Seven Wonders of the Weald

Enjoy seven wondrous attractions in the South East when you visit the Garden of England. Covering the best of Kent, the allures included in the blog are situated in the High Weald National Landscape and comprise stunning gardens, historic houses and vineyards that make for the perfect English escape.

The attractions themselves are worth a visit, but when you add in the seasonal events taking place, choosing to embark on a trip to these inspiring tourist hot spots will be the easiest decision you’ll make all year.

So, what exactly are the Seven Wonders? Read on below or click the button to book a wonderful cottage of your own.

Skip to:

• Royal Tunbridge Wells
• Scotney Castle
• Biddenden Vineyards
• Chiddingstone Castle
• Spa Valley Railway
• Hole Park Gardens
• Knole

Royal Tunbridge Wells

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Royal Tunbridge is a delightful town which marks the beginning of the Seven Wonders trail. The Pantiles is one of the oldest parts of this charming town. Georgian aristocracy frequented this area, enjoying the rumoured health benefits of the Chalybeate Spring and enjoying the sights and attractions that the town had to offer.

One of Royal Tunbridge Wells’ best-loved cultural hubs is the Assembly Hall and Theatre. Providing entertainment to audiences for over 75 years, this popular venue holds up to 1,000 people. The town is also home to the fascinating Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery which offers a wealth of local, social and natural history exhibits to visitors.

Scotney Castle

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Scotney Castle is a majestic 14th-century building with a distinctive round tower overlooking a serene moat and delightful surrounding gardens. Its formal gardens, woods and park span across approximately 770 acres. 

This National Trust attraction is open all year round, offering plenty of things for families to see and do. Explore the castle and its stately rooms, enjoy a picnic in the woods or indulge in tea and cake in the tea rooms, and keep your eyes peeled for Scotney’s infamous resident cat ‘Puss Puss’. This is a great place to bring the dog or the kids when you need to blow away the cobwebs and, for the grown-ups, there’s a second-hand bookshop and a lovely plant store.

Biddenden Vineyards

Biddenden Vineyards is a well-established UK producer of award-winning wines and is the oldest commercial vineyard in Kent. Since 1969, the vineyard has been producing wines, ciders and juices from locally grown produce. Today, they grow 12 varieties of vine in a south-facing plot of 23 acres; in the height of summer, the vines create a beautiful green carpet over the landscape.

People visiting Biddenden Vineyards can enjoy walking between the vines, visiting the winery and sampling some of the wines and ciders in the shop. The Biddenden shop also sells a variety of locally produced preserves, honey and some superb beers made from local hops!

Chiddingstone Castle

Chiddingstone Castle isn't your average stately attraction. After the 1550s property fell into a state of disrepair, the enthusiastic antiquarian, Denys Bower, restored the castle in 1955 and made Chiddingstone the home for his vast collection of exotic antiques and curios.

The castle has a fantastic display of Bower’s Egyptian, Buddhist, and Jacobean artefacts inside. Outside, the picturesque grounds and lake are set within 35 acres. It has an award-winning orangery, a beautiful rose garden and serene woodland. 

The castle, collections and tea room are closed throughout the months of November to February but if you are visiting during this time, you can still explore the wonderful grounds and lake up until 6.30pm.

Spa Valley Railway

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Start your journey through the wonderful High Weald countryside with Spa Valley Railway. Begin at the delightful country junction station of Eridge, which you can get to by mainline trains operated by Southern Railway. There is a 'Destination at Every Station' on this wonderful journey through the Kent countryside. Stop at Groombridge, where you can find Groombridge Place Gardens and Enchanted Forest, or maybe disembark at High Rocks, a unique station from which you can visit the High Rocks themselves with breathtaking sandstone rocks linked by 11 bridges. 

There are numerous events throughout the year including murder mystery evenings, the Kent Cheese Train, the Kent Gin Train, and even days where Bluey Heeler shows up. If you just want to kick back and relax, why not indulge yourself in an afternoon tea or a portion of fish and chips while chugging along?

Hole Park Gardens

Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden can be enjoyed by visitors throughout the seasons, with one of the best bluebell displays in the country during spring. The 16 acres of beautifully laid out gardens and adjoining 10 acres of woodlands also boast outstanding rhododendrons, azaleas and wisterias, followed by colourful herbaceous borders in summer before the acers and exotic border take centre stage in the autumn. 

The formal gardens, defined by extensive yew hedges, walled gardens, pools and statues, offer plenty of benches on which to relax and swings for the children to play on. After exploring the gardens and woodland, visitors can relax in the coach house and enjoy a light lunch or delicious afternoon tea with homemade cakes. 

Hole Park opening times vary throughout the year; please click the link below for more information.

Knole

Knole offers something for everyone, and tourists have visited its showrooms for some 400 years. This National Trust gem sits within Kent’s last medieval deer park and was originally built as an archbishop’s palace before passing to the Sackville family, who still live here today.  

Explore the grand courtyards and tranquil orangery or wander the winding paths in the parkland, still populated by wild deer. The Gatehouse Tower boasts panoramic views from the rooftop and art lovers will find Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck to admire. There are also 17th-century tapestries and furniture on display. Knole is currently in the midst of a huge conservation project and visitors can watch conservators caring for its treasures in the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio.

Self-catering cottages in Kent

Find seven (or more) of your own wonders when you search through our amazing collection of properties right here in the Garden of England. You're never far from a field of flowers that carpets the countryside when you stay in our Kent countryside cottages. Or if you crave the coast, why not check out our seaside cottages in Kent? Whatever you’re after, we have something for you.