Hever Castle, Chartwell, Penshurst Place, Down House — your day, your way.
A private day tour with Paul, your local driver-guide — no coaches, no crowds, no rushing. £299 for up to 4 people.
Why travel with Paul
Beat the London traffic
Meet Paul at East Croydon — just 15 minutes from central London — or another local station, and be in the Kent countryside while the coach tours are still in traffic.
Your day, your way
No strict timetable. Want an extra hour in Hever's gardens or a relaxed lunch at a 16th-century village pub? The day adjusts to your pace.
Private & comfortable
Travel in a comfortable MG estate car with room for up to 4 people — just your party, never a crowd.
Lunch in a village pub
Every day includes a stop for lunch at a historic Kent village pub — Paul picks one that suits your day, so you can sit down and enjoy it.
Your guide
Meet Paul
"My name is Paul, I am a retired School Principal and I'd love to share my local knowledge of these historic Kent attractions with visitors as I transport you around the countryside. I've lived in Kent for years and love sharing the stories behind these historic houses and castles."
A typical day
Castles, gardens and country pubs
The ideal day visits two of Kent's finest houses with a stop for lunch at a country pub. Choose from:
- Hever Castle — childhood home of Anne Boleyn
- Chartwell — Sir Winston Churchill's beloved house
- Penshurst Place — a medieval manor still lived in
- Down House — the home of Charles Darwin
Click a house to see its own page — what you'll see, how long to allow, and my tips for the day.
Travellers' Choice on TripAdvisor
Five stars from every visitor
Great experience with a phenomenal guide. If you're a Churchill aficionado, this is a MUST and Hever is a wonderful compliment. Paul made it worthwhile and memorable. Best day trip after 5 visits to London and sooo underpriced for the value!!! Paul was a true gentleman!!!
William G · September 2026
If there were 10 stars to give, they would all belong to Paul! From the second we met him at the station, his kindness, warmth and delightful personality made the day so interesting and enjoyable. We visited Chartwell and Hever with a not to be missed stop at Paul's recommended Pub for lunch. We loved getting to know him and greatly appreciated not only his knowledge of the area, but his great wit as well! Booking a guide for the day is a leap of faith... It can go either way. Hands down, book Paul!! His kindness and concern for your enjoyment is top notch. You'll end the day having made a wonderful new friend and longing to return!
nhb27612 · September 2026
It is hard to put into words how fortunate we were to have Paul as our guide. He went above and beyond, truly, to accommodate our needs, picking us up in different places, accommodating an exceptionally late flight for one of our group, navigating a closed highway, and ultimately still fitting in the sites we wanted to see and delivering us back to our hotel together. He's also an excellent driver and has the patience of a saint.
sisterbay716 · September 2026
Our full day with Paul was worth every penny! Not worrying about directions or navigating narrow lanes made the day stress-free. The day included Chartwell, Penshurst Place and Hever Castle plus a delicious pub lunch. Paul is enthusiastic and friendly!
threekidsjapan · October 2026
We spent the most marvelous day touring with Paul. He created a day around our sightseeing priorities and did all the hard work of driving and parking. He got us to Chartwell and Down House and briefed us on each site and what to see. He has a deep knowledge about the sites and the region. He took us to a wonderful historic pub for lunch. His car is extremely comfortable, and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him along the way. I am so glad we cancelled our car rental and put ourselves in his very capable hands. A lovely, relaxing experience that is worth every cent. Very highly recommended.
Sherry L · October 2026
It was so easy to take the train from London (based on Paul's instructions) and be picked up, driven to the key locations and back to the station. We were able to enjoy the day comfortably and had a lovely pub lunch as well. Highly recommend Paul and this tour.
Milby H · September 2026
Paul was a great tour guide. He went above and beyond and arranged with us the day before to organise the tour the best way that suited us. He brought us for a lovely lunch. We really enjoyed Hever, Chartwell and Penshurst. Paul was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We all agreed we would recommend him to anyone else.
Aoife · August 2026
What an excellent day! Paul is super knowledgeable, kind and thoughtful. Easy meet up instructions and we were able to customize our day... we enjoyed Hever and Penshurst and a lovely lunch at a pub... HIGHLY recommend!
Carolyn W · July 2026
Paul was very knowledgeable about everything about Hever Castle and Chartwell plus the local area. Train ride to meet him was very easy, only 15 minutes from London. My partner has much interest in all things Churchill and I love old manor homes and early castles. We could not have been more pleased with our selection to use Paul for this day trip. The pub he suggested for lunch was straight out of a history book. Very authentic and great fish 'n chips! Excellent excellent day with Paul.
Cynthia M · May 2026
Plan your day in Kent
Send Paul an enquiry and he'll reply personally to plan your perfect day — booking direct means no middleman and a tour shaped entirely around you.
Other private Hever and Chartwell tours from London typically cost over £600 for a group — mine is £299 for up to 4 people.