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Past event

Festival of Craft & Design

The Festival of Craft & Design at Leeds Castle promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the best of Leeds Castle’s interiors, architecture, gardens, textiles and more. The festival will offer a range of talks, tours and workshops that explore the unique history, art and design, and provide a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of this historic landmark.

Visitors can look forward to taking part in a variety of activities and experiences that celebrate the beauty and glamour of the Castle and its surroundings. One of the highlights will be the sublime Sculpture Trail, which this year is themed around animals and their habitats. The trail will feature a stunning array of sculptures that capture the essence of the natural world, and showcase the work of some of the finest artists and designers in the industry, both local and international.

The festival will also include a new floral experience within the Castle, which will allow visitors to explore the art of flower arranging and witness a magnificent never-seen-before surprise hosted in the Castle’s Tudor Courtyard.  

Throughout the month, we encourage you to participate in photography competitions which offer you another opportunity to engage with the Castle’s unique history and design. Capture the Castle’s beauty in stunning pictures that we can share online and enjoy for years to come.

Something for everyone

Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply looking for a great day out with family and friends, the Festival of Craft & Design at Leeds Castle is not to be missed. With so many exciting activities, experiences and events to look forward to, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and explore at this truly unique venue.

The majority of the Festival of Craft & Design is included with your admission ticket, with the exception of some workshops which are an additional charge and must be pre-booked.

Let’s Create

Sustainable Collaborative Sculpture Art

Sustainable Collaborative Sculpture Art

Included with Admission

2nd & 3rd September – 10.30am

Simon Lycett

‘Floral Fabulousness’ with Simon Lycett

Included with Admission

15th September – 11am

Natural Outdoor Art

Natural Art Workshops

Included with Admission

16th & 17th September – 10.30am

Create your own wicker willow animal workshop

Paid Workshop

19th September – 10.30am

Mid Kent Embroidery & Textiles Workshop

Mid Kent Embroidery & Textiles Demonstration

Included with Admission

19th September – All Day

Willow Weaving

Willow Weaving Demonstration

Included with Admission

21st September – All Day

Antonia Enthoven

Antonia Enthoven Print Talk & Demo Workshop

Included with Admission

22nd September – 1pm

Marvellous Mosaic Demo Workshop

Included with Admission

23rd & 24th September.

Interiors

Zenzie Tinker – Textile Conservation

Zenzie Tinker – Textile Conservation

Included with Admission

4th September – 10.30am & 1pm

Fashioning the Tudor Court: Portrait of an Unknown Lady in a White Dress

Fashioning the Tudor Court: Portrait of an Unknown Lady in a White Dress

Included with Admission

5th September – 1pm

Simon Costin – How to Re-Enchant the World: the Life and Times of a Set Designer

Simon Costin – How to Re-Enchant the World: the Life and Times of a Set Designer

Included with Admission

6th September – 11am

The Styles and Fashions of Lady Baillie during the 1920s and 1930s

The Styles and Fashions of Lady Baillie during the 1920s and 1930s

Included with Admission

7th September – 12pm

Le Depart pastel by Eva Gonzales

Le Depart pastel by Eva Gonzales

Included with Admission

12th September – 11.30am

The Secret Garden 16th-century tapestry

The Secret Garden 16th-century tapestry

Included with Admission

21st September – 2pm

Castle State Bedroom - Green Bedroom

Behind-The-Scenes Tour of Leeds Castle’s State Bedrooms

Included with Admission

29th September – 11.30am

Grounds & Gardens

Pop Up Talks From Leeds Castle’s Gardeners

Pop Up Talks From Leeds Castle’s Gardeners

Included with Admission

Throughout the month

Historical Garden Tour

Historical Garden Tour

Included with Admission

1st, 4th, 7th, 12th and 18th September – 10.30am

History Set In Stone Tour

History Set In Stone Tour

Included with Admission

6th, 13th, 20th and 27th September – 11am

A Year In The Life Of Head Gardener, Chris Collins

A Year In The Life Of Head Gardener, Chris Collins

Included with Admission

22nd September – 11am

Objects in the Spotlight

Look out for our ‘Objects in Spotlight’ within the Castle during the Festival of Craft & Design.

Portrait of an unknown Lady in a white dress

Portrait of an unknown Lady in a white dress

Oil on panel, attributed to Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. c.1595 (Accession No. 60028)

A pair of Chinese Export famille-rose figures of phoenix, porcelain, produced in China (Qianlong)

A pair of Chinese Export famille-rose figures of phoenix

Porcelain, produced in China (Qianlong) c.1735-1796 (Accession No. 48053)

A Louis XV bergère chair with satin upholstery, French, c.1760 (Accession No. 10125)

A Louis XV bergere chair with satin upholstery

French, c.1760 (Accession No. 10125)

The Pulchinello's Kitchen, oil on canvas, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c.1695-1770 (Accession No: 60170)

The Pulchinello’s Kitchen

Oil on canvas, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c.1695-1770 (Accession No: 60170)

Birds of Paradise, taxidermy, late 19th century (Accession No. 10154)

Birds of Paradise

Taxidermy, late 19th century (Accession No. 10154)


Artisan & Food Fair at Leeds Castle in Kent

ARTISAN & Food FAIR

8th to 10th September 2023

We are delighted to invite you to the inaugural Artisan & Food Fair at Leeds Castle!

Launching this September, as part of the Festival of Craft and Design, the Cedar Lawn will transform into a bustling fair. We expect over 80 artisan makers, 10 street food sellers, as well as a range of workshops, lead by practising artists.

There will be something for everyone; fantastic face painting for the little ones, garden games to bring out your competitiveness, as well as a bandstand with live music to get you toe-tapping!

Sublime Sculpture Trail Safari

26th August to 8th October 2023

Leeds Castle’s Sublime Sculpture Trail Safari is one of the highlights of the wider Festival of Craft and Design, running from the 26th August to 8th October. This year’s theme for the event is animals and their habitats, with a stunning range of sculptures made from different materials placed throughout the Castle grounds for the public to enjoy.

Visitors to the Sculpture Trail will be able to explore the Castle’s stunning grounds and gardens while enjoying the breathtaking artwork created by a diverse group of local and international artists. We will place the sculptures in various locations throughout the grounds, with some hidden in unexpected corners and others towering within the treetops.

Sublime Sculpture Trail Safari at Leeds Castle in Kent
Floral Experience In The Castle Courtyard

Floral Experience In The Castle Courtyard

1st September to 8th October 2023

As part of our Festival of Craft & Design and the Sublime Sculpture Safari, we are bringing the delightful outside animal world into the Castle’s Tudor Courtyard.

This new floral display promises to be a unique and enchanting part of the festival. Set inside the Castle’s courtyard, we will transport you to a magical animal jungle, where giraffes, parrots and other creatures will take over the courtyard and create breathtaking displays.

Book your visit today

Are you excited about your next Leeds Castle adventure?