Sevenoaks is something of a hidden gem: a posh town in Kent that is under 30 minutes by direct train from London Bridge and within walking distance of a medieval deer park, where deer have roamed for over 500 years- the last of its kind in Kent! If you're a Virginia Woolf, H.G. Wells, or Beatles fan, this is definitely a London day trip by train not to be missed! (Scroll down to find out why.)
Sevenoaks is a train journey from London Bridge that I've done several times- because it's so quick and easy! (Under 30 minutes.)
What to Do
Knole House & Deer Park
The main thing to do in Sevenoaks is visit Knole House and its 1000 acre deer park which dates back to 1456. Seeing the free roaming medieval deer park is nothing short of spectacular!
However, whether you see or deer is entirely up to luck (and how far you explore.) On my 1st visit, I could see deer right at the gate!
Sadly, on my 2nd, despite exploring more of the park than on my 1st visit, we didn't see any at all. The closest we got were the wooden statutes of deers sitting on the grass besides the car park!
There are also 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 do be careful of ticks and Lyme disease.)
Fun fact: The Beatles' videos for Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever were filmed in Knole Park!
What I really liked about Knole House and Park is how convenient it was: unlike many National Trust properties, the walk there isn't isolated or difficult at all. 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 very safe.
Note: if you want to walk around the entire park (sign-posted), it will take you around 1 hour- 1.5 hours to complete, depending on your speed of walking. Note that it can be across rough ground so wear sturdy shoes!
It's around a 15 minute walk from the end of the High Street to Knole House or 35 minutes from Sevenoaks train station. For those who've gotten peckish after the walk, there is a cafe on the grounds of Knole House.
There is no charge to enter the deer park, but there is a fee to explore Knole House, which was originally built as an Archbishop's Palace (and now under the management of the National Trust.)
There are often interesting events held at Knole House, such as silk printing and watercolour workshops, so I highly recommend trying to coordinate your visit with those days.
Knole House is often said to be a calendar house (i.e. having 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards)- alas, this is not true but it does have almost 400 rooms. Most are not open to the public, but there is more than enough to keep you occupied.
What I enjoyed most about visiting Knole House was speaking to the volunteers who are super knowledgeable! In fact, the gentleman I spoke to used to be a history teacher.
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!)
Fans of Virginia Woolf will be thrilled to hear that Knole House is thought to the the setting of Orlando. In fact, Virgina Woolf had a relationship with 1 of the house's occupants, Vita Sackville-West.
Sevenoaks also has other literary connection- H.G. Wells wrote Time Machine here, and Jane Austen's Uncle also lived at Sevenoaks!
The Town
The Sevenoaks town is a classic English town- it's quaint and reminds me of the English towns I visited as a kid but not super cute or particularly memorable. There are some cute properties though, as shown above.
In fact, when I booked to go to Sevenoaks in 2025, I had completely forgotten that I had visited in 2024! I knew that I had been to Knole House but had forgotten that the closest train station is Sevenoaks! I was even marvelling at "how similar" the Sevenoaks train station was to the "Knole House train station" when I got off!
Emmett's Garden
If you don't mind splurging on a taxi, why not visit the Secret Garden of Sevenoaks, Emmett’s Garden?
Also managed by the National Trust, this hillside garden is a riot of colour that changes with the seasons. From fields of bluebells in spring to fiery hues in autumn, the views over the Weald of Kent are simply spectacular.
I recommend booking tickets for Knole and Emmetts Garden in advance, especially if visiting over weekends or during school holidays.
Fun fact: The Vine Cricket Ground near Sevenoaks is one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world.
Where to Eat
There are several chain restaurants in Knoles such as Zizzis and Gails. However, I always prefer supporting independents!
We had a delicious (non-sponsored) lunch at Number Eight, located just off the High Street.
My Mom & I both ordered the 2-course set lunch. I had the prawn risotto which was good but not spectacular. My Mother's “Chicken,Vegetable & Tarragon Pie”, however, was the best pie we had ever had in UK!
In addition, the service was excellent: still and sparkling water are both complimentary and you don't have to chase for top ups.
Lunch was so delicious and enjoyable, we would go back to Sevenoaks just for the pie!
After that we passed Dulce's Patisserie and were amazed by the number of Great Taste awards that it had received so we bought the apple cake and peanut macaron. The peanut macaron was good but the apple cake was very disappointing- there were some super chewy bits in it (that couldn't be bitten through) and the flavor wasn't amazing.
Getting There
Sevenoaks is a commuter town, so there are several train services from London Bridge, Waterloo East & London Charing Cross every hour.
The journey is under 30 minutes- with the exact duration depending on which train you take. (Some go direct from London Bridge to Sevenoaks and others stop at other towns along the way.)
From the train station, it's about a 20 minute walk to the town centre- slightly uphill so wear comfortable walking shoes.
When you get out of the station, the surroundings aren't the most picturesque. Turn right and walk straight and you'll eventually reach the High Street: it's not the most charming but it is quaint.
I can't remember where I read this but someone described Sevenoaks as being a High Street of restaurants which seems about right to me- there are several chain boutiques (such as Oliver Bonas and Whistles) and charity shops but very few independent boutiques sad to say.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your walking shoes and include Sevenoaks on your list of best London day trips by train from London Bridge now!
