Hever Castle and Gardens

The gatehouse and walled bailey date from the late 13th century. In the early 1500s, the Bullen family bought the castle and built a Tudor house within the walls.

Anne Boleyn grew up at Hever Castle and was courted by Henry VIII there. After her execution, the Crown took it over. Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, later owned it.

The castle passed through several families until 1903 when it was bought by William Waldorf Astor. He restored the castle on a lavish scale and built a mock Tudor village to house the home farm and dairy. The gardens were landscaped in an Italian style.