Today we visit Penshurst Place and Gardens, once visited By Henry VIII as a guest of Edward Stafford the 3rd Duke of Buckingham. After the lavish visit Henry VIII had Stafford tried for treason and Penshurst Place became the property of the crown. Henry used it as a hunting lodge whilst courting Anne Boleyn, whose family owned Hever Castle close by. In 1552 King Edward VI granted the estate to Sir William Sidney and it has been the Ancestral home of the Sidney family ever since, including the Elizabethan poet, courtier and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney. After a leisurely visit to Penshurst Place, we continue onto Hever Castle, a romantic 13th Century moated castle, and childhood home of Anne Boleyn. In 1903 it was bought by William Waldorf Astor who went on to restore and extend the castle and create the beautiful gardens. The vast Gardens are beautifully designed, and you can take a stroll through the Tudor Garden; Rhododendron walk and Anne Boleyn's walk. The splendour and beauty of Penshurst Place, and the enchantment of Hever Castle make for a truly wonderful day out.