hever castle guided tours

Visiting Anne Boleyn’s Hever Castle, The Complete Guide

Looking for a guide to visiting the fairytale Hever Castle? Look no further!

If you’re a Tudor enthusiast, the castle is a must visit attraction in England. Hever is a petite double-moated castle with a craggy romantic visage that’s largely unaltered by time.

It’s famously linked to the ill-fated royal couple, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Their story is a fascinating one, one of the most dramatic in English history.

Hever was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife. It’s also linked to Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, who was installed there after Henry divorced her.

On a visit to Hever Castle, you can walk in the footsteps of these famous Tudor monarchs. And you can admire the castle’s medieval keep and gatehouse, Tudor rooms, original portraits, and exquisite gardens. 

Alas, while the castle is the real deal, the interior isn’t authentic. The furnishings, period gardens, and Tudor village were added, quite imaginatively, by William Waldorf Astor in the 20th century.

History Of Hever Castle And Its Famous Tudor Occupants

No guide to Hever Castle would be complete without a brief history of the castle.

The history of Hever stretches back 700 years. It first pops up as a fortified manor home owned by the Norman de Hever family. They secured themselves against small scale attacks by adding a moat and drawbridge.

In the 1300s, Sir John de Cobham took over. By that time, the property had crenellated curtain walls, battlements, and a gatehouse.

All the crenellation was meant to threaten. Hever Castle was never involved in any serious medieval warfare. But the family needed protection from marauding bands of vagabonds.

In 1462, Sir Geoffrey Bullen purchased Hever Castle. He was a forerunner of the Boleyn family and the great-great-great grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I.

He constructed the huge three story gatehouse you still see today and created a comfortable Tudor home for his family.

Thomas Boleyn

The Bullen family began to climb the social and political ranks of the era. Geoffrey’s grandson, Thomas, was an ambitious knight. He married the aristocratic Lady Elizabeth Howard and changed the family name to Boleyn.

Thomas was blessed with two exceptional daughters, Mary and Anne. Mary was the first to catch the roving eye of a womanizing Henry VIII.

Mary Boleyn

At the time of his infatuation, the king was married to Catherine of Aragon. But after 20 years of marriage, the Spanish queen had failed to give Henry the thing he most craved: a male heir. The marriage soured.

Mary became a lady in waiting to the queen. This made it much easier to conduct their illicit affair. He wooed Mary at Hever Castle as well.

If Mary’s father Thomas had qualms about the unconventional arrangement, Henry quelled them by heaping property and honorifics on Thomas, including the prestigious Order of the Garter.

Anne Boleyn

Meanwhile, Thomas’s other daughter, Anne, spent her adolescence in France in the cultured court of Queen Claude. When she returned to England in 1521 or 1522, she was popular at court, dazzling everyone with her wit, sophistication, charm, and musical abilities.

Henry was perhaps the most smitten of the lot. But Anne didn’t plan on being a pawn in Henry’s amorous adventures.

A cat-and-mouse game began, with a randy Henry bombarding Anne with passionate love letters, many sent to Hever Castle. Anne refused to give in to his advances and would settle for nothing short of marriage.

The problem? Henry was Catholic and couldn’t divorce Catherine.

Nonetheless, Henry was determined to have Anne no matter the cost. He began the “Great Matter” of extricating himself from Catherine.

It would last several years, during which time Henry courted Anne at Hever. The castle became one of the most gossiped about addresses in England.

Desperate to marry Anne, Henry first had the influential Cardinal Wolsey try to procure an annulment from the Catholic Church in Rome . This plan failed. Pope Clement VII sided with Catherine, a devout Catholic from a devoutly Catholic country.

Enraged, Henry took the drastic step of breaking away from the Catholic church and founding the Church of England, his most lasting legacy. In 1533, Henry divorced Catherine and married Anne after 7 long years of waiting.

Rome ex-communicated Henry. But he didn’t care. It only made Henry richer when he dissolved the monasteries and seized their land and treasures.

Anne gave Henry a daughter in 1533, who would eventually become  Elizabeth I , the Virgin Queen. They were both disappointed.

When Anne miscarried a son in 1536, Henry had had enough, after just 3 short years of marriage. Anne, like Catherine before her, had failed to deliver the goods.

Plus, Henry’s passion had waned, with the thrill of the chase gone. Henry was already interested in another woman who would become wife #3, Jane Seymour.

To get rid of Anne, Henry arrested her on trumped up charges of treason and adultery. Anne was executed on the Tower of London green in 1536. Today, a memorial marks the spot.

Henry married Jane 11 days later. They were only married 18 months. She died in childbirth after giving birth to a son, Arthur, who only lived to 15.

If the Boleyn family shot to fame because of a besotted suitor, they fell from grace with breathtaking speed after Anne’s execution. When Thomas died two years later, a heartless Henry promptly confiscated Anne’s childhood home.

Hever Castle would come in handy as a bargaining chip when Henry opted to get rid of his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, who Henry dubbed the “Flanders Mare.”

When Henry divorced Anne, he gave her the castle as part of the divorce settlement and she went quietly. Given Henry’s ruthlessness, she was lucky to keep her head.

When Anne died in 1557, her stepdaughter Mary Tudor gifted the castle to Sir Edward Walgrave. By the turn of the century, the castle had faded from the limelight.

In 1903, William Waldorf Astor, the richest man in America, bought Hever Castle. He immediately embarked on lavish full scale renovations lasting 5 years.

He renovated the interior and added some Tudor cottages, the beautiful gardens, and a lake. A stickler for detail, he used the same materials and tools as Tudor era craftsman. So, while it’s not exactly as Anne and Henry saw it, it has an authentic feel.

Waldorf’s son John inherited the castle upon his father’s death in 1919.

In 1963, John’s son Gavin opened the castle and gardens to the public for the first time. The castle was then sold to the Broadland Properties and the Guthrie family in 1983.

They took over the running of the castle and built up the portrait collection. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed, but the castle was valued at $24 million.

Legend holds that the ghost of Anne haunts the castle grounds on May 19, the anniversary of her death. She’s also been spotted during Christmas-time under an oak tree where she and Henry used to tryst.

Hever Castle is not only a favorite of travelers to England but is also a favorite of filmmakers. It’s been a filming location for the movies The Great , The Princess Bride , Inkheart , and Anne of a Thousand Days.

Guide To Hever Castle: What To See

You enter Hever Castle across a drawbridge over a 15 yard wide moat. Astor restored the bridge.

The portcullis (the latticed grill that slides down across the entrance) is one of the oldest working portcullises in Britain.

Inside, you’ll find cozy and inviting Tudor rooms — massive wooden beams, ornate columns, wood paneling and carvings, and rich colors. There aren’t really a lot of exhibits. The highlight for me was the Tudor portraits.

1. Morning Room

In Tudor times, the Morning Room was originally a private retiring room. You’ll find stunning paneling, furnishings, and a mahogany fire pole dating from the 17th century.

The lovely library overlooks the Anne Boleyn Orchard in the gardens. It houses 2,500 leather books marked with the Astor coat of arms and printed on private presses. The ceiling was copied from Hampton Court Palace .

3. Drawing Room

This room once contained domestic offices during the Tudor period. Astor transformed it into a drawing room in 1905. You’ll see beautiful oak paneling and an ornate plaster ceiling.

4. Henry VIII’s Bedroom

Historians believe that Henry stayed in the castle when courting Anne. The room is the largest bedroom in the castle, so may have been where Henry stayed. It’s an Astor recreation with Tudor period elements.

The 16th century carved walnut frieze above the fireplace was originally the front of a chest. The coffered ceiling is original and one of the oldest in the castle, dating from 1462.

5. Tudor Portraits In The Long Gallery

Built by the Boleyns in the 16th century, the 98 feet long Long Gallery extends across the entire width of the Castle. This was my favorite space.

Henry VIII once held court here. The gallery was also used for entertaining guests, taking exercise, and displaying art collections.

The ornate plaster ceiling is an early 20th century reconstruction in the Tudor style, which was added by Nathaniel Hitch.

The Long Gallery is now home to 18 portraits hung in dynastic order that tell the saga of the Tudor dynasty, starting from Henry VI and ending with Henry VIII. 

