England

Castle Exterior
Castle Interior
Castle Grounds

Dog Collar Museum
Falconry

Maze and Grotto
Aviary

Situated on two islands in a lake, formed by the River Len. It has been described as "the loveliest castle in the world." Constructed in the twelfth century to be an impregnable stronghold, it became known as "Lady's Castle" because of who occupied it. Its royal residents include Eleanor and Margaret, the wives of Edward I, Philippa of Hainhault, wife of Edward III, Catherine de Valois, Henry V's wife, Catherine of Aragon, first (but not last) wife of Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I, who was imprisoned here, for a time, before her coronation.

The gatehouse with its barbican and drawbridge are the most fortress-like features of the castle. The rest, looks like what it was chiefly used for, a residence. A tour of the castle will give a whole new perspective on what life in a royal castle might have been like. There are no drafty towers, here, no rats skulking about, no dank, dungeon-like rooms. Tapestries cover the walls, fireplaces roar and there is a general atmosphere of warmth, gentility and comfort.

The castle still serves as a residence, today, but is also used as a corporate conference center, with full-service meeting areas and banquet facilities available.

Castle Exterior

Castle Interior

Castle Grounds: The castle grounds consists of 500 acres of beautifully maintained parkland.

Dog Collar Museum: A unique collection of historic and fascinating dog collars has been built up over the years and is now the only one of its kind in Great Britain.

Many of the early, broad iron collars bristling with fearsome spikes dating from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries were designed to protect the vulnerable throats of hunting dogs against attacks from wolves, bears and wild boar which roamed the dark forests of Europe.

Falconry: Majestic birds of prey including buzzards, eagles, falcons, hawks, vultures and owls delight visitors with displays choreographed to music by castle falconers.

Coco the Indian Tawny Eagle, Lurch the African White-Backed Vulture and Jack – the only free-flying Augur Buzzard in the UK – can be seen. There was also a large horned owl.

Maze and Grotto: Planted in 1988 with 2,400 yew trees, the maze leads to a spiraling path up to a raised viewpoint which gives panoramic views of the park. It has the appearance of a topiary castle, and prospective viewers will be able to see that part of the maze’s plan mirrors a queen’s crown.

The Grotto presents the ‘underworld’ in a series of macabre forms and representations: alchemy, fossils, bones and mythical beasts created out of shells, minerals, wood and other materials.

As daylight and the tunnel exit approaches, the theme lightens with the idea of rebirth in the form of a shell phoenix.

Visitors are sped on their way by the Green Man about to spring out of his cave and open the gate with his key.

The giant Typhoeus, father of the Harpies, tried to overpower the gods, but was vanquished by Zeus and placed under Mount Etna (Sicily), where he became the source of fire. Here Typhoeus struggles against the weight of the mountain, lava flowing from his mouth. The dome is decorated with black and white swans, symbols of alchemy and of Leeds Castle.

Aviary (a place where birds are kept): The last private owner of the Castle, Olive, Lady Baillie was to have an outstanding influence on the birds that can be seen here today. It was she who, in the 1930s, introduced some of the first known Black Swans in the country onto the Castle Moat and, later, in the early 1950s, began what was considered to be the best collection of exotic birds in Great Britain.

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