Day Trips to Leeds Castle from London

Taking part in one of the Leeds Castle tours is an excellent plan if you're looking for things to do in London that go beyond the typical urban tour of the city.

In fact, it is listed as one of the best excursions in the UK for the diversity of its landscapes, which can also be covered in a single short trip. I invite you to continue reading this compilation of options that I have prepared for you and choose the one that best suits your interests.

Just outside Maidstone, in the county of Kent, south of London, is Leeds Castle, one of the most iconic castles in the English countryside; although its fame is not so much due to its architectural majesty, but to the fact that Lord Conway, a famous 17th century soldier and statesman, described it as the most beautiful castle in the world.

If you book a tour to Leeds that takes you to this castle built on 20 hectares of gardens on 2 heart-shaped islands, you' ll also enjoy two other must-see stops in this section of southern England:

• Canterbury, a medieval city, with an architectural identity that gives it an image as if frozen in time and is internationally renowned for the majesty of its Cathedral.
• The Cliffs of Dover, iconic white limestone formations that since time immemorial have been an honoured gateway to southern England.

This is an appropriate plan when thinking about what to do and see in London with children. For Dover is a tranquil, entertainment-filled destination that gives the whole family the opportunity to enjoy the countryside, while being away from the urban bustle that characterises a city as big as London. Best of all, Leeds Castle remains a major feature of the tour planning.

Details of interest

• Price: from 124 euros per person.
• Duration: 10 hours is the approximate duration of a tour to Leeds Castle that includes these two other stops in its itinerary.
• Conditions: The transfer includes all transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle and the accompaniment of a professional guide.
• Benefits: Many companies offer a free cancellation of your booking as long as you cancel well in advance.

A boat trip is a fun plan, isn't it? Well, FYI, you can book a tour to Leeds, Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich with a cruise on the Thames. This is to give a much more entertaining twist to an experience that is mainly geared towards historical learning and cultural enrichment. In short, it is usually a transfer in a comfortable and luxurious bus, which stops at Leeds Castle, with private guides and all that that implies.

It also includes a visit to Canterbury to see its magnificent Unesco World Heritage listed Cathedral and a visit to the viewpoints of the Cliffs of Dover to enjoy one of the most special landscapes of the true beauty of the British Isles.

The big difference in this alternative begins on the return leg to the city, as instead of heading to the starting point in the historic heart of London, the bus deviates to the port of Greenwich. There, on the famous Greenwich waterfront, you board the boat that takes you to the height of Tower Bridge, allowing you to see from the river's perspective a good part of the historic buildings on London's east bank.

Interesting details

• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 11 hours.
• Conditions: includes transfer and a guide, as well as entrance to Leeds Castle and the Thames River cruise.
• Prices: from 123 euros.
• Advantages: Leeds Castle tours from London that include a Thames cruise are a cost-effective combination of several fun activities in one package. At the same time, it's one of the best things to do in London in August, as it's a safe escape from the heat.

If you're looking for a more intimate and exclusive experience, this is also viable. It's within your reach with private transfers that take you to Leeds Castle and Dover Castle in an exclusive luxury car. The journey always begins with a pick-up from your hotel door and depending on the proximity of your hotel to a location such as Buckingham Palace, the chauffeur is likely to make a stop.

The transfer to the castle is notable for its nature of comfort and convenience in the best style of the rich and famous. The private guide will explain the historical details of the castle and the section of the walking trails on the Cliffs of Dover.

For the sake of flexibility, it is usually left to the client to decide which other town in the county of Kent to visit on the trip. The truth is that it is a very diverse area in which it is not essential to visit Canterbury Cathedral, knowing that there are other places such as the town of Maidstone, which is much closer to the castle on the itinerary. It's a great place to see or do in London during a seven-day visit.

Details of interest

• Duration: 10 to 12 hours.
• Prices: the rates for this type of private and luxurious transfers may seem exorbitant, but you have to appreciate the fact that the 500 or 600 euros is per transfer and not per person.
• Advantages: As the route is tailored to suit you, you can enjoy much more of Kent's natural beauty.

Private or shared tours to Leeds Castle are often ranked by many specialists among the best excursions from London as a matter of economic convenience. As well as the excellent time planning that goes into these package tours. The main advantages of a tour are:

• The structure of the whole tour is preconceived, knowing how long it should take to get to each place so that the times are right and you do not arrive late at any destination.
• Financial savings are another decisive factor, as it is believed that public transport can be a better alternative to get to know all these destinations on your own financial terms. However, the reality is that it is impossible to get to so many places in a single day if you only use bus routes, as these have timetables that will not necessarily suit your needs.
• Access to sites such as the castle is already included in the transfer fee, not to mention the private guide for the group, both on the bus and at the sites you visit. You will have to pay for these separately if you decide to complete the tour on your own.

There is no particular time of year to visit Leeds Castle, as it is a tourist attraction that welcomes visitors all year round. If you look at it from another point of view, what can condition your enjoyment of this tour is the number of tourists and the weather at the time you choose to visit it. Even so, it is one of the proposals to make on your trip to London

If you enjoy the heat, it is preferable to go in late spring, as at that time there are not so many visitors due to the high summer season. The same applies to the cold, as mid-autumn is a low tourist season compared to the early winter, which is full of Christmas festivities.

You should also bear in mind that the south of England is characterised by cloudy and rainy weather for most of the year. It is therefore advisable to bring waterproofs and boots to ensure you are comfortable on the countryside walking sections of the tour.