This is a guide to the Darent valley at Eynsford and Lullingstone, with Farningham Woods and Swanley Park added. InKent’s Swanley page includes Eynsford and Farningham, and of the places below only Swanley Park is in Swanley itself. The rest are in the villages, so check each venue’s page for how to reach it. The cards below link to each place’s InKent page.
Lullingstone Roman Villa
Lullingstone Roman Villa is cared for by English Heritage on Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford. It is known for its mosaics, a heated bath suite and rooms used for pagan and then Christian worship. Galleries overlook the excavated remains and display finds from the site.
The villa is partly closed for conservation work. The ruins cannot be reached while the work goes on, but the remains can be seen from a viewing window. English Heritage advises visitors with allergies to penicillin or aspergillus, or with respiratory illness, to wait until the work is finished. There is no lift to the exhibition area.
- Cost: English Heritage lists free entry for now, with an optional suggested donation of £3.
- Opening: listed as Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Check before you go, as the conservation work may change what you can see.
Eynsford Castle
Eynsford Castle is a rare early Norman enclosure castle. Instead of a motte or keep, it was protected by an extensive curtain wall, and visitors can see the remains of the hall building, which housed the Eynsford family. English Heritage runs it, and it sits in the centre of Eynsford, off the High Street. There are no facilities at the castle, but it is close to places to eat. A small free car park is on site, and dogs on leads are welcome. English Heritage says parts of the site suit wheelchair users but some areas are reached by steps.
- Cost: free.
- Opening: listed as daily, 10am to 4pm.
Lullingstone Country Park
Lullingstone Country Park, run by Kent County Council, is known for its ancient trees and chalk grassland wildflowers. The Discovery Trail includes a zip wire, and activity trails run in the school holidays. A 6.5 mile circular walk heads out from the visitor centre via Shoreham, and the Darent Valley Path passes the park. The visitor centre has a cafe, toilets and a shop, and there are picnic and play areas. Explore Kent says the park has at least one accessible route but is otherwise less suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
- Cost: no entry charge is listed, but parking is charged, and the Kent Country Parks season ticket covers it.
- Opening: listed as 9am to dusk or 9pm, whichever is earlier, and closed on Christmas Day.
Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation
Eagle Heights is a not-for-profit wildlife foundation on Lullingstone Lane, with birds of prey alongside meerkats, huskies and alpacas. A flying display runs at noon, weather permitting. Its website lists a tearoom, picnic areas and free parking on site.
- Cost: an adult ticket was listed at £16.95 when we checked, and under-3s go free.
- Winter hours: from October to March it opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, from 11am to 4pm. From April to September it opens daily. Check Eagle Heights’ website for the current dates and any closure notices before you travel.
Farningham Woods
Farningham Woods Nature Reserve is 168 acres of ancient woodland on a hilltop north of Farningham village. It is a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, jointly managed by Sevenoaks District Council and Farningham Parish Council, and it is home to the small-leaved lime. A waymarked 1.6 mile walk covers most of the site. A small car park with a height barrier is at the end of Calfstock Lane, off the A225 south of Horton Kirby. Paths are uneven and there are stiles.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: Explore Kent lists it as open all hours.
Swanley Park
Swanley Park on New Barn Road is 60 acres of landscaped parkland run by Swanley Town Council. There is a play area with swings, a climbing frame and a zip wire, plus a paddling pool, watersplash and sand play, a family enclosure for young children, The Barnyard soft play, battery cars and a park shop. There is also a miniature railway. Dogs are allowed.
- Cost: entry is free, with charges for some attractions. Parking is free for up to two hours, and all-day parking is £2.50 from October to March and £4.75 from April to September, with number plate recognition in use.
- Opening: the park lists its hours as 11am to 5pm daily, subject to change without notice.
Planning the day
The villa, the castle, Lullingstone Country Park and Eagle Heights are all in the Darent valley around Eynsford and Lullingstone, so they can be combined in one trip. In winter, check opening days first: Eagle Heights opens Friday to Sunday and the villa Thursday to Sunday, so Friday to Sunday is when both are listed as open.
Getting there
Swanley station is served by Southeastern, and its station page has live departures and facilities. Check Southeastern’s journey planner for current times and fares. Sevenoaks District Council runs the Park Road, Station Road and Bevan Place car parks in Swanley. For the villages, each venue’s own page lists its parking: Eynsford Castle has a small free car park, Eagle Heights has free parking, and Lullingstone Country Park charges for parking.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lullingstone Roman Villa open?
English Heritage lists it as open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, but it is partly closed for conservation work. The remains can be seen from a viewing window, and entry is free with an optional suggested £3 donation.
Which of these places are open in winter?
Eynsford Castle is listed as open daily, 10am to 4pm. Eagle Heights opens Friday to Sunday from October to March. Lullingstone Country Park is listed as closed on Christmas Day, and Farningham Woods has no set hours.
Can I take a dog?
Dogs on leads are welcome at Eynsford Castle, and dogs are allowed at Swanley Park. For Eagle Heights, Lullingstone Country Park and Farningham Woods, check the owner’s page for dog rules.