Just to say hi and I do pop on here sometimes. Hope all is well with my buddies. Linda
Just to say hi and I do pop on here sometimes. Hope all is well with my buddies. Linda
Member since:08.10.2003
Reviews:144
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For a wonderful day or evening out go to Leeds Castle. It is not in Leeds as one would suppose but in Maidstone, Kent. During the Saxon times the area was called Esledes and the name Leeds came from that original name.
It is not just a castle for you to wander around and look at the antiquities; it is a castle that is - once seen never forgotten, whether that is for the Norman architecture, the surroundings or the wonderful event/s you may experience there.
I have now visited this castle twice in my life, the first time with a boyfriend and it makes a wonderful romantic day out and the second time with my husband and in laws, this made a fantastic family day out.
A little bit of history.
The castle was built during the reign of Henry 1st by a Norman baron, it is built on stone on an island, and it has been a royal home for centuries. Owners have included, William 1st, Edward 1st, 2nd and 3rd.Richard 2nd, Henry 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th. Queen Isabella of France, Queen Anne of Bohemia, and these are just a few, until it was bought by various famous families including the Culpeppers. Today it is run by the Leeds Castle Foundation.
There is absolutely so much to see and write about and this review could not possibly detail all the incredible sights and experiences we had, without just making it one long boring list. Therefore, I will take you through my trip with the in laws, who are in their seventies.
We decided to go on a Sunday, we took a picnic as from my previous experience I knew the food was quite expensive.
We arrived fairly early about 10 am and so parking was not a problem. The parking is free.
The surroundings.
We walked across grass towards the entrance; I shall give a detailed list of prices at the end of this review.
We spent a long time walking around the duckery, (with wild duck and geese) and gardens, a variety of plants to make you stop and take photographs, and to wonder at the sizes and the different varieties. Azalea’s large rhubarb plants, rhododendrons, a complete blanket of smells and colours. Willow trees, which to me are one of my favourite, sweeping the ground and murmuring on the breeze. Some of the trees are gnarled and just so interesting to study. There, that is the artist coming out in me. There are five hundred acres of glorious surroundings.
We could see glimpses of the castle through the trees and at this moment I could not wait to see the expressions on the family faces, I knew they would be astounded at the beauty. The power of the building sitting so comfortably in the middle of the blue waters, with green fields and various shrubs and trees in the background. It is truly a magical sight.
We spent over an hour or so wandering around the woods and drinking up the beauty of the sunshine. Occasionally sitting down to rest and soak up the natural warmth of nature.
The castle.
I cannot remember exactly where we went first in the castle, so I will tell you about some of the highlights I remember.
We went into the cellars, a cool respite from the sun that day; it is the oldest surviving part of the castle. It dates back to the 12th century, the floor is uneven and there are stone steps leading up to an area which houses and displays a huge array of weapons. My mother in law found this part quite tiring.
Rooms
There are a multitude of rooms, the Queen’s room, a room which includes a huge state bed where she would conduct her business, receiving guests and advisors. Her bathroom, which had a small tub that would be filled with freshly smelling herbs. There is the gallery, with a guide who was extremely willing to talk about any aspect of the room. There are rooms with carved paneling, Italian marble fireplaces as well as other magnificent craftsmanship. The rooms are filled with furniture created with some incredible furnishings. These rooms are very impressive and are kept to a very high standard. There are guides in all the rooms and these people are really approachable and enjoy talking about the history of the castle.
I loved the library, so many books, I felt I was almost transported back in time; I wanted to step into the room, to look at the books, pick them up, sit down on one of the soft chairs and just read. I could have stayed all day just looking at these rooms, paintings and furniture, I could have daydreamed myself back in time and just sat and meditated. But we had to move on.
Wandering through the castle it is possible to see out of some of the windows onto a courtyard, with a vivid imagination you can imagine people wandering through the pages of history, in their colourful clothes. Standing around and chatting of the recent court gossip.
The banqueting hall was amazing, over 70 feet long, wonderful paintings and tapestries.
The chapel is small and a very busy place, it was time for us to sit down and reflect. I think my in laws just enjoyed sitting down, I know I did, and as the visit is quite tiring, not only on the physical body but on the mind because there are so many incredibly beautiful objects to see as well as a wealth of history to take in. The chapel is still sometimes used for services; although it was crowded it was still peaceful and interesting.
Coming out of the chapel we came to a spiral staircase, which I found amazing, one part of it has actually been carved out of one single tree. The carvings of beasts and birds in this area are magnificent.
Aviary.
If you like birds there is an aviary, where you can see toucans and parrots and a variety of other birds some of which are endangered species. There is a maze and an underground grotto, I did not venture in there, I may never come out again! The vineyard and greenhouses hosted a vast range of plants, fruits like peaches, all for the castle. You can taste their home made wine in one of their shops.
Dog Collar Museum. While we were there, we sat outside the Dog Collar Museum, the only one in Britain. These are not the religious kind but the canine kind. Some of them are horrendous. There have always been dogs at the castle; this collection goes back four hundred years.
While we rested outside the Dog Collar Museum, we noticed people going into a small chapel, someone was getting married. It was so lovely to watch and be a part of this. There were women in beautiful clothes with large hats and men in their top hats and tails.
This is not just a day out for history, this is a day out to delight the senses through wonderful scenery, plants, animals and I would say it probably covers everything imaginable pertaining to nature and beauty.
Entertainment.
There is a vast amount of entertainment at night as well, I have yet to go to one of these but a friend has been to a firework display there and she said it was magnificent. There are falconry days, children entertainers, a golf course for the enthusiast, hot air ballooning, educational visits for schools, vintage car weekends, open air musical concerts, themed evenings, and even celebrity evenings with Cliff Richards or Pavarotti. I would say there is certainly something there to whet anyone’s appetite.
It has certainly made me want to go back again and again.
We caught the land train back to the main entrance which is all part of the fun. The in laws and my husband all had a wonderful day and my father in law bought me a lovely little trinket box in the shop on the way out as a thank you present.
Special needs.
There were many people at the castle with special needs, there are discounts, and these are for carers as well. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are admitted. The castle is not all accessible due to the cobblestones but they do allow two wheelchairs into the building at any one time. So it is best to check with the stewards. There is a ramp at the main entrance of the castle. Wheel chairs are free.
Toilets. We did not have any problem using the toilets, there were disabled toilets and all the toilets I used were clean.
Prices. For prices vary for different times of the year Adult from £9 to £12.50 Senior citizens and students from £8 to £11 Children 4 -15 from £6 to £9 Disabled -£6 all year. Carers – discounted. Family ticket 2 adults and up to 3 children. From £30 to £39
How to get there. Coaches go from Victoria coach station. Green line and various other coach operators. Or an all in one ticket on SouthEastern trains. We went by car which took about one hour. See the website.
My views.
So if you want to impress that new girlfriend or boyfriend take them here, if they don’t remember you they will always remember their day out at Leeds Castle! Ha Ha only joking - they will always remember it and the person who took them there!
If you just want to wander down the aisle of history and enjoy the gorgeous surroundings go alone.
If you enjoy sharing your experiences go with your family.
You have covered soo much, this castle is truly stunning and I do agree with the hype. Perfect for a sunny summer Sunday afternoon)
The wine is amazing
SusanLesley 17.10.2004 16:45
I'm the one who sat on the tube in London, read an advert for Leeds castle and said to my friend (somewhat loudly) I didn't know Leeds had a castle! Yes, I know now! Susan
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