by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:16th December 2025
A twinkling, moated manor house in Kent
Ightham Mote serenely sits deep within a hidden valley in the picturesque Kent countryside. This beautiful 14th century medieval, moated manor house is a delight to visit throughout the year; however, when the Yuletide season is upon us, it’s magical.
This year, the Christmas theme at Ightham Mote is ‘A Timeless Christmas’, taking you on a 700 journey through the festive times from Pagan traditions, Tudor festivities, and Victorian celebrations.
So armed with our National Trust cards, we head off to explore Ightham Mote’s ancient medieval manor. The timber-framed home sits grandly surrounded by its own tranquil moat.
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Where is Ightham Mote?
How to get to Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote’s postcode is TN15 0NU or you can find it by using What3words ///model.dawn.young
- By Train
You can catch a train from London Bridge & London Charing Cross to Hildenborough Station or Sevenoaks Station, which are 4 and 7 miles respectively from Ightham Mote. The journey time is around 30 minutes, taxi ranks serve these stations.
- By Car
Ightham Mote can be accessed from the M25 (jct. 5). There’s a free car park for National Trust members, or parking charges apply to non-members. There are now 6 22kWh EV chargers on site too
A brief history of Ightham Mote
Uncover 700 years of fascinating talesThe Ightham Mote manor house grew gradually from the early 14th century, built around a central courtyard and encircled by a wide moat that has remained filled with water ever since.
Ightham Mote in winter
Rather than being the vision of a single wealthy patron, Ightham Mote evolved over the preceding 700 years. Ightham Mote has had an intriguing mixture of proprietors and residents. The first known owner, around 1360, was Thomas Cawne, who is believed to have fought in the 100 Years’ War, amongst other campaigns. He was subsequently knighted for his services.
A festive bicycle
During the 15th century, Ightham Mote was inherited by the Haute family, who held significant notable importance with royalty and noblemen. Then, for a brief period of 17 years (1521-1538), Richard Clement was the owner and, although mixed within Royal circles, led quite a controversial life.
The Selby family owned Ightham Mote for almost 3 centuries until 1889, passing between many family members due to inheritance and disinheritance.
Stay informed
You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.
Ightham Mote is rescued once more
Like a phoenix from the ashesNow reaching the 20th century, Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson took ownership and spent a considerable amount of money repairing the elegant manor house. Adding some modernisation to the home and installed electricity, mains water, and central heating.
Southeast corner of Ightham Mote
In the mid-1900s, the once-beautiful house was in severe disrepair. A passionate buyer came along in the form of Mr. Charles Henry Robinson, an American businessman from Portland, Maine. He’d visited the medieval house as a young man.
Stepping into Ightham Mote Manor
Robinson lived at Ightham Mote during the summer months for the following three decades, restoring and furnishing the home. Many of its interior furnishings and his collection remain at the house today.
Mr. Charles Henry Robinson died in 1985, aged 93, and had already bequeathed the house to the National Trust, who lovingly maintain it today.
If, like us, you enjoy visiting the National Trust gardens around the United Kingdom, then grab yourself a copy of the latest ‘Gardens of the National Trust’.
It’s a beautifully illustrated book, and it won’t be long before you’re planning your next trip.
Exploring Ightham Mote at Christmas
The National Trust’s ‘A Timeless Christmas’Once you arrive at Ightham Mote, and amble down the dappled pathway, you are welcomed by the majestic sight of the elegant stately manor house. One of the oldest surviving manors in England.
West Bridge
One of the many Christmas trees
It’s such a captivating building; it’s understandable why it has been loved and rescued so many times over the centuries. There’s something quite unique about entering an ancient building across a moat; you feel like you are walking in the footsteps of historical greats and noblemen and women.
Festive courtyard
We stroll over the West Bridge and enter through the arched Gate Tower, opening into the twinkling open-air Central Courtyard.
All around, you are encircled by stunning architecture, ancient timber-framing, delicate leaded windows, all given that festive twist for Christmas.
Twinkling Dog kennel
It’s such a charming courtyard. Keep a lookout for the Victorian dog kennel, which was made in 1890 for Dido the St. Bernard; it’s now a Grade I Listed Building. It must have been a pretty large pooch.
Where to stay near Ightham Mote
Donnington Manor Hotel
Is located 5 1/2 miles from Ightham Mote. The rooms are comfortably decorated, and it has an onsite restaurant. If you are driving, they also have complimentary parking.