It’s a permanent exhibition curated by David Starkey. The portrait collection is one of the most famous in Britain, second in quality only to Britain’s National Portrait Gallery.

The gallery contains the only known portrait of Henry’s older brother Arthur, Catherine of Aragon’s first husband. There’s also a rare portrait of Mary Queen of Scots and another rare portrait of Richard III. The latter was never displayed in public before being installed in the Long Gallery in 2019.

The coats of arms in the Long Gallery’s stained glass commemorate the different residents of Hever Castle, including Anne of Cleves, William de Hever, Anne Boleyn, and Sir John Fastolf. 

6. Anne Boleyn’s Bedroom

Anne Boleyn was born in 1501 and spent her childhood at Hever Castle. A spiral staircase leads up to what is believed to have been her bedroom.

It has a carved Tudor bed, a 15th century half domed ceiling, and a portrait of Anne in her “B necklace.” You can even buy your own B necklace in the castle shop.

7. Anne Boleyn’s Prayer Books

The Room of Hours has some of the only remaining Anne Boleyn memorabilia. Henry VIII destroyed almost everything associated with her after her execution.

You’ll see an exhibition of two of Anne’s illustrated prayer books, one of which is signed. The queen most likely used it for her daily prayer services.

In one book, she wrote asking readers to pray for her, saying: “Remember me when you do pray, that hope doth lead from day to day.”

Digital consoles let visitors to “turn the pages” and see the different illustrations and autographs.

In the same room, you’ll see a large tapestry. It depicts the marriage of Henry’s sister, Princess Mary Rose, to Louis XII of France.

8. Great Hall

In the time of the Boleyns, the dining room was known as the Great Hall. This is where the Boleyns would have entertained Henry VIII.

One of the doors has his personal gilt lock. Henry was always worried about assassination, so traveled with his personal locksmith to keep him safe. He may also have used the lock to prevent any interruptions during his late night rendezvous.

The fireplace is made of ornately carved stone and topped with the Boleyn coat of arms. The massive dining table dates form the 16th century and the 24 chairs are from the 17th century.

This room is rented out for parties and weddings.

9. Queen’s Chamber

In the Queen’s Chamber, you’ll see five portraits Henry VIII’s wives. (The portrait of Henry’s other wife, Catherine of Aragon, is on display in the Long Gallery.)

There’s an ornate carved wooden bed. Astor bought it believing it was Anne Boleyn’s bed due to the inscription of her name.

You’ll also see mannequins of Anne Boleyn, her sister Mary, and Henry VIII in the room. There’s also a fairly newly-acquired portrait of Henry VIII that depicts him as the vigorous young king who courted Anne.

10. Staircase Gallery

The Staircase Gallery was created by Thomas Bullen in 1506 over the Entrance Hall.

It was meant to give access between the two wings of the house. In this gallery, you’ll find a rare portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, probably from the studio of French artist Francois Clouet.

11. Waldegrave Room

This room is named after the Waldegrave family, who lived at Hever in the late Tudor and Stuart dynasties. They were favorites of Queen “Bloody Mary” and moved in after Anne of Cleves died.

Inside the room, there’s a beautiful carved four poster bed dating from the late 15th century.

Hidden behind paneling, you can also see a small chapel with stained glass windows. This was where the Waldegraves secretly practiced Catholicism after Mary died.

12. Gatehouse

Your tour ends in the oldest part of the castle, the 13th century Medieval Council Chamber in the gatehouse. It has a Gothic fireplace with impressive tracery.

13. Special Exhibitons

The castle puts on special exhibitions from time to time.

Right now, to mark the 500th anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s arrival at the royal court, Hever Castle is hosting an exhibition exploring her early life and the culture in which she grew up.

The exhibition will run until November 2022. It’s included in your ticket.

14. Gardens

Your next stop on this guide to Hever Castle are the magnificent gardens.

If you’re a horticulture love, it’s worth a trip to Hever Castle just to see the heavenly gardens. The award-winning gardens are set over 125 acres.

The peerless Italian Garden is the highlight of the castle gardens. It’s the setting for a collection of classical statuary from Rome to Renaissance times.

There’s a loggia overlooking the lake where you can relax, which was modeled after the Trevi Fountain in Rome . You’ll see Apollo standing on a Corinthian column and walk through beautiful rotundas.

The 5,000 rose bushes put on a stunning display in the Rose Garden. A delicate light pink variety is named after Anne Boleyn, but it’s actually a modern creation.

There’s even a topiary chess set. You can also take the Ann Boleyn Walk through her orchard or walk in the footsteps of Princess Diana on the Diana Walk.

Aside from the myriad gardens, you may see butterflies, robins, and swans on the lake.

The gardens are for some family fun in a place teeming with history, much like Warwick Castle .

You can row boats on the 38 acre lake, wander through yew and water mazes, sniff roses, or try your hand at archery. There’s even an open water swimming course.

The popular yew maze is over 100 years old. The hedge is eight feet high and so dense you can’t see through it, making it a challenge to navigate.

The water maze consists of concentric stepping stones over the lake. When you step on the stones, hidden jets spray water up at random soaking maze-goers. Your goal is to reach the stone cave in the center without getting wet, which isn’t an easy task.

15. Tudor Village

The Tudor Village or “Astor Wing” was added on by Astor. It’s connected to the main castle by a charming covered bridge.

The houses are picture perfect images of thatched Tudor cottages with brown and white facades.

Parts of them house a 28 room boutique hotel that you can stay in, called Hever Castle Luxury Bed and Breakfast .

I didn’t stay overnight, so can’t comment on them myself. I imagine it’s quite posh.

16. Jousting & Falconry

Would you like to see some knights in shining armor? For the romantically-inclined, Hever Castle hosts an annual Summer Jousting Tournament in July.

The Royal Knights of England don costumes and entertain visitors with one-on-one combat and action packed displays. You can sit in the medieval stands for a small fee or bring your own blanket.

On selected summer days, there are also falconry displays.

Practical Guide & Tips For Visiting Hever Castle

Hever Edenbridge Kent TN8 7NG

2. How To Get To Hever Castle

Hever Castle is just 30 miles from London and makes the perfect half or full day trip. The easiest way to get there is by car. The drive takes about 1:15. There’s a free parking lot onsite.

You can also to get to Hever Castle by train. Trains run from London Victoria and London Bridge Stations to Edenbridge Town Station.

From there, you take a taxi for 3 miles to the castle. You should book a taxi in advance for both legs of the trip.

Alternatively, you can take the train from Victorian Station bound for East Grimstead, disembark in Oxted, transfer to the Uckfield-bound train, and exit at Hever Station. From there, it’s a one mile walk to the castle.

From Heathrow Airport:

It’s about a 40 minute drive from the airport.

By Guided Tour:

If you’d rather someone else handle the transportation and tickets, you can book one of several different guided day tours from London:

• a full day guided Tudor tour of Hever Castle and Hampton Court Palace
• a private half day tour to Hever Castle
• or a 6-8 tour of Hever Castle and Gardens

Click here to check out the different ticket prices. You can purchase a garden only ticket or a castle + garden ticket.

From the end of March until mid November, the castle is open daily until 6:30 pm in summer and 5:00 pm in winter. The gardens open at 10:30 am and the castle no later than noon.

The castle is also open during a short Christmas season from the end of November through Christmas Eve. Click here to see opening hours.

5. When To Visit Hever Castle

The gardens are beautiful year round.

In the spring, tulips, daffodils, and azaleas bloom. In the summer, the roses are brilliant. In the autumn, the orchard is full of fiery color and there is a dahlia border.

6. Places To Visit Near Hever Castle

Looking for some places to visit near Hever Castle? Since Hever doesn’t open until noon, there are some other delightful places that could be combined on visit or full day trip.

Harewood House

The Harewood House is a Grade 1 historic English manor home, just 25 minutes from Hever Castle. Harewood House presents the lifestyle of the British aristocracy in all its glory.

The first Baron of Harewood, Edwin Lascelles, commissioned the house in mid-18th century. The house remained with the family and the 8th Earl of Harewood, David Lascelles, currently lives there with his family.

