Leeds Castle - Kent Road Trip - Americans Driving through England
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- čas přidán 8. 02. 2024
- Our Kent Road Trip continues as I finally get to visit a castle I’ve been wanting to see for ages… Leeds Castle! This is the first of our “Henry the 8th’s Wives Castles” tour. Home to Catherine of Aragon, as well as five other medieval queens. And finally owned by an American heiress in the 20th century! Come along with us as we explore the castle, the gardens, the maze and more!
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Cheers! XX Dara (and Ian)
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Important links:
Arundel Castle - • Arundel Castle #engla...
Bodiam Castle & Great Dixter - • Bodiam Castle, Great D...
Blenhaim Palace Vlog (with Duck Attack!) - • Blenheim Palace & the ...
Canterbury City and Cathedral - • Canterbury Cathedral &...
Sussex Road Trip to Rye, Amberley, Alfriston, etc - • Sussex Road Trip to Am...
The Cow Shed where we stayed in Kent - • Tour of the Cowshed in...
Kent and Sussex Road Trip Playlist - • Kent and Sussex Vlogs
As an Englishman, born and bred, and living in the Weald of Kent, these videos are an eye opener to what's on my door step. Although I've been to Leeds Castle, there are other small villages in Kent/East Sussex you have highlighted that have passed me by, but hopefully this will be remedied this summer.
Thanks for another excellent and informative video. Keep up the good work.
Oh, I love hearing that! I was desperate to visit Leeds and Hever because I had heard so much about them... but I'm glad we can highlight some of the smaller villages and lesser known sites as well. I have a special video planned for next Tuesday. It's an unusual one... from a place not far away! ;-)
Hi Dara and Ian,watching your videos have made us realise just what a beautiful country we live in, keep up the good work,
Aww, bless your little cotton socks! I appreciate that very much! 💖 Cheers! Dara
Beautiful castle from above Ian and Dara!
Thank you. That was a difficult one to film because of the wind conditions.
Love a fun maze. Best to let the school children lead the way! 🤣🤣
Yes, thank goodness for those school children! I would've never found the end myself 🤣
Hello Dara and Ian, this looks a lovely Castle to visit, one we have never been too. Something for everyone , thank you for sharing x Julie and Tony xx
Yes, it's an epic castle! I would love to take my grandchildren there one day... when I have grandchildren! Lol
The portraits of the queens look like photographs! Yes we had another moat and some great drone flying by Ian. Love the geese filming etiquette, not while they are toileting! 😂 great history of this fascinating Castle. Not many passing places on the drive up! Gosh this Castle has changed a lot of hands! Yay a maze! The view over the maze and the grotto was very cool! Great castle 👍
There were some incredible photographers back in the 1300's dontcha know?!
Haha, they had actresses who portrayed all the queens in a film you watch as you enter the castle grounds. It was very entertaining and well done. And handy for me to have photos to go along with my history of the castles many female owners! Thanks for watching, friends! XX
Leeds Castle is stunning so well preserved and such rich history! The woman sure kept it in order! 😅. Thank you for taking us along and thank you Ian for the drone shot. ~Cara 😊
Great job Dara!
Thanks Cara! I think editing two travel vlogs a week was even more exhausting than running around to all these castles for 10 days! LOL
I appreciate your support. Happy Valentine's Day! XX Dara
I'm delaying my baking to watch this. It better be good. 😂😂
(Bacon, egg and tomato pies and apple pies).
Well, was it worth it? I hope you aren't starving to death.
ooooh yum!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes and yes. 🤣🤣
What a lovely place! Those gardens are delightful and so much variety!
We know we have our social problems like any other country but Britain is especially beautiful and crammed with history , Ian and Dara you do us proud in your film's so keep up the great work
Thank you so much, John! I really appreciate that! Cheers, Dara
I really really loved this video! I learned so much! As always! ❤ I really liked seeing all the portraits of the queens with your commentary!
Thanks so much, Sueanne! Amazing how great photography was back in the 1200's isn't it? LOL
Seriously, it was a great castle to visit and I love that it was owned by so many powerful and influential women!
