Hever Castle Reviews 4

I've been bringing my family here since 2014; staff have always been helpful and polite. We had a birds of prey experience yesterday, staff were patient and shared so much knowledge about some of the birds they care for. Only draw back was some users had dumped their empty mussel shells outside the water maze where children run barefoot, and along the path around the lake where dogs walk - would the toss their chicken bones too if eating drumsticks?! Such a lovely place, deserves a little more respect than that. Maybe a few rubbish bins around the lake would be a good idea.

I booked a stay at Hever Castle as a gift for a friend’s birthday. Unfortunately, due to 2 members of her family being hospitalised in the 48 hours before our arrival, I had to cancel the booking. I called the hotel as soon as I learned of the events and explained the situation to the receptionist and was informed that there were no exceptions to the 72 hour cancellation policy rules and that I would be charged the full room rate . No quarter given for extenuating circumstances or acknowledgment of the fact that no-one could have foreseen these events happening, just full room rate charged. And quickly put through on my debit card.
I monitored the website for the remainder of the day and saw the room come back on to the system and then 4 hours later it was no longer available.
I took this to mean that the room had been re-booked.
Hever Castle Estates doubled their profits on the back of a client’s misfortune. Shame on you.

Stayed at the hever Castle B&B in the Astor wing for two nights impeccable room and customer service, for those in the hospitality game, come here and learn how it's done, will be returning.

A ghastly experience, they’ve turned Anne Boleyn’s childhood home into a theme park! Having wanted to see Hever Castle for many years we drove nearly 2.5 hours from London. When we finally got there and paid a hefty entrance fee, we stopped for a cup of tea in a tired, bland cafe, before walking through hideous municipal style gardens featuring bad statues and fake grottos, planted with pansies floodlit with pink and blue lights. Disco balls adorned the topiary. Piped music surrounded us, there was nowhere to escape! When we reached the castle a giant illuminated carousel was plonked smack in front of it blocking one’s view of the castle, playing loud music. The environs were a sea of flashing lights and loud muzak, it was unbearable. The worst of Disneyland. Once inside we were bombarded with information about the Astor’s who’d owned Hever for much of the 20th c. Upstairs there was a bit more information about the Boleyn family, though none of the furniture and very little paneling was original. There were a few interesting things, such as a book of hours and an illuminated manuscript which once belonged to Anne Boleyn. But, to be honest, I learned more about the Astors than the Boleyn family and will certainly not be recommending this travesty of “historic England” to anyone. It’s a shame. Anne Boleyn is arguably one of the most interesting and significant women in English history, yet they turn her home into a theme park. Even in the bookshop there was not one pamphlet or book to be had about the Boleyn family, just overpriced tat.
My husband couldn’t get out of there fast enough. We certainly will not be going back.
Shame on whoever has done this to such a significant historic property.