Make the most of the summer holidays at Leeds Castle

Are you looking for ways to entertain the family over the summer holidays? Join us at Leeds Castle for fun daily activities, competitions, tours and trails as we celebrate the 6 weeks of freedom! Get up close and personal with our feathered friends, get hands on with woodland crafts or become a fair maiden of brave knight at our knight and princess school. Along with our daily falconry displays, maze and grotto, the Knight’s Realm, Elsie the Land Train and The Black Swan Ferry they will be kept entertained for hours. Check out all of our summer holiday events and activities below:

Kent Wildlife Trust

Date: Monday 29 July to Thursday 1 August

Time: 10am to 5pm.

Where: Outside the Falconry Office

The Kent Wildlife Trust will be celebrating all things that live in the sea! Join in with free marine themed activities, an anagram challenge and quiz the on hand experts with any questions you may have about sea-life or nature. 

The Quest For The King's Key

Date: Friday 2^nd August, Tuesday 13^th August, Tuesday 20^th August & Friday 30^th August

Time: 11.30am, 1pm & 3pm

Where: Storytelling sessions start and end at the Pavilion and last approx. 30 mins

King Henry The Eighth is a little distracted as he has lost the key to a chest containing his favourite and most valuable ring. Join Raggedy Jack on your quest to find the Kings key. Hear about the magical creatures that live in the castle grounds and discover some of the secret and strange places they live.   

RSPB

Date: Saturday 3^rd August – Sunday 1^st September

Time: 10am – 5pm

Where: Outside the Falconry Office

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will be offering fun wildlife activities including; identification challenges, quizzes, and the chance to use a pair of binoculars and telescopes. Experts will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about birds and other wildlife.

Woodland Crafts

Date: Saturday 3^rd – Sunday 11^th August

Where: Pavilion Lawn

Have a go at making woodcrafts this summer holiday. With natural materials found from Leeds Castle grounds, enjoy building mini rafts, necklaces and pinecone creatures on the Pavilion Lawn. There is a small additional charge of £2 for this activity. 

Meet the Wildlife Warden

Date: Every Wednesday in August

Time: 11.00am – 11.30am

Where: Outside the Falconry Office

An opportunity to ask the wildlife warden about black swans, meet a British owls and use a pair of binoculars to enjoy the castle’s beautiful wildlife.

Knight & Princess School

Date: Saturday 24 August - Monday 26 August

Join Leeds Castle’s Knight and Princess School. Brave knights can dress up in chainmail and helmets in the Armour Zone and try out their combat skills in a foam sword battle (suitable for ages 2 to 10).

Sword fighting lessons using wooden training swords and real Medieval techniques will be available plus an interactive Mini Warrior Battle Show for the whole family which will reenact The Battle of Agincourt with the children cast as English archers. The Princess Show will teach the etiquette needed to meet a Prince, with the opportunity to try on beautiful dresses and learn a Medieval courtly dance.

Meet the Falconer

Date: Friday 31st August

Time: 12pm – 12.30pm

Where: Outside the Falconry Office

Come and meet the Castle Falconer and get up close to one of our birds of prey. This is a fantastic chance to learn more about these amazing Leeds Castle birds and to ask questions to our expert handler.

So what are you waiting for? Bring the whole family to Leeds Castle to enjoy our many activities and events. Remember that if you pay once you can visit as often as you like! 

Five day total falconry course at Leeds Castle

Ever wanted to keep your own bird of prey? Keen to learn more about falconry? Our new five day course will provide you with the training you need to become an approved falconer! 

Our Head Falconer Mark Brattle is an approved Lantra assessor and will provide you will all the training you need plus your final exam to become an approved falconer.  

This exam is nationally recognised and so this course is ideal for anyone wishing to keep birds as a hobby, to learn more about the art of falconry or to continue into a career in the falconry industry.

During the week, our Falconry team will teach you how to feed, care for and handle a variety of birds.  

This course will help you with all the practicalities from how to choose and look after the right bird for you to basic bird first-aid.

You will cover both theory and practical activities, enabling you to approach the training of a bird with confidence.

The weeklong itinerary also includes learning the rich history of hawking and practising handling techniques and flying skills across the beautiful castle parkland with our Harris Hawks.

Each day will run from 10am – 4pm and the total price of £550 includes a delicious hot lunch from the 17^th century Fairfax Restaurant with views across the moat to the castle.

Advance booking is essential. Please visit leeds-castle.com/falconry or call 01622 767861 for more information.