Hemsted Park
Benenden, West Kent
Hemsted Park is the public arts venue at Benenden School, with an 800-seat concert hall and a 300-seat theatre set in the school's parkland outside Cranbrook. Its programme mixes orchestras and jazz with comedy, touring plays, family ballet and free lunchtime concerts.
Highlights
- The Centenary Hall, an 800-seat concert hall designed by Guy Hollaway Architects
- The 300-seat Benenden Theatre with a bar on each floor
- Free lunchtime concerts open to the public
- Family ballet shows with photos on stage afterwards
Good to know
- Even free concerts ask you to book a ticket so they know numbers
- Staplehurst is the nearest station, about 20 minutes' drive; book a taxi in advance as there is no rank
- Gift vouchers can be used for any performance
Getting there
Hemsted Park, Benenden School, Cranbrook, TN17 4AAParking: Free parking on site.
Get directionsChecked on 30 October 2026 against hemstedpark.com, visittunbridgewells.com. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us
More things to do in Cranbrook
Nearby
Hemsted Forest Equestrian Centre
Hemsted Forest Equestrian Centre is a licensed riding school and livery yard on Golford Road near Benenden, just across from Hemsted Forest. It offers 40-minute lessons for children and adults and escorted hacks into the forest, with lead-rein rides for people who have never ridden.
Hemsted Forest
Hemsted Forest is a Forestry England woodland of nearly 400 hectares between Benenden and Sissinghurst, mixing conifers with broadleaf trees. Around five miles of hard-surfaced tracks and plenty of rougher paths make it good for long walks and rides in any season, and it is rich in birdlife.
Image: Hole ParkHole Park Gardens
Hole Park is a family-owned garden near Rolvenden, cared for by the same family since 1911, with 16 acres of formal and wild gardens set in 200 acres of parkland in the High Weald. It is famous for its spring bluebell walk, magnolias, wisteria and azaleas, followed by summer borders and a woodland blaze of autumn colour. It suits garden lovers, families and dog owners, with a Coach House tearoom for lunch.