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Returning to Hever Castle - A True Tudor Gem And a Wonderful Family Day Out


Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

**We paid to visit Hever Castle ourselves and all words and opinions are entirely our own, as always.

Last weekend we decided to take our boys to Hever Castle in Kent, a place we fell in love with two years ago when we stayed there for our wedding anniversary. Hever Castle if you don't already know was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and previous Queen of England and as you'll know if you are a regular reader of my blog, I am utterly obsessed with royal English history, particularly the Tudor era - Hever Castle, therefore, is a pure slice of heaven to me.

There's something about Hever Castle, even besides the connection to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, it's hard to put into words, but it really is one of the most romantic places I've ever visited. The grounds and the gardens are just exquisite - there's so much to explore, see and do in the grounds, for all ages. And the castle itself is simply majestic, personally, I love that the castle isn't huge, though when I say that I don't mean it's small, because I'd still get lost in there within the many rooms and the different corridors, but it's not overpoweringly big. It's modest but still magnificently charming. 

If you're Tudor fan like I am, than Hever Castle is a must, the history of Hever Castle is fascinating you will feel all of the emotions as you wander around the castle and the grounds wondering what it would have been like to be a young Anne Boleyn, future Queen of England. But even if you're not hugely into your royal British history, Hever Castle will still capture your heart and your emotions. 

It's the sort of place that you could have the most wonderful day out as a couple, or a super reflective and interesting day out alone or the greatest day out as a family, it's an all-rounder that ticks so many boxes for all the family. And our day out at the weekend as a family taking our boys, matched up to the amazing time that Adam and I had when we went as just a couple for our anniversary. I took tons of photographs at the weekend and I thought I'd share with you some of my favourites that also show some of my favourite parts of Hever Castle.. 

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,






Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

If you visit Hever Castle with children, then don't miss the playground, we all agreed that it is the most impressive children's playground that we've ever visited. First of all, it's huge and has many sections to it and second of all one of the sections to it is an actual wooden castle! And inside the wooden castle is a whole children's play centre, there are even slides built into it and a super exciting secret tunnel with a secret entrance and exit too! We've visited a lot of places as a family for the children, but no other playground has topped Hever Castle's playground! It's a hidden gem! 

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out, Hevrr castle playground, play area never castle,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Also don't miss the opportunity to grab an ice cream, the ice creams at Hever are amazing!

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
Another thing not to miss is the garden (or Yew) maze, it's a lot of fun for the children and the adults.

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever castle water maze, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

There's even a water maze in the grounds of Hever Castle and it's so much fun for both adults and children trying to navigate the walkways towards the stone grotto in the center whilst avoiding the hidden jets hidden within the stones. 

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Does it get any more beautiful than this?

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
jousting hever castle, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

We chose a weekend when the jousting event was on. We've seen the jousting show twice now and it's absolutely amazing. The knights all put SO much into performing not only with skill but through their personalities too. They make it so fun to watch, have people laughing throughout and even get all of the children involved at the start of the show. They're also joined by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn themselves too! 

jousting hever castle, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
henry viii hever castle, anne boleyn hever castle, jousting never castle, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

jousting never castle, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
I can't look at Hever Castle and not feel spellbound, it's one of the most charming places you can visit in the UK in my opinion.

anne boleyn wedding gift, henry viii
A replica of the wedding gift Henry gave to Anne.

mary boleyn, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Mary Boleyn, who was Anne's sister and Henry's former mistress.

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
A much older picture of Hever Castle.

astor family drawing room, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
A drawing or sitting room renovated and modernised by the Astor family who bought Hever Castle in 1903.

Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

anne boleyn, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
A picture of Anne Boleyn.

anne boleyn bedroom, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

This is the view from is said to have been Anne Boleyn's bedroom when she was a child. Obviously, the view would have been quite a bit different back then, but it's still incredible to think this would have been where her bedroom window was and where she would have potentially looked out of.

anne boleyn bedroom, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,

This is the room that is said to have been Anne Boleyn's as a child. I spent so long in here just stood taking it all in. It's a small room for what was supposed to be a bedroom, a bedroom that she perhaps shared with her sister Mary, but that makes Anne feel more relatable despite that fact that her family particularly her Mother had noble connections, Anne wasn't born a princess and probably never expected to one day be Queen of England. 

tudor rose, Hever Castle Day Out With kids, Hever Castle, Hever castle family day out,
A Tudor rose engraving in Anne's bedroom.

anne boleyns prayer books, anne boleyn book of hours, hever castle
One of two of Anne Boleyn's own prayer books or Book of Hours as they are also known
.
anne of cleves hever castle

The combined coat of arms of Henry and Anne boleyn, hever castle
The combined coat of arms of Henry and Anne.

anne boleyn hever castle

picture of Queen Elizabeth I (Anne and Henrys daughter).
A picture of Queen Elizabeth I (Anne and Henrys daughter).

edward vi hever castle

A picture of Edward VI, Henry's son and heir by his third wife Jane Seymour. He died aged 15 after being crowned King age 9.

henry viii bedroom hever castle

This bedroom was thought to have been slept in by Henry VIII and the ceiling in this room is the oldest in the castle.

long gallery hever castle

The Long Gallery contains 18 original portraits hung in dynastic order starting with Henry VI and ending with Henry VIII. 

So as you can see, Hever Castle is a true Tudor gem and a place that our family will continue to stay in love with and return to visit over the years. 

You can see a short video of our day out over on my YouTube channel as well as embedded below. :)

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Thank you for reading. 
  Alex xo

5 comments

  1. You have some gorgeous photos of Hever Castle. What beautiful architecture. The bedroom looks very grand and fit for a king literally. One day we will visit, if it was closer to us I'd have already visited.

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  2. I’ve never been to Hever Castle before but it looks gorgeous and such a great day out for a family x

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  3. What an amazing looking place Hever Caster looks like! It looks like they have so much to offer as well, from the beautiful gardens to amazing interior and kids are going to love the play area.

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  4. Ooh my best friend is a huge Tudor fan but I don't recall her mentioning that she has visited her - this may be the perfect birthday treat for her

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  5. That play park looks amazing, I love how much effort has been put into making it! I’m glad you had fun with the family and that ice cream looks great too xx

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