Wedding Venue Fact File: Leeds Castle, Maidstone

In its 900-year history, Leeds Castle in Maidstone has been a Norman stronghold, the private property of six medieval queens, and even a palace owned by Henry VIII. In the early 20th century, it served as an elegant retreat for the rich and famous when Lady Baillie, the last private owner, entertained high society guests down from London. Today, the castle is still the most captivating of settings for a fairytale wedding celebration.

Wedding venues

Leeds Castle offers an incredible selection of award-winning wedding venues to make your day extra special. Couples have the opportunity to take over the entire Castle Island and all its luxurious bedrooms, with flexible use of the castle and Maiden’s Tower as well as the croquet lawn in front of the castle. Say "I do" in the beautiful ceremony room adjoining the library, before enjoying a wedding breakfast in the Henry VIII Banqueting Hall, with breath-taking views across the moat.

Perhaps one of Leeds Castle’s most charming venues is Battel Hall; a beautiful manor house nestled in the Kent countryside, voted UK Wedding Awards ‘Newcomer’ Winner for 2019. Couples can marry in the oak-panelled ceremony room, before moving into the welcoming drawing room and De Gournay morning room, or exchange their vows under a romantic old English Bower and celebrate with up to 100 guests on the marquee terrace beside enchanting wisteria vines. Battel Hall features five individually decorated en-suite bedrooms and wedding packages include a three-night stay for up to 14 people, Friday to Monday.

Be it the stately grandeur of the castle, the intimate atmosphere of the Maiden’s Tower and Battel Hall, or the timber-framed Fairfax Barn, Leeds Castle is the perfect setting to create long-lasting memories that can be treasured forever.

Battel Hall at Leeds Castle

 

A wedding ceremony set-up at Leeds Castle

The team

One of the most unique parts of a wedding at Leeds Castle is the dedication and care of the Hospitality team; with a tailored in-house service for every couple, the devoted wedding co-ordinators ensure that every wedding is as magical as the castle itself.

Couples are assigned an experienced wedding co-ordinator who will ensure the planning process is as smooth and stress-free as possible, helping to suggest external suppliers such as musicians and photographers that match their requirements. The Hospitality team is also on hand during the day to assist with ties and cravats; the Leeds Castle’s in-house seamstress has even been known to alter a bridesmaid’s dress at the last minute, all part of the exceptional service at Leeds Castle.

A classic wedding theme at Leeds Castle (Shane Webber Photography)

 

Customer testimonial:

“Everything from booking the castle with the wedding team right through to the wedding day is met with an absolute first-class service. We booked Leeds Castle as a venue for the ceremony, wedding breakfast and reception, and most of the guests stayed overnight in the castle too. The service from all the staff from the moment we arrived to get ready until we checked out after breakfast the following morning was just amazing. They simply could not do enough for us. This, along with the amazing setting in the castle and the picturesque location, just make for a perfect wedding day. We could not have asked for anything more.” Kelly and Colin

Fireworks at Leeds Castle (David Fenwick Photography)

Wedding packages start from £9,150. For further information or to book a viewing, call Leeds Castle on 01622 767877 or visit leeds-castle.com/weddings.