Penshurst Place - One of England's Oldest Family Homes

Penshurst Place looks like another castle, but it is a fortified manor home which the Sidney family owned for centuries. It was also a home of Anne Cleeves - another of Henry the 8th's wives! This rounds out our visits to 3 of his wives castle homes ;-).
Come along with us to explore the beautiful Elizabethan garden, the grand home with an enormous Medieval great hall and lovely state rooms.
Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun! And check out the links below for related videos.
Cheers! XX Dara (and Ian)
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Important video links:
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Arundel Castle - • Arundel Castle #engla...
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Great Dixter (with the SQUINT WINDOW) - • Bodiam Castle, Great D...
Abbotsford with it's LA VOLTA drawing at 5:55 - • Abbotsford & Floors Ca...
Puffins, Hedgehogs, Otters and Why I Love Them - • Otters, Hedgehogs & Pu...
Kent and Sussex Road Trip Playlist - • Kent and Sussex Vlogs

[@wencireone]

I don't know about seeing the gardens from a drone, I'd probably fall off 😉

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it would be very dangerous for you indeed! haha

[@Poliss95]

Oh. So THAT'S what it looks like. 😁😁

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

So glad I could give you a peek inside! ;-)

[@Poliss95]

@@MagentaOtterTravels It's even better than I had imagined. All I can remember from the tiny piece in the tourism directory is that it had gardens.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Poliss95 haha that's not saying much! In the UK all the manor houses have gardens 😆

[@davegreenwood1663]

I really appreciate the hard work you and ian put into these videos.Once again fantastic.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words. I have two more videos in this series to go... the editing is a nightmare, but I'm so glad to have a record of this brilliant trip!!! After this I'll have some culture videos for comic relief before I get back to some travel vlogs that also "need doing"... a few famous things in the queue ;-) Cheers! Dara

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Excellent

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Cheers, Dave!

[@Peterraymond67]

Dara, another great video. Bramley apples are known as Cookers in the fruit trade. My dad & maternal grand father were fruiterers and greengrocers. We always had Bramley Apples for baking in pies apple tarts or even de-cored filled with demerara sugar, currents and roasted. Great tasting fruit.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I don't hear of them here in the states, but yes I often see Bramley apples mentioned in puddings. They are delicious! Great way to honour QE2. I love that you used the terms fruiterers and greengrocers... two words we don't hear in the USA! ;-)

[@griswald7156]

@@MagentaOtterTravels America gave us the word Fruitcake and Tutti Frutti ,for which we are grateful..

[@neilgayleard3842]

Cooking apples are indigenous to Britain. So we are the only country that grows them commercially. Also when we invented Apple pie there was no cinnamon.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@neilgayleard3842 but I'm very glad that cinnamon is an apple pies these days. So delicious! 🥧

[@neilgayleard3842]

I don't. I hate the stuff. I also think it has ruined our apple recipes. I blame the French.

[@robertwatford7425]

In 2010 a friend and I took a day trip on the Orient Express: Champagne in the Lounge at Paddington, breakfast on the train as we left London and entered Kent, lunch as we sped through the Kent countryside then we left the train and went by coach to Penshurst Place for a tour. Back to the train for afternoon tea and a little rest before dinner and back into Paddington about ten o'clock. A day I shall never forget :-)

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh my goodness, that sounds magnificent! What a perfect day!

[@elizabetherwin1315]

Sounds so lovely!

[@elizabetherwin1315]

I SO appreciate your beautiful accounts of not only the British countrysides but of historic Britain as well, Dara and Ian. I'll confess that whenever you take us on a tea house/pub/restaurant experience, I find myself Googling these establishments to receive an even more in depth sense of their history and ambiance. Thank you for the journeys!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That is so kind of you to say. I'm really happy to hear that you find them interesting! Cheers! XX Dara

[@davidfuters7152]

I didn’t think Van Dyke looked that old in Mary Poppins , amazing what you can do with lighting but hay what a painter 🤓🤓🤓🤓

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

He wasn't old... but his English accent was awful! LOL

[@wencireone]

We do love a bridge dilemma, who's first to move, don't hesitate or you could be stuck there 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, it keeps us alert!

