It was King Henry VIII who first called Kent ‘the garden of England’, supposedly after being impressed by a plate of ripe Kentish cherries. Just a day’s ride from London and with its miles of pretty countryside, the county made the perfect playground for sovereigns and noblemen through the centuries. And of course, royals and their retinue needed somewhere suitably regal to stay, so it’s hardly surprising that Kent is home to an impressive array of castles, from fairytale homes to medieval military fortresses.
In addition to Kent’s appeal as a weekend retreat, its proximity to France was key, and many of its historic fortresses were built to defend against invasion from Europe. Such was the case with Kent’s most beloved castle, Hever, best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry
