Discover Penshurst: History, Gardens and Trails

Penshurst combines medieval history, landscaped gardens and varied trails with experiences for different age groups. At its heart is Penshurst Place: the medieval Baron’s Hall was completed in 1341 as the country residence of the Lord Mayor of London. King Henry VIII once used Penshurst Place as a hunting lodge. Anyone planning a trip combining culture, activity and special discoveries will find several clearly distinct focal points here for planning their day.

Historic Rooms and Ecclesiastical Art

Penshurst Place’s Solar, Queen Elizabeth Room and Long Gallery contain family portraits from several centuries, antique furniture and intricately crafted tapestries. These rooms give the history of the country residence a tangible form and offer many details to take time to admire. Another special feature is the Toy Museum. It contains around 2,000 objects dating from the Georgian period to the 1980s and is divided into four themed areas: Games and Pastimes, Dolls and Bears, Building Blocks and World of Imagination.

The Church of St John the Baptist in Penshurst also contributes to the historic character of the area. The church was originally Norman in origin and has a 13th-century arcade in the north aisle. Its important collection of monuments includes two 13th-century coffin lids, a damaged effigy of Sir Stephen de Penchester and a late Perpendicular-style tomb chest for Sir William Sidney. This creates a separate sightseeing focus for travellers interested in culture, distinct from the interiors of Penshurst Place.

Gardens, Deer Park and Trails

The Italian Garden at Penshurst Place is a 16th-century project by Sir Henry Sidney. At its centre are an oval lily pond and a classical statue. The garden at Penshurst Place is also divided by more than a mile of yew hedges into a series of garden rooms, each associated with a season and a colour. Within a medieval deer park lies a walled garden dating from the 16th and 17th centuries; further surviving landscape features date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Those wishing to combine their stay with walks can choose between several documented trail options. The Woodland Trail is a 1 km circular route with wooden pyramids, mushroom carvings, stumperies and a diverse range of wildlife. Information boards point out plants and animals in the landscape and explain how their habitats are protected. Penshurst Place also has the Parkland walking route on the estate. The 15-mile, or 24-kilometre, Eden Valley Walk passes Penshurst Place.

Active Days and Family Experiences

For cycling travellers, regional cycle route No. 12 from Tonbridge to Penshurst Place is of interest. It runs mostly away from roads and passes through the Penshurst Place estate. This makes it possible to combine the journey with a cultural stop without focusing the stay exclusively on interiors or gardens.

The play facilities also add their own distinctive element. Penshurst Place’s Adventure Playground offers a Commando Trail, a wooden climbing structure, a huge slide, swings, a toddler area and a zipline. This allows families to accommodate different interests: while younger children use the toddler area, the other features offer different forms of play and activity. Together with the Toy Museum, Woodland Trail and historic rooms, this creates a selection from which active, cultural and quieter parts of the day can be combined.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Penshurst, it is worth deciding in advance what you want to focus on. If history and interiors are the priority, Baron’s Hall, the rooms at Penshurst Place and the Church of St John the Baptist are the key themes. For garden and nature days, the Italian Garden, the walled garden, the Woodland Trail and the Parkland route are ideal. Those wishing to include physical activity can also consider the regional cycle route or the Eden Valley Walk passing the estate. Families including different age groups will find further specific inspiration for planning their trip at the Toy Museum and Adventure Playground.

Discover More Places

If you would like to continue your search beyond Penshurst, you can find more places here: Doddington, Nonington, Lydd, Hawkhurst, Whitfield, Kennington, New Romney, Chestfield.

To the main travel overview: Kent.