Knole Park, Kent
SEVENOAKS GUIDE
The county of Kent, situated in the southeast of England, is a treasure trove of grand properties and beautiful gardens packed with history and beauty.
Knole is definitely one of these places that you certainly wouldn’t want to miss if you’re in Kent.
We’ve both grown up in Kent and up until recently, we lived a 5-minute walk away from Knole. We’d come here early in the morning for sunrise and watch the mist rise over the hills, capture the beauty of the graceful deer roaming on the land and wander through the woods. It’s a wildlife photographers dream!
It’s a great picnic hotspot in the summer and also beautiful around the autumn time when the leaves start to turn colour. Whatever time of day or year it is, it’s a magical place to visit.
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This article is here to inspire your visit and give you the practical information you need to plan your day out, either just to Knole or a whole day out in the town of Sevenoaks, which is where Knole is located.
Why visit Knole park?
Knole Park is a 1000 acre site and is Kent’s last medieval deer park with over 350 free-roaming fallow and sika deer.
The fallow deer are native to Europe and resemble Bambi-like spots. The herd’s ancestors stretch back 500 years, meaning that Knole is one of the very few wild deer parks in England to have survived this length of time.
The Sika deer is a species of deer native to much of East Asia, and this species was introduced here in the 19th century. Now, both species of deer roam the land together.
Make sure you never touch or feed the deer. If they take on a scent of a human they will often be rejected. Many of the deer here are very friendly, because of being fed and touched by humans. So if a deer comes towards you just ignore them and walk away.
The park itself is beautiful and well worth a visit. But along with the park, you can also visit Knole House, which is part of the National Trust. Dating back to the mid 15th century and a former Archbishops Palace, it’s in the top 5 of Englands largest houses! The 600-year-old estate passed through royalty to the Sackville family, who still live there today.
Browse the incredible, rare collections of art and historical items in one of their showrooms. Or you can take a virtual tour of the house and collections here.
When to visit
In wintertime, we’d recommend you come early in the morning when it’s misty. Knole is especially scenic in the snow or frost.
In autumn, as the leaves start to turn to thire burnt yellows and oranges, this is a beautiful time to come for a walk or bike ride. These two seasons are when we’d suggest coming if you’re here to capture the deer in their full beauty. October and November is rutting season for the deer and this is when their antlers are fully grown.
Spring and summer are great times to have a picnic on the grounds or visit the cafe. Indulge in afternoon tea and eat on the rooftop, overlooking the grounds. This is also a brilliant time to visit Sevenoaks for the other suggestions we’d recommend (see more below.) The lavender fields and the gardens nearby look particularly spectacular in the summertime when the flowers are in full bloom.
Facilities & Parking
As of 2021, the outdoor spaces, courtyards, visitor centre, Brewhouse Café and shop are all open at Knole. Since the pandemic, you have to book the car park in advance online. The car park is a very short distance from Knole House.
The Brewhouse Café is currently open for takeaway and the Rooftop Terrace is open for outdoor seating.
Entry to the park, courtyards, book shop, cafe and conservation studio is free.
Entrance to the house including the Gate House, Gate House Tower and Great Hall is £10 for Adults, £5 for children and £25 for a family.
Carpark is £5
Admission for National Trust members is free (learn more about this below)
How to get to Knole Park
If you’re travelling to Sevenoaks from London it’s an easy 25-minute journey by train from London Bridge station. From the station, Knole Park is a 30-minute walk away.
Knole offers a free shuttle bus that runs to and from the train station and Knole on a continuous half-hourly loop. Click here to find out the dates and times this is available.
If you’re visiting the town centre as well as Knole, by car, then we’d suggest parking in the Sevenoaks Town Car Park. This is easily accessible to the town and Knole. An all-day ticket costs £5.50. Sundays and bank holidays are free.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
Head to our article “7 THINGS TO DO IN THE ENGLISH TOWN OF SEVENOAKS, KENT | FROM A LOCAL” for places to visit in the town of Sevenoaks. Here you’ll find all the suggestions you need to have a great day out in Sevenoaks, including places to visit, eat and drink.
Knole Park is within walking distance of the town centre which is filled with independent cafes and restaurants.
Within a short drive, you can take a walk at the Sevenoaks Nature Reserve. There are a number of different woodlands walks to take around the reserve, surrounded by 5 peaceful lakes and 7 bird hides for wildlife lovers.
Or if you’re a lover of gardens then we’d recommend a visit to the Riverhill Himalayan Gardens. Here they have over 12 acres of historic gardens to explore, with multiple styled gardens to visit. They have a garden for every season so all year round you can admire the beauty they’ve created.
➜ Booking.com link for places to stay in Sevenoaks
what is the National Trust?
The National Trust, founded in 1895, was started by 3 people who appreciated and saw the importance of their nation’s heritage. They wanted to protect the nature, history and beauty throughout their country. 125 years later the National Trust now look after over 500 historic houses, gardens, monuments and nature reserves, more than 775 miles of coastline and 250,000 hectares of countryside! No wonder it’s now the largest voluntary conservation organisation in Europe!
There are so many National Trust places to visit, especially in Kent. So if you’re visiting multiple places it might be worth getting a National Trust membership for the year. You can purchase a membership individually or buy a joint couple or family ticket to save money. You can find out more here.
Adult (+25) £84
Young person (18-25) £42
Family - £146.40
Other National Trust places nearby
Ightham Mote, 20 minutes from Knole, is a medieval moated manor house situated in Kent. This 700-year-old house was owned by Medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high society Victorians. It’s now owned by the National Trust and opens for the public to visit. Take a guided tour of the grounds and explore the picturesque courtyard and gardens.
Tickets - Adult £11, Children £5.50, Family £27.50
Admission for National Trust members is free
Emmetts Garden, 20 minutes from Knole, is an Edwardian estate, covering over 6 acres of land. The gardens contain exotic and rare species from all over the world and offer a panoramic view of one of the highest points in the Kent county.
Tickets - Adult £13, Children £6.50, Family £32.50
Admission for National Trust members is free
Scotney Castle, 30 minutes from Knole, is a 14th-century moated castle surrounded by scenic, romantic gardens. This picturesque estate is set on 770 acres of beautiful parkland, woodland and hop gardens.
Tickets - Adult £12, Children £6, Family £18
Admission for National Trust members is free
Do you have any recommendations for days out in Kent? Please let us know in the comments!
