Knole Park à Sevenoaks – Une sortie féerique

An old British Manor surrounded by deer grazing in the park, just add a princess and a knight on his white horse and you’ve got the perfect setting for a Disney movie. Well, you might want to forget about the princess, but you can definitely see the manor and the deer at Knole Park in Sevenoaks. Follow me for a fairy-like day out in the most beautiful deer park in the south of England.

You have been to Richmond Park and Bushy park a hundred times and don’t really see why you should go to another deer park. Well, think again. Knole Park in Sevenoaks is on a different level from London’s deer park. No need to run around trying to look for a herd of deer, there are everywhere! And I mean it. I have never seen so many deer in one go. Follow me for a walk in a park you would remember!

Logistics for the Knole Park Sevenoaks Walk

Highlights of the Knole Park Sevenoaks Walk

Knole Park in Sevenoaks Walk

From Sevenoaks to Knole Park and then to the pub, you have a busy day ahead. Let’s get started!

Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks in Kent is a commuter town with direct trains to Central London main Stations such as London Bridge, Charing Cross and Blackfriars. It is the number one town in Kent for London workers followed by Swanley. The town was settled in the thirteenth century when a cattle market was established. The market remained until 1999 when it was moved to a different part of the town to make place for construction sites.

Sevenoaks’ main landmark is Knole House and Park, where we are heading towards in this walk. Continue reading for more details.

Contenu connexe : Meilleures promenades dans le Kent

To Knole Park

The walk starts at Sevenoaks train station. When you exit the station, turn left onto London Road. The road goes up so you get right into the serious things. As you walk up London Road, take the time to look at the architecture and the Kent traditional timber-framed houses.

You will then arrive at a crossroad where London Road and the High Street merge into one. Continue straight until you reach St Nicholas Church. The construction of the church is dated back to the thirteenth century. However, the current shape comes from the rebuilding of the church in the fifteenth century.

Once at the church, turn right onto Knole Lane, and follow the road to the entrance of the park. Here you will find officers checking your tickets for the day. Don’t be spooked by them if you have not booked your tickets online prior to your venue: the entrance of the park is free and open to all. However, if you want to make the most of your trip to Knole Park and visit Knole House as well, you would need a ticket. You can book your ticket ici.

Parc Knole

The 947-acre park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is composed of woodlands, moorland and water holes. It is the home of rare insect species as well as a herd of 350 deer. Only 4% of the park belongs to the National Trust and the rest belongs to the Knole Estate.

Opened on 1st November 1924, the Knole Park Golf Club has been through many refurbishments and extensions overthe years. The last extension was finalised in 1960 with a new clubhouse.

Fun fact: The Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane videos were filmed on Knole Park Golf Club fairway.

Maison Knole

Maison Knole, standing at the top of Knole Park, overlooks the land and Sevenoaks below, It is uncertain when the construction started but it is believed to be around the mid-fifteenth century. The house, as well as the park, have been through major extensions with each owner the estate has known.

The first known owner of the estate was Robert de Knole in the 1290s. The ownership of the estate then went through different families until it was sold in 1456 to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bourchier who began the building of the house. The estate and the house subsequently belonged to the Diocese of Canterbury and even to the crown, until it was bought by Thomas Sackville in 1603. The descendant of Thomas Sackville still owns and lives at Knole House.

Walking through Knole Park

There is not one specific route to walk through the park but a plethora of paths. The walk I did is easy and goes through the main roads of the park. It is a good loop to see as much of the estate as possible and the different landscapes the park has to offer.

Deer Park and Golf Club

As you enter Knole Park, walk towards the car park on top of Echo Mount. To avoid sharing the road with cars, turn left at the bottom of the mount onto the footpath. Continue on that path, and you might see deer on your way.

As you get to the top, take a quick glance at the house from afar, we will get to it at the end. Walk across the car park in direction of the Golf Course. Once on the main road, you would not even know where to look anymore: there are deer all over the fields, right and left. Take your time and take pictures, it is a really rare opportunity to take shots of deer at such a close range. They are wild deer, but really they are not afraid of human beings.

Contenu connexe : Richmond to Kew Walk

Walking to Knole House

Walk on the main path across the golf course. You then arrive at a very cute cottage with a pond. Walk over the bridge and at the next crossroad, take right. You enter a forested area on the edge of the park.

Continue until you reach the end of the path and then turn right again to go down onto the path below. You find yourself in a completely different landscape, at the bottom surrounded by mounts. This path will lead you straight to Knole House.

And there you are the impressive and magnificent Knole House! We chose to go along the back of the manor to admire the private garden through the fence, but this is optional. Once at the main entrance, you can enter for free and walk through Green Court and Stone Court. On Stone Court, you would find deer antlers on the back wall. If you have a nice and compliant friend with you, go in front of the deer antlers and ask them to bend down and find that right angle on the camera so that it looks like you have the antlers coming out of your head.

You can then go and visit the museum if, as mentioned before, you have previously booked your tickets online.

Contenu connexe: Domaine d'Audley End

Back to Sevenoaks

Once you have visited Knole House, come out and turn left. Walk down the mount until you reach the same path you took to go up at the start of this walk. Follow the path until the main entrance of the park.

From there, walk up Knole Lane until you come face to face with St Nichola’s Church. Turn right onto the High Street. When the road split into two, continue on High Street, on the right. However, if you want to go back straight to London without making a stop at the pub, then take London Road on the left. Continue walking down High Street until you reach La Taverne du Chêne. This traditional British pub won’t disappoint with its Sunday menu and beer selection. In a cosy environment, enjoy a relaxing time after a nice walk.

Bon appétit !

Map of the Knole Park in Sevenoaks Walk

Want to do the same walk? Download the map below by clicking on the button “download”. If you do not know how to then upload the map onto your navigation phone, follow my step by step guide ici.

Final Thoughts on the Knole Park Sevenoaks Walk

With family or friends, walking through Knole Park in Sevenoaks is the ideal day out to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. Less popular among London dwellers than Richmond and Bushy parks, Knole Park is easily accessible from London and offers a variety of landscapes, deer and a Manor to visit. A busy day out ahead!

And you, what is your favourite park walk? Let me know in the comments below.

Cette promenade vous plaît ? Épinglez-la !