Hever Castle -Home of Anne Boleyn - Kent Road Trip

[@FloridaFlipFlops]

Hello from Naples, Florida. Love, love the Castle! The torture artifacts were interesting, LOL. Love, love the moat. We enjoyed the tour. Thank you for sharing with us, have a great weekend. 👍💯

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for coming along! Hever really is a remarkable castle. Lovely moat, beautiful gardens, and incredible history!! Cheers from Texas! Dara

[@britainonabudget]

We had a trip planned to visit Hever back in 2018 because my friend loves Anne Boleyn. Unfortunately it was closed at the time we were able to go. Your excellent video has got me excited to try to get over there!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Why was it closed? Private event? Yes, you would love Hever, Leeds, and Penshurst! All are previous homes of three different wives of Henry the eighth. I decided to do each of them on a Friday in a row... this Friday is the last one.

[@britainonabudget]

@@MagentaOtterTravels It was the off season (of course haha!) and they were closed except for the weekend and of course the days I had scheduled to be there were mid week. I’m thinking I might have to include a castle tour of the southeast in my 2025 trip!!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@britainonabudget oh yeah! You are the reason we went to Arundel. It would not be fair for you to not get to see it as well!

[@ItsArtByDonna]

WOWOW Dara and Ian...I love the stories of Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon and have watched and read numerous movies, books and documentaries on them...and Henry the Eighth...the history has always fascinated me...this was a wonderful video, well done and so much fun at the end with all the mazes and beautiful flower garden...the fountain could have used a tissue for his runny nose🤣 and maybe an umbrella for Ian in the maze! Lots of fun...beautiful Castle owned by the Astors...I couldn't imagine hosting all those people who worked for him...what an undertaking!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for watching, Donna! Since you are interested in Henry the eighth and his wives, I'm glad you saw this video 😉. Cheers! Dara

[@da90sReAlvloc]

We've got some amazing history in our country, Romans, vikings, normans , Tudors, Boudicca, nelson , air Francis Drake, Churchill, Queen victoria, .great to see wonderful people enjoying our history. Usually we're told. By news. And government that we shouldn't be proud of our history , Great video Dara Some of the scenery you film and how you get the shots , you have a artistic side you can appreciate how wonderful our country is, Great video. You and Ian stay safe 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Dave! That is very kind of you to say. History is complicated... always different perspectives at play. But it is interesting to learn from the mistakes of the past, so important that we remember the successes and failures of prior generations.

[@rhondafoy8009]

Oh I loved Hever Castle, can t wait to go back there

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It is such an interesting place to visit! We may be returning this summer with our American friends who we are bringing to Kent ;-)

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

That a fabulous castle and terrific that the Astors were wealthy enough to spend money on making it very liveable 😃 The gardens are a great example of why I love visiting the UK during the early summer months, they were gorgeous!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I was so impressed with those gardens! The castle was fascinating, and had such interesting history. It was icing on the cake to have such well laid out and maintained gardens as well!

[@DaveCollierCamping]

If the walls could talk. Awesome video

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks Dave! Yes, LOTS of interesting stories have happened in those walls of Hever!

[@lisahammond1208]

I was there in the Fall of 2022 and it was lovely to watch the video to bring it all back! I took the woodland trail for a while before getting soaked through and heading back. Almost my favorite part was the mile walk from the quaint train station! Ahhh, thank you for the memories. :)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That sounds like a lovely (and memorable!) visit... I'm glad I could help you revisit it 🥰

[@WITYTRAVELS]

That is a magical walkway! IAN be careful on the water maze lol.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It was fun watching Ian attempt the water maze! I was glad I didn't try it 🤣

[@TravelingTramps]

We enjoyed seeing Hever Castle and hearing about it's history. It's great that it was brought back to life and preserved for future generations, by Mr. Astor a man with the means to be able to do it. Also enjoyed the history about the Boleyn family. I didn't know much of it other than the general sad story of Anne and Catherine, Henry's first wife. The castle was stunning and the gardens lovely. I enjoyed seeing the torture and execution devices. Again perhaps in poor taste, but that is history.Thanks for bringing us along, Dara and Ian.