[@Poliss95]

I had no idea that Dick Van Dyke was a painter. I thought he was a photographer. Well he was a photographer on Columbo. 📷😁

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Excellent recall of Columbo trivia!! Van Dyke was a photographer, and a chimney sweep with an atrocious English accent ;-)

[@Poliss95]

@@MagentaOtterTravels He has apologised to the whole country for that accent, so we forgive him. 😁 Excellent recall? Columbo has been on continuous repeat for the last five years at least and I always watch it. 🕵‍♂😁 I'm a bit sad now because they stopped showing it a couple of weeks ago. 😭

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Poliss95 oh no! RIP Columbo 😢

[@Poliss95]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Panic over. I've found the channel they moved it to. 📺😁

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Poliss95 phew! 😅

[@alisonwilliams-bailey3561]

I grew up going to Penshurst Place as we were in Rusthall near Langton Green, and Speldhurst nearby. Lovely to see and be reminded of the lovely place.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

What a lovely area to grow up in! I'm glad you enjoyed our tour. Thanks for watching!

[@alisonwilliams-bailey3561]

@@MagentaOtterTravels yes its a lovely bit of the Weald of Kent. Thank you ❤

[@ruthgoebel723]

The history just is so fascinating to me. What a lovely place; thanks for sharing!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

The most interesting history to me was that painting of QE1 and La Volta. There are theories the party took place in that very room in Penshurst!

[@TravelingTramps]

Penshurst Place certainly a stunning manor house, both inside and out, Dara and Ian! This even despite the lewd painting of the queen. So many artifacts, lovely furnishings and art works. Lovely tour also of the church and it is a colorful and bright, font. Would have been nice to see the whole church in it's bright color! But alas, just like the copy artists, the paint would fade over time. Loved coming along!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks for joining us. Dave, you are always so attentive to all the detail! THANK YOU! I hope you and Kathy have a lovely weekend. XX Dara

[@Nick_r]

I imagine the narrow roads in the Weald is a big reason why we don’t see the volume of tourists the Cotswolds do. The bus/coach tour operators maybe avoid the area because it’s too difficult even though we’re nearer to London. Well done with this series of videos, you really give the flavour of what Sussex and Kent have to offer.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

There are a lot of narrow roads in the Cotswolds, and Devon/Cornwall/Dartmoor have some CRAZY scary roads. But it's all worth it to navigate them because the villages at the end of the journey are so lovely! XX

[@Nick_r]

@@MagentaOtterTravels The West country is worse, I was born in Devon (living in Sussex) and familiar with those. Less so the Cotswolds, I wonder then why the Weald is relatively avoided. Equals the Cotswolds and goodness knows why Stonehenge is so popular! We have the Long Man of Wilmington and you can walk up to that 🙂 Oh well, it will remain a mystery, at least it’s not crowded down here.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@Nick_r I agree with you about Stonehenge! 🤷‍♀️

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Now that is an unusual statue (2:58) Lovely gardens. The medieval hall is AMAZING. I had read some of the comments- also about Penhurst not being on many 'wishlists to visit'. I LOVE places like that. Many of our 'targets' are non hot spots. I try to get that across for those visiting the Netherlands. Anyway back to your video. How action packed and historically valuable this place is. Such a pearl and to think I have you and Ian to thank for educating me 🙏. Wonderful Dara. So happy with this video. Fabulous church. That font is unusually colourful. And why not. Dara, what a treat. Thanks for sharing this lovely day/visit with me. 🩷🙏🇳🇱🙋‍♀🇳🇿 Have a great weekend. 👌

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

It's crazy to imagine that at one time all the churches and cathedrals were as colourful as that font!💜💙❤️🧡💛 Yes we love historic gems like this that are not tourist hot spots! Thanks for joining us on our tour! XX Dara

[@jasonsmart3482]

Thank you for your videos of Kent - my county. Get off the M2 or M20 and as you have shown you will find some lovely market towns, villages, vineyards and many historic places.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thank YOU for watching! I totally agree... you really are spoilt for choice with so many amazing places to visit!! I have a couple more videos left in the series. There was so much to fit in! LOL

[@TravelingTramps]

Truly is a picturesque village, Dara and Ian. Good thing you made it across the bridge!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Driving is often a white-knuckle experience for me in the UK!