Harewood House has interiors by Robert Adam, wall and ceiling paintings by Angela Kaufman, Chippendale furniture, and a garden by Capability Brown.

As befits a noble family, there are family portraits by notable English artists Joshua Reynolds, John Hoppner, and Thomas Lawrence. You’ll also find a fine art collection, with Renaissance masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto.

Harewood House made an appearance in the Downton Abbey movie, where it was used to host a grand ball.

Address : Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle  is one of Britain’s finest and oldest castles. It has a picturesque setting on a lake in the wooded countryside of Kent. It’s often called England’s most beautiful castle.

The castle was a royal residence until Tudor times. It was a favorite home of Henry VIII, who shuttled his ex-wife Catherine to live there after their divorce. 

In 1926, the castle was bought by American heiress Olive Lady Baillie. She saved it from centuries of neglect and restored it to perfection. She later bequeathed the castle to Britain.

You can  pre-book your castle ticket online . Leeds is just 45 minutes from Hever Castle.

Address : Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL

Chartwell House

Just 15 minutes from Hever castle Winston Churchill digs, Chartwell House .

It was the country seat of Churchill for over four decades. Chartwell House isn’t a grand home.

Though Churchill could ill afford it, he did try to gussy up the place. Churchill almost lost the house twice because he was broke. 

His friends bought the house and presented it to the UK’s National Trust. Upon Churchill’s death, it opened to the public as a museum.

You can see five rooms where Churchill lived — the dining room, the library, the drawing room, his wife Clementine’s bedroom, and Winston’s study. Three other rooms are filled with Churchill memorabilia. You can also check out his painting studio.

Address : Mapleton Rd, Westerham TN16 1PS

Sissinghurst Castle

Just 40+ minutes from Hever, Sissinghurst Castle is a National Trust property and major highlight for garden lovers. Laid out in the 1930s, the castle boasts one of the world’s greatest romantic gardens.

Former owner and writer Vita Sackville-West designed the gardens to look like rooms of a house. Each one has its own color scheme and theme.

Address: Biddenden Rd, Cranbrook TN17 2AB

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Hever castle. You may enjoy these other London travel guides and resources:

• 3 Day Itinerary for London
• 5 Day Itinerary for London
• Hidden Gems in London
• 30 Day Trips From London
• Tourist Traps To Avoid in London
• Best Museums in London
• Harry Potter Places in London
• Guide to the Tower of London
• Guide to the Churchill War Rooms
• Guide to Westminster Abbey
• Guide to St. Paul’s Cathedral
• One Day in Stratford-upon-Avon
• One Day In Canterbury

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Last Updated on August 8, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

Anne Boleyn's Hever Castle: The Complete Guide

Hever Castle & Gardens

Hever Castle, 30 miles southeast of London, was the home of two of Henry VIII's queens—one tragic and one lucky—and the pet project and home of America's richest man in the late 19th century. Visit it today to explore its early medieval keep, its Tudor rooms, and its 125 acres of exquisite gardens. If you plan well ahead, you may even get to spend the night. Here's what you need to know to plan your visit.

Hever Castle's Tudor History

Hever was built as a small fortified castle in around 1270. The gatehouse and the walled bailey of this first house remain. In the 15th century, Geoffrey Bullen, great grandfather of Anne Boleyn, acquired Hever. During the 14th and 16th centuries, the Boleyn family-owned Hever. They built the Tudor family home within its outer walls.

It was Anne Boleyn's girlhood home, where Henry VIII courted her (as well as her older sister Mary who was his mistress first). Poor Anne, Henry's second wife, lost her head in 1536. She was charged with treason, but the probable reason was her failure to produce a male heir. Still, somewhere in the afterlife, she probably had the last laugh because her daughter became one of England's greatest monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I.

When Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn, died in 1539, the house reverted to the Crown—Henry VIII. He then gave it to his fourth ex-wife, Anne of Cleves, as part of their separation settlement.

She was the lucky one. She and Henry were married less than a year, and she managed to keep her head. Henry was just not attracted to her. And given that by, the time they married, he was obese and gouty with a festering—and probably smelly—leg ulcer, she perhaps wasn't enchanted with him either. The marriage was never consummated and was ultimately annulled. But she was so witty and amusing that they remained friends.

Hever Castle's American Connection

During the next few centuries, Hever Castle passed through several owners. By the late 19th century, the land was a tenanted Kentish farm estate, but the castle itself was falling into ruin. Enter American-born William Waldorf Astor. Astor had moved to England after a failed political career in America and various family squabbles. When his father, John Jacob Astor III, died in 1890, he became the richest man in American. It's said he brought $100 million (almost $27 billion today) with him when he settled in England.

He used some of that money to buy Hever Castle and, between 1903 and 1908, he indulged his interest in history in restoring and refurbishing the castle, creating its various gardens, and building its lake. He also created a "Tudor village" beside the castle, parts of which are now a 28-room boutique hotel.

Astor's heirs continued to use Hever as one of their family homes until the 1970s when it was sold to a Yorkshire family who maintains it as part of their private property group.

Things to Do at Hever

There's more than enough to do at Hever Castle, both inside and out, to fill at least a day and maybe more. Much of what you see when touring the house is a recreation, dating from William Waldorf Astor's reconstruction of Hever, but there are many real Tudor treasures to be found.

Tour the Castle

Multi-media tour guides can be rented near the entrance, and guidebooks are available for self-guided tours. A downloadable Tudor History Trail is aimed at families with children. Private guided tours can also be booked in advance.

• Enter the castle across a drawbridge restored by Astor. The portcullis—the latticed wood and metal grille that comes down across the entrance to the inner courtyard—is believed to be one of the oldest working examples in Britain.
• Visit the Tudor rooms, including Anne Boleyn's bedroom, with a carved Tudor bed.
• Henry VIII's bedchamber (the King was believed to have stayed at the castle while wooing Anne) is a recreation but has many period elements. The carved walnut frieze above the fireplace in this room was originally the front of a chest, circa 1505. The coffered ceiling is one of the oldest in the castle, dating from 1462 when the Boleyns first owned it.
• See the Tudor portraits This collection of original paintings is considered to be the best outside of Britain's National Portrait Gallery.
• Read Anne Boleyn's own words One of the upstairs rooms is reserved for an exhibition of two rare books of hours - heavily illustrated prayer books - that belonged to Anne Boleyn and that she probably used for her daily prayer services. She annotated one with a message in her own hand, asking readers to pray for her. Digital consoles, besides each of the books, enable visitors to "turn the pages" and see different illustrations and autographs.

Explore the Gardens

Hever Castle's gardens look like they were established hundreds of years ago but most were created by Astor and his gardeners, Joseph Cheal and Son, over the four or five year period during which he restored the estate. Among the highlights:

• The Italian Garden, a four-acre garden of lawns, yew hedges, and walls of local stone, was created to showcase Astor's collection of antiquities. The statues, urns, and nymphs that are artfully arranged throughout this garden are not mere garden ornaments but are the real deal—some as old as 2,000 years. At the end of the Italian Garden, a loggia and colonnade finish in steps leading down to a 38-acre human-made lake.
• The Rose Garden blooms from June through September with 4,000 different varieties of roses.
• The Tudor Garden is one of a series of small gardens near the castle that, because it is next to a maze and surrounded by tall hedges, is easy to miss. There is a Tudor herb garden and a topiary chess set.
• Landscaped walks are dotted throughout the estate, demonstrating different styles of planting, showcasing different kinds of plants, or providing quiet corners to escape. One of these, the long border of the Two Sisters Lawn, was designed by Gertrude Jekyll, one of the 19th and early 20th century's most influential garden designers.

