There is nothing quite so quintessentially English as stately gardens and cream teas –the perfect combination for a day or an afternoon out.
That’s the basis of The Heart of Kent tourism new themed itineraries, centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells, and blessed with a richness of gardens varying from the formal gardens which surround stately homes such as Penshurst Place and Chartwell, to the smaller but no less fascinating gardens in private hands such as Hole Park Gardens or Godinton.
Many of the gardens offer cream teas – a chance to rest the legs, take in refreshment and gaze more leisurely at lush plants and clever garden schemes, before setting off home, well fortified by scones with jam and clotted cream accompanied by a good cup of tea.
And there are of course numerous gorgeous tea shops in the area; often charming cottages dispensing home made cakes and bonhomie in a picturesque setting (some with interesting collections such as teddy bears or teapots); or hotel lounges with dainty sandwiches and music softly playing in the background.
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Gorgeous Cream Tea Days Out
The Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells
Traditional afternoon tea and Champagne afternoon teas served each afternoon – booking advisable. Resident harpist on Sundays.
www.spahotel.co.uk
Groombridge Place
Romantic gardens surround a private moated house. Features include the Drunken Garden, Secret Garden and Oriental Garden. A canal with a boat and the Enchanted Forest, a woodland with sculptures, add extra dimensions. The house and gardens have featured in several film and TV programmes, most recently ‘Pride and Prejudice’ starring Keira Knightly.
www.groombridge.co.uk
Godinton House & Gardens
Historic house set amid beautiful gardens, including large walled garden with feature delphiniums, Wild Garden and Italianate garden. Teas available when house open.
www.godinton-house-gardens.co.uk
Peggoty’s Tea Shoppe, Tenterden
16th-century shop serving morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas with homemade scones and cakes and wide tea selection. Open daily.
01580 764393
Great Comp Garden, Platt
7-acre plantsman’s garden with formal and informal areas, created over the last 40 years. As well as many unusual plants, there are over 70 magnolias and planted urns are dotted around, along with homemade ‘ruins’! The Old Dairy Tea Rooms are open every afternoon.
www.greatcomp.co.uk
Teapot Island, Yalding
Something a little out of the ordinary – a riverside museum of over 5,000 teapots… a Guinness Book of Records entry! As well as an onsite potter doing demonstrations and teapots and paint-your-own pottery for sale, Teapot Island also has its own café which serves cream teas.
www.teapotisland.com
Hole Park Gardens, Rolvenden
Attractive 15-acre gardens with flowering throughout the year, including rhododendrons, bluebells and roses. Features include rare climbing wisteria, clipped yew hedges, formal and informal areas and great autumn displays. Small nursery shop and tea room.
www.holepark.com
George & Dragon Tea Room, Headcorn
Kentish Cream Teas served all day – over 30 types of tea; homemade meringues a speciality. Also morning coffee and lunches. Over 300 rescued teddy bears hidden among hops on display.
01622 890239
Chartwell, Westerham
Sir Winston Churchill’s beloved Kent home. The beautiful rose and water gardens were commissioned by the Churchills and you can also see the terraced hillside gardens, the walled kitchen garden with its Golden Rose Walk and the garden studio where Churchill painted. Several walks with Wealden views. Tea room.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
Penshurst Place, Penshurst
Formal gardens surrounding a historic house include an 11-acre Walled Garden, a Union Flag Garden, Italianate gardens, orchards and much more.
The Garden Tea Room offers coffee, light lunches and cream teas.
www.penshurstplace.com
Fir Tree House Tea Rooms, Penshurst
Tudor tea room with homemade cakes, log fire and summer garden. Open afternoons only.
01892 870382
The Watermark Restaurant, Eynsford
Award winning restaurant, run by well-known chef Guy Massey, at the foot of the famous Eynsford Bridge. Serves cream teas.
www.thewatermarkrestaurant.co.uk
The Heart of Kent website offers itineraries, details of attractions and places to eat and online accommodation booking of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels.
Visit www.visitheartofkent.com