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Chiddingstone in Kent is a street of mainly sixteenth and seventeenth century houses, facing a seventeenth century church. The whole village is now owned by the National Trust, and visitors are free to wander along the street and enter the buildings that now house the shop, the Post Office, and the Castle Inn restaurant. The Post Office building was mentioned in a deed that dates to 1453, and the Castle Inn building, originally known as Waterslip House, is mentioned in documents dating to 1420. The other buildings are not open to the public.

Chiddingstone is a little piece of Tudor England which has survived into the present day. There were no street lights in Tudor England, so why not visit Chiddingstone in the evening. The evening we visited, when light came only from the moon and from little windows, the sense of walking into a different time was more powerful than it might have been during daylight.

Neighbouring Chiddingstone Castle was originally the local manor house, but it was rebuilt in the eighteenth century. During this rebuilding the grounds were extended, which resulted in the loss of some houses in Chiddingstone. The castle is now owned by a charitable trust and is open to the public. Opening hours are very limited. During the summer, June to September, the house is open on Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Other opening times include the Easter bank holidays and the first Sunday in December. Check before you visit.

Directions: The village is off the B2027, signposted near Chiddingstone Causeway. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Chiddingstone

Access: for Chiddingstone Castle - there is good access to the ground floor via a ramp at the South Entrance. Access to the rest of the house is difficult.

Contact:

for Chiddingstone Castle phone: 01892 870347

web site for Chiddingstone Castle: www.chiddingstone-castle.org.uk

web site for Chiddingstone Village: www.nationaltrust.org.uk