Leeds Castle, Norman castle in Maidstone, United Kingdom.
Leeds Castle is a Norman country house on two islands in the River Len near Maidstone, surrounded by a moat and wide gardens. The stone walls rise directly above the water, and several bridges connect the buildings together.
Robert de Crevecoeur built a fortress here in 1119, which became a royal residence under Edward I from 1278 onwards. In the 16th century Henry VIII lived on the property with his wives, before it was restored as a private house in the 20th century.
The rooms inside display furnishings from different centuries, including furniture and tapestries from the time of Henry VIII and the Regency. The kitchen preserves copper pots and hearths that illustrate the working life of earlier times.
A ticket allows unlimited visits for twelve months and saves queuing at the entrance each time. Direct connections run from London Victoria and Bearsted, making the journey easier without a car.
The basement houses a museum of historical dog collars, displaying examples from five centuries. Some collars carry engravings from noble families who marked their hunting dogs with them.
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