[@gerrymccartney3561]

Penshurst looked a delight, and your video displayed it well. If I may make a suggestion, your coat of arms should have a bordure of magenta around the shield.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh yes, I definitely need some magenta on that family crest!!! Thanks for watching, Gerry. Penshurst was the perfect complement to Hever and Leeds. So glad we were able to visit all three places!

[@wencireone]

Good choice Ian 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

He usually has great ideas!

[@richardjames3022]

Spent many a happy hour in the Leicester Arms, when parents lived near Hever, well 25 minutes walk away

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, always a good idea to WALK home from the pub ;-) Yes, Leicester Arms looked lovely, and I desperately wanted to visit the tea room as well! But I can't complain that I missed both... we headed straight from Penshurst to our "fanciest dinner ever" at Gravetye Manor. It was AMAZING! If you missed that video, and love foodie heaven in a garden-to-table restaurant, you can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnSVqKCHnZqShaM

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Hi Dara & Ian! I was settling down to watch your premiere - the first time in a while I'm not working or doing something else - and you don't have one!! 😂 Yet another fabulous castle I haven't visited. Obviously, I don't get out much! I loved the gardens, particularly the lilypad pond. Lucy played Anne Cleeves in a theatre play - so it would be super-interesting for us both to visit her home. The decor was so rich and splendid, with some wonderful paintings. This castle has such a rich history and it was fascinating to see the original Leicester Square. Spectacular drone footage at the end too. A very enjoyable vlog - thank you! ❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Haha, sorry to disappoint! Glad you have a day off! I only do premieres when I think the video is a nice juicy topic that people will want to watch... I had low expectations for Penshurst because it's not as well known. And I've recently done so many videos in Kent! But it is a truly lovely and fascinating place... so I was so grateful we visited it! I'm chuffed to hear that Lucy played Anne Cleeves! I hope she gets to visit Penshurst one day ;-) BTW, I just sent you an email before on got on KZbin to check video comments this morning. I've been hard at work editing "a certain video" all morning! XX Dara

[@neilgayleard3842]

The best thing about Kent is that some of the best places are not the most famous. That's what makes it great.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@neilgayleard3842 I agree! Penshurst is one of those places that seems lesser known.

[@neilgayleard3842]

Yes, that's why it's good that you are showing people that. It's the same in most parts of Britain. It's not all about the bucket list places. Keep up the good work.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@neilgayleard3842 or, put more UNUSUAL places on your bucket list! Not just London, Stonehenge, Bath, St Ives and Edinburgh 😉

[@glastonbury4304]

Love how you both plan your days ...❤❤

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Ian did an amazing job planning this holiday!

[@glastonbury4304]

@MagentaOtterTravels ... you both always pick the best places...its amazing how many places I just haven't been...I'm forever recommending your site to people who want to plan days out and holidays or just want to see the UK in its best light...🥰

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@glastonbury4304 awww bless you little cotton socks, Jamie! 🤗💖

[@erikalfan1027]

Thank you friends for sharing a very beautiful video and we love what you do by visiting historical places

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

This place is another gem 💎 for fans of English history!! 👍👍 Thank YOU for watching! Dara

[@WITYTRAVELS]

You need to get your family crest printed ASAP!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

😆😆💖🦦

[@paullewis2413]

It’s been sometime since I last visited Penshurst so thanks for the reminder. It’s a wonderful location and very important mediaeval building, in addition it doesn’t get overwhelmed by tourists as some other historic sites do.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Exactly! Which makes it a great place to visit 👍👍

[@christianoliver3572]

Another place for my UK bucket list for sure. I havent traveled as much in this part of England but I went on a few weekends with my parents when I was middle school age. Thanks for putting so much work into your videos.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks, Christian! Yes, this part of the country is one we had not explored before, but we're so thrilled to see the amazing historical sites throughout! It was really special to see Hever, Leeds, and Penshurst all together. Each very different, but also fascinating.

