HeverCastlePressDiary2017forGroups

SituatedinthebeautifulWealdofKent,romanticHeverCastle&GardensisfamousforbeingthechildhoodhomeofAnneBoleyn,secondwifeofHenryVIIIandmotherofQueenElizabethI.Itscombinationofcolourfulhistory,gloriousaward-winninggardensandpopularattractionsmakeitamemorabledayoutforvisitorsofallagesandinterests.Theoriginalmedievalcastlewithitsgatehouseandwalledbaileywasbuiltin1270,withtheTudordwellingaddedwithinitswallsbythepowerfulBoleynfamilywholivedatHeverduringthe15thand16thcenturies.Itssplendidpanelledroomscontainfinefurniture,tapestries,twoBooksofHourssignedandinscribedbyAnneBoleynandanimportantcollectionofTudorportraitsdescribedbyDavidStarkeyas“oneofthebestcollectionsofTudorportraitsaftertheNationalPortraitGallery.”HavingpurchasedtheHeverCastleEstatein1903,Americanmulti-millionaireWilliamWaldorfAstorcreatedthemagnificentgardenstoshowcasehisuniquecollectionofancientGreekandRomanstatuarycollectedwhilehewasAmericanAmbassadortoItaly.LaidoutbyJosephChealandSonbetween1904-1908,eachareahasitsownstyleandcharacter,fromthemagnificentItalianGardenwiththemajesticLoggiawhichoverlooksthe38-acrelake,totheTudorGardenandWalledRoseGardencontainingover4,000fragrantroses.OneoftheseistheHeverCastleRose(Horquinsey)withitsvelvetydeepblooms,launchedbyDameJudiDenchwhodescribesHeverCastleasoneofherfavouriteBritishlandmarks.ThebreathtakinggardensatHeverCastlereceivedaGoldAwardandwontheHeritageParks&Gardenscategoryatthe2016South&SouthEastinBloomawards.ChildrencanletoffsteamintheAdventurePlaygroundwhilevisitorsofallagesenjoythechallengeoffindingtheirwaythroughtheWaterMazeand100yearoldYewMaze.SteamboattripsandrowingboathireareavailablefromtheEdwardianboathouse(schoolholidaysandweekends,April–Sept,weatherpermitting).There’safascinatingcollectionofMiniatureModelHousesfrommedievaltimestotheVictorianageinapermanentdisplayadjoiningtheGiftShop.TheHeverGiftandPlantShopsstockabeautifularrayofexclusivegifts,souvenirs,localproduce,books,plantsandshrubs.Andforvisitorslookingtomakeadayofit,theMoatandGuthriePavilionRestaurantsofferawideselectionofhotandcoldfoodandrefreshments.WHAT’SNEWFOR2017Astor’sGardenLegacyHeverCastle’snewgardenexhibitionwasofficiallyopenedbycelebritygardenerRacheldeThameinJune2016.TheinteractivedisplaytracestherestorationanddevelopmentofthestunninggardensfromTudortimestothepresentday.

