One of my favourite day trips from London Bridge by train is to Knole House & Knole Deer Park- a medieval deer park less than an hour from central London! (The deer park surrounds the house and is free to enter, and I've been several times.)
Knole House, managed by the National Trust, is one of England's largest county houses and within easy reach of central London. (You take a 20 min(ish) train to Sevenoaks then walk about 30 minutes (or take a bus/ get a cab- 5-10 minutes).)
The part of Knowle House open to public was a little smaller than I had expected (some rooms are closed up)- it is often said to be a calendar house with 365 rooms but there were only about 10 rooms (+ a tower) open to the public when I visited in winter.
Inside you'll find works by Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck. (To be honest, the works weren't as memorable to me as the deer!)
Thankfully, the knowledge and friendliness of the National Trust volunteers more than made up for it and I would definitely recommend visiting if you're interested in English history, Literature or family drama. (Vita Sackville West grew up here but had to leave as she couldn't inherit it and was bitter over the house's loss. I felt rather sorry for her till I learnt that she moved to Sissinghurst Castle afterwards!)
You'll enjoy 360 degree tours of the surroundings if you climb the tower- I am afraid of heights, but managed to climb up the tower without too much issue.
However, the main attraction (to me) was the grounds, where you can enjoy the sight of free roaming deer. There are several picturesque walks outside the House, such as the one to Ightham Mote (about 7km/ 2 hours, one way.) The Park spans an impressive 1000 acres (or so) and you'll often see deer freely wandering the grounds (but not always- they're harder to spot some times of the year.)
There are guided walks and deer keeping sessions organised throughout the year, which would probably give you a better chance of seeing the deer.
Please do not try to touch or feed the deer- they're wild! (And be careful of ticks and Lyme disease.)
Fun fact: The Beatles' videos for Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever were filmed in Knole Park!
Something I appreciated about Knole House and Park is how convenient it was to get there: unlike many National Trust properties, the walk there isn't isolated or difficult. In fact, there's a school right at the turn in to Knole Park, so there are almost always people around. Visiting as a solo female traveler of color in the depths of winter, I still felt safe.
You'll also find a second hand bookshop, gift shop, and cafe on the grounds (you can visit the cafe without buying the House ticket, as the cafe is outside the House.)
Getting There
It's a direct train ride, under 30 minutes, from London Bridge to Sevenoaks train station, followed by about a 30 minute walk. (Before you get to Knole House/ Knole Deer Park, you'll pass the town centre where you'll find shops and restaurants, so it's not a walk through wilderness, don't worry!)
When you get out of the train station (you turn right), you may feel like you've gone to the wrong place as it looks like any standard commuter town (i.e. not really worth visiting.)
However, persevere and continue walking (slightly uphill) and you'll eventually reach the real town (Sevenoaks town.) It's a very British sort of town- rather quaint but not very exciting. I wouldn't recommend visiting if it wasn't for Knowle House & park. (The No 7 restaurant in the town centre does a fantastic pie though!)
Note: Signage to and around Knole Park isn't the clearest!
Fun fact: Jane Austen's great Uncle, Francis II, lived in Sevenoaks and Jane Austen visited him there when she was 12. You'll pass the house she stayed at, the Red House, on your way to Knole House and Park.
Once you enter the gates, you're in Knole Deer Park. You won't be able to see the house from the gate- you'll need to walk another 10 minutes or so (again slightly uphill) to get to Knole House, which is famous for its connection to Virginia Woolf. (It's the childhood home of her lover, Vita Sackville-West and also where she wrote Orlando.)
Tip: wear sturdy walking shoes as the path through the park to the house can be slippery, especially in fall, when there's a lot of decomposing leaves on the ground.
If you plan on driving, it's best to book a car park space in advance.
Cost
It is free to enter the Deer Park- which is so lovely and peaceful- but there's a charge for the house.
How long do you need for Knole House & Park?
If you want to explore Knole Deer park, I'd suggest making it a full day trip (including a leisurely lunch at No 7 in town (click through for more things to do in Sevenoaks), or at the tea room on the grounds.)
However, if you're only interested in seeing Knole House, then 2-3 hours in the house (or 3-4 hours if you include the time walking up from the train station) should suffice.
Opening Hours
- Showrooms
- Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm (;art entry 3.30 pm)
- Closed on Mondays, except Bank Holidays
- You'll need the full ticket to enter the Showrooms toos
- Gatehouse Tower (where Eddie, a cousin of the family, and part of the Bloomsbury set, lived)
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm (last entry 3.30 pm)
- Cafe & Shop
- Open daily, usually 10 am to 5 pm
Note: for 8 days in the year, the Sackville gardens are open to the public. You'll need to top up about £5 if you want to visit the gardens (even if you're a National Trust member.)
Note: Knole Park is open for pedestrians from dawn to dusk but the gates (to the road) will close at 5 pm. Keep in mind that the park doesn't have street lights!
Any questions about visiting Knole House & Deer Park? Let me know in the comments!