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

As you drove into the village I was so glad I was on the back seat. My sort of village. That manor house is awesome. 🌺👌

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, this place is another gem, Anita! ;-)

[@Sue474]

Wonderful video! Thank you so much Dara and Ian.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much, Sue! BTW, we are leaving tomorrow morning to fly to Utah and visit friends and family. We will be staying with our friend Sue G ;-)

[@WhereisBingle1]

I so love this video. It transported me Penshurst in the midst of that beautiful garden especially!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for joining us! That place was full of delightful surprises! XX Cheers! Dara

[@trytellingthetruth.2068]

Thank you for being my personal tour guide during this trip through Kent. Could you possibly do some videos from State side. I've been to Texas, but didn't get to see any areas of possible interest, other than the Southfork Ranch. Thanks again for taking the time to do these videos.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

You are very welcome! It's our pleasure to share our British travel adventures with the Magenta Otter Tribe! One more Kent video and one more Sussex and we will have completed this road trip ;-) As for stateside videos, here's the trouble.... I have done a few. They were a ton of work, and then nobody watched them!! So it doesn't incent me to make more LOL! I do have a video or two of Hawaii that I will get to eventually. In the meantime, have you seen these? Classic Texas food tour - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2HceXWHo92Fm6s Tour of our neighbourhood in a freak snowstorm! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX-tlKGKptt0nM0 What people in Utah call "Scones"!?! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaHRfJR6fNWBpdU A fun tour of the great city of Boston - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZfZkpqAjJtseKM Hiking in New Hampshire fall foliage - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIKziXqke9aJgpo

[@GENerationXplorers]

Penshurst looks lovely, we have a few of those bridges with no warnings or priority! Lovely zebra coat. A chained porcupine, how interesting! Great drone shot of the Union Jack flowerbed. Lovely traditional trestle tables. Some incredible paintings in there, worth a few bob, I reckon. Love the porcupine on the crest. Well designed Magenta Crest! The medieval table was a nice spot, great history. Rain and Planes, oh my! Great call Ian, lovely place 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, driving in Britain is often an adventure for one reason or another ;-) I have no idea why that porcupine was chained! I wondered the same thing! The medieval furnishings and artwork were really interesting to see. I loved touring this home and the parish church. And yes, Rains & Planes are the bane of a KZbinrs existence... along with lawn mowers and crying babies! LOL Thanks for joining us, Nick & Jill! XX Dara

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Love the coat on the horse. 👍

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes that was a beautiful animal overall 🩷

[@PostcardAndAPint]

That's such a pretty place. Loved the shire horse in the zebra outfit! Those gardens are beautiful. It's stunning inside too and the history is amazing. Very regal! Oo I always love growing the kitchens in a stately home! Oh wow, Leicester Square! The original! We've enjoyed your series on Kent and now want to visit! Cheers 🍻

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks so much for following our road trip! We hope you do get to visit Kent and Sussex one of these days ;-) Now we just need to see if you get me to try going on a cruise... LOL Cheers! XX Dara

[@puma55792]

Hi Dara & Ian I would love to see you both in those costumes Dara of Cleeves and Ian the 8th.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh it would be so fun to play dress up! Great idea! I did get to have a Regency dressup moment at Snowshill Manor in the Cotswolds. Yet another video that I haven't manage to edit and publish yet... **sigh**

[@ians3586]

I think Dara of Cleeves would be a great idea, but I'm not so sure about filling in for Henry. Every time I see the ruins of an abbey he destroyed I wish he were someone that could be erased from history. Same with Cromwell when I see yet another castle he "slighted".

