Leeds Castle or Dover Castle?

[Sammy1]

We're arranging our private transfer from a London hotel to Dover, on the day of our cruise in June 2010, and although we would like to visit both Leeds and Dover Castles on the way, its been suggested that we only have sufficient time to visit one.

We are a group of eight, and would appreciate your recommendations. Thank you very much!

[suz1607]

I have been to both. They are very different. Dover is particularly good if you are interested in WWII history. Leeds is a beautiful castle! One of the prettiest in England, I think. The other plus with Leeds is the oportunity to ride through Kent -- one of my favorite counties in England.

[handfordr]

Leeds Castle is by a motorway junction down to Dover from London so you won't see much countryside.
Leeds Castle is not a classic castle as such, the actual castle is really rather small and you'll go around it in less than 30 minutes. Its basically the grounds and its situation you go for. If you're into flowers and scenery it may be for you. Its about a 15/20 minute walk to the Castle from the entrance, though there is a little toy train service. Tickets are expensive if you're only going to spend 1/2 hours, its really geared up and priced as somwhere you'll stay all day and very popular as a place you take the kids, have a picnic watch the faclconry display and discover the grounds.

Dover Castle is a 'proper' Norman Castle with views of your cruise ship below. You really need at least 2 hours here. Assuming you want to be on board by say 3 p.m., you'd need to be at Leeds by 10 am for opening and I guess at Dover by around midday, giving you less than 90 minutes at Leeds. So you'd need to be leaving your hotel by 08:30 or earlier.

If you're into Norman Castles, remember the Tower of London and Windsor Castle in London can provide much of the experience whilst you're in London.
Personally I'd opt for one, not both - but it is logistically possible, just - in the same way there are day tours from London that visit Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath in one day which enable you to tick off places you have visited and get a glimpse of these places and what they have to offer.

[Hambagahle]

Leeds Castle is over 900 years old and is a "Foritifed castle" so I am not sure what the previous poster meant by saying it isn't really a castle. Not only is it one but it has a long and fascinating history. If I personally were to choose between Dover Castle and Leeds castle I would pick Leeds, but with one caveat - take the little "train" from the gatehouse to the castle. The walk is long (20mins it took us) and on hard paths.

Its proximitiy to the motorway makes it easy to get to. We spent a couple of days in Kent before a cruise and visited Sissinghurst and Gerat Dixter to see the gardens. These two places, particularly Sissinghurst, are wonderful. We managed to include Leeds on our way to the ship the morning that we sailed. I think we spent around 90 minutes there, and it made for a most interesting morning.

[John Bull]

Originally Posted by Sammy1

We're arranging our private transfer from a London hotel to Dover, on the day of our cruise in June 2010, and although we would like to visit both Leeds and Dover Castles on the way, its been suggested that we only have sufficient time to visit one.

We are a group of eight, and would appreciate your recommendations. Thank you very much!

I'm inclined to side with Handfordr. For a picture-postcard choose Leeds Castle, but for a visit choose Dover Castle. It has a continuous 1000-year military history from pre-Norman to post-WW2, so there should be something of historic interest for everyone in your party.

Leeds Castle is reasonably handy to Dover, though there is always the risk of a breakdown or motorway closure (it is closed & used as a lorry park whenever there is a major problem with cross-channel services) and if you chose Dover Castle you could afford to allow a little less margin for delays.

Depending on attitudes within your party, you can do both, Leeds is only a few minutes off-route. You can even "wing" it, making your minds up as you go. Depending on time, weather & mood, you may elect to tarry a while longer at Leeds & skip Dover.

John Bull

[TLCOhio]

Originally Posted by John Bull

Depending on attitudes within your party, you can do both, Leeds is only a few minutes off-route. You can even "wing" it, making your minds up as you go. Depending on time, weather & mood, you may elect to tarry a while longer at Leeds & skip Dover.
John Bull

Very wise point about the weather and mood! Last summer we had great weather in the Kent and southern England area. You can see some sample of what we saw. Having sun and clear blue skies makes things totally different. Being prepared and flexible gives you the option to do what best fits for that day and the weather.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio


Southern England’s Bodiam Castle before departing from Dover:




Sissinghurst Gardens & Castle:




Knole at Sevenoaks Palace & Gardens:

[SteveH2508]

If you want to do Dover Castle it will take a day at least. DW and I live in London and we have recently done two days in Dover and have just about covered the castle in that time.

[Sammy1]

Originally Posted by TLCOhio

Very wise point about the weather and mood! Last summer we had great weather in the Kent and southern England area. You can see some sample of what we saw. Having sun and clear blue skies makes things totally different. Being prepared and flexible gives you the option to do what best fits for that day and the weather.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Terry, thanks for wowing us again with your incredible photos. We can only hope we have the same perfect weather you did when we do our travelling in June/10! Did you get to Leed's Castle? If so, I'd love to see your photos.

[TLCOhio]

Originally Posted by Sammy1

Terry, thanks for wowing us again with your incredible photos. We can only hope we have the same perfect weather you did when we do our travelling in June/10! Did you get to Leed's Castle? If so, I'd love to see your photos.

