BALANCYOGA HOUSE LOCAL GUIDE
- Inna Raduto
- Aug 5
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Our dearest guest!
Welcome to the Balancyoga House — your sanctuary of peace, beauty, and transformation.
We are delighted to host you in this special space, where mindful living meets the quiet elegance of the English countryside.
May your time here nourish your body, uplift your spirit, and reconnect you with what truly matters.
Beyond our doors, you’ll find rolling hills, fragrant lavender fields, storybook villages, and centuries-old castles — a landscape full of magic waiting to be discovered.
We’ve prepared this guide to help you explore the treasures that surround us.
A local farm that blooms with lavender in summer and presses its own essential oil. Their farm shop is award-winning and a delightful stop for lavender oils, teas, local honey, craft products, and seasonal produce. Opens Tuesday–Sunday. By car from Balancyoga house: 12 min
For a breath of fresh air, explore Lullingstone Country Park — a vast landscape of ancient woodland, meadows, and wildflowers. Whether you’re in the mood for a gentle riverside stroll or a more invigorating woodland hike, the trails here are calming, scenic, and deeply restorative. You can also enjoy a charming walk from Shoreham to Lullingstone Castle and back, taking in the beauty of the Darent Valley along the way.
Step into centuries of English heritage at Lullingstone Castle, a Tudor manor once visited by Henry VIII and Queen Anne. Today, it’s home to the remarkable World Garden, where rare and exotic plants from around the globe bloom side by side in a living map of the world — the life’s work of modern-day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke.
By car from Balancyoga house: 14 min
Shoreham is an idyllic village in the Darent Valley, with historic links to the English painter Samuel Palmer.
By car from Balancyoga house: 10 min
Eynsford is a picture-postcard village set in the Darent Valley, part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Surrounded by rolling hills, farmland, ancient woodland and low grasslands, the River Darent flows through the very heart of the valley, linking together many small and picturesque villages.
By car from Balancyoga house: 14 min
Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation
The foundation is nestled in breathtaking natural surroundings, offering sweeping views across the Kentish countryside. Sharing a deep respect for nature and animal welfare, Max and Inna, the owners of the Balancyoga house, do not support zoos or the keeping of animals and birds in captivity for entertainment. At Eagle Heights, however, most of the birds have been rescued, rehomed from other centres, or bred on site. Some were injured and cannot return to the wild, so the foundation provides them with lifelong care. Although the centre is fairly small, it regularly hosts shows where visitors can watch a variety of magnificent birds in flight.
By car from Balancyoga house: 11 min
Just a short drive from Balancyoga House, Otford is a delightful village steeped in charm, community spirit, and creative flair. Meandering down its historic high street, you’ll find a cluster of antique and collectors’ shops. Don’t miss the beautifully crafted Millennium Mosaic on the church hall facade — a colourful 2000-piece tribute by Oliver Budd marking Otford’s heritage. It wonderfully captures the village’s story from ancient earthworks and early flints to its medieval palace and beyond.
By car from Balancyoga house: 15 min
Sevenoaks & Knole park
Just a stone’s throw from Balancyoga House, the charming town of Sevenoaks and the majestic Knole Park offer a serene escape through ancient woodland, roaming deer, and a grand country house steeped in history.
By car from Balancyoga house: 25 min
Just 15 miles from Balancyoga House, Hever Castle is a striking moated Tudor stronghold and the childhood home of Anne Boleyn—Henry VIII’s ill-fated second wife.
Originating in the 13th century, the castle grew into a Tudor family home under Geoffrey Boleyn, Anne’s great‑grandfather, in the 1460s.
By car from Balancyoga house: 32 min
Winston Churchill’s Kent Retreat
Nestled near Westerham in the rolling Weald of Kent, Chartwell was not just Churchill’s home—it was his sanctuary, studio, writing space, and family haven. He often declared, “A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted.”
By car from Balancyoga house: 28 min
Perched atop the Kentish Weald near Ide Hill and Sevenoaks, Emmetts Garden spans about 6 acres on sandstone ridge 600 ft high. It offers panoramic “views across the Weald of Kent” and sweeping vistas of the North Downs.
Created between the 1890s and early 1900s by Frederick Lubbock, a banker and passionate plantsman influenced by the Edwardian “wild gardening” movement.
By car from Balancyoga house: 26 min
Ightham & Ightham Mote
Ightham Mote stands as one of England’s finest examples of a fully intact medieval manor house. Surrounded by a tranquil moat and lush gardens, it’s a timeless sanctuary that reflects nearly 700 years of history. Built around 1320, with extensions in the 15th and 16th centuries, Ightham Mote is widely praised as “the most complete small medieval manor house in the county”.
