Hever Castle and Gardens has always been a firm favourite with my family. There is a wealth of child friendly activities within the grounds, which make it an ideal day out for many families.
The castle dates from 1270 and is most famous for the fact that it was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Although you can pay just to visit the gardens, the castle is worth a look. It is not so large that the children get bored and if you move quickly along it is possible to appreciate it enough to make the vow to return again at your leisure to really absorb its splendour. There are several points of interest. There is a moat which is home to some wonderfully large carp. Just entering the castle by walking over the bridge crossing the moat makes it feel a special place. It has the most beautiful ornate ceilings and panelled rooms, which were restored by William Waldorf Astor in the early 1900s. Within Anne Boleyn's rooms, there are two books of Hours (her personal prayer books) and further on there is a gallery presenting models depicting famous characters in full costume from Henry VIII's era. The visit ends up in a gruesome museum packed with torture paraphernalia, armour and weapons.
After the house, the next stop is the yew maze. Here the children have loads of fun trying to find the centre while getting completely lost. I once read a book about mazes and it is surprising how many are built along on the same lines i.e. they have the same secret to get to the middle. I tried one theory out on the maze at Hever and it worked - but I'm not telling! When everyone has finally found their way out again, there is a delightful walk through the beautiful gardens down towards the lake where there is another maze of a slightly different nature. The idea is to get to the middle of the island without getting splashed. Needless to say no one manages it and it is advisable to take a change of clothes if your child is of the fussy variety.
There is just time to pop into the exhibition From Castles to Country Homes this exhibition depicts life through the ages from 1086 to 1901 using miniature model houses - before hitting the adventure playground - another great favourite.
At some point during the day, refreshment is needed which can be a picnic on the wide, open grassy spaces or a meal in the cafeteria if the weather is too cold or wet.
I have very fond memories of Hever and so do my children!
