County guide · The Stately Homes
Best stately homes in Kent
Kent runs from Churchill's beloved Chartwell to the moated medieval manor of Ightham Mote and the vast 'calendar house' of Knole.
There are 10 stately homes in Kent on this list. Chartwell is the best-rated, at 4.7 from 7,344 Google reviews.
Map
Every stately home on this list - 10 in total
Chartwell
Kent
Family home of Sir Winston Churchill for over 40 years
Knole
Kent
One of England's largest houses, former home of the Sackville family and childhood home of Vita Sackville-West
Ightham Mote
Kent
Moated medieval manor house dating from around 1320
Down House (Home of Charles Darwin)
Kent
Darwin's family home for 40 years, where he wrote On the Origin of Species; the gardens served as his outdoor laboratory.
Penshurst Place
Kent
One of England's best-preserved medieval manor houses, home of the Sidney family.
Godinton House
Kent
Jacobean manor house held by a preservation trust.
Smallhythe Place
Kent
16th-century timber-framed house, home of Victorian actress Ellen Terry
Quebec House
Kent
Gabled brick house in Westerham, childhood home of General James Wolfe
Stoneacre
Kent
Late medieval timber-framed yeoman's house near Otham
Owletts
Kent
Modest 17th-century red-brick house, birthplace of architect Sir Herbert Baker
Common questions
How many stately homes can you visit in Kent?
10 stately homes in Kent are on this list. Every one of them opens to visitors in some form, whether that is a ticketed house, a regular tour or a hotel occupying the building itself.
Which is the best-rated stately home in Kent?
Chartwell, rated 4.7 from 7,344 Google reviews. Only houses with at least 100 reviews are considered, so a high score from a handful of visitors does not top the list.
Are any stately homes in Kent free to enter?
None of the 10 on this list is recorded as free entry. Entry prices are set by each house rather than held here, and several are covered by a membership scheme, so check the operator's own site before you travel.
Who runs the stately homes in Kent?
Of the 10 on this list, 1 is run by English Heritage, 7 are run by the National Trust and the remaining 2 by private estates, independent trusts or local councils. Who owns a house decides whether a membership card gets you in, so each entry names its operator and links to the official site.