Hadlow Manor
This charming Georgian manor house is only 4 miles from Ightham Mote and offers delightful, peaceful surroundings in the Kent countryside. The rooms are perfectly decorated, it has an onsite restaurant and free parking.
Stepping into Ightham Mote at Christmas
Great Hall in Ightham MoteWe head through the ancient doorway and weave our way around to the medieval Great Hall, one of the oldest parts of the house. You can imagine wealthy dignitaries raising a glass to one another and feasting on local fayre.
Pagan festivities
The Green Man
In the Great Hall, it’s all about the traditional Pagan festivities and the Green Man. The Green Man is depicted across many parts of Europe, embodying druid and Christian folklore.
Great Hall, Ightham Mote
The decorations in the vaulted medieval hall are so emotive, with the lights dimmed low and shimmering candles festooned throughout the dark oak panelled room, it gives the feel of pagan mythology.
Lining the walls of the Great Hall are artworks of previous family owners and modest stained-glass windows. Burning embers were just fizzling out from that day’s roaring fire.
If you're intrigued by Kent's weird and wonderful history, or all unusual stories around the county, then take a peek at "Kent's Strangest Tales".
You won't be able to put it down, you can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old paperback.
Venturing upstairs at Ightham Mote
Visiting the Oriel Room & ChapelLeaving the Great Hall, we’re heading up the festively decorated grand oak staircase to the Oriel Room. This charming room has been devoted to the traditions of a Tudor Christmas.
Oriel Room, Ightham Mote
The centerpiece of the Oriel Room is the impressive wooden fire surround, which once stood in the library of Ightham Mote. The ornate engravings on the fireplace include the renowned author, William Shakespeare.
In the Oriel Room, a delightful Christmas tree features simple, traditional decorations that symbolise the customs of Tudor times.
Tudor Christmas
Chapel Corridor
From the Oriel Room, we stroll through the wood-panelled Chapel Corridor to the stunning New Chapel. Ightham Mote has not one but two chapels the Old Chapel, which was built as part of the original manor house in the 14th century.
New Chapel, Ightham Mote
The New Chapel was built around 1520 with a barrel roof and decorative paintings between its panels. You’ll see delicate images of Tudor roses, and you’ll even spot a painting of Catherine of Aragon. The New Chapel still has many of its original features, including the crypt and pews.
Strolling through the New Chapel
If you’re visiting Ightham Mote out of the festive season, within the New Chapel is the posthumous Victoria Cross, awarded to Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson's third son, Riversdale, who died aged 21 in 1917 in the Third Battle of Ypres. It is on loan to the National Trust from the Museum of The Northamptonshire Regiment.
Discovering more National Trust gardens
We’ve visited many National Trust sites and explored their beautiful gardens, which are so meticulously kept. Of course, there's Ightham Mote in the summer months, and a few places that particularly stand out for me are Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Scotney Castle, Chartwell in Kent, and Bateman’s and Nyman’s in Sussex.
The social rooms of Ightham Mote
The Drawing Room and the LibraryThe final two rooms in Ightham Mote that we’re able to visit at Christmas time were the twinkling Drawing Room and the elegant festive Library.
The Drawing Room at Christmas
The beautiful Drawing Room is on the first floor and is one of the manor’s most striking interior spaces, showcasing both the history of the house and the tastes of its past owners.
The Drawing Room is elegantly decorated throughout, particularly at Yuletide. Although the Drawing Room is very formal in its appearance, you feel that there was lighthearted fun to be had, with the central card table poised for play and the beautiful wooden inlaid piano ready for a singsong.
Grand fireplace in Drawing Room
A Drawing Room Christmas Tree
One of the dominant features of the room is the enormous fireplace surround that covers almost an entire wall. This dramatic piece was installed in 1612 and was a pride and joy for Dame Dorothy Selby. At Christmas, it has a festive twist.
The Library at Christmas
We now wend our way back down the historic dark-wooden staircase to the delightful library and study. Mr. Charles Henry Robinson adored Ightham Mote and lavished the care and love it needed to restore this dear old lady to her former glory.
Christmas in the library
Christmas tipple
The pale grey colour palette in the library, which also doubles as a gentleman’s study, displays a modern twist from the traditional rooms around other parts of the stately home. Formal seating surrounds the open fireplace, and an old wireless sits nearby the study desk.
There are so many twinkling Christmas trees beautifully decorated throughout Ightham Mote, it’s an absolute delight strolling through the ancient manor house.
Escape for a few days
Are you looking for that ‘perfick’ holiday hideaway to relax in while you discover the Garden of England?
After a day exploring the Kent coast and its many historic castles enjoy one of the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
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