Leeds Castle in Kent has been described as the loveliest castle and situated as it is there are few that can argue that it amongst the best of the castles.

The first thing to be aware of when visiting is that this castle has one of the longest walks there is from the car park to the castle (approximately 1km or 2/3 mile).  The walk is through a charming wildlife area where you can see ducks, squirrels, peacocks and various wild animals.  However when it is raining you can find yourself rather wet by the time you reach the castle itself.  If it looks like rain don't do what I did and leave the umbrella behind.  I rarely take them to places like this but if it is raining when you visit this castle you really will need it.

The tour of the castle itself is one where you cannot really appreciate it without a guidebook.  I always buy one anyway but this is one of those places where I was constantly referring to it throughout the day.

You actually enter the castle through the cellar and come up a staircase to get into the main castle.  After you have seen the cellar the first room that you come to is The Heraldry Room which sets out in great detail the descent of Leeds Castle and explains exactly how heraldry works.  Very informative even for those who are new to how the whole system works.

You then pass over the bridge via one of the lower corridors and come to the Queen's Rooms which were named after Queen Catherine, the wife of Henry V although she was widowed at the age of 21.  After marrying in secret Owen Tudor she gave birth to their son Edmund and through his son began the Tudor dynasty.  Queen Catherine was the last queen to hold the property of Leeds Castle. 

The Queen's Rooms are the bedroom, bathroom and Gallery.

It is now that you can see from the windows the Fountain Court where you can see that many people have chosen to throw money into the courtyard and the fountain itself.

The largest room in the castle measures 73 feet and is the Henry VIII Banqueting Hall where there are several paintings on display.

We then come through the Chapel, the Spiral Staircase and Gloriette Landing.

You can then go along the Boardroom Corridor which contains many paintings of birds which are truly beautiful and really brighten up what could have been a rather bleak corridor.

When it is not in use you can also view the Boardroom from the Corridor.

You then come to the Lady Baille exhibition rooms which feature her collection of impressionist paintings in the Seminar Room amongst other paintings that she collected over the years.

Lady Baille's rooms are then the next part of the tour and are styled in the 1920s fashion which was Lady Baille's own era.

After leaving these rooms of which there are a number to go through we come to another corridor this one with more animal portraits including Lady Baille's dogs.

You then come to the part of the tour which is the New Castle and includes the front staircase which contains various pictures and tapestries on display.

There is also the Yellow Drawing Room, The Thorpe Hall Room and the Inner and Front Halls.  Here you will find the earliest known equestrian statue.

The private rooms are not always open to the public as they are used for conferences and meetings. However they are included in the tour whenever possible and include the Library, Dining Room, Castle Bedrooms and Boardroom.  I was lucky to find that they were open to view when I visited.

Also at the castle is the famous dog collar museum, an extensive aviary containing many rare (and noisy) birds, a maze, grotto and gardens.  Not to mention the parkland, vineyard and greenhouses.