Leeds Castle is a medieval castle on two islands in a lake near Maidstone in Kent, about 70-75 minutes by train from London Victoria plus a short taxi ride. An adult ticket costs £34.50 online or £38.50 on site (2026), and it lets you come back free for a whole year.
Despite the name, Leeds Castle has nothing to do with the city of Leeds in the north of England. It stands in the Kent countryside south-east of London, 7 miles east of Maidstone, surrounded by 500 acres of parkland, gardens and woods. For three centuries it belonged to English kings and queens; in the 20th century it became the country home of a wealthy Anglo-American heiress, Lady Baillie, whose glamorous 1930s interiors you can still walk through.
A visit is less about one building and more about a whole day out: the castle rooms, the gardens, a hedge maze with an underground grotto, a birds of prey centre, playgrounds and, in the warmer months, a little ferry across the lake. That makes it especially popular with families. It also runs a busy programme of seasonal events, from Halloween to fireworks and Christmas.
Leeds Castle essentials
- Where
- Near Maidstone, Kent; postcode ME17 1RG
- Adult Explorer ticket (16+)
- £34.50 online, £38.50 on site
- Child (3-15)
- £24.50 online, £28.00 on site; under-3s free
- Ticket validity
- Free repeat visits for 12 months (not ticketed events)
- Grounds, 1 October-19 November 2026
- 10:00-17:00, last entry 15:00
- Castle, 1 October-19 November 2026
- 10:30-15:30, last entry 15:00
- Nearest stations
- Bearsted and Hollingbourne (Southeastern, direct from London Victoria)
By train from Victoria to Bearsted or Hollingbourne
Leeds Castle is not on a railway line, but two small stations are close by. Southeastern runs trains to Bearsted and Hollingbourne, with direct services from London Victoria that take 70-75 minutes, according to the castle. There are also direct trains from Ashford International, which take 25-30 minutes and connect with high-speed trains from St Pancras.
From either station, the castle says it is a 5-minute taxi ride or a 30-40 minute walk. The walk follows country lanes and paths; the castle publishes a walking map from Hollingbourne station on its website. Taxis do not always wait at small country stations, so we would book one in advance, particularly for the return journey.
You need a National Rail ticket for this trip: Kent is far outside the London fare zones. Off-Peak returns are usually the best-value fares for a day trip, and a railcard takes a third off. Our guide to buying UK train tickets explains the ticket types, and the overview of London's railway stations shows how to reach Victoria.
Buy your Leeds Castle ticket at the gate if you came by train. The castle gives 20% off Explorer and Ultimate Explorer tickets to visitors who arrive by train, bus or bike, but only for tickets bought at the Visitor Centre, not online. You must show a train ticket dated that day to Hollingbourne, Bearsted, Maidstone or Ashford. On an adult on-site ticket of £38.50 that works out at £30.80, which is less than the £34.50 online price.
Families travelling with Southeastern can also use its Kids for a Quid offer: on off-peak trains where Southeastern sets the fare, each adult can take up to four children aged 5-15 for £1 each, and under-5s travel free.
The bus option
Stagecoach bus route 510 serves Leeds Castle. The castle says the bus comes into the grounds on Saturdays; on other days it stops outside the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, about 12 minutes' walk from the Visitor Centre. A bus ticket also qualifies for the 20% green travel discount.
Photo: Worldfootage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized
Driving to Leeds Castle
By car, the castle is at Junction 8 of the M20 motorway, about an hour from London in normal traffic. Parking is included in the admission price. The castle warns that some satellite navigation systems send drivers to a private entrance, so follow the brown and white tourist signs once you reach the A20.
Driving out of London takes time and planning, especially if you are not used to driving on the left. Read our advice on car hire in London and the UK driving rules for foreign visitors before you decide.
