Authors
Kent is rich in houses formerly inhabited by some of the world's best-known literary names.
Get a taste of the environments that inspired these authors to create their great masterpieces
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived in Crowborough for the last 23 years of his life. He used nearby Groombridge Place as the setting of his final Sherlock Holmes novel 'The Valley of Fear', calling it Birlstone Manor in the story. He was good friends with Sophia, Eliza and Louisa Saint who lived at Groombridge Place in the late 1800s and often visited them. As a confirmed spiritualist, he used to take part in séances there, which were popular at the time. He also loved The Drunken Garden, which you can still see today.

E.M. Forster, also a member of the Bloomsbury Group, attended Tonbridge School. The theatre there is named in his honour.

Virginia Woolf lived for many years at Monk's House in Sussex, where she wrote 'To The Lighthouse', 'The Waves' and 'Orlando', inspired by her friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West. See BLOOMS AND THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP TOUR.

Film Locations
Kent often features in films and TV and a few of those locations are close to each other in the Tunbridge Wells area.
Hever Castleis historically famous for being the family home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. Parts of the building date back to 1270. You may recognise it from HE Bates’ 'The Darling Buds of May', the films 'The Other Boleyn Girl' starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, and 'Lady Jane' starring Helena Bonham-Carter. It has been the location and backdrop to many other films.
A few miles away is Penshurst Place, a superb medieval hall house, where much of ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ was also filmed. The unspoiled estate and Tudor Gardens helped to bring the era to life. It is here that Henry first lays eyes on Anne and where the wedding feast was staged.
BBC Two's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall took the Queen Elizabeth Room, The Tapestry Room, The Solar, The Long Gallery, and The Crypt and created Tudor interiors clearly fit for Kings and courtiers. You'll be able to see which scenes were filmed there as you walk in the footsteps of Mark Rylance, Claire Foy and Damian Lewis. ‘Anne Of A 1000 Days‘ was also filmed here and the BBC’s ‘Merlin’ crew have used the house a few times.
Magnificent Knole House is close by. A 17th century country house, with its own deer park, it is part owned by The National Trust but is also still the home of the Sackville-Wests.
It has also featured in ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and was the location in the 1967 Beatles’ videos that accompanied the release of ‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.
More recently it was one of the locations in the 4th ‘Pirates of The Caribbean’ film.
Groombridge Place in Tunbridge Wells provided the perfect location for the Bennett’s family home in one of Jane Austen’s most famous novels, Pride and Prejudice.
Why not take a tour?
Our full or half day tours give you the perfect opportunity to visit these historic attractions in the Potted History Tours taxi.
Contact us for more details or to book a bespoke tour.
Tour Prices
Full Day Tour (up to 5 people) - £350.00
Half Day Tour (up to 5 people) - £200.00
Picnic Prices
Hunting Henry - £25.00 per person
Teddy Bears' Picnic - £15.00 per child (16 and under)
Garden of Englan' Picnic - £25.00 per person
You Say...
We had a great day out at Hever Castle and Penshurst Place. Clare was very good....and very patient. Recommended!
Related Links
- GROOMBRIDGE PLACE
- VISIT KENT - HEVER CASTLE
- PENSHURST PLACE & GARDENS
- KNOLE HOUSE - NATIONAL TRUST
- DOWN HOUSE - ENGLISH HERITAGE
Main image of Down House supplied by English Heritage