About the Castle

Leeds Castle is a beautiful historic castle located near Maidstone in Kent. It takes its name from the nearby village of Leeds so please don’t set off towards Yorkshire!

A castle was first built on the site in 1119, the basement from this original building still survives to this day. It was owned by a succession of royals including Henry VIII who converted it into a palace for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

A period of private ownership followed in which the fortunes of the castle varied along with that of its owners. The buildings on the larger of the two islands were replaced entirely during this period, while the rooms on the smaller island were briefly used as a prison for Dutch prisoners of war resulting in considerable damage.

The front section of the current castle, known as the New Castle, was completed in 1823 with the older sections restored at the same time. While the exterior of this rebuild largely remains the same today, many modifications were made to the internal layout by Lady Baillie after she bought the castle in 1926.

During World War II the family allowed the New Castle to be used as a hospital for wounded airmen, while the grounds were used for secret weapons research. Renovations continued after the war with the dining room, which will host our ceremony, completed in 1948 along with the adjoining library.

Lady Baillie died in 1974 and left the castle to the newly created Leeds Castle Foundation which opened the castle to the public. Today the castle attracts around half a million visitors each year.

The castle grounds include over 500 acres of gardens, parkland and lakes which attract a variety of wildlife. Please try not to upset the swans! Other points of interest include the hedge maze, a bird of prey centre with falconry displays, and a small museum which displays historically interesting dog collars!