We visited with my family last July too. It was definitely very sunny but seemed busier perhaps. My son loved the boat trip and bird of prey show. Very scenic.
Yes, it's a great day out! Expensive, but as you say, so much to do there!
Always wanted to visit Leeds castle. Such a historic and beautiful place. A lot of queens have walked those halls for sure. Love the grotto and the maze.
A great tour Dara. And Ian got some good footage from the bird too.
Have a fantastic weekend. Be good and we will catch you again soon. 👍🏻🚶🏻♂️🚶♀️
Thanks Watto! Yes it is a quite lovely castle, and I was fascinated to hear about all the queens and heiresses who owned it! I'm glad I survived the maze so I could enjoy the grotto ;-) See you soon! Cheers for watching! Dara
I'll have. to miss the Premier Dara. Having dinner out with friends. 👌 But you know I'll watch later don't you? 🙋♀
Of course! And I'm glad you get to have dinner with friends. That sounds fun!
We went out last night- and going again next Friday. Just got the dates mixed. 🤣🤣@@MagentaOtterTravels Dara what channel were you mentioning again about me being from NZ?
I think I’ll go to the chip shop too..
@@IamaDutch-Kiwi @mediawatcher is from Oz
I cannot for the life of me find his channel. would you be so kind as to send me his link please? @@MagentaOtterTravels
It’s beautiful isn’t it. Love all the ducks and geese. It was interesting to learn it was Eleanor of Castile who was the first owner. We really enjoyed learning about her in Caernarfon Castle. Seeing the inside was so interesting. We definitely want to visit this one! The gardens are so beautiful in full bloom. Oh wow those sort of mazes take me right back to my childhood. We really enjoyed your visit. 🍻
Yes, Caernarfon is a castle with amazing history as well! While I love Welsh castles dearly, Kent and Sussex have some stunning history and lovely castles... many of which (like Leeds and Hever) were saved by wealthy Americans so there aren't as many ruins. Too bad they didn't save Hastings Castle ;-) Thanks for coming along on our visit! XX Dara
Literally just down the road from me, and drove past it about 1.30pm today 😊 Dara - did you learn where it gets the name 'Leeds' from...? 😉
No, please tell me! The first time I saw a photo of the castle I thought it was in Yorkshire, since I've been to Leeds a few times ;-)
@@MagentaOtterTravels it was originally built as a secure home (!!) for a noble woman who one of our Kings... 'had his eye on'... he 'installed her' in the castle far enough from prying eyes in London and Windsor...
The next Monarch did something similar and this became almost 'de rigeur' for ladies to be housed there for the benefit of the Monarch. So, it became known very quickly as the "Ladies' castle". The etymology of words being what it is, mixed with string Wealden accent/dialect and 'Ladies' quickly became.... Leeds. Then the nearly village was established around the 13th/14th century under that name and it stuck. Nothing to do with Leeds, West Yorkshire at all
@@shanewaterman4125 that is so interesting! Thanks for sharing the origin story. I knew that it was a ladies castle, but didn't realize that how it got the name Leeds!
It's 5 minutes from my house. Glad you enjoyed it. Leeds is a old term for a stream, brook, or creek. Looks like you went the back way in. If you go again just come of from the M20. They also do weddings in the Fairfax hall.
What a tour! And the quality of the pictures on the wall were so sharp!😂
Aren't you shocked at how good photography was in 1300's England?
Well well well, this castle certainly gives Bodiam a run for it's money. What a exciting and interesting history, I absolutely love the fact that so many medieval queens made this castle what it is today, some amazing women with incredible stories which of course you tell so well!! I loveeee the moat, lady baillies apartments are just splendid, SO beautiful. The library is pretty special too, you can see the French style oozing through. What i would give to go back in time and to be in the saloon, the roaring 20's would have been so fun! I absolutely enjoyed the gardens, i work with plants and love seeing how others do their gardens and especially historical gardens, those dahlias were very beautiful, i think that kind is a bicolour dahlia, overall just STUNNING. What a beautiful video, from start to finish, you've done it you've convinced me to visit Leeds Castle ( i didn't need too much persuading mind, but thank you for the amazing video ) xx
Alessa I didn't know you work with plants! That's so cool! Thank you for telling me about those dahlias. So unique!
