I explored a festive dog-friendly light trail set in the grounds of the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, just 60 minutes drive from south east London.
Marking its 17th year, Hever Castle and Gardens in Kent is returning for another year of festivities including a light trail, a beautifully decorated castle and Santa in his grotto.
The trail is set within the grounds of Hever Castle and this year I visited it with my family to see what it was like.
What you need to know
When is it on until?
The light trail is on until January 1. The Castle is open from 11:30am, and the light trail is available from 4pm, with the last exit at 8:30pm.
Where is it?
Address: Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG
Hever Castle is located near Edenbridge just a 60-minute drive from south London.
The nearest train station is Hever station.
How much is it?
Daytime tickets, giving guests admission to the castle between 11:30 and 6pm, cost £22 for adults and £13:50 for children aged between 5 and 17.
Twilight tickets, giving you entry from 4pm until 8:30pm, cost £25 for adults and £15 for children aged 5 to 17.
Carers and children aged under 4 can enter free.
Dog-friendly
The trail is also dog-friendly and there were plenty of dogs in attendance clad in festive jumpers on the night. The cafés also provide dog treats for your furry companions too.
The Castle
Until January 1, 2024 Hever Castle will be decorated for the festive season, complete with Christmas trees, garlands, twinkling lights and roaring fires to toast yourself by.
Hever Castle was the former childhood home of Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn before it became a home for a number of different families from 1557, including the Waldegraves, the Humphreys and the Meade Waldos.
The castle itself is small and only takes around 30 minutes to explore at a leisurely pace. The different rooms are decorated in different colour schemes and themes.
The castle closes by 7pm, so I’d recommend doing this first before starting the light trail, to ensure you have enough time to see the castle before it closes for the evening.
The light trail
Unlike other trails I’ve been on, this trail isn’t a one-way system, but you are offered a map at the start of the trail with directions of where to visit to see the different installations.
However, most of the trail offers a casual approach and allows visitors to meander about as they like, although the Lost in the Forest Christmas trail is one attraction as it tells a story in order.
In total the trail took about an hour and a half at a leisurely pace, with a pit-stop for an obligatory hot chocolate.
During the trail you’ll see some of Hever Castle’s famous landmarks, from the Diana Walk to the lake lit up for Christmas.
You’ll spot a range of installations from modern technicolored lights to projections of falling snowflakes.
Although I think the star of the show had to be the Space trail, where visitors walk underneath large installations of the different planets of the solar system, accompanied by atmospheric music.
This is a prime photo-taking opportunity and one you don’t want to mis.
The trail also features its star attraction this year, which is the Lost in the Festive Forest trail, that tells the story of Red the squirrel and Ted the lost bear as he tries to find his way home.
This trail features a variety of adorable miniature houses and buildings lit up for Christmas, along with an array of woodland creatures you can spot on the trail.
This trail was whimsical and charming and it honestly made me have the strong urge to procure a dollhouse despite being aged 29.
Most of the trail can be completed without stairs, except for areas around the Lake and Diana’s Walk, although most of the terrain is uneven due to it running through woodland areas.
Other things to do
- Shop for gifts at the Hever Shop and Courtyard Shop, selling everything from gifts to Christmas decorations, open daily until 5:30pm.
- Take a ride at the fairground situated in front of Hever Castle, which features a miniature train, a carousel and a ferris wheel.
- Grab a hot drink at one of the food stalls in the funfair or at the Moat Café or Moat Kiosk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here