Ticket prices and the year-long pass
All Leeds Castle day tickets work as annual passes. The castle calls it "pay for a day and visit free all year": after your first visit, you can return as often as you like for 12 months. This does not include special ticketed events or group bookings.
| Explorer ticket (2026) | Online | On site |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16+) | £34.50 | £38.50 |
| Child (3-15) | £24.50 | £28.00 |
| Family: 1 adult and up to 3 children | £87.00 | £97.00 |
| Family: 2 adults and up to 3 children | £115.00 | £128.50 |
| Infants (under 3) | Free | Free |
The Ultimate Explorer ticket costs £45.50 online for an adult (£33.00 for a child) and adds six trips on the Black Swan Ferry or Elsie the Castle Train, plus one round of adventure golf. It is worth it mainly for families with young children who will use the train and ferry. Check the current prices on the official pricing page.
For a couple arriving by train, two on-site Explorer tickets with the 20% green travel discount come to £61.60, against £69.00 booked online. A family of two adults and three children who come by train pays £102.80 on site with the discount, against £115.00 online. Visitors who drive do not qualify for the green travel discount, so they should book online.
Inside the castle: from medieval queens to Lady Baillie
The castle's history goes back to the Norman Conquest. According to the Leeds Castle Foundation, the first stone castle was built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur, using two natural islands in the River Len. From 1278 it was a royal castle, first held by Queen Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I, and from 1299 it became part of the personal property of English queens, a tradition that lasted for generations. The "Queens with Means" cinematic experience, included in the standard ticket, is one way into this long story.
King Henry VIII turned the fortress into a royal palace between 1517 and 1523, so that he and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, could stay there in comfort. Nearly 300 years of royal ownership ended in 1552. Later owners rebuilt parts of the castle, and the main building you see today, the New Castle, was finished in 1823.
The rooms you walk through are shaped above all by Lady Baillie, who acquired the castle in the mid-1920s. She employed the Art Deco designer Armand-Albert Rateau and later the Parisian designer Stéphane Boudin, whose luxurious French-style interiors from 1932 onwards are still on display, including her own bedroom suite. During the Second World War the castle served as a hospital. Today it belongs to the Leeds Castle Foundation, a charity.
The castle opens later than the grounds, at 10:30, and closes earlier. In autumn 2026 the last entry to the castle is at 15:00, so plan to go inside first and leave the gardens for later.
The maze, the grotto and the rest of the grounds
The yew maze is one of the best-known features of the estate. It is made of 2,400 yew trees, and part of its design, seen from the centre, mirrors a queen's crown. The maze is laid out in a square, yet from the mound or the air its pattern looks circular, which makes it harder to solve. When you reach the middle, you go down into an underground grotto, with twists and turns, sound effects and mythical creatures that lead you back above ground.
The rest of the estate is large enough to fill an afternoon:
- Gardens: the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terraces and the Princess Alexandra Gardens, plus lakes, lawns and woodland walks.
- Birds of prey: the Bird of Prey Centre, with flying displays.
- Children: the Knights' Stronghold and Squires' Courtyard playgrounds, an obstacle course and a small beach area.
- Getting around: Elsie the Castle Train, the Black Swan Ferry and a mobility bus for visitors who find walking difficult.
- Extras: adventure golf, Segway tours and a second-hand bookshop.
If mazes and big gardens appeal, London has its own: the famous hedge maze at Hampton Court Palace and the glasshouses of Kew Gardens are both within the city's transport network.
Opening hours through the seasons
Leeds Castle is open all year, but the hours change with the seasons, and not every attraction runs every day.
| Period (2026-27) | Grounds and gardens | Castle |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April-30 September | 10:00-18:00, last entry 16:00 | 10:30-17:00, last entry 16:30 |
| 1 October-19 November | 10:00-17:00, last entry 15:00 | 10:30-15:30, last entry 15:00 |
| 20 November-3 January | 10:00-15:30, last entry 14:30 | 10:30-15:00, last entry 14:30 |
| 4 January-21 March | 10:00-17:00, last entry 15:00 | 10:30-15:30, last entry 15:00 |
The Black Swan Ferry runs only at weekends and in school holidays in October, and not at all from November. The maze and playgrounds close earlier than the grounds, at 16:00 in autumn and 15:00 over Christmas. Always check the opening times and closures page before you set off.
