Henry VIII’s love of hunting is legendary. He spent many hours in the saddle chasing stags, deer, and wild boar through the Royal parks and forests. This tour takes in Penshurst Place, one of his hunting lodges, as well as nearby Hever Castle, where his second wife, Anne Boleyn, grew up.

During Henry’s reign, he acquired several hunting lodges, (sometimes at a heavy cost to the owners!) and secured the protection of hunting grounds and forests all over the country. Hunting in Tudor times was a means of networking, a way of wielding influence and displaying wealth. Henry wrote of his love of hunting in his letters to Anne Boleyn, and sometimes sent her as a gift the animal he had killed that day.

The 3rd Duke of Buckingham entertained Henry lavishly at a party at Penshurst Place in 1519 that cost over a million pounds in today’s money. The Duke was supposedly overheard boasting that he was more ‘royal’ than Henry, which the King took to be proof of treason, promptly had the Duke executed, and took Penshurst Place for himself.

Hever Castle:
Open daily from 26th March - 28th October
Grounds open at 10.30am.
Castle opens at 12.00 noon.

Penshurst Place:
Open daily from 30th March - 28th October
Garden & grounds 10.30am - 18.00pm.
House 12.00 noon - 16.00pm.

• HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS
• VISIT KENT - HEVER CASTLE
• PENSHURST PLACE & GARDENS
• VISIT KENT - PENSHURST PLACE