Monday 5^th May 2014

Bank Holiday today.

Woke this morning to another sunny day with watery blue sky. Temperature expected to be a maximum of 19° today.

After breakfast we set off on the tube heading for Victoria Station where we caught the train to Edenbridge Town via East Croydon (where we had to change trains). Once at Edenbridge Town we got a taxi to take us the 3 miles to Hever Castle. As it is a public holiday, the Castle was celebrating the beginning of spring with a May Day festival, so there were many people there enjoying the wonderful weather.

Hever Castle

Tudor dwelling inside Castle

Hever Castle is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, (second wife of Henry VIII until she was beheaded by him).

The original medieval defensive castle with its gatehouse and walled bailey was built in 1270. The Bullen (Boleyn) family added the Tudor dwelling inside the walls in the 15^th & 16^th century. In 1903 William Waldorf Astor purchased the Castle and restored it. He also constructed the beautiful gardens and lake.

Garden at the Castle

We retraced out steps back to our hotel, dropped off our cameras, and went to the Swan pub for dinner - roast pork and veggies.