Venue Description

Visitors never forget their first breathtaking vision of Leeds Castle in Kent, rising majestically from the moat as it has done for almost 900 years. With 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens, daily activities, free flying falconry displays, special events and year round attractions, Leeds Castle truly is one of the best days out in Kent! Open all year round, there is something new for everyone to discover every day. Your admission ticket allows you to visit as many times as you like across a whole year. This includes a programme of events and activities throughout the year (excluding special ticketed events). Some of the events that are included in your annual admission tickets include the festive Christmas Market, the fabulous Festival of Flowers, and the brilliant Motors by the Moat. Other daily activities and talks are held throughout the year at the Castle, and the woodland and formal gardens are open all year-round (excluding Christmas Day) for all to explore.

Accessibility

Leeds Castle staff are always happy to help our visitors. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance and information before or during your visit. Wheelchairs are available on loan free of charge, subject to availability. Leeds Castle also has a new land train on the estate which takes visitors from the main entrance up to the Castle. We regret that the land train is inaccessible for wheelchair users. However, we offer a complimentary transport service on the estate for less mobile visitors. The Black Swan Ferry Boat provides return journeys across the Great Water from the castle drive to the maze area. The Black Swan can accommodate up to three wheelchairs. Please note that this attraction is open seasonally. All of our gardens and woodland areas offer resting places. Visually and hearing impaired visitors can be assisted by their guide and hearing dogs in the castle and grounds. We regret that no other dogs are permitted. The Castle is accessible for the majority of visitors via the main front door where there is a ramp. As Leeds Castle is an ancient building, there are some restrictions. Visitors should be aware that there are approximately 45 metres of cobblestones across the drawbridge on to the Castle Island. Fire safety rules allow a maximum of two wheelchairs inside the Castle at any one time. Once inside, visitors will be escorted on the accessible route starting in the Heraldry Room. This is against the flow of visitors, so there may be a short wait. Electric mobility scooters are not permitted in the Castle, however Leeds Castle wheelchairs are available at request. Between the Heraldry Room and the corridor to the main visitor route, there is a wheelchair lift, which carries weight up to 225kg. The lift is 125cm in length and 80cm wide and can only be used when passengers are sitting in their wheelchairs. Leeds Castle wheelchairs are available if personal wheelchairs do not fit onto the lift. Our staff in the Castle are happy to assist with transfers into one of our wheelchairs. The lift is also fitted with a seat for those that require assistance without wheelchairs.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.leeds-castle.com/Visit/Accessibility

Toilets

Fully accessible toilets for wheelchair users can be found throughout the grounds, at the main entrance, next to the Castle Shop, on Stable Hill and near the Knight's Realm Playground. The Castle View Restaurant toilets are now also accessible by wheelchair users.

Staff

Leeds Castle staff are always happy to help visitors who need any assistance. A large number of our staff receive annual Customer Service training with a different focus each year. In 2015 the training was delivered in two parts. Part two covered customer service when dealing with visitors from overseas as well as disabilities awareness. In 2014 the customer service training covered the Equality Act 2010. The Education team have also completed training in Autism Awareness. In 2017 staff training included a section on disability awareness and also a Dementia Friends Information Session. Many of our Castle staff are multi-lingual and offer guide books, audio guides and visitor sheets are available in a variety of languages.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

Visually and hearing impaired visitors can be assisted by their guide and hearing dogs in the castle and grounds. We regret that no other dogs are permitted.