Have Some Fun

• Get lost in the Yew Maze. Don't worry, compared to some of England's major mazes, like the ones at Leeds Castle and Longleat, this one is a doddle. It's easy but fun for small children and not too scary for dogs (except for the Castle interiors, Hever is very dog-friendly.)
• Get wet in the Water Maze , a maze path laid out on the ground with intermittent and unpredictable water jets. The challenge is to get through the maze without getting wet—not easy. This one is for children and warm weather.
• Take a boat out on the lake. Rowboats and pedaloes are available to rent from a boathouse next to the loggia. A Japanese tea house, added in 2013, is best seen from a boat on the lake.
• See a show at the Hever Festival Theater . Throughout the summer season, evening performances are scheduled in an open-air theater—these range from concerts to theatrical productions, from amateur and community groups to professional artists.
• Visit the miniature model houses , a collection of 1/12 scale models includes homes from the Medieval, Stuart, Georgian and Victorian periods as well as Restoration interiors.
• Join in the special events. Hever Castle has a full schedule of events from late spring to early autumn. Sit in a "Royal" box to watch weekend jousting tournaments, take part in archery and shield painting. Keep track of What's On to see what will be happening when you visit. Some of the special activities have to be booked in advance.

Stay at Hever Castle

Besides the castle attractions, Hever has a 28-room luxury bed and breakfast inn within the Tudor style village and an Edwardian wing added by William Waldorf Astor. The feature rooms have to be booked six months or more in advance but are relatively moderately priced for the quality of the attraction. A separate self-catering cottage that sleeps eight can be rented as well.

Essential Info

The castle and grounds are open throughout the year, daily between the end of March and the end of October, during a short Christmas season from the end of November through Christmas Eve. At other times of year, the house and gardens are open Wednesday through Sunday. The ground open at 10:30 a.m. and the castle opens at noon. Closing times are seasonal, so check the website.

Hever is 30 miles southeast of London, 3 miles southeast of the village of Edenbridge. It is signposted from Junctions 5 and 6 of the M25 or junction 10 of the M23. Set satellite navigation devices for postcode TN8 7NG. The nearest train station is Hever, a one-mile walk down country lanes and cross country paths. Taxis are available from Edenbridge Town station, one stop closer to London, but should be booked in advance.

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Hever Castle Tour

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TAKE A PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR OF HEVER CASTLE, AN EXQUISITE MOATED CASTLE DATING FROM THE 13TH CENTURY.

From 1462 Hever Castle was home to the Boleyn family – and at the heart of one of the most tempestuous and tragic stories in English history.

Let your expert local guide show you where Anne Boleyn, second queen of King Henry VIII, spent her youth. Follow her story through the furnishings and artworks at Hever.  See Anne’s prayer book, a deeply personal item she turned to in her dark hours.

Discover how the castle came into the ownership of King Henry’s estranged fourth wife, Anne of Cleves – the woman he cruelly dubbed the “Flanders Mare”. Follow the story of the castle’s life under the ownership of the wealthy Astor family, after their arrival from America. Walk through the majestic formal Italian Garden and artfully-pruned topiary, to the gentle meanderings of the lakeside, the delightfully damp Water Maze and then lose yourself in the Yew Maze. A fantastic private tour of a wonderful castle.

If you require a guide with a private car to conduct your tour please tick above. This will send your request to one of our driver guides who are UK licensed, registered and insured.

If you like this tour, you may also like:

Arundel castle tour, garden tour, brighton tour.

- England Explored -  

Luxury Driver-Guided Tours

Hever Castle

Quite aside from its fascinating history, Hever is just a beautiful and intriguing place to spend time. This gorgeous moated house was home to Anne Boleyn, a woman at the heart of an event that changed English history forever.

Not only a castle, Hever was a home to the Tudors and to other great English families, all the way through history to the American millionaire William Waldolf Astor in the 1920s. Astor spent a good deal of his fortune restoring the ancient building to a luxury home and was the father-in-law of lady Astor, Britain’s first ever female MP. it sits in the heart of Kent, known as the Garden of England and one of our most picturesque counties in the land.

Home to many events, including a splendid jousting display, the castle sits in extensive grounds and is also the site of a tasteful luxury hotel. A short drive (approximately 50 mins) from central London, Hever is a wonderful day out.

Trip Details

Pick-up time – 09.30

Drop-off time – 16.30

Drive Time total – 2hr 40mins

Steps (approximate) – 8-10K

Ticket Link – https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/

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Tours and transport, hever castle.

A fortified country house, oldest part being late 13th century,

Hever castle was famously the ancestral home of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife. Major improvements by the Boleyn family in late 15th Century, it is believed that Anne Boleyn was born here Circa 1501. The castle passed through several families after the Boleyns fell from favour in the mid 16th Century. In the early 20th Century the property was purchased by the Astor family and it was decorated to their tastes retaining much of the Tudor style. The Astors are also largely responsible for the landscaped gardens

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Hever Castle: In Search of the Boleyn Family Home

Hever Castle is at the top of practically every Tudor lover’s wish-list of places to visit. In this blog, we go in search of the sixteenth-century castle with our tour guide, Owen Emmerson, House Manager at Hever. Join Owen and me as we explore the castle and recreate the rooms as they were during Anne Boleyn’s lifetime. Let’s go!

Note: This blog is based on a transcript of September 2019’s episode of the Tudor Travel Show. If you wish to listen to this podcast, follow this link .

Sarah: Hi, Owen! Thank you so much for inviting us here to see Hever Castle on such a glorious day!

Owen: It’s wonderful, isn’t it? It’s so lovely to welcome you.

Sarah: This place is such a mecca for so many Anne Boleyn fans. You’re here to take us into all the nooks and crannies. I am looking forward to hearing stories of the castle and bringing this place to life. Before we go inside and start our tour, maybe you could give us a little potted history of Hever Castle.

Owen: We believe that Hever was built around 1271; that’s when a licence to crenellate, that is to embattle, the manor here at Hever was granted to a man called Stephen de Penchester. He was heavily involved in nearby Penshurst Place. William de Hever is also in the frame and is believed to have been the builder of the castle. However, there is some mystery about the origins of Hever – and the role these two gentlemen played. We’re hoping to clear that up in the near future. Then the castle goes to a Kentish family called the Cobham family, who are very influential. Multiple owners follow, owning the castle over very short periods until, of course, Geoffrey Boleyn, who is Anne’s great grandfather, purchases Hever.

Sarah: And he was the Lord Mayor of London?

Owen: He certainly was, in some ways, his story mirrors that of the Astor family, who purchased Hever in the nineteenth century, and who restored the castle.

Sarah: You are referring to William Waldorf Astor, who saved the castle. It was in quite a ruinous state at the time.

Owen: Absolutely! Geoffrey Boleyn makes his fortune through work – like the Astors. He’s a man that has worked his way up and built a family fortune. And what a fortune it was to have purchased Hever Castle! It then gets passed to William, Anne’s grandfather, and then to Thomas Boleyn, her father. We believe that Anne arrived here at Hever in about 1505, probably at around the age of five. Hever becomes her childhood home, her safe haven.

Sarah: What about later in the Tudor period? After the fall of the Boleyns, I know that Anne of Cleves came to live here at some point. How did that happen?

Owen: So, after the death of Sir Thomas Boleyn, the property passes very briefly to James Boleyn [Thomas’ younger brother]. He then sells it, or swaps it, for a property in Norfolk. Hever then becomes part of the Crown Estate and therefore is owned by Henry VIII. After the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves, the property is given to her as part of her divorce settlement. She’s allowed to rent it, although Henry pays her rent. It is an agreement that is put in place for her lifetime. Subsequently, we know that Anne spends a lot of her time here at Hever.

Sarah: Does she indeed? Because that’s something I haven’t researched a lot and it was one of my burning questions for you today! So, how much time did Anne spend here?

Owen: It’s her country seat. We know that just after the annulment, she doesn’t spend a tremendous amount of time here, but increasingly, as her fortunes deteriorate after Henry VIII dies, the new king and Council strip away a couple of palaces from her – Bletchingly and Richmond. After that, Anne increasingly spends her time here at Hever.

Sarah: That’s really interesting! I know I’ve seen at least one letter from her signed ‘my poor house at Hever’. Are there more?

Owen: There certainly are – and a lot of them are sent to Cleves. They are located in the Cleves archive.

Sarah: So, she’s writing to her family at home?

Owen: Yes, absolutely.

The Gatehouse at Hever Castle

Sarah: So this is the gatehouse, isn’t it? Is this the oldest part of the castle?

