Leeds Castle: The Loveliest Castle in the World – Castle Review
Castles · Day Trips · England · Guest Posts · Travel

Leeds Castle: The Loveliest Castle in the World – Castle Review

Castlesandturrets

Morning all! Today’s post is from Sally about one of the loveliest castles in the world! It’s a great post, so I hope you all enjoy 😀

Hello! I’m Sally and I blog over at Life Loving and All That Grows. Life Loving is my way to inspire others to get out and about and enjoy life more. All That Grows is more focused on my passion for things that grow in my garden and outside of it. The wonderful Isobel has invited me to put together a guest post about one of my favourite places to visit – Leeds Castle. So if you are looking for somewhere to go for a great day out in Kent, read on to find out all about this amazing castle and grounds.

Location

The very first thing you should know about Leeds Castle is that it’s not in the Leeds that you think it is. It’s located in the village of Leeds, which is on the outskirts of Maidstone in Kent.

I’ve heard horror stories of coach loads of school kids being driven up north to Leeds, only to find the castle is in the sleepy village of Leeds in Kent. So before you set out, make sure you’ve set your phone to navigate you to Leeds Castle in Kent.

Leeds Castle is described as the world’s loveliest castle. If you’ve ever been before, or perhaps even seen a few snaps of the castle, you’ll understand why it has this title. Not only is the castle stunning, but the grounds are also really picturesque, complete with castle-worthy birdlife including the famous white peacock. 

When Visiting

There’s so much to see and do when you are visiting Leeds Castle. I’d suggest you pack a picnic and leave yourself a whole day to explore the castle and grounds.

There are a couple of coffee stops, a restaurant and a café along the way, but the grounds are so lovely, it would almost be a shame not to sit and enjoy a picnic in the sunshine.

There is ample parking and the staff are so helpful. They’ll tell you exactly where to park on arrival. Be aware if it’s been raining, it can get quite muddy in the car parks, so best to pop on some boots if you are going after a downpour.

The Castle

The Castle is stunning, inside and out. Even the views from the windows are stunning. You would be pushed to find a lovelier example of a castle. When you are visiting the castle, you can spend your time appreciating the exquisite décor and furnishings collated by its previous owners, including the last owner, Lady Baillie.

The castle has a rich history, dating back to the 1100s. At various points during the year, the castle is dressed for occasions, including the flower festival and Christmas. It’s the one thing that keeps local people coming back, time after time.

The Walks

There is a lovely walk around the ground. It’s a paved, circular walk, suitable for those with pushchairs or wheelchairs, although can be a bit steep in places.

There are lots of flowers on-route, towering trees, carved tree stumps for the little ones to climb on, plus also a picturesque stream, where on more than once occasion I have seen ducklings paddling with their Mum. I’ve also spotted a heron fishing there. 

Other Attractions

Alongside the castle and the grounds, there are a number of other attractions to see. There’s a hedge maze, which on completion takes you into an underground grotto full of creatures made from shells, minerals and wood. There’s also a very unusual attraction – a dog collar museum. 

You can also take part in punting, Segway tours, falconry displays, Go Ape or even crazy golf. If you are heading with the little ones, you can also let them have a run around the two kids’ playgrounds – one for the bigger kids and one for the little ones. 

Longer Stays

As we live so close by to the castle, we’ve not tried the overnight options, but I have heard very good things. Options include their holiday cottages, bed and breakfast rooms or a bell tent at the Knight’s Glamping village. I’ll be honest, if I were to stay, I’d want to stay in the Glamping village.

So if you are looking for a fantastic day out in Kent (not up North!) then Leeds Castle could be for you. It’s one of my favourite places to visit and we go regularly to enjoy everything there is to see and do. It’s so pretty in every season and it never fails to disappoint us, every time we visit.

I hope you all enjoyed this post from Sally! I know I certainly did and Leeds Castle is certainly a fantastic place. It’s one I went to a couple times when I lived in London, but now it’s just a little bit too far for me to travel to 😦 If you enjoyed Sally’s post though then make sure to check out her blogs (links at the top of the page). You can also follow her on her instagram, twitter or facebook for more great content!

Have you been to Leeds Castle before? What did you think of it? If you haven’t been before then make sure to add it to your bucket list!

29 thoughts on “Leeds Castle: The Loveliest Castle in the World – Castle Review”

  4. Wow…..Leeds Castle look so beautiful. I should add Leeds Castle on my travel bucket list. I’m sure this castle will give me loads of inspirations to write my stories and do my arts. Thank you for sharing your review of Leeds Castle with me.

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  9. This looks lovely! I used to live in Kent but sadly never got round to visiting Leeds Castle. Definitely one to visit next time I’m down that way though!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. There are often so many places near to where people live that are missed, so many people do that (I know I have)! This is definitely one to visit if you can though, so it’s a good thing that you are still down that way 😀

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  15. Pingback: 15 Tips for Planning Your Next Family Day Out – CastlesandTurrets

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