The garden of Sissinghurst Castle is indubitably among the world's most famous 20th century gardens.

Sissinghurst Castle started as a stone manor house in the Middle Ages, replaced by a brick mansion by the Baker family (related by marriage to the Sackvilles of Knole) in 1480, and again by an Elizabethan house in 1560-70.

In the mid-18th century, the house served as a camp for French prisoners of war, and 2/3 of the buildings were subsequently destroyed. The Cornwallis family took possession of the estate in 1855, who used it as a farmhouse.

In 1930 the property was purchased by Vita Sackville-West (born in nearby Knole House) , the woman responsible for the magnificent garden that can be seen today. Vita and her husband, diplomat and writer, Harold Nicolson, created 10 separate gardens, each with a different feel, reflecting their divergence in style, from Vita's romanticism to Harold's classicism.

The gardens were first opened to the public in 1938, and were bequeathed to the National Trust in 1967, 5 years after Vita's death.

Opening Hours & Admission

Sissinghurst is open from Friday to Tuesday, 11am to 6:30pm, between 20 March and 31 October. Admission is £7 for adults and £3.50 for children.