Hever Castle

Hever Castle stands beside the village of Hever in Kent, thirty miles south-east of London. Built in the 13th century as a country house, it became the Boleyn family home from 1462 until 1539. Anne Boleyn, later Henry VIII’s second queen, spent her childhood here after her father inherited the property in 1505. The castle passed to Henry after Anne’s execution, then to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Grade I listed today, it remains in private ownership under the Guthrie family’s Broadland Properties. The castle’s three main building periods show its changing roles. The oldest part, dating to 1270, includes the gatehouse and walled bailey. In 1462 Geoffrey Boleyn turned it into a Tudor manor within the walls. William Waldorf Astor restored the castle in the 20th century, adding the Tudor village and Italian Garden. Henry VIII’s private lock, taken on his travels, is still on display. The grounds feature a yew hedge maze planted in 1904 and a water maze opened in 1999. Inside, visitors find three floors of antique furniture, Anne Boleyn’s prayer books and Tudor paintings. The gatehouse holds England’s oldest working portcullis. Gardens include an Italianate garden, rose garden, herb garden and topiary. The grounds also offer a children’s adventure playground with a tower maze and three restaurants set among the gardens. Films and television series have used the castle as a filming location, including Star Wars and The Great.