Owen: Yes, it certainly is. As we pass under the gatehouse, we are passing through the medieval part of the castle. Once inside the courtyard, we are into the realm of Geoffrey Boleyn’s house, which he inserted between the curtain walls and this medieval gatehouse. It was renovated by the Astors in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, but this is essentially the Boleyn’s family home.

Sarah: And is this how these courtyard buildings would have looked in Anne’s time? Are there any features that are different from how she would have known it?

Owen: Yes, the Astors restored a lot of the wood – and the patterning we know would have been different. Also, the height of the building has been modified. For example, there are three levels, when initially there would have only been two.

Sarah: I see. So, it was a little bit squatter in the sixteenth century. And am I right in thinking that in the medieval period there would just maybe a simple hall beyond, on the far side of the courtyard from the gatehouse?

Owen: Absolutely, we even think there could have been what is called a loggia. This is defined as an open space with a gallery above it. Early long galleries had an open space below them and then a simple gallery above, which is the arrangement we have here with the staircase gallery. I say there’s every possibility that the space directly in front of the hall was arranged in that way. Then, off the low end of the hall, on the right-hand side was, of course, the Tudor kitchen.

Sarah: Okay, well maybe we should go and look at that right now…

The Inner Hall

This is such a beautiful room now. It’s all sumptuously panelled and there are all these elaborate wooden carvings and fabulous paintings, but in the sixteenth century this is not how this room would have been at all, is it?

Owen: Not at all. The space we are standing in is deceptive. The elaborate decoration belies its humble beginnings because this space was once occupied by the Tudor kitchens. This was the domestic part of the castle. This part of the castle certainly wouldn’t have been frequented by the Boleyns themselves. Although I’m sure children used to sneak in – as children do!

Sarah: So my understanding is that there would have been a passage from the Great Hall through into the kitchens.

Owen: Yes, you can see the passageway still here. [Indicates towards a door disguised in the wall pannelling].

Sarah: Oh, that is the passageway, behind that door?

Owen: Yes, we’ve got some secret doors here, hidden in the panelling. So, that would have been the passage through into the great hall. Also, we would have had massive fireplaces over here [indicates to the wall opposite]. This would have been a very different space indeed.

Sarah: Would this have been the size of the kitchen? I imagine it must be because of those thick walls! You couldn’t expand any further outwards.

Owen: Absolutely, this is a small family home. The room now is slightly larger than the kitchen would have been. It’s perhaps a shame that we don’t have the original Tudor kitchen today, but we do have this fantastic reception room.

S arah : I must admit, the Astors did do a good job. Even though the interiors aren’t authentic, they did an excellent job …

The Drawing Room

We’ve come into this elegant room. Whenever I walk into this room, it just takes my breath away because it’s so beautiful; it’s very feminine. There is this gorgeous inlaid panelling and this amazing moulded ceiling. But when I was doing my research for ‘Le Temps Viendra’ and also for ‘In The Footsteps of Anne Boleyn’, my understanding was that the family didn’t use this side of the castle as a living space. So, what do we know about what was here?

Owen: You’re completely right. We’re standing in what was the larder for the Boleyn’s family home. Behind us would have been another larder and beyond that, the dairy. We’re inside the thick, stone walls of the castle. So, it’s a very cool place. Perfect for the storage of food. Incidentally, we do have a very crude drawing of what was here. It was a domestic space, just off the kitchen. It’s a place that the Boleyns wouldn’t have lived in on a day-to-day basis.

Sarah: Yes, what a fantastic transformation William Astor has affected here!

Owen: Yes. He’s transformed this from a place of labour into a place of leisure – because he does not have a need for that kind of functional space.

The Parlour

Sarah: Owen, we’ve come across to the opposite side of the castle. Is this the east or west wing?

Owen: We’re in the west wing of the castle now. We’ve just walked through what is now the library. In the sixteenth century, it would have been the chatelaine’s office. So, we’re in a very privileged part of the castle; we could now consider ourselves to be valued guests because we are entering the private sanctum of the Boleyns.

Sarah: The chatelaine’s office was the territory of Elizabeth Boleyn. So, if her husband was away at court or on a diplomatic mission, that’s where she would run the castle from?

Owen: Absolutely. That’s where the finances of the castle and the estate were conducted. And here, in the parlour, we have entered a private, family space.

Sarah: Right, so to orientate everyone, if I put my hand on this wall here, on the other side of the wall is the Great Hall where we’ve just come from. We’re supposing that there would have been a doorway that led through directly from the Great Hall into this private space. This is a place people would come to retire, isn’t it, and to have some privacy?

Owen: Absolutely, this room defines the Tudor period. It is also a symbol of the status of the Boleyn family. The existence of this room in the sixteenth century is Thomas saying that ‘look, I can afford private space’. This was something that wasn’t expected in the medieval period of a man of his status. This is really saying he’s risen up in the world and he’s also telling his visitors that he can afford for his women not to work. This chamber is where they would have done the clean work, such as blackwork.

Sarah: Blackwork being that beautiful embroidery on cuffs and collars that we see in paintings of the period.

Owen: That’s right. It’s considered a leisure pursuit. It’s not a pursuit of labour for a woman of Elizabeth Boleyn’s status.

Sarah: I love coming here and thinking of the crackling fire in winter, of the family arriving back here, having been out riding in the park. They come in here, and they’re pulling off their gloves, and they’re talking about the hunt or local gossip. Goodness knows what conversations happened in this room!

Owen: Oh, many, many, many!

Sarah: So with that, we’re ready to go upstairs to see some of the upper chambers of the castle.

O wen: Let’s go upstairs!

Anne Boleyn’s Bedroom at Hever Castle

Sarah: We’ve come up that lovely stone, spiral staircase into this tiny, little room, but it’s one of my favourite spaces in the castle because it’s ‘Anne Boleyn’s bedroom’. And the most obvious question is, is it, was it?

Owen: Well, what I can say is it’s got a very long tradition of being called ‘Anne Boleyn’s bedroom’, and it certainly would have been a space intimately known to Anne because we are now above the parlour, and therefore, we are in the Great Chamber. This is the solar, the sunroom or the private room.

Sarah: So, that chamber stretched right across this west wing, didn’t it?

Owen: Yes, right across the west wing. This is the inner, the most private sanctum of the Boleyns. You’re very privileged people indeed if you are allowed into this space. You’re very close to the family. This room is really where they spend all their time at Hever.

Sarah: If they’re not outside hunting and hawking, in ‘town’ or visiting friends, they’re in here living and sleeping. Is that right?

Owen: Absolutely! So, we can say this is an anteroom to the Great Chamber, which we’ll go into shortly. That is where they did everything basically; it is their private space.

Sarah: Now, I often get asked questions about where did people sleep? Where did Anne sleep? Where did George sleep? Where did Thomas and Elizabeth sleep? My understanding is that in these large open rooms, they didn’t have separate bedrooms. You had to be right at the top of the aristocratic heap to have a bedroom. More likely the Great Chamber would be partitioned, and everybody slept in one space. Is that right?

Owen: Very much so! During the medieval period, servants bedded down in the Great Hall. The same concept is applied to the Great Chamber. Almost certainly, the lord and lady of the house would have had separate bedding down space, but the children would have had semi-permanent beds in that same area, often partitioned off with tapestry. So, the Great Chamber is a multi-functional space that is re-purposed throughout the day. So, for example, it also serves as their private dining room, where the Boleyns dined en famille .

Sarah: So, the use of this space is shifting all the time. Would the servants have come up and put the hangings up, and then moved them away, during the day?

Owen: Yes, absolutely! It’s a multi-functional space. It’s very economical. You only have to warm this one area for the family. So, if you want to walk in Anne Boleyn’s footsteps, you’re in the right place.

The Great Chamber / Book of Hours Room

Sarah: Having left Anne Boleyn’s bedchamber, we walk through into this much larger chamber. As you were saying, this was once the Great Chamber. It was part of the solar that extended across this entire wing. It’s been divvied up now, hasn’t it, into a smaller chamber, but what else can you tell us about this room?

Owen: So, I told you that originally that there were only two floors to this castle. This chamber formed part of the upper storey. Initially, it would have had a much larger, vaulted ceiling. Of course, we should also remember that this was also Anne of Cleves’ Great Chamber. This room is where she spent most of her time while at Hever Castle.

