20 Attractions to Explore Near National Trust - Emmetts Garden

A majestic and beautiful house in Kent and is now preserved as a historic property by the National Trust. The house was purchased by Winston Churchill in 1922 and he used it as his main base during the ‘20s and ‘30s for writing, painting, and entertaining. It is the largest collection of Churchill’s paintings and filled with treasures from every aspect of Churchill’s life, the rooms remain much as they were when he lived there, offering a unique opportunity to explore the home of one of Britain

Knole has been the home of the Sackville family since 1603 when the building was substantially changed for Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset. The current house dates back to the mid-15th century, with major additions in the 16th and, particularly, the early 17th centuries. The house apparently ranks in the top five of England's largest houses, under any measure used, occupying a total of four acres.

Knole Park is the Kent's only remaining deer park, which has remained substantially unchanged since medieval times. It was set at the heart of a magnificent 1,000 acres and it supports a herd of Sika and Fallow deer which are direct descendants of those which inhabited it in Tudor times. The park has acidic woodland, parkland, woods and ponds. One of the iconic location to rejuvinate your mind and body.

Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, near Sevenoaks, Kent is an i9conic attraction in this area. There are over 12 acres of historic gardens to explore, punctuated with contemporary sculpture, as well as woodland paths, breathtaking views and plenty of benches for quiet moments. Home to the Rogers family since 1840, these family-run gardens offer visitors space to explore, gardens to admire and excuses to celebrate.

Hever Castle is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge. It was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. The stunning grounds and award-winning gardens, with statues, fountains, chess pieces cut from golden yew, 4000 roses, a Loggia at the Lake and many more wonderful sights, is a delight to walk around in.

hiddingstone Castle is an historic house, set in 35 acres of Kentish countryside. It features large lawns for picnics, an intimate rose garden, woodland and a beautiful fishing lake. The house features the amazing collections of the late Denys Eyre Bower, a passionate and gifted collector of art and artefacts, Japanese lacquer and Samurai armour, Ancient Egyptian treasures, Buddhist objects, Stuart paintings and Jacobite manuscripts.

Penshurst Place is an authentic stately home with 11 acres of formal gardens and a beautiful historic house. It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and was the birthplace of the great Elizabethan poet, courtier and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney. The original medieval house is one of the most complete surviving examples of 14th-century domestic architecture in England. Part of the house and its gardens are open for public viewing. Many TV shows and movies have been filmed at Penshurst.

Ightham Mote is one of the oldest medieval manor houses to survive in England. The core of the house dates from the 1340s, although a complicated series of alterations and additions were made in the late 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. Ightham Mote and its gardens are owned by the National Trust and are open to the public. The house is a Grade I listed building, and parts of it are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Haysden Country Park is a six-time winner of the Green Flag Award, offering 64 hectares of beautiful countryside and a relaxing setting for a variety of leisure activities. With two lakes and a stretch of the River Medway running through the park, it is a popular venue for water activities and a great location for a family day out.

Lullingstone Country Park is a former deer park of a large estate, it was later sold to become an open-space and woodland park near Eynsford, in Kent, England. It is important for its collection of ancient trees, with over 300 veteran oak, beech, ash, hornbeam and sweet chestnut, some of which are thought to be 800 years old. It is the perfect place to get back to nature. With a café on site that serves delicious homemade food and fresh coffee, a shop, and a play area, there really is something

It was a simple fort of earth and timber, thrown up – like hundreds of others – by Norman invaders for self-protection soon after they arrived in 1066. The walls and magnificent gatehouse were added in the 13th century. The defences were badly damaged after the Civil War and it was further demolished in the 1730's although the lower part of the southern walls are still visible along the river. The site was purchased by the local council in 1900, who now use the mansion as offices, and who made t

Godstone Farm is home to over 500 animals both large and small. Meet horses, sheep, donkeys, goats, cows and llamas, and get up close to piglets, rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks. It was set in the beautiful Surrey Hills and a short, easy distance from the M25. As well as the animals, the farm offers tractor rides and indoor and outdoor play devices, including tailored activities in the play barn.

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. The design of the World Garden is a (roughly drawn) map of the world consisting of continent-shaped beds. Plant species from around the world are planted in the map according to their country of origin.

Lullingstone Roman Villa is a villa built during the Roman occupation of Britain, situated in Lullingstone near the village of Eynsford in Kent, south eastern England. The villa is located in the Darent Valley, along with six others, including those at Crofton, Crayford and Dartford. The villa was occupied over various periods within the Romano-British period, but after its destruction, it is only thought to have been reoccupied during the Medieval Times. The occupants were most likely wealthy

Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation was home to one of the UK's largest Bird of Prey Centres, currently, we have a collection of approximately 100 raptors. There are also daily flying demonstrations overlooking the stunning Darent Valley. . Explore the Wildlife Park full of other animals including cheetahs and meerkats. Check out the Asian short-clawed otters and the reptile house. Eat something warm and enjoy the expansive views from the tearooms.

The British Wildlife Centre is the very best place to see and learn about Britain's own wonderful wildlife. There was over 40 different species from tiny harvest mice to magnificent red deer and so more. The zoo was founded in 1997 by David Mills, who converted his dairy farm into a centre to celebrate British wildlife. Initially, the centre was only open to pre-booked groups but in 2000 it opened fully to the general public.

Brands Hatch is a circuit in Kent, southeast of London, near the village of West Kingsdown. Between 1964 and 1986 it hosted the British Grand Prix twelve times, and the European Grand Prix twice more. Since then, the local council allowed housing to be built within 100 meters of the track, and the new residents have imposed restrictions on the track, which will prevent Formula One from returning.

The Groombridge Place estate is a truly historic moated castle that stood on the site in the 13th century with the house standing today built-in 1662 as its replacement. As well as the moated manor house, the estate boasts more than 200 acres featuring formal gardens, a canal, vineyard, farmland, and ancient woodland. It has become a tourist attraction, noted for its formal gardens and vineyards. The manor house has an associated Dower House.

The Forest Way is situated in the heart of the beautiful East Sussex countryside. It is approximately 10 miles long and is used for walking, cycling, horse riding and the quiet enjoyment of the countryside. This linear Country park providing walking, cycling, horse riding and the quiet enjoyment of the countryside. It runs for around 16 km from East Grinstead to Groombridge.

High Rocks is a 3.2-hectare geological Site of Special Scientific Interest west of Tunbridge Wells in East Sussex and Kent. It is a Geological Conservation Review site. The location was formed when a melting ice sheet at the end of the last ice age uncovered hardened silt deposited when the area was part of the Wealden Lake. There are traces of Middle Stone Age and Iron Age residents, including a 1st-century A.D. fort guarding against the Roman invasion.