Leeds Castle - Kent, England

Leeds Castle was built in 1119 by the Norman Crevecoeur (meaning ‘break-heart’) family. The site was formerly the Saxon manor of Esledes which dated back to 879 AD. Since then Leeds Castle has survived the English Civil War, bore witness to much of the private life of Henry VIII, and even hosted a concert by Elton John in 1999. Today Leeds Castle is one of, if not the best, example of a medieval castle in the UK, making it a key UK attraction for the British and foreign tourists alike.

Leeds castle became a royal palace in 1278, under the orders of Edward I – serial castle builder and keeper. During this time many additions were made to the existing structure including the barbican, drawbridge, gateway and portcullis. In 1321 these improvements were put to the test when King Edward II’s wife, Queen Isabella, was refused entry to the Castle leading to the King storming it with the aid of ballistas and springalds.

In Tudor times Henry VIII had Leeds Castle modernised for his first (but not the last) wife Catherine of Aragon, while a painting of Henry’s meeting with Frances I of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 still hangs there to commemorate the occasion. Later, Henry’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, was held here for a time prior to her coronation in 1558.

Admission
Adults £15.00, concessions £12.50, and children £9.50
Winter opening times
Open: 10am daily
Last ticket sold (last entry): 3.00pm
Gates close at 5.00pm
Castle Opening Times
Open: 10.30am-4pm
Last entry to the castle is at 3:30pm

Getting there

By car: 7 miles east of Maidstone, Junction 8 of the M20 motorway just 1 hour from London, 30 minutes from the Channel Tunnel and Channel Ports. Dartford River Crossing 30 minutes. Clearly sign posted from all routes - following the brown and white tourist signs

By National Express coach: Coach 021 departs from Victoria Coach Station at 9am stopping at various pickup points in South London - to arrive at the castle at 10.25am - departing the castle at 3.05pm to arrive at Victoria Coach Station at 4.50pm.