Leeds Castle

If it's an adventure you are seeking, Leeds Castle is the ideal place to explore. Be a King or Queen for the day and cross the bridge to the castle. Discover the surrounding gardens and maybe even get lost in the maze. Home to royalty, lords and ladies for over 900 years there is plenty of history to unravel.

The Castle offers a whole range of activities for all the family to enjoy.

Highlights:

• The Castle Island, built in 1119 is impressively set on two islands on the River Len. Marvel at the grand castle rooms, art and antiques while you retrace the footsteps of royalty.

• Take a walk through the beautiful Park and Gardens and visit The Duckery, developed at the request of Lady Baillie who loved birds of all kinds. You may even see black swans. The Avery, which houses over 100 species of birds from all over the world, is also a great place to go.

• Kids can crawl through secret tunnels, speed down slides and challenge themselves on the rope walkways at the Knights Realm Playground. If they fancy a more artistic activity then take them along to the Castle Craft Centre, where they can take part in t-shirt painting and pottery painting.

• Get lost in The Maze made with 2,400 yew trees and navigate through an underworld grotto. There is also the Turf Maze designed for smaller children.

Pay once and visit all year round

Open all year round.
Adults £18.50
Senior Citizens/Students & Visitors with Disabilities £16.00
Children (4-15yrs) £11.00
Group and educational rates also available.

Combining a blend of heritage and history with 500 acres of beautiful parkland, Leeds Castle in Kent is the perfect backdrop to your day out.

Bring the whole family to Leeds Castle with your Key to the Castle ticket and journey through 900 years of captivating history. Open all year round, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

What’s On!

• 5 – 24 December - Christmas at the Castle
• 10, 11 and 16 - 24 December – Father Christmas Visits

Below is a list of all our special events for this yearEvents showing the key symbol are included in the price of admission. However, some events will incur a small additional charge.Due to the popularity of these events we recommend early booking

5 - 24 December

Christmas at the Castle

Experience the magic of Christmas at Leeds Castle. Traditional Christmas decorations will fill the castle and many of the rooms will be beautifully decorated with scenes inspired by classic children's stories for the whole family to enjoy.

A selection of traditional and contemporary stories will be represented throughout the castle using colourful costumes, decorations and props. The Queen’s Gallery will be transformed into Alice’s adventures in wonderland and the Queen’s bedroom will become tales from the Arabian Nights with inspiration taken from ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’.

The Lady Baillie bedroom will be inspired by a scene from the classic ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ and the Seminar Room will become Willy Wonka’s famous Chocolate Factory. Younger children will enjoy visiting the magical world of ‘The Gruffalo’ in the Fountain Courtyard at the centre of the castle. Other classic stories will include ‘Narnia’ and ‘Twas the night before Christmas’.

10, 11 and 16 - 24 December

Father Christmas Visits

Children can visit Father Christmas in his magical grotto situated in a ‘miniature Leeds Castle’ in the Fairfax Courtyard. Explore a winter wonderland of twinkling lights and meet the elves before receiving a gift from Father Christmas himself.

Children: £8.50 (includes a surprise gift).
A valid Key to the Castle ticket will also be required for entry into the grounds.

Tickets must be pre-booked by calling the Box Office on 01622 880008 (weekdays, 10am to 5pm).

14 December

Castle Christmas House Party

Dinner £150 per person; Sleep from £225 per room

Celebrate Christmas with a house party to delight guests, friends and family. An ideal start to the festive season.

On arrival, enjoy a cocktail reception before a guided tour of the castle. Dinner will be served in the Henry VIII Banqueting Hall including half a bottle of wine and live opera accompaniment. Afterwards relax in the castle’s drawing rooms over coffee.

Complete your evening by staying overnight in one of the castle’s State or newly refurbished Battlement bedrooms with breakfast served the next morning.

Call our Hospitality Department on 01622 767877 to book or enquire.

