This is exciting. A few weeks ago, we visited the "most lovely castle in the world"! (Quoted from one of the Leeds Castle brochures I picked up). And yes, it was very lovely!! I usually write about cities/towns that we've visited or travelled to, but this time it's all about Leeds Castle in Kent, England. We went with friends of ours who own a car, so we were able to make a little day trip out of it. The castle was fairly busy with people, but I can understand why... not only is the interior of the castle spectacular to take in, the grounds are so lush and green. It is easy to spend a whole afternoon just wandering the gardens.
Before I bombard you with a plethura of photos, here are some quick facts about the castle itself:
- The first stone castle was built in the early 1100s
- A century and a half later (in 1278), it came into the possession of Queen Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I
- It remained a royal residence for 300 years, and then became a private home where it was in turn handed down over four centuries
- The last private owner of the castle was named Lady Baillie, a wealthy Anglo-American heiress. She acquired the castle in 1926 when it was sold to pay death duties
- Today, the influence of Lady Baillie is seen throughout the interior of the castle, bringing the Medieval and Tudor periods to life
- The castle itself has been built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len. It has been open to the public since 1976
Around the beautiful grounds:
And now for the interior...
Wine Cellar (above)
Queen's bathroom (above)
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