Chiddingstone Castle near Edenbridge Kent opens its doors on Monday 15 February 2010 for a very special event where families are invited to travel back in time to explore the daily lives of the Ancient Egyptians.

Discover a world where you can use your senses to explore life in ancient Egypt, taste the food and uncover the customs lost in the sands of time. Explore the fascinating artifacts used and made by the Ancient Egyptians and find out what clothes they wore and what jobs they did 5000 years ago. Learn about their festivals and customs and make your own Egyptian objects to take home.

The event takes place between 11am-5pm. The Castle will also be open to visitors who just want to enjoy the collections and Castle grounds.

Chiddingstone Castle, a stunning country house near Edenbridge with a fascinating collection of exotic antiques and antiquities, is one of Kent�s hidden gems providing countless attractions for all. If you�re looking for a fantastic day out then a trip to Chiddingstone Castle really is a must!

Set in 35 acres of beautiful grounds, which contain a lake, a rose garden, woodland and delightful tearooms, this attractive country house dates from 1550s when High Street House, as the Castle was known, was home to the Streatfeild family.

Revived from dereliction in 1955 by the gifted antiquary Denys Bower, the Castle became a home for his amazing and varied collections. Denys amassed a stunning collection of Japanese armour, swords and lacquer as well as Egyptian antiquities, Buddhist artefacts, Jacobean manuscripts and paintings. He was completely entranced by the romance of the Jacobite rebellion and even thought he was the reincarnation of Bonny Prince Charlie! Today, visitors can still enjoy Denys�s eclectic collections, see his study and other themed rooms, as well as exhibitions devoted to both castle and local history.

The Castle has a full programme of themed family activity days throughout the year. These include Victorian or Egyptian themed interactive performances, arts and crafts, nature trails, Taiko Drumming workshops and much more.

Round off your visit to this incredible Castle with a visit to Chiddingstone�s tearooms where you can choose from a mouth-watering range of homemade refreshments.

Chiddingstone Castle, Nr Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7AD. Tel: 01892 870347 www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Entry prices: Adults �7, children (5-13) �4. Please note that on Activity Days, a charge of �2 will apply for 2-4 year olds to cover the cost of materials and entertainment. All activity days are free to Family Season Pass holders. A Family season pass costs �48.50 per family.

There is a �2.50 parking fee for those just visiting the Grounds, Gift shop and Tea Room. Open: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays from Good Friday (2nd April) until Sunday 26th September 2010. Times: 11am to 5pm. Last entry to house 4.15pm.

For further information please contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647.