Leeds Castle, England 🇬🇧

🍎 General information:

- Location: Maidstone City, Kent County, England. The castle is located on an island in a lake formed by the River Len.

- Construction in the year: Since c.857 (started as a wooden structure by the Saxon class), it was rebuilt in stone in 1119 and renovated in the early 1800s (in 2025, this house is 470 years old).

- Style of the house: Norman-era castle developed to become Tudor Palace, stimulated early 19th century style.

- Landlord (originator of building): Robert de Crevecoeur first built a stone castle in 1119; it was later bought by Queen Eleanor of Castile (Queen of Edward I) in 1278.

- Designer: No Explicit Identification - Through several eras of sacrifice and renovation, including an episode in which Dame Olive 'Lady Baillie' occupied a 1930s very luxurious interior.

- Purpose created: Control strategically important areas (rivers and trails) and be the residence of several British kings.

- Number of rooms: No exact number, but many exhibit rooms such as drawing rooms, game rooms, halls and thematic museums.

- Total area: About 500 acres of gardens and parks

🌻 information for the visit:

- Opening hours: Open daily at 10: 30-17: 00 (check the opening date before visiting the website)

- Admission fee: £33 (about 1,450 baht)

- Website: /

🍬 the focus of this place:

- The palace was once the residence of several British monarchs and queens (including Henry VIII, so that the first Queen, Catherine of Aragon, took up residence here).

- Queen Eleanor of Castile also used to live here.

- After that, the castle was constantly turned owner until Lady Baillie or Olive Cecilia Paget (1899-1974). - She was an American millionaire heiress, and the last owner of Leeds Castle before the castle was passed on as a public benefit foundation.

- She bought Leeds Castle: 1926 for around £180,000 (huge in that era).

- She completely renovated and refurbished Leeds Castle into a luxury mansion for the elite, employing famous architects and French decorators.

- In the 1930s, she hosted a huge party at the castle, attended by world-class guests such as the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Ian Fleming (author James Bond).

- During World War II, the castle was used as a recovery home for wounded soldiers.

- After her death in 1974, the castle was passed on to the "Leeds Castle Foundation," founded in her will, to be open to the public.

- It is now the main attraction with gardens, golf courses and a museum of dog collar shirts.

- It is currently open to the public.

/Leeds Castle

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