AnneofClevesCarvedPanellingAbeautifullycarved16thcenturypieceofwoodenpanellingbearingtheinsigniaofHenryVIII’sfourthwife,AnneofCleves,willgoondisplayinHeverCastlein2017.BelievedtobefromherstatelyhomeinLondon,thispanelistheonlypieceofAnneofCleves’interiorthatisprivatelyowned.TulipCelebrationsWith7000tulipbulbsplantedinthegroundsinreadiness,thisbrandnewgardeneventwillprovideastunningvisualfeast.TakingplaceonApril24–28andMay2-7(excludingbankholidayweekend),guidedtoursareavailabletopre-bookwithheadgardenerNeilMiller.Thetulip‘hotspots’willbeinandaroundtheCastleandCastleforecourt,aswellasintheItalianGarden.AnneBoleynRoseAsthechildhoodhomeofAnneBoleyn,HeverCastle&Gardensishonouringtheillustriousqueenbyplantinghernamesakeflower.ThestunningAnneBoleynrosewithitssoft,warmpinkflowers,doublebloomandlightfragrancewillbeplantedenmassearoundHalfMoonPond.LuxuryB&BAccommodationinrecentlyrefurbishedAnneBoleynWingHeverCastlehasaddedninestunningnewbedroomstoitsluxuryBed&Breakfastaccommodation,bringingthetotalnumberofroomsavailabletotwentyeight.VisitorswantingtostayinthebeautifulWealdofKentcanbookroomsintheAnneBoleynWinguptosixmonthsinadvance.Theaccommodationhasbeengivena‘FiveStar’awardbyVisitEnglandinrecognitionofexceptionalqualityandallresidentscanexpectsuperiorserviceplusfreeentrytotheCastleandGardensduringtheirstay.Heverhasalsobeenawardedthe2016TripAdvisorCertificateofExcellenceasbothaVisitorAttractionandforitsluxuryB&BAccommodation.SelectionofSpecialEventsin2017Admissionpriceincludesentrytospecialeventsexceptwherestated.Alldatesanddetailscorrectattimeofprinting.Pleasecheckwebsiteforuptodateinformation.SnowdropWalk:February11–March5(weatherdependent)Followatrailofthousandsofsnowdropsstartingtoemergefromtheirwinterhibernation–thefirstsignthatspringisjustaroundthecorner.Thenstrollthroughthegardensandenjoytheearlyblossomsofcamelliaandquince.NEW!TulipCelebrations:April24–28&May2–7(excludingbankholidayweekend)Beupliftedby7000tulipbulbsproudlystandingtoattentionandprovidingavisualfeastofspringcolour.Guidedtoursavailabletopre-bookwithheadgardenerNeilMiller.MayDayFestival:April29–May1TraditionalcelebrationstowelcomeinthespringfromthemythicalGreenManoffolkloreandJack-in-the-GreenplusMaypoledancingontheCastleforecourt.

Hever’sHomeFront:June24–25DiscoverwhatlifeandworkwaslikeduringtheSecondWorldWar.LookoutfordemonstrationsfromHomeGuardre-enactors,visittheteadancetent,explorevintagestallsandleantoswing-dance.Comein1940sdressandroundthedayoffwithatraditionalafternoontea.HeverinBloom:June26–July2ExperiencethequintessentialEnglishRoseGardenattheheightofitssummerbeautywithguidedtoursoftheaward-winningGardensandafloristryworkshopwithHever’sflorist.ManyoftheCastleroomswillbefilledwithstunningfloralarrangementscreatedbyourfloristandgardenteam.SummerJoustingTournaments:July15&16;22&23;29&30andAugust12&13;19&20and25-28TheKnightsofRoyalEnglandreturntobattleitoutattheannualJoustingTournament.Spectatorswillbetreatedtoathrillingdisplayofaction,stunts,fallsandfightsinanauthenticarenacompletewithRoyalBox.HopThroughHistoryandJousting:August26-28Tudorencampment,re-enactmentsandstallswithmorethrillsandspillsasourbraveknightscompeteinthisyear’sJoustingTournamentovertheBankHoliday.Handmade&HomegrownFestival:September1-3Celebrateallthingshandmade,homegrownandlocallyproducedintheheartofthegloriousKentcountryside.Demonstrationsfromskilledcraftspeople;localcraftandfoodstalls;artdisplays.FeaturestheannualPatchworkandQuiltingExhibitionwithworkshopsforchildrenandadultbeginners.AutumnColour:October1–29Astheairturnscrispandarichdisplayofautumncolourenvelopsthecountryside,headtoHeverCastletoenjoythecrunchofleavesunderfootandspectaculardisplaysofyellow,redandorangefoliage.TheCastleisatitsmostphotogenicduringtheautumnmonthswhentheBostonIvyonthefrontturnsavividshadeofred.ChristmasatHeverCastle:November25–December24BeautifullydecoratedCastlerooms,welcominglogfiresandtwinklingChristmastreescelebratingthetraditionsofChristmas.BringthechildrentomeetFatherChristmas,enjoyrelaxedChristmasshoppingintheGiftShops,andsampledeliciousfestivefoodintherestaurants.Asduskfalls,thegardensaremagicallyilluminatedwithup-lightingandcolourwashes.2017AdmissionPricesandOpeningTimesforGroupsGroupAdmission: Groupratesfor15ormorepersonswhenthegrouparrivesinthegrounds

together.Thetotalmustbepaidinoneamount.Entrypriceincludesadmissiontospecialeventsexceptwherestated.Wewelcomevisitorswithdisabilitiesandofferdiscountedratesforgroupswhohaveaspecialneed.