Sarah: I’ve seen an old photo ‘Anne of Cleves chamber’ online, and this space was being used as a bedroom.

Owen: Yes, it was used as a bedroom during the Astors’ time. But in the sixteenth century, it was the main living area. So, when Anne of Cleves’ is writing those letters from Hever Castle back home to Cleves, this is where she wrote them from.

Sarah: Owen, there are a couple of fantastic artefacts in this room, aren’t there?

Owen: Yes, there are.

Sarah: There are two beautiful books of hours displayed in this room. These were once owned by Anne Boleyn. Perhaps we will talk about them another day, as they deserve a lot of attention. But, in the meantime, another artefact that always catches my eye in this room is this incredible tapestry. It dates from 1520, right?

Owen: Yes, the 1520s, that’s correct.

S arah: Do you want to tell us as much as you know about it?

Owen: Sure. Well, we have a theory about this tapestry. It’s a working theory. It’s one that Alison, our curator, and I are speculating about at the moment. So, traditionally, this was thought to be a tapestry depicting the marriage of Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s younger sister, to Louis XII. There’s always been a question mark over that because it’s a fruitless marriage. The union only lasts a short period of time and, as we know, tapestries take a long time to create. So we’ve always wondered why a tapestry that might have taken six years to create, would have been commissioned to commemorate a marriage that lasted less than six months. There is a clue, however, and it’s just here [Points to some indistinct wording woven into the tapestry. It is located over the gown of the principal female figure]. This says ‘Esther’.

Sarah: Gosh, I’d never noticed that!

Owen: And the crown of Esther, if this is indeed her, is very similar to the crown worn by Esther in Henry VIII’s tapestries of the same subject. Esther is quite pertinent to Anne Boleyn’s story because, of course, we know that John Skip, her almoner, evokes the tension between Esther, the Jewish Queen and Hammam, in a service on Passion Sunday, 2 April 1536. Hamman is trying to have all Jews killed and to bring down the Jewish Queen. Esther appeals to her husband, the king, and subsequently, Hammam is hanged. This is a reflection of the tension between Anne and Thomas Cromwell at the time, just before Anne’s downfall. Cromwell would have understood the meaning of the sermon and seen it as a threat – a warning shot across his bows.

Sarah: Well, that sheds a whole different light on this tapestry, doesn’t it?

Owen: It’s a work in progress but, yes, these things are starting to unravel.

Sarah: So, even if this is depicting the story of Esther, do we still believe that any of the Boleyns are portrayed in this picture?

Owen: Well, traditionally, if this is the wedding tapestry, then Anne is said to be depicted somewhere in the scene. Some people say it’s this young lady over here [indicates to a lady in red directly behind the principal female figure] because we know that she’s in attendance at that marriage, but who knows? Everyone has their own theory.

Sarah: They do – and I have mine, which is that lady in the blue. She looks to me exactly like the portrait, but there you go!

Owen: She’s got her nose. I’ll give you that!

S arah: Maybe we will know one day. We’re always saying that we’ll never know, but things are coming up all the time, aren’t they?

Owen: Indeed. Let’s wait and see!

The Staircase Gallery

Sarah: This is this beautiful Staircase Gallery at Hever Castle. It’s just filled with light. It was such a trendy feature in its day, wasn’t it? I guess quite expensive to build too. What can you tell us about it?

Owen: Well, we know that galleries are a status symbol, as well as being a practical way of linking two wings of a medieval property together. If this was built by Thomas Boleyn, as it is believed to have been, it’s one of the earlier galleries to have been built in England. Of course, there’s another one upstairs which, again, has a question mark over its date of construction. However, originally, this is where the Boleyn staircase would have opened out at the head of the stairs. Hence the name: the Staircase Gallery.

Sarah: Yes, because the Astors changed the original layout of the staircase, didn’t they? It is now accessed via the Inner Hall, but in Anne Boleyn’s day, the foot of the stairs was right next to the front door.

Owen: In a sort of ‘u-shape’, yes.

S arah: So, there would once have been an opening somewhere here in this gallery. It is the principal access point from the ground floor. Also, as far as we know, Thomas Boleyn put in all the glass here, and that was, of course, a costly undertaking at the time, wasn’t it?

Owen: Hugely so. Glass was a portable thing at that time. If you were particularly wealthy, you might well even travel with your glass. The property you have just left behind being crudely shuttered up, leaving a very drafty house for the poor servants whose job it was to retain it in your absence. But yes, this gallery is a stunning status symbol. It’s a way of progressing with your visitors to your most important room which is, of course, the long gallery upstairs.

The Henry VIII Bedroom at Hever Castle

Sarah: Having walked down the Staircase Gallery, this brings us back to the east side?

Owen: We are indeed!

Sarah: So, we’ve come along the Staircase Gallery, back across the castle, and now and we’re in what is called the ‘Henry VIII bedroom’. This is a fine-looking bedroom with this really magnificent bed. But, so many people ask me: ‘Did Henry VIII stay in this room?’ I don’t think he did, but you tell us the story.

Owen: I’m going to tell it from my perspective as a historian. We know that Henry almost certainly would have visited. For example, we see that he’s staying at his property, Penshurst Place, in 1528. We know that Anne is here at Hever Castle at the time. This is when the king is pursuing her. It’s almost inconceivable that he wouldn’t have used this opportunity, and this more private location, to come and visit his sweetheart. But would he have ever stayed at Hever Castle? I’m not so sure. And the reason I say that is because he owns Penshurst Place. He can lodge most of his court there, all of his retainers, and all of his security.

Sarah: And it’s only four miles down the road. No distance at all for the Tudor king!

Owen: Right. So, did he stay here? It’s possible. We know that Henry does stay at properties of this size. However, as importantly, we also know that he would have lodged in the most important rooms at that time, which, at Hever, was the Great Chamber – not this room. Also, we know that the Boleyns have two properties. It is possible that they moved out allowing the king to stay here. I’m open to the idea, but we can’t prove it either way.

Sarah: Well, there are lots of myths in Tudor history and sometimes as much as we’d like to believe something, we might have to accept that maybe it’s just not quite right!

Owen: Indeed! It might smack slightly of the so-called ‘Anne Boleyn room’ in the Queen’s House at the Tower of London. This was created in the Victorian era for a public who just wanted to see the spaces that Anne spent time in. They really weren’t prepared to accept that these spaces didn’t exist anymore.

S arah: So, when we come and see the Henry VIII bedroom, we have to enjoy it for what it is, which is an exceptional recreation of a high-status, Tudor room. However, we’ve got this ornate bed though, haven’t we? And that is a genuine Tudor artefact. What can you tell us about the bed?

O wen: Yes. A lot of research is being done on the bed by renowned architectural historian, Jonathan Foyle. He has demonstrated that there is an ‘ER’ on the bed. So, the question is, is that Edward Rex or is it Elizabeth Regina? We don’t know yet, but it’s undoubtedly a Tudor mystery waiting to be solved.

Sarah: And you can see by the carving, it’s full of symbolism. I’m sure Jonathan’s going to unpick all of that – and that this bed has got a whole story to tell us.

Hever Castle’s Long Gallery

Sarah: This gallery has got to be one of the most breath-taking spaces at Hever Castle: it’s the gorgeous long gallery. Of course, totally de rigeur for any Tudor house. So, what’s the history of this space?

Owen: We believe it’s a Thomas Boleyn insertion. To have a space like this in your house is a huge status symbol. In fact, it might be one of the earliest long galleries in the country. It’s a place of leisure. This place is where the Boleyns would have done their daily exercise if the weather was inclement. It’s also a place to hang your most valuable possessions, your paintings, and display other items of value and of interest to your guests. It’s traditionally thought this is where Henry would have held court when he visited and it’s a remarkable space. Astor truly elevated it with this fantastic plasterwork on the ceiling. It’s really is very special.

Sarah: To insert the gallery, Thomas Boleyn would have lowered the ceiling in the Great Hall below, thereby reducing its height.

