Cavorting in Kent
by Take the Family
15 April 2008
A lovely spring morning and we are knee-deep in daffodils trying to work out how to storm a large wooden cowboy’s fort, while avoiding a huge dinosaur made of wicker. We are in the Enchanted Forest in Groombridge, a truly excellent place and only an hour out of London (it’s true, I timed it!). As part of Takethefamily’s new section on ‘great places to stay with a family an hour from London’, I have come to the heart of Kent and am whiling away the hours before I go and try out our chosen B&B. This area is full of fantastic things to do with children, young and old. If you have children who are doing the Tudors at school, then the Weald of Kent is a must. There is Hever Castle just up the road, replete with moats and mazes and secret passages, not to mention the bed that Henry VIII slept in. There is also Penshurst Place, another wonderful Tudor house, which was the location for the new film ‘The other Boleyn Girl’ and also full of armour and drama and beautiful gardens.
I have cleverly found an actual Tudor building to sleep in as well, although its even better than that; its heart is medieval and it struggles up a small hill in Tudor and then Edwardian sections. Its name is Hoath House and its set in a fabulous garden with views overlooking Ashdown Forest near Chiddingstone Hoath. We entered after dusk, when the polished floors and rows of ancestral paintings had taken on a slightly mysterious hue. My son was convinced we were in a Scooby Doo set and it certainly had that air about it. We got settled into our enormous family-sized room with views over the garden and went off to get a delicious meal at the nearby pub ‘The Bottle House’, which is a proper Kentish pub and very friendly to children. Back for a bath in the beautiful Art Deco bathroom, my son to sleep in a bunk bed and I can retire to the library to read my Agatha Christie. It’s a perfect book for this house, which not only has the air of a Scooby Doo mystery, but also one of faded Edwardian glamour – the ideal setting for a country house mystery. I have the library to myself, an enormous fire and rows of books. I am as happy as Larry. Although you would not come here for the mod cons, all the important things are amply catered for. The beds are very comfortable with good sheets, the rooms are well heated, the breakfast delicious and sourced locally, (rhubarb from the garden, sausages from the pigs down the road) and it has all the atmosphere and charm in the world.
I’ve only been away a couple of nights, but because it’s so easy to get to from London, I’ve had three whole days worth of holiday. I feel like I’ve done an enormous amount and really enjoyed being in the country, the trip back on Friday night was easy and I managed to slip in a quick(ish!) visit to Bluewater as well. I definitely recommend both the area and Hoath House for an easy and delightful getaway.
Things to do nearby:
Penshurst Place – wonderful house and gardens with toy museum, venture playground and regular events for children.
www.penshurstplace.com
Hever Castle – 13th Century moated castle with miniature houses, boating lake, water maze, yew maze, wooden maze and a great adventure playground
www.hevercastle.co.uk
Groombridge Place Gardens and Enchanted Forest – mysterious, fantastical forest fully of swings, serpents, dragons, ponds and other entertainments, also birds of prey, peacocks etc.
www.groombridge.co.uk
Bedgebury National Pinetum – 2,000 acre forest with great play area, cycle trails and visitor centre – becomes Lapland over Christmas holidays…
www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk
The Hop Farm – an award winning attraction with Shire horses and Animal Farm and Pet Corner, lots of special events and shows – a great place for a feel of real Kent.
www.thehopfarm.co.uk
Spa Valley Railway – steam trains from Tunbridge Wells to Groombridge via the wonderful High Rocks, Thomas the Tank Engine can often be found working this line!
www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk
and much, much more…
Take the Family
April 2008
Useful information about Kent:
Georgina and son stayed at Hoath House in the village of Chiddingstone Hoath.
See Take the Family's Kent destination guide.
Other feature articles by Take the Family
