Most day time events are included in the cost of admission, however exhibitions and events inside the castle require a Castle ticket. Annual pass holders will receive special discounts on chargeable events.

Always check details before travelling. Hever Castle reserves the right to close all or part of the castle and grounds and to change or cancel events.

HEVER ROSE LAUNCH WITH DAME JUDI DENCH

MARCH 22

 

 

For the first time in its history, Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, has its own rose. The Hever Castle Rose was launched by Dame Judi Dench, the award-winning British actress, during a press and media preview at 11am today, Tuesday 22 March. Dame Judi planted the Hever Castle Rose in a flower bed against the backdrop of the romantic castle near Edenbridge in Kent.

Bel LeGrice Roses formally introduced the rose at The Midsummer’s Rose Festival at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show last July. Bred by the highly regarded rose hybridiser, the late Colin Horner, the floribunda ‘Hever Castle Rose’ (Horquinsey) produces masses of velvety deep-red blooms which fade to cerise, offset by golden-yellow stamens. Growing to a height of 4-5ft, the blooms are complemented by attractive, glossy dark-green foliage. The Hever Castle Rose has a long flowering period from May to the first frosts in October and has proved itself resistant to disease in rose trials.

Hever Castle is famous for its rose garden which boasts over 4,000 rose bushes. Varieties include the deep mauve, highly perfumed ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and the heavily scented, dark red velvety Rosa ‘Deep Secret’. Other recent arrivals include the ‘Super Trouper’, a bright orange floribunda, and the famous old glowing red hybrid tea, ‘Tintinara’. Along the Rose Bank on Two Sister Lawn, visitors can delight in the musky fragrances of Gallica, Bourbon Moss and Damask roses.

Dame Judi is to feature in a VisitBritain TV commercial to be broadcast around the world, following this spring’s royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, as part of a £100m drive to attract tourists to Britain. She chose to film her commercial called ‘Invitation to the World’ at Hever Castle, describing the romantic castle as one of her favourite British landmarks which she visits with her family in all seasons and all weathers whenever she can.