Tucked away in the outskirts of Sevenoaks (on the Tunbridge Wells side), we visited Riverhill Himalayan Gardens for the first time a few weeks ago.

I had always wondered what the Himalayan Gardens were like after passing by the entrance many times over the years, so I was really looking forward to our visit one sunny Sunday.

We decided to take the buggy with us, and although we were able to get around with it, my 2.5 year old really doesn’t need it any more and we used it mainly for ferrying our picnic paraphernalia around.

As it’s quite ‘hilly,’ it is generally easier to go buggy-free if you can. That said, there were plenty of families with young babies in strollers who seemed to be getting on fine.

We started off our visit with a stroll through the gardens and into a big field with some of the oldest and most beautiful trees.

The boys enjoyed running on ahead of us and discovering the winding little paths leading to different sections of the gorgeous gardens. I’m not a plant expert (possible understatement of the year) but I loved the whole feel of the place which seemed to have got the balance between manicured gardens and natural beauty just right!

Once we reached what I thought was the top of the hill, we discovered the Himalayan Hedge Maze, which we could have stayed at for hours! There was much excitement from my 2 and 5 year olds about having free reign in a maze like this and there were a few hairy moments when I thought I had lost both of them (much to their amusement). Luckily the hedges are quite low, making it easier to keep track of them.

The next part of our adventure was getting to the top of the Little Everest Viewpoint which has some amazing views over the Kent countryside. There’s a flag at the top and there were a few families picnicking there, though it was a little too windy for me!

The woods are next to the viewpoint and as it was coming to the end of bluebell season, I was determined to get some snaps of the boys amongst the them! I have never seen so many bluebells in one place and it was truly magical walking around there. If only the boys would actually pose for some photos, I would have been able to get some really good ones!

There are dens scattered throughout the forest with lots of opportunity for den building throughout. There’s a very relaxed feel to the place and the kids can roam free, build their own secret dens and spend time outdoors being creative.

We were there in the morning, but later that day, the elusive yeti made an appearance – something which happens regularly. He is apparently more likely to make an appearance between 2-4pm on weekends and school holidays!

The Adventure Playground is next to the forest and fits in really well with the landscape, with lots of natural looking play-frames, slides and more. Specially designed as a ‘Plant Hunters Hideout,’ this is probably geared more for school age children, though my 2 year old did enjoy himself and spent most of his time in the big treehouse.

We had our picnic under the gazebo in the stunning Walled Garden just as it began to rain (good timing) though I had a look into the cafe and the food looked delicious, along with plenty of cake too. There’s also a children’s play shed at the cafe with some toys to keep them occupied too.

Riverhill Himalayan Gardens often host children’s workshops and family events and the boys enjoyed making ‘Marble Mazes’ on the day we went. The workshops take place indoors (so not weather dependent) and the staff who were running the workshops were so helpful and friendly when we went. The boys were very proud of their creations and it was a nice memento to take home after a fantastic family day out!

Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is open for the 2017 season until Sunday 10th September from Wednesday to Sunday (inclusive) and Bank Holidays.

The opening hours are 10.30am to 5pm – day tickets can be purchased at the entrance and annual passes are available too.

There are several exciting events taking place over the coming months including Wild Crowns, Clay Creatures and a Summer Scavenger Hunt which you can find out more about HERE.

Address: Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0RR
Website:  Visit Riverhill Himalayan Gardens HERE