[@TravelingTramps]

"do something good in the World today." I'm looking at a bag hanging up that says that very thing that! It just arrived yesterday. Curious. 😁😁 It will come in handy for Kathy's personal care items when we travel. So much has to be brought along and our old one was pretty small. This one is much bigger and will carry it better. Thanks! The other package or packages haven't yet arrived, but I'm sure will soon.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I find it SO interesting that last week's Leeds Castle (Henry the 8th's first wife lived there) as well as this castle (of his 2nd wife) were both saved and preserved thanks to wealthy Americans!! Thanks for joining us on this visit again, Dave and Kathy!

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Fascinating history lesson!

[@AlphaTraveler1]

That is so beautiful. I am surprised they are able to keep it up. Amazing. 👍👍👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank goodness for a wealthy American who left a rather large trust to keep the castle preserved. Also, of course, everyone who buys tickets to go visit helps preserve it as well 😉

[@TravelingTramps]

The magenta flowers may have been a perfect welcome. But the pubs name may be in poor taste with it location! Watching now, Dara and Ian.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Dave! I don't know how you do it watching so many videos for all your friends! You are the bestest most supportive friend! Sending love to you and Kathy! XX Dara (and Ian)

[@nafex3740]

Success always, all the BEST❤

[@gerrymccartney3561]

Great guided tour. I especially liked your tongue in cheek remark about the Long Gallery being used on the rare occasions when the weather outside was inclement.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hee hee, I was wondering if anyone would notice that! And a few of you have. Well done! Do you think that sarcastic British humour is rubbing off on me? 🤣

[@gerrymccartney3561]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes, I do.

[@lizbignell7813]

What glorious gardens.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

They exceeded my expectations! So well done! 🪻🌸🌼

[@lizbignell7813]

I am not a gardener myself but can appreciate others skill and dedication to create such beauty.

[@johnadey3696]

Thanks for another Great video!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank YOU! This was a devil to edit... but I loved all the history in the castle and the beauty of the gardens!! Cheers! Dara

[@wencireone]

Our weather is always perfect, it's just our timing forgoing out 😉

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That must be why "not going out" is such a popular TV programme!

[@ruthgoebel723]

What a fantastic tour of Hever! Those gardens were spectacular and so unique. Definitely on my ever-growing bucket list.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Kent and Sussex is packed with historic heavy hitters... definitely a great place to spend time when you next cross the pond! 🩷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@andrewdoubtfire4700]

Well done - I think you did Hever fair justice with this vlog.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks! That's high praise 🤗

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Oh seeing those ducklings- it's almost duckling time again Dara. This reminds me how close to spring we are. 👌🦆🦆🦆

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yay! 🐣🌼

[@wencireone]

You know those walking guides you can listen too as you walk around historic places, I'm taken you with me next time 🎧

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Lol, that's hilarious! If they charge you for a headset, then using my video for free could be a good deal 🤣

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I'll just look up the appropriate video on KZbin and listen as I walk around. Literally taking you with me

[@jeanlongsden1696]

beautiful gardens, they must employ a large number of staff there for that alone.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Indeed! They won a "best garden" award several years ago. It is very well laid out and maintained! The architectural features around it are a great frame.

[@GENerationXplorers]

Magenta flowers laid out for your arrival. Some very tame ducklings and massive fish! Interesting connections to the Waldorf. Lovely interiors and interesting artefacts. Wow do they still have Hever Days? Interesting historic details and fascinating how things have changed over the centuries. Very well put together tour and narration. Particularly liked the tour of the gardens in full bloom. I wonder how the Hever Rose is different from some others? Lovely Lilly pond in your colours! Wow that is some lake. Can imagine St Peter’s being very popular back in the day.👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I did well finding lots of magenta on that garden visit 💖🌸! The ducks 🦆 were adorable! Fun to feed them from our hands. I don't think they have the Hever days as they did traditionally, but there are certainly lots of special events at Hever these days. It's a great place to visit! Thanks for coming along! I'm currently on a road trip to Austin Texas... but I'm looking forward to catching up with your stormy goths later! ⛈️☠️🖤

[@GENerationXplorers]

@@MagentaOtterTravelsthanks Dara, have a wonderful road trip

[@f3aok]

You surpassed yourself with this video. So interesting. As good as anything on msm imo.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Wow, thank you so much! Very kind of you to say. Hever was a fascinating place to visit. Loved it!

