The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Sevenoaks District, England

Welcome to Willow’s Bird of Prey & Wildlife Trail, where you can come nose-to-nose with birds of prey and native wildlife. Set in 22 acres of our beautiful, tranquil nature trail. See eagles, hawks, owls, parrots, ferrets, goats, pigs, raccoon dogs, and more as you make your way around the trail.

Ightham Mote is a magical 14th century moated manor house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, lakes and woodland walks. Built nearly 700 years ago, the house has been owned by medieval knights, courtiers to Henry VIII and high-society Victorians. Highlights include the picturesque gardens, courtyard, Great Hall, crypt, Tudor painted ceiling, Grade I listed dog kennel.

In a world where the finest details matter, LGC continues to raise the bar with 36-holes of Jack Nicklaus designed golf in impeccable condition all-year round, an award-winning clubhouse, first-class hospitality and exceptional service. Whether a member or a guest you can be sure you’ll have an experience to remember both on and off-course from the moment you drive through the gates and into the glorious surroundings of the South East’s finest golfing destination. Part of the prestigious European Tour Properties network, LGC provides an oasis of golfing tranquillity in 700 acres of idyllic Kent countryside, just 20 miles from the Capital. With its all-encompassing facilities and convenient access to major motorways, rail networks and international airports, the club is uniquely positioned to welcome and cater for visiting golfers, corporate golf days, meeting and weddings in addition to providing a membership experience that surpasses expectations.

Beautiful, relaxing hillside Gardens with stunning views over the Weald of Kent & an excellent cafe. For garden experts we have a magnificent collection of rhododendrons & azaleas, some grown from seeds brought back by the plant hunters. We have a wonderful Rose Walk, Walled Garden, with spectacular terraces & water feature, our newly restored Rock Garden, filled with ferns & water cascades & giant specimen trees. For families we have a fab adventure playground, den building woods, boat swing, holiday activities & our much loved resident yeti (weekends & school holidays 2-4). Seasonal highlights include: bluebell woods in early spring, rhododendrons & azaleas later in spring, our alium & peony borders early summer, followed by fragrant roses, rounding off the season with spectacular autumn colour, especially from our beautiful acer collection. Dogs on leads very welcome. Admission by pre-booked tickets only. See website to book. BRING A REUSABLE CUP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TAKEAWAY.

Emmetts Garden is closed. The public footpath is still accessible from the Toys Hill carpark via the Red Route. Please keep checking the website and social media for any further updates.

A garden paradise. A hidden gem. Fabulous, folly-filled garden and home to one of the finest collections of Salvias in the country. Great Comp Garden, near Sevenoaks, has built up an enviable reputation over the years as being one of Kent's finest gardens to visit. Come and explore our wonderfully quirky garden showcasing 7 acres of beautiful and rare plants surrounding a 17th century manor house. This hidden gem of a garden is home to an Italian Garden, romantic ruins, enchanting woodland walks and the Old Dairy Tearooms. In Spring this tranquil garden erupts into bloom with numerous Magnolias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, underplanted with large drifts of Helebores and bulbs while summer brings warmth and extravagance from one of the most comprehensive and exciting collections of Salvias in Europe. Ornamental grasses in great variety punctuate the colourful borders and combine beautifully with the myriad colours of late autumn. The garden is the delightful creation of Roderick and Joy Cameron who moved to Great Comp in 1957. They opened the garden to the public for charity in the early 1960s. The gardens are now run by the Curator William Dyson. This year's programme of special events include: Spring Fling Plant Fair Sunday 13th April 2014 Great Comp Summer Show 9th & 10th August 2014 Autumn Extravaganza Craft Fair 11th & 12th October 2014

The Hop Shop is based on a family farm, Castle Farm, near the pretty village of Shoreham in North Kent. The farm's own beef, apples, apple juice, hops, dried flowers, Kentish lavender and honey are all sold through the unique, award-winning farm shop, along with carefully selected gifts, cards, crafts, seasonal decorations, food hampers and local, traceable produce. In June and July the valley is filled with spectacular fields of lavender which we grow and distill for Kentish Lavender Oil.