Tiny English village with famous castle and gardens that was once home to a terrifying smuggling gang
A TINY village in the UK has gained a reputation as one of the country’s prettiest.
Sissinghurst is found in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent and is famous for its fascinating history, despite having fewer than 800 residents.
It was originally simply known as a Milkhouse Street, or Mylkehouse, but that changed in 1851.
Rumours suggest that the locals decided to rename it then to erase its negative associations with a band of smugglers known as the Hawkhurst Gang.
The village was reportedly at the heart of the notorious criminal organisation’s smuggling, cockfighting and robbery.
However, those days are far behind it now, with its post office, its pub, its church and its village chippy making it something of a quintessential quiet English village.
Instead of terrifying criminals, it’s now best known for its famous gardens and castle.
It is run by the National Trust, who label it as “Historic, poetic, iconic” on their website.
The village’s tower was never actually a castle, but got that title from the 3,000 French sailors who were imprisoned there during the 1700s.
While they were kept there, they referred to it as ‘le chateau’ which ended up being loosely translated into “castle”.
However, its gardens have a much more modern history, with the writer Vita Sackville-West beginning work on them in the 1930s.
As gardening correspondent for The Observer, Vita knew a thing or two about landscaping and was able to begin turning the gardens into the famous tourist attraction that they are today.
Visit Tunbridge Wells said: “For horticultural hobbyists and garden groupies it is a must-visit on the tours of the gardens of England.”
The castle and garden led to Sissinghurst being included in the Telegraph’s 10 prettiest villages in Kent.
They wrote of the village: ” Set in the lush Weald of Kent, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it line of whitewashed, old brick and clapboard houses with a post office, a pub, a church and a village chippy.
“It’s very pretty, but what really makes Sissinghurst is, the eponymous castle and gardens created by Vita Sackville-West.”
For those who’d like to have a pint while visiting, the choice is taken out of their hands by the fact it has only one pub – the Milk House.
Luckily, the Telegraph continues, it’s “excellent”.
They said: “It’s a proper village boozer, albeit one that serves classic pub grub, local ales and wood-fired pizzas as well as refined British cuisine in the dining room.”
The Milk House also offers accommodation, making it something of a one-stop shop for visitors looking to explore the village.
Meanwhile, its fish and chip shop, The Village Chippy, has an overall score of 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor.
One reviewer labelled it “a fish and chip shop that matches the hype”, adding: “In a nutshell, it’s people who know what they are doing serving great quality food at a fair price.”
Sissinghurst’s small village vibe has even drawn in a few celebrity residents in recent years, including BBC’s Have I Got News For You panellist, Ian Hislop.
Sun Travel's favourite UK villages
Here are the UK villages that The Sun's travel team like to visit the most.
Harrogate, North Yorkshire – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
For the last few years, my annual trip to Harrogate has been an immovable fixture in my calendar.
The Victorian spa town is the perfect place for a little bit of R&R thanks to its history of spa tourism, which is very much alive.
Head to The Harrogate Spa at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel if you’d like a pamper, which is a personal favourite of mine.
Lavenham, Suffolk – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
ONE of my favourite villages I’ve ever visited in England is Lavenham, which is beautiful in autumn.
Said to be the best preserved medieval village in the UK, it is known for two buildings – the 600-year-old Crooked House and the De Vere House, which featured in the Harry Potter films.
Warm up at The Swan Hotel, which has its cosy Weavers Spa onsite.
Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Perched atop a craggy cliff, overlooking a dinky shore, Robin Hood’s Bay seems like something from a fiction tale or a North Yorkshire postcard.
In summer, you’ll find dogs sprinting along the sands, while owners tuck into fresh crab sandwiches from the beachside hut and little ones fish for treasures in the rock pools.
I prefer the village in winter, though, when the weather takes a turn and nature comes alive with the grassy dunes dancing in the wind and moody waves thrashing on the rocks.
Hay On Wye, Wales – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
WHEN I first set foot in Hay-On-Wye, I couldn’t believe I’d left it until my late thirties to visit – what a waste of a few decades.
The small town on the Welsh borders that sits on the River Wye is probably best known for hosting the annual Hay literary festival, and it’s definitely a book-lovers paradise – with more than 20 book stores to explore.
They sit among the many antiques shops, which sell everything from fabulous Welsh rugs to toy soldiers, trinkets and beautiful furniture.
Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
THIS quintessential little village may seem very familiar to some. It’s tiny – with just 150 houses, a village green, a pond and a lovely pub, The Three Horseshoes.
But with Elstree Studios just up the road, it has been used as a set in countless films, in particular the 1960s British horror movie, Village of the Damned.
Its close proximity to London – just half an hour away on a train from nearby Radlett or Elstree and Borehamwood station – means it’s easy to get to.
Alnwick, Northumberland – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter
The North East of England is a treasure trove for quaint villages and towns, with Alnwick standing out among them.
For bookworms, it’s the perfect place to go, with Barter Books both one of the largest second hand book shops in Europe and easily one of the most beautiful.
Harry Potter fans are particularly keen to head to Alnwick, which is home to Alnwick Castle, or Hogwarts as many know it, with the ornate fortress used to represent Harry’s magical school in some of the film series’ more memorable scenes. Visitors to the castle can even take part in broom flying lessons.
For younger kids, Lilidorei at Alnwick Garden is the largest play structure in the world, while the rest of the garden is home to some unique attractions and features, including its famous poison garden.
Meanwhile, one of England’s prettiest villages had a starring role in a hit TV show.
And this tiny English village is home to award-winning vineyards and celebrities.