Groombridge Place gardens

As I now live in the area, I saw it as my duty to pay a visit to Groombridge Place. 

England is having an amazing weather week (dare I say too hot) so I took advantage of it and booked myself a ticket to the grounds.

 I had the place to myself, the resident peacock followed me around but there weren't any other visitors. Perhaps because it was a weekday?

Groombridge Place is a remarkable and beautiful country estate resting on the border between East Sussex and Kent, on the edge of the historic village of Groombridge. With a 17th century moated manor house, sculpted formal gardens and 200 acres of parkland, Groombridge Place is everything you might expect from a traditional English country estate but with so much more to offer. 

If I'm going to be honest with you all though, it is a little run down. The gardens could do with some proper love and attention. It had previously gone into administration but it is still open yet its not as grand or award winning as they might like you to think.

It's a massive shame as the potential is huge and being where it is, the competition is great.

They do offer other attractions for kids such as a playground and a treetop walk but I didn't wander out to the forest as it was just me visiting. They have birds of prey displays and a barge and often run events like classic car shows.

Tickets cost £8.95 for an adult and they have to be booked in advance online.

Groombridge Place is also used as a wedding venue but as a daytime visitor you only have access to the forest and gardens. There is a cafe but again, being honest I think it's worth going elsewhere. Everything looked very basic.

I did speak to a lady that worked here about their social media as I would quite like to run it, she said that they did have a social media manager but I should drop them an email to see if I could help in some way.

I had already contacted them twice but I didn't mention it, I am British and will remain awkwardly so!

I did enjoy my afternoon here but I feel it could be so much better. They either need a big cash injection or to run a volunteer scheme to maintain the upkeep of the grounds.

Have you visited?