National Trust - Ightham Mote
ENTRY
from £4.25
WHERE
Sevenoaks
What it’s like
A moated medieval manor with 500 acres of Kent Downs to roam, plus a natural play area with balance beams and stepping stones.
The moat is the thing here. A proper 700-year-old manor house sitting in its own water, with 500 acres of Kent Downs around it for the walking trails to wind through. Kids who fancy exploring will find plenty of rooms and staircases to poke about in, while the natural play area does the job for the ones who'd rather be outside, with chimes to bash, balance beams and stepping stones, and wooden piggies dotted about.
It's not a cheap day out. A child ticket is £9.50 and the family ticket (2 adults, up to 3 kids) comes in at £47.50, though there's a cheaper garden-and-estate-only ticket running from 2 to 20 November 2026 if you fancy skipping the house and just doing the grounds. The house itself is only open 15 September to 1 November, 11am to 5pm, with last entry half an hour before closing, so this isn't one to turn up to on a whim outside that window.
Buggies won't get far inside a medieval house with steps and old floors, but the gardens and estate are wheelchair accessible and there are manual wheelchairs available to borrow if you call ahead. Dogs on leads are welcome across most of the grounds, just not in the natural play area, the enclosed garden or the house itself, and they can join you for a coffee in the café's outdoor seating.
The Mote Café does hot and cold food all day, with a seasonal kiosk for ice creams and drinks if you're just after something quick between the play area and the trails. Parking is £4 for non-members, paid at the machine or in the visitor centre, and free if you're a National Trust member already. If you're relying on trains, the nearest stations are a fair walk off, so a taxi from Hildenborough or Sevenoaks is the sensible call.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- To the house and garden is 30 minutes before closing
- Parking
- Free for National Trust members
- Food
- Mote Café open daily serving hot and cold food and drinks
- Wheelchairs
- Manual wheelchairs available for hire around ground floor of house, gardens, shop and café
- Dogs
- On short leads welcome in all areas except natural play area, enclosed garden and house
- Getting there by bus or train
- Hildenborough (4 miles) and Sevenoaks (7 miles) on London Bridge/Charing Cross to Hastings line
- The house only opens 15 September to 1 November, so it's not a year-round visit for the house itself.
- Last orders in the café are 15 minutes before closing, so don't leave your cake run too late.
- There's EV charging and bike parking on site if you're not driving a normal car in.
- The garden-and-estate ticket in November is noticeably cheaper if you're happy to skip the house.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£9.50 for a child, £47.50 for a family of two adults and up to three kids. There's a cheaper garden-and-estate-only ticket for 2 to 20 November 2026 if you don't need the house.
Do we need to book?
No, you can just turn up.
What are the opening hours?
The house runs 11am to 5pm from 15 September to 1 November 2026, with last entry half an hour before closing. The garden, café and shop open earlier at 10am.
Is there parking?
£4 a car for non-members, paid by coin at the machine or by card in the visitor centre. It's free if you're a National Trust member.
Is it OK for a toddler?
The natural play area with balance beams and stepping stones is a good spot for smaller ones, though the house itself has old stairs and floors that won't suit a buggy.
What's there for kids to actually do?
There's the house itself to explore, plus the natural play area outside with chimes and wooden piggies, and 500 acres of trails through the Kent Downs for anyone who wants to properly stretch their legs.
What about food?
The Mote Café serves hot and cold food all day, and there's a seasonal kiosk for drinks and ice cream if you just want something quick.
Are dogs allowed?
On short leads, yes, in most areas. They're not allowed in the natural play area, the enclosed garden or the house, but they can sit with you in the café's outdoor seating.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The gardens and grounds are wheelchair accessible, and manual wheelchairs are available to hire for the ground floor of the house, gardens, shop and café. It's best to call ahead to book one.
How do we get there by train?
The nearest stations are Hildenborough (4 miles) and Sevenoaks (7 miles) on the London Bridge or Charing Cross to Hastings line. A taxi is the practical option, as walking would take over an hour.
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