Before enthusing about this spectacular castle, set on an island in the middle of a lake as though in a fairytale, we must address the elephant in the room. It is not in Leeds in West Yorkshire, it is in . It is in Broomfield in and 'Leeds' was first mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086.
The first stone castle was built in 1119 and the Manor of Esledes was owned by Odo, the half-brother of William the Conqueror. Fast forward to the 21st Century and Cotswold Outdoor has named Leeds Castle one of the top three castles in the UK. It said: "Known as the "loveliest castle in the world, Leeds Castle is located in a scenic parkland and surrounded by a moat, offering visitors a Instagram-worthy setting for exploration and relaxation.
" And visitors certainly rave about Leeds Castle: on out of a possible five from a whopping 5,428 reviews. One recent visitor wrote: "Leeds Castle is just a fantastic place to visit. There is a huge amount to do on the site and you can easily spend a day, or a weekend, there.
" "As well as the castle there is a children’s adventure playground, mini golf, falconry, Go Ape, Segway tours, punting on the lake, the gardens, a maze and plenty of eating opportunities." "There are also various options to stay on site overnight. The gardens and setting were just glorious and staying overnight meant we were not rushed so we could actually wander and enjoy the peace when most of the day visitors had left.
" And there is a lot of love on Instagram for one of the .