England’s “prettiest” castle looks like “a dream during autumn,” according to visitors. For history lovers seeking a seasonal day out, Hever Castle in Kent could be “well worth a visit.” Hever Castle is set in 125 acres of grounds, and it is steeped in history as the former childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
The 14th-century castle and award-winning gardens often go viral on social media. In a recent video, travel blogger @lostinsamuel praised the landmark as an autumn must-see. Samuel wrote: “I think this is the prettiest castle in England during autumn.”
His caption went on: “Just 1h minutes [sic] from London, this castle is a dream during autumn. Imagine ancient stone walls covered in cascading red ivy, glowing in the golden light. Strolling through formal Italian gardens where leaves crunch underfoot, statues peek through misty paths, and reflections dance across still waters.
“This castle setting once echoed with the footsteps of Anne Boleyn in her youth, and later, Henry VIII himself. History whispers from every corner, from the grand halls to the hidden nooks of the garden.”
He added: “If you’re looking for the ultimate autumn escape, you need to visit right now! Get a 40min train to Hever from London Bridge. Walk 20 minutes through paths overlooking the fields.” The video delighted viewers, gaining hundreds of likes.
For anyone interested in planning a visit, there is an entrance fee for the castle and gardens. An adult gardens-only ticket costs £19.35 online, and an adult castle and gardens ticket costs £24.65 online.
There are concessions for seniors, students, children, and families, or there’s an annual membership option.
Hever Castle and Gardens has over 2,500 excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. One happy visitor wrote: “Not to be missed! What an absolutely amazing place. The Castle itself is crammed with interesting history, wonderful wood panelling and carvings, fantastic paintings, beautiful tapestries and other artefacts. Its story is amazing.
“The gardens are worth visiting on their own and we realised we’d have to come back another time to see what we missed this time. We visited in autumn and plan to come again in spring or summer. Really beautifully kept surroundings.”
Another fan said: “The grounds outside the castle are equally beautiful, having some lovely walks. We usually come in the autumn because the turning of the leaves is particularly spectacular here, especially the red ivy which creeps across the façade of the castle, reflected in the water in the moat. Lovely!
“This place is of course a must see for anyone obsessed with Tudor history, but it also has a lot of other interesting pieces and is definitely not a one trick pony.”
Hever Castle can be accessed by car or train. The postcode is TN8 7NG. Hever Station is a one-mile rural walk from the castle. Anyone travelling to Edenbridge Town Station is advised to pre-book a taxi to and from the castle.