[@puma55792]

Yes its a blight on the landscape all the great castles and churches that were destroyed , those two have got a lot to answer for.@@ians3586

[@jakecavendish3470]

Omg that's where my old uni mate Phil lives!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Go visit! Lovely place 💖

[@davidcoan4899]

Great video, love the drone footage 👏👏

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks! Ian gave us a nice peek at the beautifully laid out gardens from above! 🙌👍

[@WITYTRAVELS]

Way to be persuasive Ian!!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Definitely 😊

[@ItsArtByDonna]

Lovely Dara and Ian...I would never be able to drive 😆 it would be horrible...Oh my! I couldn't imagine not knowing who is supposed to go, that would drive me crazy ! None the less, this is a beautiful video.....and yes, I've seen all those movies...probably more than once, embarrassed to say...I love to watch the history in that era, it's like I was born into it, who know's maybe I was!😁 Such lovely gardens and a chained porcupine so interesting 😁 The church was quite lovely and the baptismal font was quite colorful indeed...loved touring with you both and great drone at the ending WOW! It is massive!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yeah, driving in the UK is an adventure! Sometimes a bit nerve racking ;-) That's cool that you've seen all the Boleyn movies! What a dramatic and colourful era for sure!! Why on earth was the porcupine chained?! That was WEIRD! haha Thanks for watching, Donna! XX Dara

[@ms.kayak7seas]

Hi Dara hahah I think Local PPL say to the visitors "slow down" hahah I have seen many narrow wavy roads or one way bridge(share) in the mountains. Visitors do not know how to drive but fast... I believe this is one of the UK culture , the way enjoy gardens.. Such ordinary, but such so special 3: 10 lavender is gorgeous and elegant in my opinion. wow are those antlers on the walls real??? 4;55 This is definitely wow. My eyes are glue to the details 5:12 hahaha squint room hahahah Paintings are amazing...I wish I were there to feel full excitement. Your aerial footage is appreciated 17:21 massive place So many exhibitions to explore... hahah I am glad you found some sweet to enjoy. carrot cake...sounds so spring.. Well done as always . EPIC!!! Thank you so much for your walking tour. Send you my gratitude,. Sorry for my belated comment. I keep having allergy symptoms: watery eyes I have started to watch your vid many times and I start, dry eyes, watery eyes, itching...headache ....

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No worries! TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! I am currently on vacation in Utah... I thought I had bad allergies symptoms but it's turned into a wretched cold! Not a fun vacation! 😩 Yes those are real antlers. It used to be a hunting lodge! Back when Henry the 8th stayed there.

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

Lovely village and impressive castle/stately home, the gardens look amazing. And an added bonus of some costumes from the Other Boleyn Girl, the films' quite old now so I wonder if those costumes were gifted?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I bet they were gifted! It's smart... great advertising of these old films for Tudor history fans visiting the house!

[@andrewdoubtfire4700]

In England the slang for someone out of work and claiming unemployment benefit is termed as being “on the dole”. The actually money is in slang call “dole money” you got from the “Dole Office (aka Job Centre). I suppose the term “doling out” as in to distribute along with these other terms come from the original dole tables.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

That's very interesting! In the states, we do say "doling out" for passing out money to people... but "on the dole" is uniquely British. Thanks to Penshurst I have a visual idea of how all these terms originated! It was such an interesting place to visit!

[@mikesaunders4775]

Another very good vlog with some fascinating details such as the Dole Table, which I would have taken for a tomb. I also had no idea that the Sidney crest was a Porcupine, an animal that has never been native to these shores. With all due respect to Mr Van Dyck I think I prefer the darkened copy to his original, though I definitely prefer the original Leicester Square to the imposter in London.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Yes, I agree. I also would have thought that was a tomb if I had not seen the dole table sign! And I loved that original Leicester Square! Thanks for joining us on our visit. Cheers, Dara

[@davidjones332]

If you think you have problems: I was once driving a bus over a hump-backed narrow bridge when I met a tank coming the other way. I thought it only polite to give way....