[@mattb6704]

As an English person, I’m really enjoying your videos :-) X

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@mattb6704 oh, I'm so glad! Thank you so much for your support!🙏 I appreciate you watching my videos and taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers! Dara

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Kent is duckling central!! They were so tame. We need to visit this castle. It's beautiful. The recent history is as fascinating as the older stuff. What a brilliant exhibition of Anne and Catherine. The gardens are beautiful. What a lovely visit. Oo we've never seen a water maze! Cool. 🍻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The water maze would be brill on a hot day! I can see the footage Rach would film whilst Wills was having a go navigating it ;-) Feeding the ducks was very fun. Glad we had our healthy seeds for them! Yes, I'm so thankful that some wealthy Americans saved both Hever and Leeds castles... they have fascinating history from medieval times as well as last century! Thanks for watching! XX Dara

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

The British historical events, intrigue, injustice and righteousness are legendary. The books and films about the lives and times of yesteryear are riveting and horrific as they are interesting. Your road trip contains lots of valuable lesson material bringing the past in a most easy to watch and learn to understand more about the English history.and about those who lived it. Loved this venture into history with you Dara and Ian. 🌺🇳🇱🙋‍♀🇳🇿 🩷

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much Anita! We are currently on a wee road trip in Texas 😉🤘

[@davidcoan4899]

We have stayed at Hever and eaten at the King Henry pub , great video

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hopefully you ordered better than I did... and your food was tastier! How was it? It is certainly very convenient!!

[@davidcoan4899]

@@MagentaOtterTravels the pub food was excellent , but it was 7-8 years ago. Your video makes me want to go back to Hever castle asap. 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@davidcoan4899 i'm glad! It really is such an interesting and beautiful place to visit.

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Hi Dara & Ian, this is another castle that I desperately want to visit! You did a wonderful job of relaying the story of Anne Boleyn. I also enjoyed learning about the more recent history of the castle. I loved the glorious gardens and it was very cool that they had their own Hever Castle Rose ❤🌹The water maze was very unique - what a fun idea! Great vlog, as always 💕

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

When your granddaughter is a few years older, that would be a fun place to take her! Leeds castle as well. I really think it's great to be able to visit both of them, since they touch on different parts of Henry the eighth's history and two different wives. But they were both saved by wealthy Americans! Isn't that fascinating?

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Hooray for wealthy Americans is what I say! ❤👍😁@@MagentaOtterTravels

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@The_Brit_Girls Amen, sister! 🤑🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@iankelly5387]

Dara, this is a brilliant video telling me, a Brit, things I actually didn't really know. The Royals....are not my favourite family IMHO😐 We will find out why sometime soon! All your videos are just brilliant. Honestly, you're the best KZbin channel I follow

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much! That's so lovely to read a comment like that 🥰! As for the royals... there's always so much drama. I don't follow their updates closely, and I don't take sides. I was very interested to learn about Queen Victoria's life... she was fascinating to me.

[@Nick_r]

Another good one guys, well done. You’re doing a grand job of showing what Sussex and Kent have to offer. We don’t get the volume of USA tourists the Cotswolds get but it’s equally as attractive with a different style. Still gets pretty busy in the summer though as it’s so close to London.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, The Weald is lucky to not be overrun with tourists. But between the proximity to London and the enormously rich history of the area, I highly recommend people visit Sussex and Kent!

[@Nick_r]

@@MagentaOtterTravels We do get a lot of tourists in the summer but mostly Brits after the coast and Beaches but not the Weald. Also get a reasonable number of tourists from Europe but not massive amount. Oddly we get large amount of tourists from the far east to the Seven Sisters cliffs. Mainly Japanese and South Korean, the cliffs seem to have some major significance for the but blowed if I know what it is.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Nick_r it's always interesting when some guidebook or some celebrity or prominent person raves about a certain place to visit. Then everyone from that country shows up to visit there! Lol

