Discover almost 900 years of history and explore 500 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens. The whole family will enjoy the maze and grotto, thrilling falconry displays, punting on the moat, adventure playgrounds and more!
Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.
The first stone castle was built in 1119 by a Norman baron during the reign of William the Conqueror’s son Henry I, on an island in the River Len. In 1278, a century and a half later, it came into the possession of Queen Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I.
For the next 300 years the castle remained a royal residence, before again becoming a private home. This in turn was handed down over four centuries, by both inheritance and purchase, through a network of interlinked families.
Discover the fascinating history of the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie, the last private owner of the castle; a wealthy Anglo-American heiress who acquired Leeds Castle in 1926 when it was sold to pay death duties.
Today, the influence of Lady Baillie continues to bring the state rooms to life while visitors can see the effect of Medieval and Tudor periods in many of the other Castle rooms.
Accessibility
Transport to the Castle
A fully accessible mobility bus is available near the ticket office, running regularly throughout the day. This service is operated free of charge to visitors requiring assistance.
Refreshments
Castle View Restaurant has easy access via the Courtyard. Inside, there is a small staircase down to the bar.
Toilets
Fully accessible toilets for wheelchair users can be found throughout the grounds, at the main entrance, next to the Castle Shop, on Stable Hill and near the Knight's Realm Playground. The Fairfax Restaurant toilets are now also accessible by wheelchair users.
Parking
The car park has hard standing spaces reserved for visitors with disabilities. The maximum distance from the car park to the fully accessible mobility service is approximately 100 metres.
Dogs
Visually and hearing impaired visitors can be assisted by their guide and hearing dogs in the castle and grounds. We regret that no other dogs are permitted.
The Drawbridge & Entrance
The castle is accessible for the majority of visitors via the main front door where there is a ramp. As Leeds Castle is an ancient building, there are some restrictions. Visitors should be aware that there are approximately 45 metres of cobblestones across the drawbridge on to the Castle Island. Fire safety rules allow a maximum of two wheelchairs inside the Castle at any one time.
The Gatehouse
The Gatehouse is full accessible for wheelchair users. There is also a fully accessible toilet in this building.
Inside the Castle
Once inside, visitors will be escorted on the accessible route starting in the Heraldry Room. This is against the flow of visitors, so there may be a short wait. Electric mobility scooters are not permitted in the Castle, however Leeds Castle wheelchairs are available at request.
Between the Heraldry Room and the corridor to the main visitor route, there is a wheelchair lift, which carries weight up to 225kg. The lift is 125cm in length and 80cm wide and can only be used when passengers are sitting in their wheelchairs. Leeds Castle wheelchairs are available if personal wheelchairs do not fit onto the lift. Our staff in the Castle are happy to assist with transfers into one of our wheelchairs. The lift is also fitted with a seat for those that require assistance without wheelchairs.
During normal opening hours, guided tours are not provided. However, staff are present to answer questions. The upstairs rooms are not accessible to wheelchair users. However, if a companion or helper wishes to visit these rooms, a steward can escort the wheelchair user back to the Yellow Drawing Room to wait for a short time, or watch a film of the rooms that they cannot access.
Wood Garden
This is a delightful woodland walk along a path of compacted gravel, approximately 900 metres long. The steepest slope is near the end of the walk, which has a gradient of 1:5 for a very short distance. There are several resting areas throughout the Wood Garden.
Culpeper Garden
Full of colour and scent, this typical English cottage garden is a sensory delight during the summer months. Paths are mainly brick or tarmac and wheelchair accessible. The garden has resting places and the lower path leads to the Maze area.
Lady Baillie Garden
This terraced garden overlooking the Great Water has a long, sloping path to allow access for visitors returning from the maze area. A fairly steep path then leads visitors out of the garden and back to the Fairfax Courtyard. Benches and pagodas throughout the garden offer places to sit and enjoy the scent and colour of its Mediterranean plants.
Maze & Grotto
We regret that the maze and underground grotto are inaccessible for wheelchair users.
Falconry Display
The Falconry Display is fully accessible to all visitors. Seasonal timings apply.
Dog Collar Museum
This unique collection of historic and fascinating dog collars can be accessed by all visitors.
Elsie the Castle Train
Leeds Castle has a new land train on the estate which takes visitors from the main entrance up to the Castle. We regret that the land train is inaccessible for wheelchair users. However, we offer a complimentary transport service on the estate for less mobile visitors.
The Black Swan Ferry Boat
The Black Swan Ferry Boat provides return journeys across the Great Water from the castle drive to the maze area. The Black Swan can accommodate up to three wheelchairs. Please note that this attraction is open seasonally.
Shopping
All shops at Leeds Castle are fully accessible for wheelchair users.
Audio Tours
An audio tour can be collected from the Castle Shop at a reduced rate for visitors with disabilities. The audio tour devices are hand-held and lightweight. Hands free stereo headphones are also available upon request for visitors with walking aids. The keypad has been designed in conjunction with the RNIB and Action for Blind People, and is fully compliant with access guidelines for visitors with visual impairment.