Owen: Exactly, yes. This gallery spans the width of the castle. It’s above the Great Hall and also the kitchens, both of which would have had high, vaulted ceilings before the long gallery was inserted. Therefore, although we’re in the long gallery, I think this serves to demonstrate how small Hever Castle is; the length of the gallery is the width of the castle! So, it may well be a relatively large and airy space, but it demonstrates how dinky Hever Castle is as well!

Sarah: You are always changing what’s in this space, aren’t you? Quite recently you opened a new exhibition of paintings. There are some truly exquisite portraits in here. So, maybe we should wander over and have a look at a couple of them. [We head over to look at some of the paintings] No visit to Hever Castle would be complete without us coming to look at a portrait of Anne Boleyn. So, here’s the lady herself. Owen, what can you tell us about this particular picture?

Owen: Well, it’s the iconic, so-called ‘Hever Rose’ portrait. It’s the one thought to be most like her. It’s something of a mysterious object. It wasn’t purchased by the Astor’s or indeed the current owners, the Guthrie family. However, we know that a portrait of Anne was here for most of the castle’s history (at least since the sixteenth century), but we have very little provenance for it. Alison, the curator of Hever Castle, is hopefully going to be able to test the panelling by using dendrochronology. By doing so, we are hoping to place it in the timeline of the known portraits of Anne. Of course, the National Portrait Gallery portrait was tested quite recently. It was found to be Elizabethan. We are hoping that ours might be earlier!

Sarah: Well, there you go! We’re going to have to watch this space. More interesting things are coming our way. It’s all happening here at Hever! [We move to the alcove at the end of the Long Gallery] Well, thank you so much for showing us around. This has been an amazing experience and so much fun. It’s wonderful to finish our little tour here because the area that we are standing in is part of the end of the long gallery, isn’t it? It is supposed to be very historic.

Owen: Absolutely. This is traditionally where King Henry VIII is said to have held court. Any visitors who wanted an audience with the king would have had to process down the length of the gallery to see him.

Sarah: You can imagine him sitting here in all his splendour, with his jewels and fine clothes. Oh, it must have been amazing! But sadly, we will have to finish here. This concludes our tour of the Tudor part of the castle. So, once again, it’s an enormous thank you from me.

Owen: You are so welcome. Thank you.

A Note of Thanks

A BIG ‘thank you’ to Owen Emmerson, House Manager at Hever Castle, for sharing his extensive knowledge about the history of Hever. Thank you also to Helen Francis, who made our visit possible, as well as all the other members of staff at Hever, who were so incredibly accommodating.

If you wish to book tickets for Hever at Christmas or look ahead to future events at the castle, click here .

You can also read more about a day in the life of Anne Boleyn in one of The Tudor Travel Guide’s popular post: The Life of Anne Boleyn: When the Ordinary Feels Extraordinary , or read my fascinating theory about Anne Boleyn’s state of mind during her last days and hours on Earth in Anne Boleyn’s Execution: The Surprising Truth about her Last Moments .

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There is so much fascinating history at Hever castle, isn’t there? And beautiful grounds too! I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to spend Christmas here.

Absolutely1 It has to be one of the top Tudor places to visit ???

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Fully escorted tours, small groups as standard, financial failure protection cover on all tour bookings, all breakfasts and dinners included, access to eminent historians , this tour is now sold out., this email address is being protected from spambots. you need javascript enabled to view it. document.getelementbyid('cloak976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc').innerhtml = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc = 'office' + '@'; addy976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc = addy976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc + 'britishhistorytours' + '.' + 'comsubject=the%20anne%20boleyn%20tour%2c%20may%202025&body=please%20put%20my%20name%20on%20the%20waiting%20list%20for%20%5bplease%20insert%20number%5d%20of%20places%20on%20this%20tour' + '.' + ''; var addy_text976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc = 'click here to get on the waiting list';document.getelementbyid('cloak976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc').innerhtml += ' '+addy_text976828e33169ccb716769ca3bdfa51fc+' '; for 'the anne boleyn tour' 16th - 20th may 2025., tour details.

Our most popular tour is running again in 2024! This tour sells out quickly so if this is the one for you, don't delay, click the 'Book Now' button, below.

Stay at Anne Boleyn's childhood home of Hever Castle for 4 nights of history and luxury on 'The Anne Boleyn Tour', run by British History Tours.

As part of a small group, you will explore the life and death of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII and mother to Elizabeth I. We explore places key to her story and are joined along the way by eminent historians and expert guides.

Gareth Russell, best-selling author accompanies Philippa, your dedicated Tour Manager, as resident historian and co-host. 

Our itinerary includes a visit to Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London where we are taken around by expert guides. During our time at Hever Castle you will have the opportunity to dress as Tudor Royalty before getting 'behind the ropes' during our after-hours 'Hidden Hever' tour, followed by a 3-course banquet in Hever Castle's Great Hall! 

Enjoy exclusive access to the Astor Wing including the music room, billiard room, lawns, tennis court and outdoor swimming pool!

You will arrive everywhere in comfort and style in our luxury air-conditioned coach, included for the duration of the tour.

Tour Highlights

Co-hosted by best-selling author and historian gareth russell, visit the tower of london on the anniversary of anne boleyn's execution, 19th may, talks from tracy borman, kate mccaffrey and gareth russell, banquet in the great hall of hever castle, hidden hever, after-hours tour of hever castle, expert guided tours of hampton court palace and tower of london, private use of the astor wing of hever castle including our own private lawn next to the moat, tennis court, billiards room and outdoor heated pool., opportunity to dress as tudor royalty at hever castle (optional extra).

The Itinerary

Welcome reception. gareth russell.

Meet at the designated, convenient pick-up point in London where you will board our private coach, bound for Hever Castle. On arrival at Hever you will be shown to your beautiful room and you can begin to explore your home for the next few days.

You will have exclusive access to the entire Astor Wing of Hever Castle where you can take advantage of our own private heated swimming pool, tennis court, billiards room and lawn next to the moat.

Enjoy a welcome drinks reception on our private lawn before a talk from historian and suthor, Greath Russell.

We will then sit down to a 3-course evening meal in our private dining room.

Hever Castle. Kate McCaffrey

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before spending the day exploring Hever Castle and its grounds. You can choose to take the short walk to St Peter's Church where the Boleyn family worshipped and see Thomas Boleyn's tomb.

Dress as Tudor Royalty for the Day! (Optional Extra) After being dressed you can wear your outfit for the day, take as many photos as you want with Hever as a backdrop! 

Our evening begins with a talk from historian, and assistant curator at Hever Castel, Kate McCaffrey about her groundbreaking work into Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours.

Following Kate's talk, and after the Castle is closed to the public, we have an exclusive 'behind-the-ropes' tour of 'Hidden Hever'.

The evening is topped off by a banquet in the Great Hall of Hever Castle.

Hampton Court Palace. Tracy Borman

On arrival to Hampton Court Palace, we will be met by historian and Chief Joint Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, Tracy Borman, who will give us a talk followed by a book signing and opportunty to get a photo with her.

After a breif break, we will be met by the fantastically knowledgeable Sarah Slater for a guided tour of the Palace.

Our tour historian, Gareth Russell, has written a book about the history of Hampton Court Palace through stories of the people who lived there called 'The Palace', published in September 2023.

Following our tour the group have free time to explore the remaining parts of the Palace and its grounds.

We return to Hever for a 3-course meal with wine, in our private dining suite at Hever Castle.

The Tower of London - Anniversary of Anne Boleyn's Execution

We pay our respects to Anne Boleyn at the site of her final imprisonment, execution and resting place, the Tower of London on the date of her execution.

Following a morning private guided tour with William Mitchell, there will be free time to explore other parts of the Tower and the waterfront. You then have the option to take a walk up to the Tower Hill execution site, where the men who fell victim to the events of 1536 were beheaded, with Gareth and Philippa.

We return to Hever Castle for our final evening and a relaxed BBQ on our private lawn at Hever Castle, next to the moat and a private concert from Jay Britton, The Tudor Songbook performing music from the Tudor Court.

Wake up for one final time in the magical Hever Castle.

After a leisurely breakfast we board our private coach which will take us back to London where we say our final farewells.