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

I'm probably the only person that would notice but the picture at 3.57 isn't the future King George VI but his younger brother Prince George. When Edward VIII abdicated his brother Albert decided to go with one of his other names (royals tend to have a string of them) and to try and bring stability to as he put it 'a rocking throne' he decided to be known as George VI, following his father George V who had been king for 25 years. Prince George (Duke of Kent) married Princess Marina of Greece, she was a bit of a snob and referred to her sisters in law Elizabeth Bowes Lyon and Lady Alice Scott 'those common scotch girls'. Marina was a princess, a poor one though, Lady Alice's father the Duke of Buccleuch was one of the richest men in the UK!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm sorry, I tried really hard to get all the photos correct! Thanks for setting the record straight 🥹

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Loving the castles Dara. I know you love castles with a moat best- but which castle 'tugged' at your heartstrings the most? Asking for a friend ☺!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I do think Arundel was our favourite... but it was a tough contest!!

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Ducks are cute until they bite you!! 🦆

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thankfully, they don't have teeth! It was just a wee peck 😉

[@ShaneNixonFamily]

For the record Cate Blanchett is the best Elizabeth. And she should've won the Oscar over Gwyneth. 😂 Speaking of tele, I should watch The Tudors and see how much it deviates from this already fascinating history. Love a good historical drama. We're halfway through The Last Kingdom at the moment - Saxons vs the Vikings. Another fascinating period. But this castle and its history is amazing. I was hoping the water maze meant you had wade waist deep through some marshes, but alas, it was not to be. Although I was tickled to see Ian trying to avoid being squirted.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it made me giggle watching and trying to dodge all the squirting water jets as well! I agree with you about Cate Blanchett playing Elizabeth. She was amazing!🏆

[@jillybrooke29]

I'm related to Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister and the Careys, love Hever ....visited a few times 😊

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh wow! I love hearing from folks with personal connections to the places we visit!! Mary looked like a beauty... from the painting I saw anyway. Too bad she didn't drive a hard bargain like her sister Anne did ;-) Hever is a lovely place to visit! Cheers! XX Dara

[@jillybrooke29]

We loved the Italian gardens and the lake

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@jillybrooke29 yes, they took my breath away!

[@Poliss95]

The place looks stunning. Excellent videography and narration.👍 Well, until the snot fountain that is. 😂 For someone who doesn't like history you seem to like history. 😁 From 'foul water' to 'water fowl' you might say. 🤣🤣 A maze that ambushes you! 😲 Never seen anything like that before. Not impressed by the King VIII pub food? Was it the type of place where if you ordered a Waldorf Salad they'd say they were out of Waldorf's? 😁😁 I was watching a 1963 documentary on the National Trust. One of the places they showed was Knole in Kent. It looks like just the kind of place you would love. You didn't happen to pop in there when you were in Kent did you?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Sorry for my sophomoric sense of humour... I couldn't resist commenting on the spitting fountain and the snot fountain! Yes, I noticed that water "foul" pun when I was editing... but not when I was babbling extemporaneously in the castle ;-) No we didn't visit Knole. But we might be going back this summer... maybe we try again? I actually had an AMAZING Waldorf salad at the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham. They SHOULD have Waldorf salad at this pub given the Astor connection to Hever. LOL ... No, the food was just not that yummy. I knew the video would be long so I just skipped the whole lunch part of the vlog. I only want to recommend yummy places!

[@wencireone]

I just wanted to shout "Stop Coughing" to who ever was following you around 🤨 you're ruining a master history lesson

[@chrisward8323]

On the rare occasion the weather isn't perfect in England 😂 turning into quite a comedian these days.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Hee hee you noticed my subtle sarcastic British sense of humour ;-)

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

A fun movie about the Boleyn sisters is 'The Other Boleyn Girl' a fictionalised version of Mary's story. Apparently not exactly historically accurate but great locations and costumes.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Sounds interesting! Such drama in the court back then 😳

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Anna, I just had to come back and comment again on your comment because I'm editing my video for this coming Friday and it is in a filming location for The Other Boleyn Girl. And they show costumes from the production! So you will have to watch my video of Penshurst place 😉👍

[@FloridaFlipFlops]

Like 164 👍 💯 ❤

[@jennycarter1149]

Thanks for the tour. Some of the photos of royalty didnt coincide with the names you were quoting, but thats ok😊 enjoyed it all anyway.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Sorry about that! I try my best 😉

