Restoration House and Gardens, Rochester – only an hour from London and well worth a visit

89 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Destination

Date of travel

June, 2022

Product name

Restoration House and Gardens

Product country

UK

Product city

Rochester, Kent

Travelled with

Family

Reasons for trip

Culture/Sightseeing

I’m updating my 2019 review of Restoration House in Rochester, Kent as a lot more work has been done in the gardens since that time and most of my photos have been lost in the updating of the website.

Restoration House is so named because Charles II visited in 1660 on his way from Dover to London for his restoration as king after 15 years in exile. To its owners it’s a home and obviously a passion – to those who visit, it’s an amazing pictorial history lesson, art gallery, education in conservation, showcase for craftsmanship, a huge cabinet of curiosities but chiefly a wonderful experience. The original early house has undergone change over five centuries but my favourite parts are the Tapestry Room and upstairs, the Oriel Room and Great Chamber; I sense the 17th century most strongly in these rooms and get quite emotional. Photos are not allowed inside the building except between 10.00 and 11.00 am on Fridays (see the website).

But on our latest visit in June we bought Garden Only tickets. It’s hard to believe that Restoration House is only 100 yards away from the busy High Street. The beautiful walled garden of about threequarters of an acre is an oasis of peace and includes colourful borders, small orchard, potting shed, log store, meadow, cutting garden and parterre, all leading through to the latest project – a jaw-dropping Renaissance water garden with a brick gazebo, terraces, statues, rills and fountains. We sat inside the gazebo on classical stone seats and looked up through the round structure to an open light high above, then climbed the circular stairs to the large terrace where a Roman style? pagoda now sits atop a large brick terrace from which we looked down to a lower terrace and over the beautifully maintained lawns, huge terracotta pots of citrus trees, towering echiums, statues and water features: the parterre in the original garden can be glimpsed through an interesting feature in the old, recycled wall. The brickwork has yet to weather but the craftsmanship and attention to detail are undeniable. This latest project came about when the owners managed to purchase an adjacent site that had been destined for development. But the story is too long and complicated and I’m no expert on the different styles of architecture restored and/or introduced – Tudor?, Italianate?, Renaissance?, Mannerist? – I can’t pretend to know, so please read the website for more about the garden restoration on www.restorationhouse.co.uk.

As you can tell, I love this garden, whatever its style, everthing about it has been considered carefully and carried out artistically; even the outside taps are hidden in bespoke boxes. It can only get better with time. Unfortunately five photographs cannot do justice to this unique, privately owned garden.

Restoration House and gardens are open Thursdays and Fridays only (and Saturdays 26 May and 30 September 2022) from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (last entry 4.30 pm). Pre-booking was in place when we went in June but Historic Houses members do not need to pre-book. Neither the house nor the garden are suitable for wheelchair users. Current prices for the house and garden are £11 for adults, £9 for seniors, £7.50 for students and Art Fund and £5 for children. Garden entry only is £6 for adults and £3 for children. There is a tea room which is run by volunteers in aid of the Wisdom Hospice and we took our tea and cake out into the garden to enjoy.

hardyplant

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.