Bank Holiday
1st to 4th May 2026, tour at 1:30pm every day
World Garden Tour with Tom Hart Dyke — Late May Bank Holiday (Replacement Event)
24th & 25th May 2026, tour at 1:30pm
National Garden Scheme Charitable Event
21st June 2026, 11am – 5pm
Plant Hunters Weekend — August Bank Holiday
29th, 30th & 31st August 2026, 11am – 5pm
Tom Hart Dyke World Garden tour: 1:30pm – 3:30pm each day (meet at front of main house). Zoolab animal encounter on Saturday 30th August only, starting inside St Botolph's Church at 2:30pm until 3:30pm.
Mexican Celebration Weekend — 'Cactus at the Castle'
5th & 6th September 2026, 11am – 5pm
Saturday 5th September features a Bring and Sell Auction. Sunday 6th September includes the Haworthia Growers UK Show and Lullingstone Open Show, plus a Dr Adrian Weatherill talk on growing haworthias in the Church, and Lullingstone Mexican Funday Sunday children's activities. Tom Hart Dyke World Garden tours run at 12:30pm and 2:30pm on both days (meet at front of main house).
Halloween Magic — Last Day of Season
31st October 2026, 11am – 6pm (Manor House open 11am – 4pm, last entry 3:30pm). Tom Hart Dyke garden tours at 1pm and a dusk tour at 5pm.
The House and Garden also open for pre-booked guided groups (min 20 people) on Wednesdays by arrangement.
- Accessible parking
- Large font signs and leaflets
- Guide dogs welcome
- Accessible toilets
Getting here
Lullingstone Castle, Eynsford, Kent DA4 0JA
By road
MAIN ENTRANCE – Via Lullingstone Lane – *ALL Parking for CARS only*
ALL CARS should go to the Tudor Gatehouse main entrance via Lullingstone Lane through the village of Eynsford. Follow the brown signs to Eagle Heights and Lullingstone Roman Villa (an English Heritage property) along Lullingstone Lane.
Cars and pedestrians (but not coaches) should continue on past Lullingstone Roman Villa (leaving the modern building that now covers the Villa on the right hand side) for 600 metres along the narrow Private Road towards the Gatehouse entrance. Outside the Gatehouse there is free car parking for our visitors ONLY. NB All cars should use the postcode DA4 0JA
COACH ENTRANCE – Via A225 – *ENTRANCE IS ONLY OPEN for GROUP COACH VISITS ONLY*
The entrance to Lullingstone’s coach park is via the (A225) Shoreham Road, less than 10 minutes from the M25 (Junction 3 exit for Swanley – A20 not M20). NB All coaches should use the postcode DA4 0HX to direct them to the A225 entrance.
By train
The nearest train station is Eynsford, and trains take approximately 50 minutes from central London. When you exit the train station turn left, and then when you reach the main road, turn left again and pass under the railway bridge. Do NOT follow signs for Lullingstone Roman Villa or Eynsford.
On the right hand side of the road before you reach the Lullingstone gated entrance (CLOSED apart from group coach visits) take the turning onto the signed Green Public Footpath (opposite the recycling bank in the lay-by). Here you can walk via a rough track that brings you out at the Lullingstone Roman Villa. Turn left heading for Lullingstone’s Private Road leading up to the Gatehouse entrance. From Eynsford station to the Castle takes 10 – 15 minutes.
What3words
The main visitor entrance is at ///slowly.simple.defend. What does this mean?
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