I am currently finishing my edit of Hever Castle, hoping to publish it on Friday. The gardens there were incredible! Even better than Leeds 😉 Thanks! XX Dara
I thought I would take this opportunity to suggest the production one or two videos covering ferret (land otter 😀) rescues; specifically Texas Ferret Lovers Rescue, in Dallas, as you are there now and then Fluffy Retreat Ferret Rescue, in Chippenham, when you come back to the Cotswolds.
I do consider ferrets and otters cousins. But "land otter" is a great name, LOL! It looks like the rescue finds homes for the abandoned ferrets... so do you think I would be able to film any ferrets? They are mischievous and amusing little critters.
@@MagentaOtterTravelsThat's why I thought I would make the suggestion. I don't know what their policies concerning social media are but as charity and education concerns I suspect they would have a positive reaction to a legitimate creator such as MOT.
Such an amazing and impressive place . I absolutely enjoyed watching great video .
Thank you so much! We loved our visit there. 💖
Mazes are generally left hand or right hand. For left walk round keeping your left hand always lightly brushing the hedge and don’t lift it off until you reach the centre. Similar for right handed mazes. If one way doesn’t work turn round keeping your hand on the hedge you just followed until you get back to the entrance and then try using your other hand ( unless you knew in advance of course 😎) When I did Leeds, I seem to remember it was a left handed maze.
I have heard that hint... but it can take a lot longer that way. And I'm impatient. And get motion sick in tall mazes. So I'm just hopeless! LOL
But I do love being at the center of the maze! That grotto was fun.
What a lovely place, and your obvious enthusiasm shone through the video. I enjoyed it all the more watching it in my new 'Must Grumble' T-shirt...
Something you can't Grumble about 😉
Oh yay! Thanks so much for buying a shirt! Mine is due to arrive Monday...
Hopefully wearing the shirt put you in a less grumbly mood ;-) haha
Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels 'Box of Frogs' due next week :-)
Thanks for the tour, yet another castle I've never seen in person and that looks like a really good one. So many to choose from here in UK , my personal favourites are Harlech, Dover or maybe Conwy. So lucky to live amongst such great historic sites, love your channel and hope you keep it up.
Thank you so much! I am sorry we didn't make it to Dover... many people have commented how much they like that one. But as you say, we are spoilt for choice in Britain!
The Wykeham-Martins held the castle from 1793 to 1924. I have a book written by one of them, printed in 1869, which is illustrated by very early photographs of the castle.
Oh wow, that would be very interesting to see! Do you see images of the chapel? I'm sorry that there is no longer a chapel in the castle... that was my favourite part of Arundel.
A very nicely shot and presented film. To my shame I have never got nearer to Leeds Castle than the Maidstone Motorway services, but your vid is a timely wake-up call that I should rectify this oversight.
Yes it's well worth a visit! I'm currently editing our vlog of nearby Hever Castle (hoping to publish it this Friday)... and it's amazing as well!
Hi Dara, Leeds Castle ticked all the boxes! A water-filled moat, gorgeous gardens, a grotto (!) and a maze! I really enjoyed learning about the history of the castle and those who lived there (a lot of those!). Loved the pictures of the queens. Lady Bailey did a great job of decorating and furnishing her rooms 🩷 Very distinct and attractive. Thank you for a very fun and enjoyable vlog 🤗❤
Lovely video Dara, i was born in Leeds. My mum told me that my grandfather was pleased,as he said i would be able to play for Yorkshire cricket team.as years ago you had to be born in Yorkshire to play for Yorkshire. I was born in 1968 .
Thanks James! I was born 4 years before you ;-)
Did you end up playing cricket? The first time I heard of Leeds Castle I thought it was in Leeds, Yorkshire!
From the lookout it looked a maze in😂
Hiya. I may have mentioned this before, those ramps are not for ducks, they are specifically for hedgehogs and other small creatures that might fall in. Stay safe. All the best to you.
