Leeds Castle in Kent has opened the Knights' Retreat, a collection of eight dome-shaped wooden lodges inspired by mythical creatures, where families can stay from £165 per night just 300 metres from a 900-year-old fortress. The lodges, which opened in 2025, are set within the castle's 500-acre grounds and offer complimentary access to the castle, maze, and adventure playground.
A Fairytale Stay with a Medieval Twist
The Knights' Retreat lodges are named after mythical beasts like the Minotaur and Gryphon, and each features its own design language etched into the glass and key fobs. The interiors are spacious, properly heated, and include an open-plan kitchen, smart TV, reliable Wi-Fi, and a bathroom with running water. The bins are even labelled "Basilisk," and front door keys come with engraved fobs and matching name plaques, according to travel writer Lucy Williamson, who spent two nights there with two friends.
Despite the name, Leeds Castle is not in Leeds, Yorkshire, but near Maidstone in Kent, about an hour from London. The castle sits on its own island surrounded by a moat, which in the 13th century served as a defensive measure against uninvited guests. The lodges were inspired by Queen Eleanor of Castile, who in the 13th century declared the site her "Castle of Delights."
Designed for Families, Enjoyed by All
Williamson notes that the Knights' Retreat is designed with young families in mind, as each lodge sleeps up to two adults and three children. The mythical creature branding and fun interior decorations are tailored to children, and the lodges do that job brilliantly. However, she suggests that couples or groups of friends might prefer the lakeside lodges instead, which offer the same complimentary access to the castle and grounds but are more geared toward adults.
One of the nicer surprises was how quiet the site felt, despite the castle's attractions like a maze, a grotto, and a full-size adventure playground. The grounds are large enough, and the lodges are spread out enough, that overcrowding was never an issue.
Castle Grounds and Activities
The castle grounds run to 500 acres, and Knights' Retreat guests get complimentary access to all of it. The maze is a proper, slightly maddening hedge maze that leads to an underground grotto. The grounds also feature sweeping lawns, a lake, and wildfowl. The castle itself is nicknamed the "Ladies' Castle," having been owned by six different medieval queens of England, including Eleanor of Castile and Catherine of Valois.
Elsewhere on the estate, there is a massive adventure playground, a golf course, and a Birds of Prey Centre, where bird keepers are happy to share their extensive knowledge about owls. For dining, guests can walk about 20 minutes to The Park Gate Inn, a proper country pub just outside the estate, or eat at the Castle View Restaurant on site, which offers seasonal British dining inside a converted 17th-century oak-beamed barn.
Pricing and Verdict
Prices for the Knights' Retreat at Leeds Castle start from £165 per night for standard lodges and from £205 per night for larger family lodges. Williamson recommends booking Knights' Retreat for young kids and the Lakeside Lodges for adults. Either way, guests get the maze, the moat, and two days to honour the legacy of six medieval queens who turned a giant stone fortress into a venue for a weekend away.
