Stay at Beautiful Historic Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle in England has been called “The Loveliest Castle in the World” and it's easy to see why! The castle is the perfect day trip from London. But if you want to stay for longer, visitors can not just tour the amazing castle and grounds, you can stay there too!
Leeds Castle is in the English county of Kent, which is known as 'the garden of England.' The castle is nearly a thousand years old and it's set in the middle of a fabulous moat, just like the stuff of legends.

The first stone fortification was built on this site in the 1100s and when Eleanor of Castile bought it in 1278 the castle came into royal hands. Over the centuries, it has been associated with a total of six queens of England. In the 1500s, King Henry VIII had a big makeover done on the castle to make it a truly resplendent royal palace for him and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

This is the banqueting hall and you can just make out a portrait of King Henry VIII over the fireplace. Henry didn't travel lightly… when he visited Leeds Castle in 1520 he took a crowd of 5,000 courtiers and retinue with him! The king was on his way to France for the famous 'Field of the Cloth of Gold' meeting with King Francis I.

Leeds Castle is full of original European antiques and exquisite architectural details. This is a wood-paneled drawing room.

What a lovely library! Look at the row of large porcelain vases lined up above the bookshelves as well as the urns on the mantelpiece over the fire. The old books look so handsome but I wouldn't want to have to dust this room!

If you plan to stay at Leeds Castle you have various choices including B&B, holiday cottages, and glamping. This is one of the bed and breakfast rooms in the 16th century Maiden’s Tower, decorated in period style with modern touches. Breakfast is served in a 17th Century oak-beamed restaurant.

Or you can try glamping (glamorous camping) in one of the Medieval style Knight's Glamping striped pavilions in the castle vineyard. The pavilion tents are so posh that they sport four poster beds with cotton linens and you can keep warm on a chilly night with a wood stove.

Leeds Castle is about an hour from London and there's a lot to do on the 500 acres of formal gardens and parklands. Try punting on the moat, watch a falconry display, or explore the maze formed by 2,400 yew trees.

Check out my posts on other English Castle Hotels and French Castle Hotels for more unique and historic European vacation ideas. Send us a postcard if you go!