Penshurst Place
Penshurst, Tonbridge, TN11 8DG
One of the best examples of a fortified medieval manor house in England.
Key Information
- Free for members
- Cafe / restaurant
- Free parking
- Parkland / open spaces
- Getting Here
- Opening Times
- Admission
- Accessibility
Penshurst Place has been home to the Sidney family since 1552 making it one of the oldest family-owned estates in England.
Surrounded by 11 acres of walled formal gardens and housing one of the few surviving medieval Baronial Halls in England, Penshurst Place is an historical gem in the Weald of Kent countryside. The stately home and gardens were once used as a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII, and now feature beautiful staterooms and grounds that are frequently showcased in popular TV and film productions.
Among the staterooms visitors to this historic family home will find The Solar, Queen Elizabeth Room and Long Gallery, which contain a collection of family portraits from across the centuries, antique furniture and skilfully crafted tapestries. Outside, visitors can enjoy a stroll through the 11 acres of formal walled Gardens, discovering hidden corners brimming with fruit trees, an abundance of tulips, roses, colourful borders and water features.
Please check the website for further information, admission times and details about special events.
Visit the house's website
I hope you will find pleasure in visiting the 14th century Manor House and its Gardens of Penshurst Place. For more than 20 years, my wife Isobel and I have continued to care for the House, Garden and its contents, assisted by a small team of dedicated staff.
Vote for Penshurst Place to be Garden of the Year 2021
Vote for Garden of the Year
The Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie's, recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal. Vote for your favourite garden now.
Discover more about Penshurst Place
Built as a garden of fantastic appearance, in the 1560’s Viscount De L’Isle’s ancestor Sir Henry Sidney took the first steps in combining beauty with function, installing a system of walls and terraces to protect fruit trees and vegetable patches...
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