Hever Castle and its play areas will reopen from July 4
Hever Castle and its play areas will join the attraction's grounds and gardens in reopening to the public from the beginning of July.
A further easing of coronavirus restrictions will allow for indoor attractions, such as the historic castle, and outdoor play areas including the Acorn Dell and Tudor Towers, to be opened again from Saturday, July 4.
New safety measures will be in place, says Hever Castle, to ensure both the Castle's rooms and play areas can welcome visitors safely and whilst taking into account all of the latest guidelines.
Everyone - including annual members - will need to continue to book garden tickets online with a chosen arrival time to ensure the attraction can control visitor numbers.
Visitors can then upgrade to a Castle Ticket at the Castle's entrance. Because of a limit on the numbers safely allowed in each room at any one time, castle entry cannot be guaranteed for everyone.
All payments made on site, and in relation to upgrading tickets, need to be contactless.
Head of visitor services Faye Kelly says all the important information and new guidelines visitors may want to be aware of before booking and visiting are available to read online, including a new map of the grounds to show the one way system and a video to explain safety and hygiene practices.
She added: “Our Castle team are excited to be welcoming you, our visitors, back into the rooms of the Castle. Our staff are here to help you at any stage of your visit, so please do ask if you have any questions.”
Among the areas for children to enjoy from July 4 will be Tudor Towers, suitable for children aged up to 14, and the natural play area for those under seven called Acorn Dell.
Families may need to queue to enter so that staff can control the numbers inside each play area and as play areas are 'high contact areas' visitors will be required to use sanitiser on entry. Regular cleaning of the play areas by staff will also take place.
The reopening of the water maze, alongside a more extensive food and drinks range, will follow 'as soon as possible' says Hever Castle.
However other indoor areas like the miniature model houses collection, military museum and garden exhibition will remain closed.
Hever Castle’s CEO Duncan Leslie said: “We are delighted that we can welcome visitors back to the castle and our popular play areas. Since the 1st June, it has been delightful to see so many visitors returning to the gardens and exploring areas of the grounds that they had not discovered before.
"Many are trying out the new picnic spots created on 16 acre Island and around the lake. Spots in the sun, in the shade, looking over the river or the lake, all beside beautiful mixed grass and flower meadows – bird song has never sounded clearer.”
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