ad. If you’re looking for a peaceful family day out this summer that combines beautiful gardens, history, delicious homemade food and excellent value for money, Chiddingstone Castle is well worth adding to your list.

Just 20 minutes from Tunbridge Wells, this hidden gem has long been one of my favourite places to escape for a few hours. While the Castle itself is fascinating to explore, the Tea Room also keeps drawing us back time and time again.

One of Kent’s Most Beautiful Tea Rooms

One of the highlights of any visit has to be the Chiddingstone Castle Tea Room (open Thursday to Sunday, except when the Castle is closed for private events). Whether you choose to sit inside the charming traditional tea room or outside in the picturesque courtyard, it’s the sort of place you’ll find yourself wanting to linger.

Surrounded by historic Castle buildings, colourful planting and the peaceful atmosphere of the estate, the courtyard is a particularly lovely spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch or afternoon tea on a sunny day.

The menu includes homemade cakes, freshly baked scones, cream teas, traditional English afternoon tea (available by pre-booking only) and a selection of light lunches, all served with table service. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and other dietary requirements can also be catered for – simply let your server know when ordering.

It’s wonderfully relaxed, family-friendly and surrounded by some of the prettiest countryside in Kent. Even if you don’t explore the Castle itself, the Tea Room alone is well worth the visit.

Great Value Family Days Out

If you are planning to explore the Castle, one of the things I love most is just how good value it is.

The Family Annual Ticket (£35 for 2 adults and up to 3 children) allows unlimited entry to the Castle for an entire year, making it ideal if you think you’ll visit more than once. Rather than trying to fit everything into a single visit, you can return throughout the seasons and enjoy the changing gardens, exhibitions and family activities.

For local families, it’s one of those memberships that quickly pays for itself.

A Lovely Low-Cost Summer Activity

If you’re simply looking for something to entertain the children during the summer holidays, there’s another fantastic option.

For just £2 per person, children can pick up a Summer Trail sheet from the main Castle entrance. The trail leads families around the beautiful Castle grounds, encouraging little explorers to discover different features along the way before collecting a small treat at the end.

It’s an affordable activity that gets everyone outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and stunning surroundings without needing to spend a fortune. Plus £1 from each sale goes to support Chiddingstone Youth Club. We had great fun doing this!

More Than ‘Just’ a Castle

Of course, if you’ve never been inside Chiddingstone Castle, it’s well worth exploring. Home to an eclectic collection of fascinating artefacts from around the world, the Castle offers something a little different from the grand stately homes you might expect. My childrens’ favourite is the Egyptian collection – check out the Ancient Egyptian coffin lid! There are also dressing up opportunities for the kids as well as an inside ‘spot the artefacts’ trail too…

Whether you come for the history, the gardens, the children’s trail or simply an excellent slice of homemade cake, Chiddingstone Castle offers one of those rare family days out that feels calm, unhurried and genuinely good value.

If you’re searching for somewhere close to Tunbridge Wells that everyone will enjoy this summer, I’d definitely recommend adding it to your list.