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Oh goodness! That would be surprising! And yes, I think you made the right decision 🙃

[@wencireone]

Got the wife to take a look at the painting with the Queen's mother in it, and she agreed with me that the tall man in the middle is Lord Louis Mountbatten and the tall gentleman bottom right ( with the medals ) is Prince Edward Duke of Kent

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Wow she is an expert royal spotter!

[@ians3586]

Is he the one that was killed by an IRA bomb?

[@wencireone]

@@MagentaOtterTravels both are quite distinctive, but she knows her nobility 🤴🏻👸

[@wencireone]

@@ians3586 that's the one

[@lizbignell7813]

Hobbit feet! That made me laugh.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Heehee, I was late responding to comments today (because I'm trying to edit 4 videos at once prior to leaving tomorrow for 10 days in Utah!)... and when Ian came in the office a while ago I said "I need to look at comments on Penshurst. I want to see if Liz has said to me 'those aren't Hobbit feet, those are Clydesdale feet!" I'm glad you watched the video and noticed my ridiculous horse commentary ;-) Cheers! XX Dara

[@lizbignell7813]

Oh dear, l am predictable! I always find it odd that we call the hair around horses legs feathers, why on Earth would a horse have feathers? Editing four videos must take some time but thank you in advance for your hard work, and have a good time in Utah xx

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lizbignell7813 Oh!!!! I didn't know it was called feathers 🪶! Thank you for that 😉

[@lizbignell7813]

Isn’t the English language fascinating, and rather peculiar!

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@lizbignell7813 yes indeed!

[@Kingshieldwall]

Making a drama about trivia, approach the bridge sensibly and one of you will decide to give way. No big deal no big drama 🤔

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

I'm a nervous driver... and passenger ;-)

[@Tom-xy9yy]

Squint window: interestingly, some older churches in that area have little rectangles cut out of the interior wooden walls or section dividers. These squints seem to have been cut by hand, typically measuring a few inches wide by a couple of inches tall. A bit like the flap on a letter box. They were made for the benefit of people who had leprosy to enable them to watch and follow proceedings during church services without disturbing or risking the health of the rest of the congregation (or so they thought!). These things were called lepers' squints.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Whoah that is FASCINATING! Never heard about that! I feel so sorry for those who've had to endure leprosy...

[@Tom-xy9yy]

@@MagentaOtterTravels You're right, it was such a curse. The disease itself is slowly progressive and often takes many years to reach its end. The trouble is that there used to be no treatment or cure for it and that as much as anything else scared the heck out of people as physical features began to change and nerve sensitivity reduced. Those suspected of having it were shunned and often cast out of their own communities into villages or settlements of their own. In some ways, a bit like the way people with HIV/AIDS were treated back in the 80s. People, eh? I once visited a leprosy colony set up and run by a Polish Catholic priest in Puri, India. He'd bought some land that was not close to any other settlement and started to build houses for people with leprosy to live in, and set up a commercial undertaking for them to work and earn a living without depending on handouts. I think it was something to do with leather and other crafts. I guess there were a couple of thousand people living there, all with leprosy, all rejected by their own communities and. He really had done a superb job and many were joined sooner or later by family members. I wonder if there were any such initiatives in Southeast England in the middle ages? I'm not sure if the charitable imperative was so advanced in those days.

[@paulguise698]

Hiya Dara and Ian, I don't know what the Guise Coat Of Arms looks like, but I'm sure its nice, I enjoyed this vlog, when you and Ian come to Cumbria you'll have to come to Muncaster Castle and owl Centre, I went about 30 years ago, cant wait for the next vlog, in your series, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

We are currently on holiday in Utah for 10 days. I didn't have time to finish editing all the Kent blogs yet, but will get back to those when we return to Texas. In the meantime, I will be doing some culture videos. You need to stay tuned for 8 March, because I'm finally doing the video you requested!!! Cheers, Dara

[@paulguise698]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Hiya Dara, I've got another suggestion, Alanna says it on Adventures and naps, its the phrase "give me a hot second", it really annoys the life out of me, aswel as "Bad Boys" when describing food

