Princesses and peacocks at Leeds Castle, Kent

There’s so much to say about Leeds Castle, I hardly know where to start. So I’ll begin with one of the key facts. Leeds Castle is not in Yorkshire. It’s not even near the famous Leeds. It’s in Kent, about 15 minutes from Maidstone – the name, incidentally is a corruption of Esledes as recorded in the Domesday Book.

And that’s the first of the Leeds Castle facts I learned on our visit to this historic building – with a remarkable history which stretches back 900 years. There’s been a castle on the site since 1119, owned by a succession of medieval English Queens, later playing host to Charlie Chaplin and Noel Coward, and holding talks which led to the Camp David accords.

Today the grounds are home to the treetop adventures of Go Ape, glamping, not to mention Leeds Castle peacocks strutting confident that they’re the centre of attention, black swans, falcons, cafes, and lots at Leeds Castle for kids, from a maze to playground forts and a little train called Elsie that can deliver you from the entrance to the castle for a a small fee.

The castle is somewhere I’ve driven past countless times – on the way to the small airfield in the nearby village of Headcorn where I used to go skydiving.

Pre-baby, needless to say. But somehow I’ve never quite managed to visit until last weekend. Fortunately tickets are valid for a year as there’s masses to discover.

As with all castles, there’s layer upon layer of history to peel away. The rooms which would once have housed Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife, are kept in the lavishly decorated style of the 1920s, when heiress Lady Baillie owned the castle.

For more of the best castles in Kent with kids, check out my top picks

The bathroom has walls lined with Russian onyx, underfloor heating beneath the marble and linen embroidered with a black swan, whose real-life counterparts she also brought to the castle.

But there’s also a life-size representation of King Edward III, dating from the 16th century and known as the Lumley horseman.

Described as ‘a great staturie on horseback as bigg as life’, it still dominates the room.

Plus antique portraits, a suit of armour, the beautifully decorated chapel…

When the sun shines, you can also go punting on the moat (from March to October) as well as taking the small ferry from the castle to the maze and play areas.

The Knights Stronghold adventure playground, modelled on Leeds castle itself, has also joined the Squires Court playground and adventure golf, making another tempting new attraction at Leeds Castle for kids.

There’s even a Dog Collar museum, the largest of its kind on display anywhere in the world,

Falconry displays take place year-round (weather permitting – no sensible hawk or eagle is going to take on driving rain) but I shall have to add that and the maze to my list of things to do next time.

What I’d really love to try? One of the Dine & Sleep packages – the 1930s house party in April in particular. Who wouldn’t love this? Be chauffered to the door in a vintage Rolls Royce, enjoy afternoon tea then Prohibition cocktails and music, plus a three course dinner after a guided tour of the castle.

Then you can stay overnight in the castle rooms in a canopied bed that’s perfect for testing out any princess and the pea fantasies…

For more great family days out, check out my pick of the best UK castles with kids

Leeds Castle with kids: Need to know

Adult tickets cost from £31.50 with a discount if you buy online, £22.50 for children aged four to 15, while under fours go free.

There are also special tours of areas usually off-limits throughout the year.

No scooters or bikes (or any wheel-based toys) are allowed in the grounds, although the castle says controlled ‘Smart Trikes’ for toddlers are still welcome.

You can’t take pushchairs inside the castle but there is a buggy park for these, and you can borrow baby slings for free.

For more great days out in Kent with kids, check out my top picks, including more family-friendly castles and historic homes

Summer photo of Leeds castle courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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