Really?! Well I would have LOVED to have watched a hedgie use one of those ramps!! But they were just full of ducks when I was there ;-)
Loved this castle- as a castle visitor, lover, enjoy the wanderings through them ruins or no, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I didn't chat straight away- to not be distracted. I just so enjoy how you spread the information out over the video. Enjoy your weekend. Friday almost dine and dusted here. Was quite a mellow sort of day. 🌺👌🇳🇱🙋♀🇳🇿🌺
Super cool grotto!
It was a magical mystical grotto!
I must admit I do love it that these beautiful old castles end up in public hands. The history is fascinating and makes me go off and google some details about some of the individuals like Catherine of Aragon. Beautiful grounds too. Well worth 10K steps I suspect. 😀 The medieval photographers weren't very good. They should've stuck to having their portraits painted. 😁
lol! I also find it fascinating that both Leeds castle and Hever Castle are the beautiful castles that we are allowed to visit today because of some wealthy Americans who saved the day! 🙌🩷🇺🇸
@@MagentaOtterTravels 😂then another wealthy American youtuber wings in with her English trophy husband to showcase this wonderful places fabulously. 😉😉😉😁
Only teasing, you do an amazing job!
@@ShaneNixonFamily bwahahaha... I can't wait to tell Ian he's a trophy husband 🏆🤣😂
The castle is easy on the eye isn’t it Dara no wonder it was loved by royalty , have a great weekend 👍
Yes, it's a beautiful one... especially with the moat around it. Just loved it! Thanks for watching!
Good morning, Dara
I do like driving under tree tunnels, which seem warm welcome.
Fantastic castle walking tour as always
Leeds Castle and queens, there are full of stories, from delightful life to scandals; very unique and yet bitter stories.
Truly enjoy your research about each lady. hahah I was into their fashion and hairstyle. Paintings are absolutely marvelous.
Ah yes, old traditional dining table is amazing. Ladies had some different taste to it. The structure of this castle is well maintained in my opinion. Is that your drone footage at the end?? It gave me goosebumps.....gorgeous!
hahah no food was introduced?? ok another time...
You are such a talented story teller...it must took quite time to produce such a film. Send my gratitude to YOU.
Apologies, I was ready to join your premiere...After I took cold medicine, I dosed off and it auto-played, I watched re-ply now.
Please forgive me, Dara. I have a little fever.... see you next time
Yes, Ian did a great job with the drone footage! It was a windy day, so I was grateful it wasn't blown all over the sky!!
Don't worry about missing the premiere. I don't mind if not many people come to my premieres... I just hope they get to see the video at some point. More importantly, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF and feel better soon! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Thank you Dora. I am have lazy pjday today
We’re planning to go to Kent after coming back from Cornwall. We love the west country but we haven’t been to Kent in 10 years!!!
Excellent idea! I was blown away by all the amazing historic sites in such high concentration. A great place for a road trip! Hopefully my road trip series has given you a few ideas ;-)
@MagentaOtterTravels Ian was wise not to dangle his feet in the water. An Alligator snapping turtle was found in an English stream this week.
You don't dangle your feet in water here in Texas or you may end up being an alligator's lunch!
@@ians3586 Two hippy's were dangling their feet in the water. One says to the other, 'Hey man. An alligator just bit off my leg.' The other hippy asks, 'Oh man. That's heavy. Which one?' The hippy replies, 'I have no idea man. Alligators all look alike to me.'
That is a horrid joke! lol
Beautiful castle Dara and Ian! Enjoyed hearing about some of the history and seeing some of the folks who lived there. Loved the tour though the stunning castle and beautiful gardens. It was good to be royal and wealthy! Thanks for bringing us along.
So interesting that it was a castle owned by so many women! Unusual!!
I agree with you, Dara, about the mazes. They do seem just a bit, er, scary; I have never been tempted to explore one, so I'm glad you could follow behind a very brave Ian! The grotto and all your other footage was just beautiful. And (in my opinion) you have been making excellent background music selections!! 🎶🥰
Thank you so much for all the kind words! I do hate the music part of editing, but I'm trying to keep calm and carry on! LOL
'This is Leeds Castle, nowhere near the city of Leeds in Yorkshire, but located some 240 miles to the south, in Kent. It was once described as “the loveliest castle in the world” by historian Lord Conway and understandably, but slightly tediously, Leeds Castle ensures his words have not been forgotten - even if most of us have no idea who Lord Conway was.' 😂
It's Maidstone, county town of Kent.
