Leeds Castle
A castle on a lake in Kent, often called 'the most beautiful castle in the world', with a maze, black swans and 200 hectares of gardens.
Leeds Castle lies near Maidstone in Kent (not to be confused with the city of Leeds in northern England). It stands on an island in the River Len and was founded in 1119. It was once a residence of Henry VIII and several medieval queens. Inside you can see the royal rooms and the furnishings of 20th-century owner Lady Baillie. The grounds include a yew maze, an underground grotto, a birds of prey display, a black swan lake and a Dog Collar Museum. Open roughly 10:00 to 17:00 (closing earlier in winter). Tickets are annual passes, allowing repeat visits within one year. Getting there: take a train from London Victoria to Bearsted station, about an hour, then a bus or taxi for about 10 minutes. It is also often combined with Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover in day tours.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–17:00 (until 16:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Royal Greenwich
- Tower Bridge
- Tower of London
- Sky Garden
- The Shard
- Borough Market
- Tate Modern
- St Paul's Cathedral