15, 19, 20 and 22 December

Evening Theatrical Christmas Tours

Winter wonderland characters will bring the castle to life. Be guided on an entertaining and lively tour with Jack Frost and other traditional festive figures. Enjoy a glass of warm mulled wine or hot chocolate together with a delicious mince pie in the Gatehouse on arrival, before your magical tour begins.

Children can also visit Father Christmas in the castle along with an evening tour for an extra £5 per child. Tour and visit must be booked together. Tours last one hour and can be booked in time slots beginning from 5pm to 7.45pm.

Adults: £15; Senior: £12; Child (under 16 years): £10

Tickets must be pre-booked by calling the Box Office on 01622 880008 (weekdays, 10am to 5pm).

Complete your evening and stay overnight in the new Stable Courtyard Bed & Breakfast Rooms.

7 and 20 December

Christmas Party in the Fairfax Hall

Dinner £79 per person; Sleep from £140 per room

20 December - Still available

Experience the magic of Christmas in the Fairfax Hall at Leeds Castle.

Enjoy hot mulled wine on arrival and get to know the other guests in the Terrace Room, with spectacular views if the castle over the moat. Take your seat in the Fairfax Hall for a delicious four course dinner including a cheese course followed by a traditional festive Ceilidh.

Complete your evening and stay overnight in the new Stable Courtyard Bedrooms.

Call our Hospitality Department on 01622 767877 to book or enquire.

26 December - 3 January

The Christmas Trail

The whole family can blow away the cobwebs after Christmas and follow a festive trail through the beautiful grounds of Leeds Castle. An additional charge of £1 per trail card applies.

31 December

New Year's Eve Party in the Fairfax Hall

Dinner £110 per person; Sleep from £140 per room

Count down to midnight and celebrate seeing in the New Year in the Fairfax Hall at Leeds Castle for a truly memorable evening.

On arrival get to know the other guests with a drinks reception in the Terrace Room, then take your seat in the Fairfax Hall for a delicious three course dinner including half a bottle of wine per person.

Dance the night away with a disco before filling your glass with champagne and moving out onto the outside terrace to watch a fabulous display of fireworks above the castle, across the moat.

Complete your evening and stay overnight in the new Stable Courtyard Bedrooms.

Call our Hospitality Department on 01622 767877 to book or enquire

How to Book
E Mail: hospitality@leeds-castle.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1622 767877

Due to the popularity of these events we recommend early booking.

Opening Times:
Open all year round at 10am.
Last tickets sold/ last entry is 3pm
Gates close 5pm.

Castle :
Open :10.30am to 4pm
Last entry to the castle is 5pm

Shops, Gardens, Aviary and play area
Open: 10am to 4pm

Maze is open 10am to 4pm

Fairfax Hall restaurant is open 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Good For:
Families with Teens

Facilities:
Fairfax Restaurant (open 10.30am to 4.30pm) seasonal kiosk, Park Shop, toilets with disabled access and baby changing facilities, landtrain with wheelchair and pushchair access, parking

Accessibility:
At Leeds Castle we endeavour to ensure that all visitors have an enjoyable experience. A carer visits for free with every disabled person. Most of the castle and its grounds are accessible. We also offer a complimentary transport service on the estate for less mobile visitors.

Location:
Leeds Castle,
Maidstone,
Kent,
ME17 1PL

Gift Vouchers

Food & Drink
The Fairfax Restaurant (open 10.30am to 4.30pm. ) serves a wide variety of dishes in the courtyard. You can also enjoy light refreshments from the seasonal kiosk in the courtyard, near the Park Shop and at the Maze.

If you do not have your own transport, tours to the beauty spots of Kent including Leeds Castle are available as follows:-

1) Christmas Eve at Leeds Castle plus Canterbury and Dover from London

2) Boxing Day at Leeds Castle plus Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich from London

3) Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Dover from London

4) Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Cliffs of Dover, Custom Day Trip from London

5) Leeds Castle Private Viewing, Canterbury and Greenwich, Day trip from London

More tours are available to other areas of England as well and maybe booked here.