@@neilgayleard3842 Ah, but who is Lord Conway?
@@Poliss95 was he an American singer-songwriter 😉
Never heard of Lord Conway, but I don't really know many historians beyond Lucy Worsley. I think she's fab!
@@wencireone Sure he wasn't a piano player? 😁
I was a bit late to the party, but a great video Dara.
Thanks so much! Better late than never!
I always find it interesting that Americans say aRISTocrat whereas we say Aristocrat with the emphasis on the A. Another cracking castle video.
Thanks, Liz! Obviously Britons like to put the accent on the first syllable more than Americans. Which is why I get in trouble every time I try pronouncing Biddenden 🙄
Although Americans put the emphasis on Stone in Stonehenge, and Heath in Heathrow. There is hard and fast rule for either of us!
Oh, and thank you for giving the Egyptian goose some privacy!
@@lizbignell7813 true!
@@lizbignell7813 🙈🤣
Before we visited the castle, we drove down a number of country lanes surrounding the castle looking for a good place to put up the drone. I was very disappointed to see signs at regular intervals forbidding fly tipping and those signs being ignored with fly tipped rubbish ruining this otherwise lovely area of England. Apparently the penalties for fly tipping aren't severe enough.
@ians3586 This all started a few years ago when councils started charging to collect large items from houses and also charged extra for taking builders waste to the dump. It was a scheme designed to save money but it's backfired horribly.
@@Poliss95 be that as it may, those doing it belong in prison, in my opinion.
@@ians3586 Oh, I agree. They're always dumping stuff behind my block. It isn't strangers to the area either. people just dump stuff outside their back gates.
Yes, it was ghastly to see refrigerators dumped by the side of the road... especially in such a gorgeous area! Ugh!
I'm of to Leeds Monday, the other one
Nice place, but the castle doesn't compare. 😉 please think of me when you have a Yorkshire pudding!
@@MagentaOtterTravels only at work, so no sight seeing
Tough call but Arundel just pips Leeds for me as it’s more original and has the dual chapel etc.
I have to agree. I LOVE the outside of Leeds and the moat and gardens. But when I found out the chapel in Leeds had been ripped out to make a music room, I was not in favour of the decision! haha
I'm in complete agreement. Arundel is a step above. I also liked Hever a bit better but I haven't seen a place that tops Arundel.
Yep, Hever also excellent and also more original interior than Leeds. Arundel just wows in every way and really dominates the area like a castle should :-) Leeds and Hever were more used as homes rather than dominating fortresses so didn’t need to dominate an area just be defendable.
I never realised they had such good cameras in the twelfth century. Ye Olde Boxe Brownie, I presume?
@davidjones332 They used a Cannon to take the shots. 😉
Maybe only royalty had the really good cameras back in the 12th century ;-)
Witch dipping at Leeds Castle…
Oh my!
Jousting as well.
Don't tell @PostcardandaPint that you filmed this video a year ago!
I am still planning to publish videos from my trip to Europe in 2022! Lol 😂
@@MagentaOtterTravels 😲
you knew that the chick are Egyptian, as they was with their Mummy. lol
Hahahahaha, that's a good one!
Pictureskue gardens..
Yes I agree!
A land train, must be Disney
What’s the difference between a Scotsman and Walt Disney?
A Scotsman wears a kilt and Walt Disney.
LOL, nice one Boppy!
@@Poliss95 If it Wasnae fur yer comment, I would humming this tune 🙄🤣
Biddenden = bid n dn
Yeah, I knew in the edit that I had said that wrong, but I was too lazy to record voiceover and fix it... so I threw myself at the mercy of the Pronunciation Police! LOL
Bídden-den not Bid-énden.
Yeah, I knew in the edit that I had said that wrong, but I was too lazy to record voiceover and fix it... so I threw myself at the mercy of the Pronunciation Police! LOL
@@MagentaOtterTravels Did someone call?
Great cider.