Early November is the wrong week for the castle rooms. The castle interior is closed from Friday 6 to Wednesday 11 November 2026 for fireworks and Christmas preparations, and the whole estate, castle and grounds, is closed on 7 and 8 November except for fireworks ticket holders from 14:00. It is also closed on Christmas Day, and the castle rooms close on 4 and 5 January 2027.
Events through the year
Events are a big part of Leeds Castle's appeal, and some are included in the normal ticket while others need a separate one. In autumn 2026 the programme included a Horrible Histories Halloween event, included with admission, and a fireworks weekend on 7 and 8 November that requires its own tickets. The castle also holds large outdoor concerts in summer, such as the one on 11 July 2026, when the estate closes to ordinary visitors.
Check the events page for what is on during your visit. If fireworks are the reason for your trip, London has large displays of its own; see our guide to Bonfire Night in London. For the festive season, our page on Christmas in London covers events in the city.
Is a coach tour better?
Leeds Castle lists several London coach-tour operators that run sightseeing tours to the castle all year round. Some tours also take in other Kent sights, such as Canterbury or Dover and the White Cliffs. If you want two of these places in one day without a car, a tour saves you working out train connections and taxis.
For Leeds Castle alone, the train is usually better value, especially for families using Kids for a Quid and the green travel discount. You also choose your own pace, which matters here: with the maze, the playgrounds and the gardens, a short coach-tour stop may not be enough. Compare the total cost, and ask how long the tour spends at the castle.
For a step-by-step comparison of trains, taxis and coaches, see the route guide from London to Leeds Castle on our sister site.
Planning a family day
Leeds Castle is one of the better day trips for children because so much of it is outdoors and hands-on. Arrive by 10:00 so that you have time for the castle rooms before lunch, then spend the afternoon on the maze, the birds of prey and the playgrounds. The Castle View Restaurant serves lunch from 11:30 to 14:30, and there are other places to eat around the estate.
For more ideas for travelling with children, see our London with kids guide. If you want a castle that is still a royal home, Windsor Castle is closer to London and easier to reach by train. Our overview of day trips from London compares all the options.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from London to Leeds Castle without a car?
Take a Southeastern train from London Victoria to Bearsted or Hollingbourne, which takes about 70-75 minutes. From either station it is a 5-minute taxi ride or a 30-40 minute walk. Stagecoach bus 510 also serves the castle.
How much does Leeds Castle cost?
In 2026 an adult Explorer ticket costs £34.50 online or £38.50 on site, and a child ticket (3-15) costs £24.50 online or £28.00 on site. Under-3s are free. Every ticket gives free return visits for 12 months.
Is Leeds Castle in Leeds?
No. Leeds Castle is in Kent, in south-east England, about 7 miles east of Maidstone. It is a completely different place from the city of Leeds in Yorkshire, in the north of England, so make sure you buy train tickets to Bearsted or Hollingbourne.
How long do you need at Leeds Castle?
Plan for most of a day. The castle rooms take around an hour, and the maze, gardens, birds of prey and playgrounds easily fill the rest. With travel from London, allow a full day.
Is there a discount for arriving by train?
Yes. If you show a train ticket to Hollingbourne, Bearsted, Maidstone or Ashford dated that day, you get 20% off Explorer and Ultimate Explorer tickets. The discount applies only to tickets bought at the Visitor Centre, not online.
Sources
- Leeds Castle - Pricing (checked September 2026)
- Leeds Castle - Opening times and directions (checked September 2026)
- Leeds Castle - Green Travel Offer terms and conditions (PDF) (checked September 2026)
- Leeds Castle - History of the castle (checked September 2026)
- Leeds Castle - The Maze and Grotto (checked September 2026)
- Southeastern - Kids for a Quid (checked September 2026)