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A tour of England’s most picturesque castle (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Leeds Castle (@leedscastleuk) is a 900-year-old castle set in 500 acres of glorious grounds and gardens in #Kent. The castle’s last private owner was Lady Baillie, who handed the property over to a trust so it could be maintained as a visitor attraction.

A view of Leeds Castle and the moat that runs around the structure. It is possible to have a boat to...

A view of Leeds Castle and the moat that runs around the structure. It is possible to have a boat tour through the lower structure of the castle.

Given the size of the castle and the extensive grounds, it is possible to get lost. The castle helps avoid this by having an interactive map that visitors can access through smartphones and tablets.

Then inner building within the castle serves as the main museum  where period rooms can be viewed.

Then inner building within the castle serves as the main museum, where period rooms can be viewed.

A tour of the castle’s interior reveals a mix of styles and periods. This experience has been enhanced through the use of digital audio guides. Here visitors can listen via headsets to detail about the castle’s history. This is not dry narration delivered by a donnish historian, but instead brought to life through interesting, character driven stories full of facts about the people who made their mark on the castle.

The grand hall within Leeds Castle  full of treasures from yesteryear.

The grand hall within Leeds Castle, full of treasures from yesteryear.

The audio guide also provides a rich stream of information about the wealth of antique furnishings, paintings and treasures throughout the rooms.

One of the rooms within Leeds Castle. This one is decorated from the time of Henry VIII.

One of the rooms within Leeds Castle. This one is decorated from the time of Henry VIII.

The castle has had many previous owners, including King Henry VIII, infamous for his six wives and break with the Catholic Church in establishing the protestant Church of England and the Anglican religion.

A tour of any English castle would be incomplete without a suit of armor.

A tour of any English castle would be incomplete without a suit of armor.

The castle was used as a palace by Henry VIII’s first wife Catherine of Aragon. Over the course of its history, the castle Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold. The first stone was laid by William the Conqueror’s son Henry I, on an island in the River Len during the 12th century.

Within the castle there is a pretty courtyard  providing a cool spot on a hot day.

Within the castle there is a pretty courtyard, providing a cool spot on a hot day.

It was also the private property of six of England’s medieval queens. The castle also served as a Jacobean country house.

One of the bedrooms of Leeds Castle. This one is replete in Georgian style.

One of the bedrooms of Leeds Castle. This one is replete in Georgian style.

The castle has been used in a number of movies, including the 1949 Ealing Comedy film Kind Hearts and Coronets; The Moonraker (1958); Waltz of the Toreadors (1962); and the Doctor Who serial The Androids of Tara.

A bedroom in 1930s style  with Art Deco touches.

A bedroom in 1930s style, with Art Deco touches.

A summer room within the castle  probably decorated from the Georgian era.

A summer room within the castle, probably decorated from the Georgian era.

In later years the castle became an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous.

A wonderful dining room at Leeds Castle  in 1930s style.

A wonderful dining room at Leeds Castle, in 1930s style.

In 1926, Lady Baillie, a wealthy Anglo-American heiress acquired the castle and used it to host many decadent parties, especially during the 1930s when parts of the castle interior adopted an Art Deco theme (an eclectic style and drew on many sources, with an emphasis upon decorative styles.)

One of the drawing rooms in the castle  this one has an Edwardian feel.

One of the drawing rooms in the castle, this one has an Edwardian feel.

Another drawing room  with a backgammon set. Backgammon is one of the oldest board games known. It i...

Another drawing room, with a backgammon set. Backgammon is one of the oldest board games known. It is a two player game where playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and a player wins by removing all of his pieces from the board before their opponent.

Lady Baillie bought the castle in 1926 for £180,000 ($250,000.)

Lady Baillie s desk at Leeds Castle.

Lady Baillie’s desk at Leeds Castle.

Today the castle is run by the Leeds Castle Foundation, a private charitable trust.

A further example of the use of digital technology is an exhibition called “The Dark Sky.” This is a visual and audio exhibit presenting the battle of Agincourt through the use of computer graphics. The battle was a critical part of the 100 years’ war between Britain and France; here, some 600 years ago, in 1415, King Henry V of England, and only a few dozen men, defeated a mighty French army at Agincourt.

A picture of the digital movie  The Dark Sky   on show within a special tent at Leeds Castle.

A picture of the digital movie ‘The Dark Sky’, on show within a special tent at Leeds Castle.

The castle grounds are magnificent, full of lakes, birds and luscious, rambling lawns.

A duck enters one of the woodland rivers at Leeds Castle.

A duck enters one of the woodland rivers at Leeds Castle.

A family stop to feed the ducks at Leeds Castle.

A family stop to feed the ducks at Leeds Castle.

People relaxing on one of the lawns at Leeds Castle  waiting for a jousting tournament to commence.

People relaxing on one of the lawns at Leeds Castle, waiting for a jousting tournament to commence.

Plus plenty of woodland.Close to the woodland, there is an activity ground for children, including tree houses and rope bridges.

And a chance for people to hire Segways and meander through the woodland.

There are also more formal, decorative gardens, such as the large cottage garden. Then image below is of a very English garden, full of Roses, Lupins, Poppies and Lads’ Love, together with some exotic blooms mixed in to create a profusion of color and scent.

The formal garden at Leeds Castle  where there s an abundance of scent.

The formal garden at Leeds Castle, where there’s an abundance of scent.

The grounds also contains a very difficult maze. The maze consists of 2,400 yew trees and it forms the shape of a queen’s crown (appropriate given the castle’s history.)

It looks easy but it isn t! The maze at Leeds Castle.

It looks easy but it isn’t! The maze at Leeds Castle.

The maze leads down into a grotto. The grotto complete with macabre forms and mythical beasts created from shells, minerals and wood.

The steps to descend into the grotto at Leeds Castle.

The steps to descend into the grotto at Leeds Castle.

One of the mythical creatures made from shells at Leeds Castle s grotto.

One of the mythical creatures made from shells at Leeds Castle’s grotto.

The shell encrusted ceiling of the spiraling grotto at Leeds Castle.

The shell encrusted ceiling of the spiraling grotto at Leeds Castle.

The castle frequently uses social media to promote events at the castle. This includes notifications of regular jousting tournaments or promoting the golf course adjacent to the castle grounds.

A charming water feature in at Leeds Castle.

A charming water feature in at Leeds Castle.

Another eye-catching area within the castle grounds is The Bird of Prey Center. This houses many birds from a variety of different species, from the American Kestrel to our largest, a Russian Steppe Eagle.

A close-up at the Birds of Prey Center at Leeds Castle.

A close-up at the Birds of Prey Center at Leeds Castle.

The castle also utilizes Facebook, with some 30,000 followers. Here special theme nights are promoted, where a select number of guests can stay at the castle and enjoy recreations of the 1930s parties.

The application of social media also allows the castle to post promotional videos:

Visitors enjoying the castle  the grounds and the sunshine.

Visitors enjoying the castle, the grounds and the sunshine.

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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