When I first moved to Tunbridge Wells, Penshurst Place and Gardens was one of the first places I visited when friends and family came to stay. Over the years, we have returned again and again, whether it’s been showing our friends around the stunning grounds, having something yummy at The Porcupine Pantry, having a mooch around the 14th-Century house with my Mum or in more of course, taking the children there to burn some energy at the Adventure Playground.
We visited Penshurst Place with the children on a Sunday in July and here’s what I thought…..
Penshurst Place
The gates to the Gardens open at 10am on Sundays, so after an early start thanks to my youngest child, we went to The Porcupine Pantry beforehand for a strong coffee and something sweet!
There’s usually a fabulous selection of cakes and treats, as well as good coffee and some savoury food too. In recent years they’ve extended the cafe too. The Porcupine Pantry is at the entrance to Penshurst Place and has plenty of outdoor seating for when the weather is good, as well as a bright and spacious indoor seating section.
My husband and I decided to split a tasty slice of Victoria sponge while the boys shared an enormous flapjack and my daughter enjoyed a chocolate cookie – all of which went down well!
Family Fun
The House and the Toy Museum open at 11.30am on a Sunday, so our first port of call was the Adventure Playground, which is close to the entrance. This is no ordinary playground – set amongst rolling fields, the Adventure Park stretches across a gorgeous grassy area with the central play equipment and assault course for the older ones towards the back.
There’s an area for the tots at the front near the kiosk, which sells ice-cream, hot drinks and snacks directly from The Porcupine Pantry too.
The kids adore the basket swings there and much of our time in the playground was spent pushing them back and forth. They also enjoyed the central tunnel, which leads to a long steep slide, though if you are launching your little one down it, you might want to put him or her on their tummy (note to self for next time)!
We took a picnic lunch with us and ate it on the grass overlooking the mini assault course before heading off to do the Woodland Trail.
The trail takes visitors up to the Maize Maze which is open during the summer months.
Despite the constant complaining from my four year old that she was ‘too tired to walk,’ we made it to the maze (it only takes about ten minutes) and took up the challenge to find eight dandelion clocks scattered throughout.
We did the mini maze, which takes around 15 minutes to complete while the larger maze can take up to 40 minutes. Armed with a flag in case we needed to be rescued, along with a map and an activity card, we weaved our way around the maze.
We took the buggy with us throughout and after completing our mission (and being presented with an all-important sticker at the end), we made our way back through the woodland trail, past the playground and through to the gorgeous gardens, which make Penshurst Place so special.
Stopping to make some wishes at the well in the central area (apparently Harry would like a new transformer!), we then visited The Old Coach House to check out the craft station. My son was able to make a lovely lavender bag for me to put in my drawer and a ‘Mr Potato Head’ creature, which should start growing grass out of it soon.
There were other activities on offer as well, all of which are included in the ticket price on ‘Summer Sundays’. Check before you visit for offers on their website.
Next on our list was the Toy Museum – hosting a range of much-loved toys from years gone by, it took us about 10 minutes to walk around. My daughter was fascinated by the toy soldiers and miniature houses on display!
With three tired children on our hands by this stage, we did a whistle-stop tour around the house. It’s beautifully maintained and it is wonderful to be able to step back in time and see such a stunning estate set up as it was so many years ago.
The Verdict
There’s so much to love about this perfect place. I renewed our annual membership while we were there, so I have a feeling we will be visiting again very soon!
Your local guide
Clare Lush Mansell
Founder & Editor
Meet Clare Lush-Mansell, the creative force behind My Tunbridge Wells. Having spent a decade working in PR and communications, Clare founded My Tunbridge Wells in 2015. Clare enjoys sharing her experiences & local life exploring the beauty of Tunbridge Wells and beyond while she navigates parenting three children!
A globetrotter at heart, Clare grew up in Ireland and lived in Australia and Russia before settling in sunny Kent. These experiences have infused her passion for travel, and she also loves meeting new people, singing and her cats.
© Portrait image by Mollie Manning