By car from Balancyoga house: 18 min
All Saints’ Church, Tudeley is unique in the world — it is the only church where every stained-glass window was designed by the artist Marc Chagall. Commissioned in memory of a young girl, Sarah d’Avigdor-Goldsmid, the first window was installed in 1967, and by 1985 Chagall had completed all twelve.
By car from Balancyoga house: 26 min
Stoneacre is a charming 15th-century half-timbered yeoman’s house, set in a secluded valley near Maidstone and managed by the National Trust. Built in 1480, it has been carefully restored to reflect its medieval origins, with oak-beamed rooms, period furniture, and a collection of tapestries and artworks that bring the past vividly to life.
By car from Balancyoga house: 28 min
One of the world's most iconic sporting venues, Brands Hatch plays host to a multitude of prestigious motorsport events on both two and four wheels. Brands Hatch is visited by a multitude of top class national championships including the British Superbike Championship and Touring Car Championship. Just 30 minutes on foot or 3 minutes by car from the Balancyoga house.
Previously a golf course, this reserve is gradually being reclaimed by nature through Kent Wildlife's ‘Wilder Carbon Scheme’. Eventually, the site will be restored to natural woodland with the help of a herd of Highland and Longhorn cattle that have made this beautiful reserve their home. Highly recommended for a walk — and from the Balancyoga house it’s just a 30-minute scenic walk to the valley.
Farningham
Just 4 miles away, the village is set in the Darent Valley and features scenic watermill remains and countryside paths.
By car from Balancyoga house: 6 min
Golf Escapes Nearby
The area surrounding Balancyoga House is a paradise not only for history and nature lovers, but also for those who enjoy leisurely outdoor living.
You’ll find several excellent golf courses just minutes away — including London Golf Club, Knole Park Golf Club, and Pedham Place Golf Centre — each offering scenic fairways set against the lush Kent countryside. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just enjoy a relaxed driving range session, there’s something to suit every pace.
Garden centres
For those inspired by the gardens at Emmetts, Hever, or Ightham Mote, the region is also home to charming garden centres and plant nurseries.
Discover some of the area’s most beloved garden destinations, all just a short drive away from the Balancyoga house:
Woodlands Garden Centre (4 min) – a friendly local favourite with seasonal plants and a cosy café.
Polhill Garden Centre (17 min) – a horticultural centre and shopping village selling home furnishings, plus farm shop and dining.
Coolings Garden Centre (19 min) – renowned for its wide variety of plants and inspirational displays.
Provender Nursery (16 min) – one of the largest wholesale plant nurseries in the South East, offering an exceptional range of trees, shrubs, and specialist plants (note: no café here).
Each destination offers a unique experience — from vibrant seasonal blooms and artisan pots to quality tools, garden décor, and inspiring plant collections. Take your time to wander, gather ideas, or simply relax with a cup of tea in one of their inviting cafés.
P.S. If you find something you’d love to take home from Provender, let me know — as a special guest of Balancyoga, you can enjoy a 20% discount.
Where to eat
The Rajdani - Indian Restaurant (9 min walk or 2 min by car from Balancyoga House) – Named best Indian restaurant in the South East at the Asian Curry Awards in 2017.
Woodlands Garden Centre Café Twig and Spoon(4 min by car from Balancyoga House) – cosy spot for coffee, tea, and light lunches.
Polhill Garden Centre Novell's Restaurant – popular with locals, offering fresh cakes, sandwiches, and hot meals.
The Mount Vinayard restaurant, Shoreham – a stylish café-restaurant perfect for brunch or a relaxed evening meal.
Traditional Pubs in Eynsford – enjoy hearty food and a classic English countryside atmosphere.
Traditional Pubs in Farningham
Hilal Restaurant, Otford – a welcoming place with authentic Mediterranean flavours.
Sevenoaks – a larger town with a wide choice of cafés, restaurants, and international cuisine.
Maidstone – for even more variety, from fine dining to casual eateries.
Where to shop
Bluewater Shopping Centre (20 min by car from Balancyoga House) – one of the largest malls in the UK, with hundreds of shops, restaurants, and leisure options.
Co-op in West Kingsdown (10 min walk from Balancyoga House) – convenient for everyday groceries and essentials.
Waitrose (15 min by car from Balancyoga House) – premium supermarket with a wide range of high-quality produce.
Asda – (15 min by car from Balancyoga House) large supermarket with good value and plenty of choice.
Discover more outstanding destinations in the My England guide here.
Whether you’re here to reconnect with yourself, explore the land, or simply do nothing at all, we hope your time at Balancyoga becomes something you return to — in memory, in spirit, or again in person.
With warmth and gratitude,
The Balancyoga House owners
Inna & Max
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