Chiddingstone Castle
Kent country house remodelled as a castle, now a museum of Denys Eyre Bower's collections of Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist and Stuart-Jacobite art.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Chiddingstone Castle in West Kent has Tudor roots and was remodelled in the 19th century to look like a medieval castle. Over the centuries it was owned or occupied by the Streatfeild family, by Lord Astor, and by Long Dene School, and military forces made use of it during the Second World War.
In 1955 the collector Denys Eyre Bower bought the house to display the art and antiquities he had gathered over many years. He wished to share his collections with the public and to preserve them for future generations, and he asked that they be kept intact in their present setting. After his death in 1977 a charitable trust was set up to carry out those wishes.
The five collections that Bower assembled are shown throughout the historic house and include Ancient Egyptian objects, Japanese art, Buddhist objects, and material connected with the Stuarts and the Jacobites. The grounds include a lake, woodland walks, a courtyard tea room and a Grade II* listed Victorian Orangery. The castle also runs an online exhibition and a stories project about Bower, and it hosts events, weddings and fishing on the lake.
Highlights
- Ancient Egyptian collection
- Japanese art collection (the Japanese Room is currently closed for repair)
- Stuart and Jacobite objects
- Buddhist collection
- Lake, woodland walks and Victorian Orangery in the grounds
Permanent exhibition
- The Bower collections – Five collections assembled by Denys Eyre Bower, including Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist and Stuart and Jacobite objects, shown in the historic rooms.
- Founded
- 1955
- Operated by
- Chiddingstone Castle (charitable trust)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £15.25 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £13.75Seniors |
| Children & teens | £10.50 |
| Seniors | £13.75 |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Carers are admitted free of charge. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Discounts for parties of 10 or more booked in advance. |
| Families | £35Two adults and up to three children; the one-adult family ticket (up to three children) is £27.50. |
| Family ticket, one adult and up to three children | £27.50Price on the day |
Prices are for castle and collections bought on the day. Booking online in advance is cheaper, for example £25.00 and £32.50 for the two family tickets plus a booking fee. An annual ticket lets visitors return free for twelve months. Special ticketed events such as live music and open-air theatre are charged separately. Parking is charged all year: free for the first hour, then £1 for up to two hours or £3 for the day, plus a 20p fee when paying with the RingGo app. Day fishing permits cost £10.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main entrances are wheelchair accessible, some with a ramp, and the main collections are on the ground floor. The first-floor rooms are reached only by stairs and there is no lift; descriptions and images of those rooms are available in the housekeeper's room. One manual wheelchair can be borrowed free of charge from the visitor entrance if booked by phone in advance, and mobility scooters are welcome at walking pace. Blue Badge parking is on the lawn side of the car park, and visitors can be dropped off at the front entrance. Large-print folders are available in the main collection rooms and large-print documents can be downloaded beforehand. Seating and rest points are placed around the castle. The grounds have grass, fine gravel and tarmac paths. Registered assistance dogs may enter the house. The site has been assessed by AccessAble.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £35 · Two adults and up to three children; the one-adult family ticket (up to three children) is £27.50. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Children's workshops and school-holiday activities are listed in the What's On programme, and family tickets are available. Children can visit the grounds and lake.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
Pay-and-display car park all year: free for the first hour, then 1 for up to two hours or 3 for the day; payment at the machine or by the RingGo app (20p fee). Blue Badge parking is on the lawn side.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
The tea room, in the courtyard, serves cakes, scones, light lunches, cream teas and pre-booked afternoon tea, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. The gift shop sells takeaway hot drinks. Both can be used without castle admission through the tower entrance at the back.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
Weddings and private functions are held at the castle; enquiries are taken Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | An audio stories project and an online exhibition accompany the collections. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and the tea room courtyard; cyclists must dismount in the grounds. Groups and education visits can be arranged. |
