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Leeds Castle was built just after the Norman conquest in 1066 and was a Crown property until 1552. The castle was fortified, enriched and cherished by kings and their queens from Edward I and Eleanor of Castile to Henry V and Catherine de Valois through to Henry VIII and his first queen Catherine of Aragon.
Moving out of royal ownership in the 16th century it remained in private hands until the late 20th century. Olive Lady Baillie purchased the estate in 1926 and spent much of her life restoring it. (more)
Apart from the castle there are a number of other attractions.
Formal Gardens
Visit the Culpeper Garden - a perfect example of an English cottage garden which is beautiful in summer. There is also the Mediterranean style Lady Baillie Garden. (more)
Maze & Grotto
Follow a spiralling path of 2,400 yew trees to reach a lavishly decorated secret ‘underworld’ grotto (more).
Vineyard & Greenhouses
Bursting with colour throughout the year are show greenhouses which sit next to the castle’s own vineyard. (more)
Aviary
Home to over 100 species of rare and endangered species of birds, the Aviary houses some of the most colourful characters.
Dog Collar Museum
The only one of its kind in Britain - fascinating collection that dates back over 400 years.(more)
Golf Course
A 9 hole pay and play golf course with some challenging holes surround ‘the loveliest castle in the world’ (more)
Weddings
Leeds Castle can offer beautiful rooms for a ‘fairytale wedding’ (more)
There is also a shop and a restaurant. There are various special events throughout the year please see the web site for details:
For information, news, history, tours online shopping and ticket sales visit www.leeds-castle.com
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