The best Kent castles to visit for a day trip with jousting, concerts & theatre

Kent is offering a menu of historic castles within about a two-hour drive of south-east London, mixing Saxon, Norman and Tudor stories with summer events. Leeds Castle, often dubbed the “Castle of Queens,” spans more than 1,000 years—from an 857 AD wooden fort to Norman stone rebuilding—serving as a royal palace and later a World War II military hospital before opening to the public in 1976. Dover Castle, guarding the English Channel for over 900 years, features the Great Tower, medieval tunnels and a new 1216 siege exhibition, plus the “Great British Summer” run from July 18 to September 6. The article also highlights Hever Castle, tied to Anne Boleyn, with moated grounds restored in the early 20th century.