Doddington Place House and Gardens is a privately owned historic house in Faversham, Kent, that opens its gardens to visitors twice a week. The house has been in the Oldfield family for the last century but was originally built for the Sir John Croft of the Croft Original port and sherry house fame. The current custodians, Richard and Amicia Oldfield, have lovingly restored many of the garden areas to their original glory.
Open on Wednesday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Entry prices are £9 for adults / £2.50 for children.
Situated just 10 minutes from the A20 and A2 Doddington Place Gardens can be found in Doddington Nr Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 OBB.
My visit to Doddington Place House and Gardens was part of a collaboration with Visit Kent, and it couldn’t have coincided with better weather. The temperature was in the high 20’s, the sun was shining, and the flowers looked magnificent.
Amicia Oldfield, the owner of Doddington Place House, was my guide around the gardens. It was fascinating to hear about the family history connected to this historic house in Kent.
There are many different planting areas to discover in Doddington Place Gardens. From the formal borders packed with alliums and roses to the pond area in the Sunk Garden. And the renovated Edwardian rock garden with stunning views across the North Downs.
It’s so easy to see why Kent is called the Garden of England.
Wandering the pathways took me to the Folly Walk, leading to a beautiful memorial to two Oldfield family members.
On to the Spring Garden, I was welcomed with shaded areas to take a moment to escape the heat and enjoy my surroundings.
Amazing Clipped Yew Hedges
One thing that makes Doddington stand out from the crowd is the strange bulging shapes of the clipped yew hedges. The previous owner planted these incredible natural forms before the First World War.
I immediately thought of Alice in Wonderland when I saw them. I half-expected the Queen of Hearts to appear with her croquet stick at any moment!
Small doorways cut into the hedge allow children to step inside the undergrowth and play out their own magical fantasies.
As I was visiting in June, the Woodland Garden was awash with colour from the rhododendron and azalea trees.
Doddington Place is listed as one of Britain’s finest Historic Houses and was once owned by the Croft family (of the sherry and port fame)
It was magical to wander through the dense woodland and listen to the birdsong. Tall trees sheltered the pathways from the sunshine and led to a beautifully cut lawn complete with stripes!
Doddington Place House and Gardens is a superb location to spend a day simply soaking up the beautiful surroundings and maybe exploring the historic market town of Faversham which is a short drive away. Make sure to add Doddington Place to your list of Best Gardens to Visit in Kent!
