The Old Stables - Places to visit & things to do

THE OLD STABLES, WISSENDEN
BED & BREAKFAST
Tel: 44(0) 1233 820597

PLACES TO VISIT & THINGS TO DO
These are just some of the places that you might like to visit in Kent and East Sussex and most, if not all, can be examined in greater detail on the South East England web site. We maintain a wide range of leaflets, guides and maps at The Old Stables.
London is only an hour away by train and families can enjoy discounted tickets into the centre of the capital. Headcorn and Pluckley stations are much nearer than Ashford.
The National Trust was founded in 1895 to preserve places of historic interest or natural beauty and is the leading conservation body in the UK. The National Trust has many such properties in Kent and East Sussex and we would encourage you to visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk where you will find details of special events, including musical and other cultural productions. If you are planning to visit a number of National Trust properties you should consider a membership for discounted entrance charges.
There is so much more to see and enjoy that is within reach of The Old Stables. Why not plan your visit in advance and you will find full details of opening times on the site and this is very important as so many of them are closed on one or more days of the week.

HOUSES AND GARDENS

Goodnestone Ashford House and gardens set in extensive parkland.

Godinton House near Ashford Fascinating house and gardens dating back to medieval times

Chartwell near Westerham Home, garden and studio of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Emmetts Garden near Westerham Exceptional views, good for bluebells and rhododendrons.

Ightham Mote near Sevenoaks 650 years of enchanting history. Painted Tudor chapel. Moat with garden and woodland walks.

Knole Sevenoaks Built in 1456, this immense Tudor Mansion is one of the finest houses in England, and has been lived in by Royalty, Archbishops, Bishops and also Vita Sackville-West. The house is full of antiques and treasures, with an important portrait and 17th Century furniture collection.

Penshurst Place near Tonbridge Amongst the peaceful Tudor gardens and parkland of Penshurst Place sits a magnificent ancestral home. State rooms house fine collections of furniture, tapestries, portraits and armour. Toy museum and adventure playground.

Pashley Manor Ticehurst Enchanting house and extensive gardens.

Groombridge Place Gardens near Royal Tunbridge Wells Flanked by a mediaeval moat with 17th century Manor House, magnificent formal gardens, Enchanted Forest including secret and mysterious gardens.

Great Dixter Northiam, near Tenterden Built in 15th Century, then restored and added to by Sir Edwin Lutyens (the architect of New Delhi) Great Dixter is the family home and passion of garden writer and clematis expert Christopher Lloyd.

Higham Park near Canterbury An outstanding 14th century house and gardens, lovingly restored by the current owners with whom you can enjoy a personalised tour. The gardens extend to 25 acres and include England's largest yew-lined, sunken Italian water garden.

Iden Croft Staplehurst Iden Croft Herb Gardens and Plant Nursery lies in the bowl of a prehistoric Wealden lake. Peaceful and sheltered it is a safe haven for birds, wildlife, butterflies and bees.

Yalding Organic Gardens Yalding, near Maidstone 14 individual gardens offer a fascinating trip through gardening history dating back to mediaeval times. An Edwardian herbaceous border, 19th Century cottager's garden and a Tudor knot garden - all entirely organic!

Monk's House Lewes, East Sussex Charming weather boarded house, home of writer Virginia Woolf from 1919 to 1941. Visited by the famous Bloomsbury group of philosophers, writers and artists including Vita Sackville-West.

CASTLES

Sissinghurst Castle Garden Sissinghurst One of the country's most famous gardens - created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson.

Leeds Castle Leeds, near Maidstone Loveliest and most romantic moated castle in the world. The garden, designed by Capability Brown, includes a maze. Charming woodland walks.

Scotney Castle Garden Lamberhurst Another of England's most romantic gardens created around a picturesque 14th Century moated Castle ruin. Dramatic views.

Hever Castle and Gardens Edenbridge Double moated castle and one time home of Anne Boleyn. Wonderful collection of furniture, paintings and objets d'art. Award winning gardens include Italian rose and Tudor gardens with maze and lake. Water maze in new area of garden.

