Sissinghurst
Gardens
A Timeless Gem in the Heart of Kent
Nestled in the ancient landscape of the Kentish Weald, Sissinghurst Gardens feels like a place where time has stood still. Renowned for its exquisitely planted garden “rooms”, Sissinghurst has captivated visitors for decades. We passed it on the tandem during our first visit to Kent - on a day it was closed! Returning on a day when we could go in and explore was a great decision, because Sissinghurst isn’t just one of England’s famous gardens. It’s a love story!
Sissinghurst Castle Gardens © essentially-england.com
Sissinghurst Gardens: A Glimpse
into History
Sissinghurst started life as a Saxon pig farm, grew into a Tudor estate, and housed French prisoners during the Seven Year’s War. During the Victorian and Edwardian era, Sissinghurst was run as a farm.
When the poet and writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband, diplomat Harold Nicolson, acquired the estate in 1930, it looked nothing like it does today. There were no gardens, the farm grew grain and hops, the buildings housed farmworkers, and rubbish lay everywhere. None of it deterred the couple. Vita wrote later that it was “love at first sight”, that beyond Sissinghurst’s shortcomings, they could glimpse its potential. Vita’s love for roses and colourful, tightly packed borders blended with Harold’s love of planning and structure to create the gardens we admire today.
Colourful Planting at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens © essentially-england.com
The Garden Rooms
Just as Lawrence Johnston in Hidcote Manor Gardens, Vita and Harold eschewed the idea of one expansive garden, and designed a series of intimate, enclosed spaces instead, each with its own distinct character and planting scheme. This concept of “garden rooms” has since become a hallmark of English garden design.
View of Sissinghurst Gardens from the Castle Tower © essentially-england.comThe White Garden, perhaps the most famous of these rooms, is planted in a monochromatic palette of white blooms and silver foliage set against dark box hedging. White gladioli, dahlias, irises, and Japanese anemones create a magical effect, reminiscent of a serene, moonlit scene.
The Rose Garden, by contrast, is a riot of colour and fragrance, reflecting Vita’s love of old roses. It’s filled with carefully chosen varieties that bloom in succession from late spring to autumn.
The Cottage Garden, with its sun-loving plants of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, is a warm, inviting space that mimics sunset hues.
Sissinghurst Castle Tower © essentially-england.comBeyond the most famous of Sissinghurst’s garden rooms, visitors can explore a nuttery - especially apt, since Kent is famous for its cobnuts, a purple border, a herb garden, lime walk, and moat walk. Plus, there’s Delos, a Mediterranean garden inspired by Vita and Harold’s visits to the Greek island.
And tying it all together is Sissinghurst’s iconic castle tower, once Vita Sackville-West’s writing retreat.
After Vita and Harold’s passing, Sissinghurst was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1967, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The Trust has maintained the gardens with the same care and dedication that Vita and Harold poured into their creation, balancing the need for conservation with the dynamic nature of living gardens.
A visit to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens today is like stepping back in time. It’s more than just a historic site with a pretty garden. It’s a living testament to Vita and Harold’s creativity, a symbol of their love and connection. They may have bought Sissinghurst because they saw its potential. Working together to create the garden, they both realised their own potential, as individual creatives and as a couple. Which, for me, is one major reason I find Sissinghurst so wonderfully inspiring.
The White Garden in Sissinghurst Gardens © essentially-england.comWhether you soak up vibrancy and fragrance in the rose garden, enjoy a quiet moment amongst the silver and white, or survey the whole from the Tower, a bit of Sissinghurst’s spirit will stay with you as you leave. Even if your everyday gardening efforts extend to just a few herbs on a windowsill.
And there’s plenty of other interesting things to explore whilst at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens including walks around the 450-acre estate and some lovely old buildings and lakes to discover. For more information about opening times and events please visit the National Trust website here.
Walking Around the Lakes at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens © essentially-england.comAre You Planning to Visit Kent?
Where You Could Stay
Kent is such a varied county and stretches from the outskirts of London down to the south coast. Your holiday accommodation could be in a busy town, rural countryside, or by the sea. We found that there are many big towns, but in between them there is nice, quiet countryside to walk or cycle in. There is plenty to interest history lovers too, from castles to dockyards, and roman to more recent. Here is a small selection of holiday cottages in Kent that might get you into that holiday feeling.
To see other holiday cottages in Kent click here. Or check out holiday cottages in other parts of England by clicking here.
Or you could try a family orientated holiday resort in Kent. There's plenty of choice...
If you need to find a hotel, then try one of these search platforms...
What You Could See and Do
Are you feeling in need of a holiday yet? Here are a few more pages that might give you ideas...
- Stroll around Canterbury and marvel at its cathedral
- Visit Dover Castle and experience 2000 years of history
- Wander through the beautiful gardens of Sissinghurst
- See rope making demonstrations and walk around a submarine in Chatham Dockyards
- Relax on the beach at Chamber Sands
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