Photo location and event ideas

This page contains a few locations around Sevenoaks (within about 30-40 miles) that our members have found fruitful for photos.

They are not comprehensive, nor have we asked our members to give away all their photo secrets! But they may give some hints if you live locally and want to get out to take some pictures, or if you are a tourist visiting West Kent and want some photo ideas.
The table categories are indicative only: locations are put in the 'most relevant' category (we think) but may throw up other opportunities as well.
Most locations have website links shown, from which you can get more details.
Some properties are owned by the National Trust (NT) or similar organisation. There are often restrictions on the photographs that can be taken - do check websites for details. Mention here does not guarantee that photography is allowed in all parts of the locations.
Do also check opening times & entry details before making a journey - we have not included this sort of administrative information.

The Visit Sevenoaks website may also be of interest for places to go and more.

Some photo ideas near Sevenoaks - focus on stately homes/castles etc
Location	Comments
Bodiam Castle	Old moated castle; a favourite with photographers
Chartwell	House and gardens formerly owned by Sir Winston Churchill
Hampton Court Palace	One of the Historic Royal Palaces: extensive palace buildings, garden and park.
Hever Castle	House and extensive gardens
Ightham Mote	Moated house and garden
Knole Park & Knole House	Large wooded deer park, and one of the finest stately homes in the country. In the centre of Sevenoaks
Leeds Castle	Large castle built on islands in lake; near Maidstone
Penshurst Place	Stately home and gardens

Some photo ideas near Sevenoaks - focus on gardens/nature etc
Location	Comments
Lavender fields at Shoreham, Kent (owned by Castle Farm, Shoreham)	Best from mid-June to mid-July; viewable from the roads; the fields are private and there is no public right of way, although tours can be booked; see website for details
Dungeness	Shingle landscape by the coast in the south of Kent; popular with photographers for a variety of subjects, including close-ups of fishing boats and old machinery as well as the wildlife. It also has one terminus of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway, and there is an RSPB bird reserve..
Richmond Park: Isabella Plantation	An ornamental woodland garden for all seasons; a member says it is "absolutely gorgeous there in May when the azalias and rhododendrons are out".
The Royal Landscape	A thousand acres of landscaped gardens, lakes and woodland, incorporating The Savill Garden, The Valley Gardens and Virginia Water lake.
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve	Nature trail, hides and visitor centre in a 55 hectare reserve of water and land habitats
Sissinghurst Castle Gardens	Famous gardens created by Vita Sackville West
Titsey Place	Gardens and manor house in Oxted, Surrey.
Wisley garden	The Royal Horticultural Society's garden in Surrey

Some photo ideas near Sevenoaks - focus on preserved heritage
Location	Comments
Bluebell Railway	Preserved steam railway in Sussex ; Sheffield Park station is close to Sheffield Park Gardens, a National Trust property.
Chatham Historic Dockyard	Preserved dockyard, parts of which date back hundreds of years
De La Warr Pavilion	A Grade 1 Listed Modernist building in Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex
Kent & East Sussex Railway	Preserved steam railway running from Tenterden to Bodiam; Bodiam station is close to Bodiam Castle

Some photo ideas near Sevenoaks - focus on villages & urban
Location	Comments
Canterbury	Mixture of old and new. Canterbury Cathedral in the centre.
Chiddingstone	Old village a few miles from Sevenoaks.

Eclectic photo opportunities near Sevenoaks
When	What/where
Anytime	Sevenoaks is at the southern end of the Darent Valley Community Rail Partnership; the CRP includes the line from Sevenoaks to Swanley via Bat & Ball, Otford, Shoreham and Eynsford.
Anytime	Southeastern Railway is a member of the Kent Community Rail Partnership, and downloadable pdf guides to Medway Valley Rail Trails — walks starting and finishing at its stations on the Medway Valley Line — are available on the KCRP website.
Various	Airshow calendar (some local, most further afield around the country)
Various	Steam Heritage has listings of steam rallies and events nationwide