Ightham Mote
This romantic moated manor house, built nearly 700 years ago, has seen many changes and been owned by Medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high society Victorians.
Highlights include the picturesque courtyard, Great Hall, crypt, Tudor painted ceiling, Grade I listed dog kennel and the private apartments of Charles Henry Robinson, who gave Ightham Mote to the National Trust in 1985. The building is surrounded by peaceful gardens with an orchard, water feature, lakes and woodland walks.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Sissinghurst's Garden was created in the 1930's by Vita Sackville-West, poet and gardening writer, and her husband Harold Nicholson, author and diplomat. The garden itself is designed as a series of 'rooms', each with a different character of colour and/or theme, the walls being made of either high clipped hedges or pink brick walls. The rooms and 'doors' are so arranged that, as you enjoy the beauty in a given room, you suddenly discover a new vista into another part of the garden, making a walk a series of discoveries that keeps leading one into yet another area of the garden.