Maidstone Kent

We have been staying on a camping & motorhome site in a place called Bearsted just outside of Maidstone, we were in close proximity to Leeds Castle so had a walk there (along some very busy roads)

Leeds Castle (nowhere near Leeds)

We didn’t know Leeds castle was here in Kent, turns out it is called that because a Saxon chief called Leed built a wooden structure on the site in 857, it was rebuilt in stone in the year 1119, at some point Henry VIII rebuilt it again for Catherine of Aragon. It eventually came under the ownership of an American heiress who modernised it in 1926.

It was a very interesting place to visit, lots of history and absolutely beautiful grounds, it has been called the most beautiful castle in the world. Its also expensive to visit at 38.50 pounds per ticket, its aimed at locals as the ticket can be used for a year not helpful for us only using it once!

The tennis club house, very lovely now operating as a 2nd hand bookshop in the grounds

We have really noticed the love English people have for their dogs, everyone seems to have at least one, there was an exhibition of dog collars you could visit 🙂