Castles · South East England
Leeds Castle
Also known as: Caisleán Leeds
In or near Harrietsham.
Leeds Castle — castle in Kent, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Hollingbourne · 1.8 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Leeds Castle, the nearest railway station is Hollingbourne, which is 1.8 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is ME17 1PL. Accessibility for wheelchair users is limited.
About
Leeds Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1119. Built in the Norman architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Owned by Edward I of England. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.2489°, 0.6300°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Leeds Castle is a castle in Kent, England, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Maidstone. It is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds and is a historic Grade I listed estate. A castle has existed on the site since 857. In the 13th century, it came into the hands of King Edward I, for whom it became a favourite residence; in the 16th century, Henry VIII used it as a dwelling for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The present castle dates mostly from the early 19th century. Its last private owner, Olive, Lady Baillie, left the castle in trust to open it to the public.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Leeds Castle is a historic site in Kent known for its stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. Visitors can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities, captivating events, and explore the rich heritage of the castle and its grounds.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Leeds Castle is a castle in Kent, England, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Maidstone. It is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds and is a historic Grade I listed estate. A castle has existed on the site since 857. In the 13th century, it came into the hands of King Edward I, for whom it became a favourite residence; in the 16th century, Henry VIII used it as a dwelling for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The present castle dates mostly from the early 19th century. Its last private owner, Olive, Lady Baillie, left the castle in trust to open it to the public. It has been open since 1976.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Visiting
and opened in 1988]] An aviary was added in 1980 and by 2011 contained over 100 species, but closed in 2012 to save its £200,000 a year running cost. The replacement Birds of Prey Centre, includes hawks on display and free-flying falconry displays. The castle and its grounds are a major leisure destination with a golf course and what may be the world's only museum of dog collars. There are two castle-themed children's adventure play areas targeted at the under sevens and the under fourteens. A maze opened in 1988, constructed of 2,400 yew trees with the general appearance of a topiary castle. The centre is on a raised viewpoint, which also contains an exit through a shell grotto. The castle…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.2489, 0.6300
- County
- Kent
- District
- Maidstone
- Parish
- Broomfield and Kingswood
- Postcode
- ME17 1PL
- Parliamentary constituency
- Faversham and Mid Kent
- Established
- 1119
- Nearest railway station
- Hollingbourne — 1.8 km
- Opening
- Castle 10:30am–5pm, Grounds and gardens 10am–6pm; last entry 3pm
- Official site
- www.leeds-castle.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q746876 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Leeds Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Castle Leeds1 cz.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 3 guides
Itinerary
Kent: castles, white cliffs, and the Garden of England
Three days of Norman castles, Tudor palaces and Channel coast.
Itinerary
UK castles that work for kids
Where the medieval reenactments, knight-errant trails and dragons keep under-10s busy.
Itinerary
Kent castles and gardens
Leeds, Hever, Penshurst — and Sissinghurst.
Other places nearby
Dog collar museum
Museums · 0.2 km
The Dog Collar Museum
Museums · 0.2 km
The Beach
Beaches · 0.4 km
Falconry Shows
Natural landmarks · 0.5 km
The Park Gate Inn
Historic pubs · 0.5 km
Battel Hall
Historic houses · 0.9 km
St Nicholas's Church, Leeds
Historic churches · 1.1 km
Manor House
Historic houses · 1.3 km
Leeds Priory
Abbeys & priories · 1.3 km
Charles Goldup Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 1.4 km
Cotuams House
Historic houses · 1.4 km
Eyhorne Manor
Stately homes · 1.4 km
Nearby
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The Dog Collar Museum
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Where to eat & stay near Leeds Castle
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Coldblow Farm
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Adventurers Sun Club
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Places to eat & drink
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The Park Gate Inn
The Park Gate Inn in England South East, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South East England
The Windmill Public House
The Windmill Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · South East England
The Roebuck Public House
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The Harrow Public House
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The Cock Horse
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Rochester Castle
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Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle — castle in West Sussex, England, UK.
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Leybourne Castle
Leybourne Castle — castle in Leybourne, Kent, England, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Leeds Castle?
- Leeds Castle is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode ME17 1PL), in the parish of Broomfield and Kingswood.
- What is Leeds Castle?
- Leeds Castle — castle in Kent, England, UK.
- How do I get to Leeds Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Hollingbourne, about 1.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode ME17 1PL.
- When was Leeds Castle built?
- Built or established in 1119.
- Who owns Leeds Castle?
- Leeds Castle is owned by Edward I of England.
- Is Leeds Castle a listed building?
- Leeds Castle is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is Leeds Castle a protected site?
- Yes — Leeds Castle is part of the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
- Does Leeds Castle charge admission?
- Leeds Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.