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@paulguise698 i've already recorded the video, and it was the longest video I've ever done on my channel, so no more suggestions! Lol... I hope people are willing to watch this video, Choppy! 😉 I'm currently on a 10 day holiday in Utah. I'm attending a conference, and I don't have any time to edit video. So I did the recording and editing before I left

[@paulguise698]

@@MagentaOtterTravels Thanks Dara, your a Gem, I'll watch my recommended video, multiple times, so don't worry about subscribers watching, thanks allot for doing my request, and I hope you got loads of suggestions

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@paulguise698 i asked for suggestions and got 200 comments!!! Either Americans are very annoying or Britons are very critical... or both! 🤣

[@wencireone]

That's no zebra, it's a blinking horse 😂

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

bwahahaha... nicely played!

[@155stw]

Was this in summer? Looks very dry. Back in 22 it was also hot and dry. I may have told you, we were in Swindon and it was 104F!!! We’ll be in Cornwall in July

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

NO WAY! I can't imagine Swindon being that hot! There was quite a heat wave that year ;-)

[@ians3586]

It was quite dry. Not as bad as it was in '22 but things certainly weren't lush and green. I've been coming to Britain almost every summer since 1974 and summers seems to be gradually getting hotter and dryer. In general, I've been finding that gardens look better in June when they are still well watered and there's a lot blooming. My grandparents lived in Cornwall back in the early 80's in a 500 year old vicarage in the lovely village of Veryan. I think you have the best chance of good beach weather in July but it will be quite crowded. Once school summer holidays hit, Brits descend on Cornwall in droves. Have you seen Dara's videos on our time in Cornwall?

[@155stw]

@@ians3586 wow I can't imagine having me nan in Cornwall. Must have been fantastic!!! But the roads to get there must have been challenging back in the 80's. I started going to Cornwall in 2013 and the A30 after Exeter has been upgraded a lot since then. Now most of it has been upgraded to dual carriageway. Last year even the last bit heading towards Hayle was upgraded. Can't wait for July! 1 Week in St. Ives before heading to London. We might even go to the Isle of Scilly this time!!!

[@ians3586]

@@155stw I still haven't made it to the Isles of Scilly. It's on my bucket list. Hope you are able to make it and have a wonderful time!

[@WITYTRAVELS]

That's a lot of copies!!!

[@sidney4329]

I learned we Americans say "Union Jack" but that is not necessarily correct. Strictly speaking, a "jack" is a flag flown on the bow of a ship. The national flag of the UK is more properly termed the "union flag," denoting its status as the flag of the United Kingdom. If you still travel in Kent, could you stop in Thurnham, where some of my ancestors (surname Seager) came from? I understand the Black Horse Inn is a nice stop. There may be some of my people in the local cemetery.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

How fun that this lovely area is a place here you have family connections! Funny you should say that about the flag... I know that fact and TRY to always say Union Flag. But then when I was editing this video I noticed I had said Union Jack in my spontaneous babbling around the garden. I was too lazy to delete it and record voiceover instead ;-) Thanks for watching! Dara

[@mikesaunders4775]

Union Jack was the term everyone used until the Falkland's War. Reports of the war's progress were given by a robotic pedant called Ian MacDonald who somehow insinuated the 'correct' form into the national psyche and bores up and down the land have been reminding us ever since. On a slightly different theme every born and bred Londoner(myself included) call the Elizabeth Tower in Parliament Square 'Big Ben', but the same people crop up ad nauseum to correct us.

[@archiebald4717]

What? No biting ducks?

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

No! I guess because there was no moat this time, I had no duck encounters at all! haha

[@emz8797]

Very beautiful presentation.i want to visit this place in march.?How much is entrance fee dear.

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

@@emz8797 to find out when it is open and how much it costs, visit this website www.penshurstplace.com/

[@BeforeIKicktheBucket1]

Grand old house...magnificent gardens 👏👏👏👏👏👏Enjoyed the tour Dara and Ian, have a great week...

[@MagentaOtterTravels]

Thanks very much!

[@BeforeIKicktheBucket1]

Thanks & have a great weekend 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞@@MagentaOtterTravels