Castle&Gardens: Adult: £12.90 Senior: £12.00 Student(16-19)£10.00

Child(5-15): £7.00Gardensonly: Adult £10.90

Senior £10.35 Student(16-19)£8.60

Child(5-15) £6.70PrivateGuidedTours(PGT):Groupsof15+;Mustbepre-bookedandcommencebetween10.00amand10.30GardensOnly+GardenTour: £16.50ppCastle&Gardens+GardenTour: £18.50ppCastle&Gardens+CastleTour: £20.20(adult/senior);£15.00(student);£11.00(child)Castle&Gardens+Castle&GardenTour: £30.00pp MultimediaGuide Group £3.25Individual £3.752017OpeningTimes: Gardensopenat10.30am;Castleopensat12noonEarlySpringSeason: Feb11–19(daily)HalfTerm Feb20–Mar31(Wed–Sun)10.30am–3.00pm;Finalexit4.30pm(Castle12noon–3.30pm)MainSeason: Apr1–Oct29(daily)10.30am–4.30pm;Finalexit6.00pm(Castle12noon–5.00pm) WinterSeason: Oct30–Nov24(Wed–Sun)10.30am–3.00pm;Finalexit4.30pm(Castle12noon–3.30pm)ChristmasSeason: Nov25–Dec10(Wed–Sun)

Dec11–24(Daily)10.30am–4.30pm;Finalexit6.00pm(Castle12noon–5.00pm)Dec27–Jan12017(Groundsonlyticketprice)10.30am–3.00pm;Finalexit4.30pm(Castle12noon–3.30pm) Wehavealongestablishedreputationforofferingexcellentservicetogrouptravelorganisersandthetraveltrade.OurGroupVisitsCoordinatorisavailabletohelpplanauniqueandmemorableexperienceforyourgroup.Contact:01732861701orgroups@hevercastle.co.uk.Officehours:Monday–Friday9.00am–5.30pm.

Accessibility:PleaseconsideraccesstotheCastleandgroundsaccordingtoyourindividualneeds.YoucanseekadvicefromtheGroupVisitsCoordinatorpriortoyourvisit,oronthedayfromtheInformationCentreorVisitorExperienceAssistants.WheelchairsareavailableforhireandamobilitybuggyoperatesthroughoutthedaybetweentheMainEntranceandInformationCentre.ItisnotpossibletousemobilityscootersorpushchairsintheCastleandwheelchairscannotbetakenupstairs.Foryourownsafetyweadvisewheelchairandmobilityscooterskeeptothehardsurfacedshinglepaths.DirectionsandParking:HeverCastleislocated30milesfromcentralLondon,threemilesSEofEdenbridge,betweenSevenoaksandEastGrinstead.Itcanbereachedviajunction10oftheM25,andissignpostedfromjunction5&6oftheM25,andtheHildenborough(B245)exitfromtheA21.Informationaccurateattimeofprinting.HeverCastlereservestherighttocloseallorpartofthecastleandgroundsandtochangeorcancelevents.Intheeventofadverseweatherconditionspleasecheckbeforetravellingonwww.hevercastle.co.ukortelephonetheinformationlineon01732865224forupdate.

ImagesofHeverCastleandSpecialEventsavailableonrequestForPR&Marketing,pleasecontact:MareePickford,DigitalMarketingAssistant:01732861709,emailmpickford@hevercastle.co.ukorSarahCole,Marketing&CommunicationsManager:01732861710,emailscole@hevercastle.co.uk

HeverCastle&Gardens|Hever|Edenbridge|KentTN87NG01732865224|hevercastle.co.uk