Dover Castle Dover Experience dramatic sights, sounds and presentation of life during the siege of the Castle in 1216. Secret wartime tunnels, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment museum. Superb views of the famous White Cliffs.

Walmer Castle and Gardens Walmer The elegant Tudor residence of the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports and was occupied, on occasions, by the late Queen Mother.

Deal Castle Deal Explore the long dark passages and battlements of Deal Castle, Henry VIII's powerful coastal fortress.

MUSEUMS

Canterbury Museums Canterbury Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustines and the Chaucer Experience. Canterbury Heritage Museum tells the story of the city. Also St. Martin's Church, one of the oldest in England.

Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery Maidstone Delightful Elizabethan manor house boasts a rich and impressive variety of historical objects, fine art and natural history.

Museum of Kent Life - Cobtree Maidstone Award winning open-air museum with collection of historic buildings housing both static and interactive exhibitions of life in Kent over the last 100 years. Hop, herb and kitchen gardens, livestock centre, venture playgrounds and riverboat service. Plenty to do inside and out.

Motor Museum Rolvenden Unique collection of Morgan 3 wheeled cars 1913-1935, Humber tri-car of 1904 and many other vehicles. Displays of toys and model cars.

Finchcocks - Living Museum of Music Goudhurst Well-known collection of historical keyboard instruments. 18th century Manor House with beautiful garden surrounded by lovely Kent countryside. Entertaining musical tours.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

Howletts Wild Animal Park Bekesbourne, near Canterbury World famous home to the largest captive gorilla-breeding group in the world. African Elephants, tigers and rare monkeys are just a few of the animals to be found enjoying the 70 acres of ancient parkland.

Port Lympne Animal Park Lympne near Folkestone Set in 300 acres of countryside with historical mansion and gardens. Gorillas, Asian elephants, Przewalski horses and Atlas lions are amongst the many animals to be found at Port Lympne.

South of England Rare Breeds Centre Woodchurch, near Ashford Fascinating and gentle attraction. Friendly farm animals and many to stroke in the childrens' barn. Large playground, paddling pool and sandpit. Woodland walks, picnics and restaurants.

Farming World Faversham A wonderland of animals where children can roam freely. Birds of prey centre, adventure playground, museum and farm trails. Picnics and refreshments and abundance of "pick your own" summer fruit.

Children and adults alike can enjoy the Steam Trains on the Kent and Sussex Railway on the smaller Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. Alternatively, enjoy wildlife, bird sanctuaries or for the Jane Austen fan visit Goodnestone Park. There really is something for everybody.

The following Specialist Garden nurseries are in the area:

Madrona at Pluckley, Church Hill at Egerton, Merriments at Hurst Green, Washfield at Hawkhurst, Just Roses at Northiam and of course the many varieties of clematis can be seen at Great Dixter also in Northiam. Brogdale Orchard - home to the National Fruit Collection at Faversham.

		HOUSES AND GARDENS
Goodnestone	Ashford	House and gardens set in extensive parkland.
Godinton House	near Ashford	Fascinating house and gardens dating back to medieval times
Chartwell	near Westerham	Home, garden and studio of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Emmetts Garden	near Westerham	Exceptional views, good for bluebells and rhododendrons.
Ightham Mote	near Sevenoaks	650 years of enchanting history. Painted Tudor chapel. Moat with garden and woodland walks.
Knole	Sevenoaks	Built in 1456, this immense Tudor Mansion is one of the finest houses in England, and has been lived in by Royalty, Archbishops, Bishops and also Vita Sackville-West. The house is full of antiques and treasures, with an important portrait and 17th Century furniture collection.
Penshurst Place	near Tonbridge	Amongst the peaceful Tudor gardens and parkland of Penshurst Place sits a magnificent ancestral home. State rooms house fine collections of furniture, tapestries, portraits and armour. Toy museum and adventure playground.
Pashley Manor	Ticehurst	Enchanting house and extensive gardens.
Groombridge Place Gardens	near Royal Tunbridge Wells	Flanked by a mediaeval moat with 17th century Manor House, magnificent formal gardens, Enchanted Forest including secret and mysterious gardens.
Great Dixter	Northiam, near Tenterden	Built in 15th Century, then restored and added to by Sir Edwin Lutyens (the architect of New Delhi) Great Dixter is the family home and passion of garden writer and clematis expert Christopher Lloyd.
Higham Park	near Canterbury	An outstanding 14th century house and gardens, lovingly restored by the current owners with whom you can enjoy a personalised tour. The gardens extend to 25 acres and include England's largest yew-lined, sunken Italian water garden.
Iden Croft	Staplehurst	Iden Croft Herb Gardens and Plant Nursery lies in the bowl of a prehistoric Wealden lake. Peaceful and sheltered it is a safe haven for birds, wildlife, butterflies and bees.
Yalding Organic Gardens	Yalding, near Maidstone	14 individual gardens offer a fascinating trip through gardening history dating back to mediaeval times. An Edwardian herbaceous border, 19th Century cottager's garden and a Tudor knot garden - all entirely organic!
Monk's House	Lewes, East Sussex	Charming weather boarded house, home of writer Virginia Woolf from 1919 to 1941. Visited by the famous Bloomsbury group of philosophers, writers and artists including Vita Sackville-West.