What's Included

5* Luxury Accommodation at Hever Castle for 4 nights

All dinners and breakfasts, expert history talks from eminent historians, resident historian for the tour - gareth russell, exclusive access to the astor wing of hever castle including our own private lawn next to the moat, tennis court, billiards room and outdoor heated pool., dedicated tour manager, luxury coach travel from pick up to drop off, all admissions as stated in the itinerary, after hours 'hidden hever' tour, private guided tours at tower of london and hampton court palace, option to dress as a tudor for the day, an experience of a lifetime, historian talks.

Gareth Russell

Tracy Borman

Kate McCaffrey

Upgrade to a superior room, we apologise for any disappointent but all of our upgraded rooms are sold on this tour..

Acanthus (Twin)

Clover Room

Primrose Room

Tiger Lily Room BOOKED

Tulip Room BOOKED

Optional Extras

Room upgrades £360, tudor dress hire £190.

There is space on the booking form to indicate your preferences

Or join the British History Patreon for 7 days VIP early booking access, as well as lots of other history lover benefits.

Photo gallery.

Hever Castle

Gareth Russell - Resident Historian providing talks throughout the tour

Dress as Tudor Royalty

Private BBQ at Hever Castle

Luxury Coach

Expert Guide at Hampton Court Palace

Expert Guide at Tower of London

Dinner in the Astor Wing

Breakfast Table at Hever Castle

Customer financial protection.

In accordance with the UK Package Travel & Linked Travel Regulations 2018 all passengers booking with History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies received by us, including repatriation costs and arrangements, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours .

There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided. 

History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours has taken out an insurance provided by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) trading as Liberty Specialty Markets, a member of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. LMIE's registered office: 5-7 rue Leon Laval, L-3372, Leudelange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number B232280 (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés).  LMIE is a European public limited liability company and is supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances and licensed by the Luxembourg Minister of Finance as an insurance and reinsurance company. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours . 

In the event of our insolvency please make contact as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting the name of your Travel Operator: 

 IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +44 ( 0)345 266 1872

Copyright 2012-2024 History Holidays Ltd t/a British History Tours

British History Tours is a trading name of History Holidays Limited Company Number 8851851. Registered in England and Wales. Established 2014.

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Hever Castle

Hever Castle, Kent. © British Tours Ltd.

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Hever Castle is a best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry Vlll, and the setting for the King's courtship of Anne. It is surrounded by beautiful grounds that include a yew maze, a water maze, a walled Rose garden, Italian Garden and topiary. Inside you will find antique furniture, Anne Boleyn's prayer books, armour, instruments of torture and execution, tapestries and 16th century Tudor portraits.

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Stately homes, castles & gardens, gems of the south in kent & sussex, overnight castles of england tour.

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Our guide was fantastic and went out of his way to make our day special ... flying over France & England and having a lovely lunch in France was well worth it!

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Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Who is your Guide?

Our guides are personable educated men and women, chosen for their knowledge, special interests, backgrounds and personality. They will collect you by car from any central London location and guide you inside places of historic importance

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Hever Castle Private Tour from London

A Hever Castle private tour from London is the perfect way to explore this iconic medieval fortress and childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. Our private tours from London come with experienced guide and luxury transportation. Choose between a full day excursion to Hever Castle or combine a trip with other nearby places such as Chartwell, Bodiam Castle or Leeds Castle.

hever castle private tour:

This 13th-century double-moated castle is perfect for a day out from London. Dating from around 1270, highlights of the castle include its beautiful interiors and magnificent gardens.

• Discover the fascinating medieval rooms that make up the castle’s interior. Admire the unique decorations, furnishings and antiques and view the impressive Tudor artwork and two prayer books signed by Anne Boleyn
• Highlights include the Inner Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Entrance Hall, Library, Queen’s Chamber and Staircase gallery.
• Walk around the award winning Hever Gardens, set in over 125 acres of grounds. The garden is a celebration of colour and smell and inspires thousands of visitors every year. Highlights include its lake, grottoes, fountains, maze garden and quintessential English Rose Garden.

places to visit near Hever Castle:

A Hever Castle private tour from London can be combined with other nearby places to make a full day trip. Some suggestions include:

• Leeds Castle, one of the most beautiful castles and a great way to complement a visit to Hever Castle. Highlights includes its impressive interiors and stunning gardens. See here for more information on private tours to Leeds Castle.
• Bodiam Castle, another impressive moated castle dating back to the 14th Century. Its considered an architectural masterpiece and surrounded by stunning green English countryside. See here for more information.
• Chartwell, the adult home of Winston Churchill. It is now a National Trust property, and visitors can get a glimpse into the life of this giant of British history, with a series of fascinating displays, artefacts and collection of original Churchill paintings.

All our private tours are fully customisable and include an experienced guide and transportation. For more information please contact us using this enquiry form below:

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Balmoral Castle: See Inside the Royal Family Home for the First Time This Summer

By Michelle Duncan

Get ready for an up-close-and-personal look into the lives of King Charles and Queen Camilla. Balmoral Castle , the Scottish holiday residence of the British royals, will open its doors to the public for private tours of the interiors this summer—a first since the castle’s completion in 1855.

In a new promotion dubbed The Balmoral Experience , guests will be taken on a guided tour through rooms in the castle used by the royals from July 1 to August 4. Visitors will learn about the history and use of the spaces along the way. A tour of the Aberdeenshire castle is priced at about $126 dollars (£100) for an adult ticket, plus an extra $63 (£50) for those who add on the option of afternoon tea.

“Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to the present day, where you can see a selection of rooms within the castle that are used by Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family,” states the castle’s official Instagram page.

Since 1931, Balmoral’s gardens and grounds open up to the public every spring. The ballroom has been the only interior space previously accessible to outsiders until now.

Queen Elizabeth (center), King Charles (right), and Princess Anne in Balmoral Castle gardens circa 1952.

Fans of the British royals expressed their excitement in the comments section of the Instagram post. Unfortunately, if you haven’t already purchased a ticket, you’ll have to wait until next year for an expedited or guided tour; according to the official website, those tickets are already sold out just only one day after the announcement. General admission tickets are still available, but those are also quickly being snapped up.

Located in the Scottish Highlands , Balmoral Castle is one of two properties personally owned by King Charles (the other being Sandringham Castle). The King inherited the property after Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022. Balmoral Castle was one of the late Queen’s favorite places, and where she took her final breaths. “I think Granny is the most happy there,” Princess Eugenie once told ITV of the estate.

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King Charles is also quite fond of the retreat. “I cannot tell you how much I miss Balmoral and the hills and the air—I feel very empty and incomplete without it all,” he said in 1968, before leaving for his second year at Cambridge. Last year , the King began his contribution to the gardens, which include a stretch of cherry blossoms and thousands of daffodils, expanding the work that royals have been adding to the gardens since Prince Albert.

Those unable to score Balmoral tour tickets can get their fill of the royal experience at Buckingham Palace, which will open its east wing to the public this summer for the first time.

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By Katie Schultz

By Gabriela Ulloa

By Katherine McLaughlin

King Charles opens Balmoral Castle to tours for the first time

Visitors will be able to see parts of Scotland's Balmoral Castle used by the British royal family for the first time this summer.

Guided tours of the royal family's beloved private Scottish retreat will be available from July 1 to August 4, before the King and Queen arrive for their summer break in Aberdeenshire, with each group restricted to 10 people.

Tickets for the "castle interior tour," priced £100 ($126) or £150 ($188) with afternoon tea included, are limited to 40 tickets per day and are already selling fast.

The Balmoral Castle website said the tours were the first since the castle was completed in 1855.

The website said: "They will take you on a historical journey through several of the beautiful rooms within Balmoral Castle.

"You will learn about the origins of the castle and how it has been loved by generations of the royal family.

"Travel through time from the purchase of the Balmoral by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through to present day, where you can see how rooms within the castle are used today by their Majesty's The King and Queen and other members of the royal family."

The tour also includes access to the ballroom with a collection of Charles' watercolour collection depicting scenery at Balmoral, Highgrove and Sandringham as well as a collection of outfits worn by Charles and Camilla, the late Queen and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Previous tours, which will continue, have concentrated on the grounds and gardens with access to the castle limited to the ballroom.