Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour
1st April 2025
Here at Best Value Tours we are delighted to offer, new for 2025, Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour | Best Value Tours a great new tour seeing London, entry to the Tower of London and a visit to exciting Henry V111 Heaver Castle. Please find more details below and you can use this link to see full details and if you choose book Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour | Best Value Tours. But before that a little more of the history of Heaver Castle.
Tower of London
Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour | Best Value Tours
In Kent, England, Hever Castle is situated in the village of Hever, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48 km) southeast of London. Country home erected in the 13th century. It was the Boleyn (formerly ‘Bullen’) family seat from 1462 to 1539. After her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505, Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII, spent her childhood there. The castle belonged to him after his father, Sir William Boleyn, died. It later belonged to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife. The Guthrie family’s Broadland Properties owns the Grade I castle.
This mediaeval fortress was built in three phases. The gatehouse and walled bailey were the castle’s oldest parts from 1270. Sele, James Fiennes, and 1st Baron Saye owned it.Geoffrey Boleyn, younger brother of Thomas Boleyn, Master of Gonville Hall, Cambridge, transformed the castle into a manor in 1462 because it needed restoration. His Tudor home was built inside the walls. The third refurbishment happened in the 20th century when William Waldorf Astor bought it.
Thomas Boleyn, Geoffrey’s grandson, inherited the castle in 1505. He lived there with Lady Elizabeth Howard and their children George, Mary, and Anne (Henry VIII’s future bride). Anne may have been born in Hever, but she resided there until 1513, when she was transferred to the Netherlands to study under Archduchess Margaret. Henry VIII often courted Anne at Bolebroke Castle. The land passed to Henry VIII in 1539 after Anne’s father, Thomas Boleyn, died. He gave it to Anne of Cleves in 1540 as part of their annulment settlement. Henry VIII’s own lock, taken with him on his trips to noblemen’s houses and affixed to every door, remains at Hever Castle. By David Cox Jr., Hever Castle from the Moat, approximately 1850. From 1557 until 1715, the Waldegrave family owned the land, then the Humfreys until 1749, and finally the Meade-Waldo family until 1903. After falling into disrepair, the castle was leased to private renters.
William Waldorf Astor, an American businessman, bought and restored it in 1903 for his family. He restored, added the Tudor village (Astor Wing), and created the Italian Garden to display his statuary and ornaments. After adding the Tudor town, “a picturesque cluster of guest cottages”, the castle became Grade I listed on September 10, 1954. Broadland Properties Limited chairman John Guthrie (1906-1992) bought the castle from the Astor family in 1983. Music videos were shot in the castle. In The Great, a peace conference took place in the lakeside Loggia. Other films filmed there include The Princess Bride and Ink heart.
Hever Castle attracts tourists with its mazes, gardens, lakes, and Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII connections. The annual event itinerary includes summer jousting competitions and archery demonstrations and a September patchwork and quilting exhibition. Triathlons and open water swimming take place at the castle. The castle’s three stories contain historic furniture, Anne Boleyn’s prayer books, torture tools, and many Tudor paintings. A Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry museum is located there.
The gatehouse is the only original castle portion, but the stone walls of the fortress still show the country house timbers. The oldest functional portcullis in England is here. A 1904 yew maze is on the castle grounds. A 1999 water maze challenges visitors to reach the central folly without getting wet. A tower maze is being rebuilt in the children’s adventure playground. The castle gardens have an Italianate garden (including Fernery), rose gardens, herb garden, and topiary. The castle contains 28 B&B rooms for rent. The castle features three garden restaurants.
New for 2025 Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour | Best Value Tours
Heaver Castle, Tower of London and London Tour
A panoramic bus tour of London takes you past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and more. Your experienced guide will discuss sights and destinations and share intriguing information about London’s rich history and lively culture.
You can then enter the Tower of London. The Tower, once a dreaded fortification, is one of London’s most iconic and well-preserved royal structures. Within its walls are remnants of a palace, prison, and treasury. Watch for ravens as you enter the Tower and wonder at the secrets and stories behind every turn. Your visit involves viewing the Crown Jewels’ glittering exhibition.
Your tour ends at Hever Castle. The second wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn, had a beautiful and mysterious childhood house. The historic Tudor palace provides a fascinating look at England’s most contentious queens. Explore the castle’s well-preserved rooms with Tudor treasures before strolling around the vast gardens. The estate’s tranquilly is ideal for contemplating England’s regal past. It was the Boleyn (formerly ‘Bullen’) family seat from 1462 to 1539. After her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505, Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII, spent her childhood there. The castle belonged to him after his father, Sir William Boleyn, died. It later belonged to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife. The Guthrie family’s Broadland Properties owns the Grade I castle.
Tour Schedule
Meeting point: Bus Stop 1 Bullied Way, London SW1W 9SR
Check in time: 8am
Departure time: 8:15am
Return time: 6pm
Directions from Victoria Station to Bulleid Way: Exit Victoria Station via the Buckingham Palace Road Entrance, to the right of the Gatwick Express platforms. Turn left and walk down Buckingham Palace Road until you reach the first main junction. When it’s safe to do so, cross the road at the traffic lights and turn left. Walk around 20 yards, before turning right into Bulleid Way. Your coach will NOT depart from Victoria Coach Station.
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