[@ceeeemdeedees7496]

The picture you chose of “the future George VI” was his bother Prince George.Duke of Kent. And the pick of the future Elizabeth Ii is her sister, Princess Margaret. When Lady Elizabeth and Prince Albert married in 1923, no one foresaw him becoming King as his older brother was first in line.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@ceeeemdeedees7496 I am very sorry if I mislabeled pictures! I'm a perfectionist, and hate it when something in my video isn't accurate! But rest assured I'm doing my level best to avoid such errors 😩. Thanks for watching the video and noting the discrepancies. Cheers! Dara

[@ceeeemdeedees7496]

No worries! I was just sharing info. Enjoyed the video very much. Very interesting to learn about the Astor connection. Apologies if the “tone” read otherwise. ❤️

[@griswald7156]

They all wear Maid Marion frocks.. The hushed tones of the library employee is very suitable…i approve..

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I don't feel like I'm whispering when I do my vlogging, but then when I get home and edit it I do sound like I'm whispering! Drives me crazy 😝

[@griswald7156]

@@MagentaOtterTravels you dont normally….i just think you held complete reverence for the subject matter this time around… We have a music afficionado called Bob Harris…who was and is very successful,he built his career to the point of ecstasy and known to the world as “Whispering Bob Harris”…..check him out on ‘the old grey whistle test”

[@wencireone]

I noticed you sneaked in an editing effect in the garden

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes I try not to overuse that... but that particular transition was a bumpy one, so I needed some flower petals to distract 🌸

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels yes, had to replay it as it's definitely not you !

[@davidjones332]

It's worth pointing out that when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon agreed to marry the Duke of York, she had no idea that he might become King. It is said that she never forgave his elder brother Edward VIII for, as she saw it, deserting the throne for his American floozie, and forcing her Bertie to shoulder the burden of kingship through the war years, which, for a naturally nervous character, probably shortened his life by many years.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, absolutely! They did not expect him to be king!

[@wencireone]

That water maze is so Disney 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

💦

[@neuralwarp]

3:50 Correction: Bertie wasn't born to be king, and he never became the future George VI. He succeeded upon the abdication of his brother Edward VIII.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for clarifying! Sorry if my narration was misleading

[@wencireone]

I guess Henry never visited the long gallery 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I know you're joking, but I'm actually fascinated by this topic. American, we just grow up hearing about Henry the eighth who was this big obese mean king who executed his wives. When I learned that he was actually a very athletic and handsome teenager I was astonished! It's interesting to Visit Hampton Court, Palace and see the raquet ball court (I forgot the name of the sport exactly! ) where he played so avidly before his injury that caused him to be lame the rest of his life. With that disability, plus The fact that he was king and could have whatever he wanted and eat whatever he wanted, obesity set in later in life. I read somewhere that his waist size went from 32 inches to 52 inches...

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels I was an athletic-ish teenager too, I must be related 🤣

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@wencireone I think quite a few men follow that general trajectory 😉.... i'm the opposite. Never did anything sporty as a teenager, and now that I'm pushing 60 I work out all the time! Lol

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels see ! PPIEW 🧘‍♀️😉🤣

[@wencireone]

I'd li,e to see someone play with those chess pieces ♟

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yeah! How does that work?!🤔

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels bring out the axe, " off with those roots " 🪓

[@wencireone]

I just wanted to shout "Stop Coughing" to whoever was following you around 🤨 you're ruining a master history class

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I know! It's a wonder I didn't get Covid during that tour! I was debating recording everything over again in voiceover, but this video was already an utter nightmare to edit, and I couldn't be bothered! 🙄

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels it turned out PPIEW 👏

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@wencireone you are too kind

[@wencireone]

So the moat was to keep people out 🚽😬

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes it would have kept me out! 💩

[@brigidsingleton1596]

I thought John Joseph Astor travelled upon the RMS Titanic with his young pregnant bride...🇺🇸 (Perhaps I've mixed him up with another Astor?) 😮🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🖖

[@davidjones332]

Yes, it was a different John Jacob Astor who went down in the Titanic. This was a younger relative.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

@@davidjones332 Ah... John Jacob Astor... (R.I.P) My mistake. Thank you for the correction.