THANKS, Sammy, for the kind comments! Fortunately we had five days in southern England before our cruise departure from Dover. We did have great weather and we wanted to do a variety of different places. Leeds was not one of the options we did. We did Churchill's country estate, the town of Rye, Rudyard Kipling's home, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, five other garden-palace places, etc. Driving around in southern England can get a little challenging with the narrowness of the roads there and the lack of good signage as you travel those country highways. We could have gotten to Leeds, but we considered our many options and felt that we had seen this type of castle at Bodium and at some other locations. We wanted a good mix and variety of different places and historic experiences. The great news is that Leeds is right off of the major M20 expressway connecting London to Dover. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[John Bull]

Originally Posted by TLCOhio

THANKS, Sammy, for the kind comments! Fortunately we had five days in southern England before our cruise departure from Dover. We did have great weather and we wanted to do a variety of different places. Leeds was not one of the options we did. We did Churchill's country estate, the town of Rye, Rudyard Kipling's home, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, five other garden-palace places, etc. Driving around in southern England can get a little challenging with the narrowness of the roads there and the lack of good signage as you travel those country highways. We could have gotten to Leeds, but we considered our many options and felt that we had seen this type of castle at Bodium and at some other locations. We wanted a good mix and variety of different places and historic experiences. The great news is that Leeds is right off of the major M20 expressway connecting London to Dover. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

I would think you were castled-out after that lot, Terry
Anne Boleyn's childhood home, Hever Castle, is another picture-postcard castle, thougn its more of a fortified manor house. It's ideal post-cruise esp from Dover for those headed for Gatwick airport (LGW), being only 30 minutes or so from the airport via minor (therefore jam-free) roads.

Criticise our road signs, would you??
You obviously haven't driven in places like Barbados or the minor country lanes of Normandy.
Regards,
John Bull

[gosport11]

Just watching a tv programe on dover castle.a time team special on uk channel 4 it looks very intresting (should be on channel4 web site)

[goldearrings]

I have been to both castles, but Dover will take just too much time. It is extremely interesting, thouhg.


Leeds Castle is the prettier one, and the grounds are fabulous, too.

[lambs2]

I have been to both Dover and Leed's Castles, as well. Both have considerable walking required. At Dover the hills make the walking a bit more difficult than at Leed's, however. We were at Leed's on a drizzly day, but it was a spectacular (though pricey) tour all the same. Dover Castle has a wide variety of activities and exhibits from the fascinating WWII tunnels, to the recreation of the castle during the time of Henry VIII, plus a seige and battle show - just for starters! The ancient lighthouse ruins and the church are a "must-see" as well - and the views from the top of the castle and the cliff areas are amazing. I would choose Dover Castle for the history - Leeds for the sheer beauty of the estate, although the history there is also fascinating!

[doverphil]

My family roots in Dover go back over 500 years, so I'm not exactly impartial! Leeds Castle is lovely, but Dover Castle "The Key to the Kingdom" is hugely impressive. A major project on the ancient Keep has recently been completed, and the Wartime Tunnels are not to be missed. From a viewpoint halfway down the White Cliffs of Dover, you can view the harbour (with your cruise ship waiting for you at ther terminal) and on a clear day France is visible. You won't be disappointed if you decide on Dover!

[Sammy1]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Unfortunately, we only have time to visit one, and will have to decide at some point which one to see now and which one to save for a future trip.

Sam

[TLCOhio]

Originally Posted by John Bull

I would think you were castled-out after that lot, Terry. Anne Boleyn's childhood home, Hever Castle, is another picture-postcard castle, thougn its more of a fortified manor house. It's ideal post-cruise esp from Dover for those headed for Gatwick airport (LGW), being only 30 minutes or so from the airport via minor (therefore jam-free) roads.
Criticise our road signs, would you?? You obviously haven't driven in places like Barbados or the minor country lanes of Normandy. John Bull

THANKS, John! NO, in our five days in southern England prior to our Dover cruise departure, we did not get "castled-out! Loved it all, helped by our super, wonderful weather that I assume is normally there all of the time, right? Signs? What signs? On the smaller, country roads, it got challenging. The major highways were fine. Should have brought along my GPS.

YES, we did visit and love Hever Castle! Below are some of the picture samples. While there, we lucked out with a large number of historic cars there as their owners did a little "rally" and lunch. Love the new gardens there that the Astors did. Also visited Churchill's country home where he lived for 40+ years, did paintings, writings, etc. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio


Historic car and occupants driving past Hever Castle:




Inside Hever Castle, this is the sitting room that was re-done by the famed and wealthy Astors in the early 1900's:




Hever Castle in the background with historic cars in the foreground:





Chartwell’s gardens and another view of this house, part of which dates to 1600’s:



One of Churchill’s studies at Chartwell. A WWII D-Day landing model is in the bookcase area:

[lord of the seas]

Who's older, the car or the occupants?

[TLCOhio]

Originally Posted by lord of the seas

Who's older, the car or the occupants?

Excellent and interesting question!!! My guess is that many of the cars are in the 1910-20 time period. The folks in the car are probably in their 70's or so. Therefore, the cars would be older, by a little bit. Keen eye and cute point!

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[lord of the seas]

Originally Posted by TLCOhio

Excellent and interesting question!!! My guess is that many of the cars are in the 1910-20 time period. The folks in the car are probably in their 70's or so. Therefore, the cars would be older, by a little bit. Keen eye and cute point!

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Thanks Terry,I knew it was a close call.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by lord of the seas

Who's older, the car or the occupants?

Either way, though, I bet the occupants wouldn't take kindly to being described as "historic"!