Lullingstone Castle

#113 among destinations in the United Kingdom

Museum, History museum

Gallery (7)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Agadant / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Michael Coppins / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Nigel Chadwick / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Agadant / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / mym / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ethan Doyle White / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ethan Doyle White / URL

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the idyllic Kent countryside, Lullingstone Castle is a hidden gem steeped in history and charm. This remarkable estate, with its origins dating back to the time of the Domesday Book, has been the family seat of the Hart Dyke family for over 20 generations. Though not a castle in the traditional sense, Lullingstone is a historic manor house that has been granted the title of "castle" due to its historical significance and longevity.

Today, Lullingstone Castle is celebrated not only for its rich heritage but also for its transformation into a captivating museum that offers visitors a glimpse into England's storied past. The house itself is a splendid example of Tudor architecture, with its elegant façade and well-preserved interior providing a stunning backdrop for the family's collection of artifacts and heirlooms.

Visitors to Lullingstone can explore an array of exhibits that tell the tale of the estate's fascinating history. From the grand rooms decked with portraits of the Hart Dyke ancestors to the treasured relics that have been amassed over centuries, each corner of the castle reveals a piece of the puzzle that is England's aristocratic legacy.

One of the highlights of Lullingstone Castle is the Queen Anne's drawing room, which has remained virtually untouched since the 18th century, offering an authentic experience of the period's domestic grandeur. Additionally, the castle grounds are home to one of England's oldest private chapels, dating back to the 15th century, which contains rare medieval wall paintings and stained glass.

Not only a museum, Lullingstone Castle is also celebrated for its horticultural achievements, with the World Garden containing plant species from across the globe, all meticulously curated by modern-day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke. This unique garden reflects the spirit of adventure and exploration that has characterized the estate throughout its history.

Alternative names: Coordinates: 51°21'28"N, 0°11'47"E

Location

Lullingstone ParkEnglandUnited Kingdom

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Day trips

Lullingstone Castle – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Eynsford Castle, Lullingstone Roman Villa, Otford Palace, Shoreham Aircraft Museum.

1.1 miNE
Forts and castles
Eynsford Castle, Dartford
30 min walk • Eynsford Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in Eynsford, Kent. Built on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon stone burh, the castle was constructed by William de Enysford, probably between 1085 and 1087, to protect the lands of Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury, from Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux.
0.4 miN
History museum, Museum, Historical place
Lullingstone Roman Villa, Sevenoaks
11 min walk • Lullingstone Roman Villa is a villa built during the Roman occupation of Britain, situated in Lullingstone near the village of Eynsford in Kent, south eastern England.
3.2 miS
Palace
Otford Palace
82 min walk • Otford Palace, also known as the Archbishop's Palace, is in Otford, an English village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. The village is located on the River Darent, flowing north down its valley from its source on the North Downs. The King of Mercia, Offa, fought the Kentish Saxons in 776 at the Battle of Otford.
1.8 miSW
Specialty museum, History museum, Museum
Shoreham Aircraft Museum, Shoreham
48 min walk • The Shoreham Aircraft Museum is located in the village of Shoreham near Sevenoaks in Kent, England, on the south-east edge of Greater London.
2.5 miS
Park
Fackenden Down, Kent Downs
63 min walk • Fackenden Down is a 14-hectare nature reserve north of Sevenoaks in Kent. It is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust.
2.8 miSW
Park
Polhill Bank, Kent Downs
72 min walk • Polhill Bank is a 4-hectare nature reserve south of Shoreham, which is north of Sevenoaks in Kent. It is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. It is in Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This chalk grassland site is on a south-east slope.
3.3 miS
Park
Kemsing Down, Kemsing
85 min walk • Kemsing Down is a 16-hectare nature reserve north of Sevenoaks in Kent. It is managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust. It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Habitats in this downland site include ancient and secondary woodland, scrub and chalk grassland.
3.4 miN
Park
Swanley Park
87 min walk • The Swanley New Barn Railway is a 7 ¹⁄₄ in gauge railway located in Swanley Park, Swanley, Kent, United Kingdom. It is signalled throughout with the signals being controlled from New Barn Station which also serves as a terminus.
3.5 miSE
Windmill
West Kingsdown Windmill, Kent Downs
89 min walk • West Kingsdown Windmill is a Grade II listed smock mill in West Kingsdown, Kent, England, that was built in the early nineteenth century at Farningham and moved to West Kingsdown in 1880. It is the survivor of a pair of windmills.
3.4 miSW
Church, Gothic Revival architecture
St Margaret's Church, Halstead
87 min walk • St Margaret's Church is an Anglican parish church in the village of Halstead and the Sevenoaks deanery, although the church also serves the village of Badgers Mount. St Katharine's and St Margaret's came together in 1983 as a United Benefice under one parish priest.
3.7 miSW
Museum
Polhill Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Kent Downs
95 min walk • Polhill Anglo-Saxon cemetery is a place of burial that was used in the seventh and eighth centuries CE. It is located close to the hamlet of Polhill, near Sevenoaks in Kent, South-East England.