Historic Homes of Kent and Heritage Railways

Make your own way to our hotel, where you will meet an experienced Tour Manager. Enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner served in the hotel's restaurant.

After breakfast, we travel by coach to the market town of Tenterden, where we will enjoy a return rail journey between Tenterden and Bodiam on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. After some free time in Tenterden to browse or enjoy one of the cafés or tearooms, we continue by coach to Scotney Castle, where we include entrance to the castle and gardens.

Scotney Castle has a long and rich history. The earliest parts of the Old Castle were built in 1378 by Roger de Ashburnham and were added to over the years by both the Darell and Hussey families. Scotney Castle has been in the ownership of the National Trust since Christopher Hussey’s death in 1970, and the house remained the private residence of his widow, Betty Hussey, until June 2007, when it was first opened to visitors. Visit the renowned picturesque garden to enjoy the vibrant colours and wander the romantic and ruined Old Castle. Inside the 19th-century house is a large collection which features many artworks, books and furniture, as well as stories about previous inhabitants. You’ll have plenty of time to explore before we return to the hotel by coach for our evening meal.

Today, we travel by coach for our visit to Penshurst Place and Gardens, once visited by Henry VIII as a guest of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. After the lavish visit, Henry VIII had Stafford tried for treason and Penshurst Place became the property of the crown. Henry used it as a hunting lodge whilst courting Anne Boleyn, whose family owned Hever Castle nearby. In 1552, King Edward VI granted the estate to Sir William Sidney, and it has been the ancestral home of the Sidney family ever since, including the Elizabethan poet, courtier, and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney.

We continue by coach onto Hever Castle, a romantic 13th-century moated castle and childhood home of Anne Boleyn. In 1903, it was bought by William Waldorf Astor who went on to restore and extend the castle and create the vast, beautiful gardens. You can take a stroll through the Tudor Garden, rhododendron walk, and Anne Boleyn's walk. The splendour and beauty of Penshurst Place and the enchantment of Hever Castle make for a truly wonderful day out. We return to the hotel by coach and enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.

After breakfast, we travel by coach to Sheffield Park Station, where we ride on the Bluebell Railway to East Grinstead station. On arrival, our coach will be waiting and will take us to Chartwell, the family home of Winston Churchill from 1924 until the end of his life. The house itself is fascinating, and the history of Churchill portrayed here gives us a glimpse into the private life of Winston ‘the family man’. Outside of his Prime Ministerial duties, Churchill enjoyed painting, and over 50 years created more than 500 pieces, which can all be viewed in his studio. You will also have time to explore the gardens here, including Lady Churchill’s rose garden, the Golden Rose Avenue, and the walled garden. We return to the hotel by coach for dinner this evening.

After a leisurely breakfast, it is time for you to check out and make your own way home.