Highlights
- The White Garden, a summer highlight
- The Rose Garden, another summer highlight
- The Tower, with Vita's writing room and views over the garden and estate
- The no dig vegetable garden, certified organic by the Soil Association in 2023
- Autumn colour along the Moat Walk
About Sissinghurst Castle Garden
The writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband, the diplomat Harold Nicolson, fell for the remains of Sissinghurst Castle and began making a garden there in the early 1930s. They divided the ground into a series of hedged and walled "rooms", each with its own mood and colour scheme, and the result became one of the best known gardens in England.
The garden sits around a Tudor tower, where Vita had her writing room, and is surrounded by a working Wealden estate of around 450 acres. The National Trust looks after the whole property, and the vegetable garden is now run on no dig, organic lines.
What to see
- The White Garden: a garden room planted in a single pale colour scheme, a summer highlight.
- The Rose Garden: the other great summer display.
- The Tower: climb up to Vita's writing room and the roof for views over the garden rooms and farmland.
- The Big Room (Library): used by Vita and Harold for entertaining, now home to changing exhibitions.
- Vegetable garden: fruit, vegetables and herbs, with produce used in the restaurant.
- The estate: lakes, woodland and farmland with waymarked walks, including a three mile circular route.
Planning your visit
Sissinghurst is on Biddenden Road, off the A262, about two miles north-east of Cranbrook. Follow the brown signs rather than sat nav, which can lead to the wrong turning. Staplehurst is the nearest station, about five miles away. Parking is free for members and £4.50 for others, and there are electric vehicle chargers.
There is a restaurant, a coffee shop, a plant shop and a second-hand bookshop. The garden paths are narrow, so pushchairs are not allowed in the main garden. The site stays open into winter with shorter hours, and closes on 24 and 25 December. An exhibition on Vita and Harold's links with Italy runs from September 2026 to June 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Sissinghurst?
Adult tickets are £22 with Gift Aid or £20 without, and children aged 5 to 17 are £11 or £10. Under 5s and National Trust members go free. Non-members pay £4.50 to park.
Can I bring my dog to Sissinghurst?
Dogs on leads are welcome on the wider estate and in the restaurant's outdoor seating area, but not in the formal garden or the vegetable garden. Speak to Visitor Reception about assistance dogs.
Do I need to book to visit Sissinghurst?
No. Entry tickets can be bought on arrival at Visitor Reception.
Is Sissinghurst suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs?
There is a step free route around the property and garden, though the ground is uneven. Pushchairs are not allowed in the main garden because the paths are narrow, but baby carriers are welcome. Wheelchairs can be borrowed if booked before you arrive.