Home > Tourist Attractions  > United Kingdom  > England   Select from the following attraction(s).   Albert Dock Alton Towers Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament Blackpool Pleasure Beach British Airways London Eye British Museum Buckingham Palace Cambridge University Camden Market Canterbury Cathedral Chessington World of Adventures Durham Castle and Cathedral Eden Project Greenwich Hadrian's Wall Hampton Court Palace Harrods Leeds Castle Legoland ® Windsor London Dungeon London Zoo Madame Tussaud’s and Tussaud’s London Planetarium National Gallery National Museum of Photography, Film and Television Natural History Museum Oxford University Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Roman Baths and Pumproom Royal Armouries Leeds Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Royal Pavilion Science Museum Shakespeare Houses St Paul’s Cathedral Stonehenge Tate Britain Tate Modern Tintagel Castle Tower of London Victoria & Albert Museum Warwick Castle Westminster Abbey Windsor Castle York Minster       Leeds Castle Description: Leeds Castle in Kent is built on two islands in a lake. It was originally built as a royal manor in AD 857, but from 1278 onwards was used as a royal palace by King Edward I. Over the centuries, the castle has been home to six Medieval Queens of England, including Catherine de Valois (wife of Henry V), Eleanor and Margaret (Edward I’s wives), Philippa of Hainhault (Edward III’s wife), Catherine of Aragon (one of Henry VIII’s six wives) and Elizabeth I. It was also home to Henry VIII and is full of many fine arts, furnishings and tapestries from its illustrious past. The castle was sold to Lady Baillie in 1926 who employed Armand-Albert Rateau amd Stéphane Boudin, two international interior designers, to transform the interior, filling it with fine furniture, tapestries and paintings. The castle is also famous for its Aviary, which is home to many birds including black swans and was built as a memorial to Lady Baillie, opening in 1988. The castle’s grounds are also spectacular and include the Maze, Wood Garden, Vineyard and Culpeper Garden. Contact Addresses: Leeds Castle Enterprises Limited, Leeds Castle, Leeds, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL, UK Tel: (01622) 765 400. Fax: (01622) 735 616. E-mail: enquiries@leeds-castle.co.uk Website: www.leeds-castle.com Transportation: Air: London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport. Rail: Train: Connex trains run to Bearsted Station (from London Victoria Station) and then connect with a coach service. Road: Coach: National Express runs coaches to the castle (from London Victoria Coach Station and from Dover, Folkestone, Hythe and Ashford). Car: M20 motorway (junction 8); the castle is signposted (from London). Opening Times: Daily 1000-1500 (Nov-Feb); daily 1000-1700 (Mar-Oct). Closed 25 Dec, 29 Jun and 6 Jul. Admission Fees: Castle, gardens and attractions: £11 (adult), £7.50 (child 4-15), free (child under 4) (1 Mar-31 Oct); £9.50 (adult), £6 (child 4-15), free (child under 4) (1 Nov-28 Feb). Concessions and family pass available.     Copyright © 2005 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Ltd.  Terms and Conditions apply.