Best Leeds Castles Tours from London

If you are interested in getting to know the beauty of the English countryside, an excursion to Leeds Castle is one of the best proposals. See all the options

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

6 min read

Best Leeds Castles Tours from London

Leeds Castle | ©Andrew

Participating in one of the excursions to Leeds Castle is an excellent plan if you are 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 United Kingdom for the diversity of its landscapes that, in addition, can be traveled 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.

Get to know Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover

Aerial view of Leeds Castle| ©John Fielding
Aerial view of Leeds Castle| ©John Fielding

On the outskirts of 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 soldier and statist of the 17th century, described it as the most beautiful castle in the world.

If you book an excursion to Leeds that takes you to this castle built on 20 hectares of gardens on 2 heart-shaped islands, you will 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 known for the majesty of its Cathedral.
  • The Cliffs of Dover, iconic white limestone formations that since time immemorial have been an honorary entrance to the south of England.

This is an appropriate plan when thinking about what to do and what to 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 characterizes a city as large as London. And best of all, Leeds Castle is still the big star 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 other two stops in its itinerary.
  • Conditions: the transfer includes all transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle and the accompaniment of a professional guide.
  • Advantages: many companies offer you a free cancellation of your reservation as long as you do it well in advance.

Book a tour to Leeds, Canterbury and Dover

Combine a tour to Leeds Castle with a walk along the River Thames

Boat trip| ©Karen Roe
Boat trip| ©Karen Roe

A boat trip is a fun plan, isn't it? Well, FYI, you can book an excursion 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 makes its respective stop at Leeds Castle, with private guides and all that this implies.

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

The big difference of this alternative begins at the stage of the return to the city, because instead of heading to the starting point in the historic heart of London, the bus deviates to the port of Greenwich. There, in the famous river area of Greenwich is when you get on the boat that takes you to the height of Tower Bridge, allowing you to see from the perspective of the river a good part of the historic buildings of the east bank of London.

Details of interest

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

Book an excursion to Leeds, Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich

Experience a luxury driving experience to Leeds Castle

Trolley at Leeds Castle| ©Lars Plougmann
Trolley at Leeds Castle| ©Lars Plougmann

If you are looking for a more intimate and exclusive experience this is also feasible. You have it at your fingertips with private transfers that take you to Leeds Castle and Dover Castle in an exclusive luxury car. The start of the trip always begins with a pick-up at your hotel door and depending on the proximity of your hotel to somewhere like Buckingham Palace, the driver 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 location in the county of Kent will be visited on the trip. The truth is that it is a very diverse area in which it is not essential to know the Canterbury Cathedral, knowing that there are other places like the same city of Maidstone, which is much closer to the castle protagonist in the itinerary. It is a good plan to see or do in London during a seven-day visit.

Details of interest

  • Duration: 10 to 12 hours.
  • Prices: the rates of 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 adjusted to your whim, you can enjoy much more of the nature that characterizes the county of Kent.

Book a tour to Leeds, Canterbury and Dover

Why is it better to book a tour than to go on your own to Leeds Castle?

Leeds Castle| ©Christine Wagner
Leeds Castle| ©Christine Wagner

Private or shared tours to Leeds Castle are often ranked by many specialists among the best excursions from London for a matter of economic convenience. As well as for the excellent time planning handled in these tour packages. The main advantages of an excursion are:

  • The structure of the whole tour is preconceived, knowing how long it should take in each place so that the times give and you do not arrive late at any destination.
  • Economic savings is another decisive factor, since it is believed that public transportation can be a better alternative to get to know all these destinations under 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 the bus routes, as they have schedules that will not necessarily fit your needs.
  • Access to sites such as the castle are already included in the transfer fee, not to mention the private guide of the group, both the bus and the sites you visit. Which you would have to pay separately if you decide to complete the route on your own.

Book a tour to Leeds, Canterbury, Dover and Greenwich

When is the best time of year to take a tour to Leeds Castle?

Streets of Leeds| ©Tim Green
Streets of Leeds| ©Tim Green

There is no favorite time of year to visit Leeds Castle, as it is a tourist attraction that receives visitors all year round. If you see 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 do on your trip to London

If you enjoy the heat, it is preferable to go in late spring, since 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 time with low tourist influx compared to the early winter full of Christmas festivities.

You should also keep in mind that the south of England is characterized by cloudy and rainy weather during most of the year. It is therefore advisable that you bring waterproofs and boots to ensure your comfort on the parts of the tour that involve walking in the countryside.

Book a tour to Leeds, Canterbury and Dover