		CASTLES
Sissinghurst Castle Garden	Sissinghurst	One of the country's most famous gardens - created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson.
Leeds Castle	Leeds, near Maidstone	Loveliest and most romantic moated castle in the world. The garden, designed by Capability Brown, includes a maze. Charming woodland walks.
Scotney Castle Garden	Lamberhurst	Another of England's most romantic gardens created around a picturesque 14th Century moated Castle ruin. Dramatic views.
Hever Castle and Gardens	Edenbridge	Double moated castle and one time home of Anne Boleyn. Wonderful collection of furniture, paintings and objets d'art. Award winning gardens include Italian rose and Tudor gardens with maze and lake. Water maze in new area of garden.
Dover Castle	Dover	Experience dramatic sights, sounds and presentation of life during the siege of the Castle in 1216. Secret wartime tunnels, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment museum. Superb views of the famous White Cliffs.
Walmer Castle and Gardens	Walmer	The elegant Tudor residence of the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports and was occupied, on occasions, by the late Queen Mother.
Deal Castle	Deal	Explore the long dark passages and battlements of Deal Castle, Henry VIII's powerful coastal fortress.

		MUSEUMS
Canterbury Museums	Canterbury	Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustines and the Chaucer Experience. Canterbury Heritage Museum tells the story of the city. Also St. Martin's Church, one of the oldest in England.
Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery	Maidstone	Delightful Elizabethan manor house boasts a rich and impressive variety of historical objects, fine art and natural history.
Museum of Kent Life - Cobtree	Maidstone	Award winning open-air museum with collection of historic buildings housing both static and interactive exhibitions of life in Kent over the last 100 years. Hop, herb and kitchen gardens, livestock centre, venture playgrounds and riverboat service. Plenty to do inside and out.
Motor Museum	Rolvenden	Unique collection of Morgan 3 wheeled cars 1913-1935, Humber tri-car of 1904 and many other vehicles. Displays of toys and model cars.
Finchcocks - Living Museum of Music	Goudhurst	Well-known collection of historical keyboard instruments. 18th century Manor House with beautiful garden surrounded by lovely Kent countryside. Entertaining musical tours.

		OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
Howletts Wild Animal Park	Bekesbourne, near Canterbury	World famous home to the largest captive gorilla-breeding group in the world. African Elephants, tigers and rare monkeys are just a few of the animals to be found enjoying the 70 acres of ancient parkland.
Port Lympne Animal Park	Lympne near Folkestone	Set in 300 acres of countryside with historical mansion and gardens. Gorillas, Asian elephants, Przewalski horses and Atlas lions are amongst the many animals to be found at Port Lympne.
South of England Rare Breeds Centre	Woodchurch, near Ashford	Fascinating and gentle attraction. Friendly farm animals and many to stroke in the childrens' barn. Large playground, paddling pool and sandpit. Woodland walks, picnics and restaurants.
Farming World	Faversham	A wonderland of animals where children can roam freely. Birds of prey centre, adventure playground, museum and farm trails. Picnics and refreshments and abundance of "pick your own" summer fruit.