Kent with Kids: Go Ape at Leeds Castle Guide and Review

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Nestled in the grounds of Leeds Castle in Kent, Go Ape offers an adrenaline-filled adventure in the treetops – keep reading for my full review. With multiple options for different ages and abilities, if your kids are brave and over 1m tall they can take part. My children, my niece and nephew (aged 9-13 years old) tackled the Treetop Adventure Plus course with my husband, so here’s what we thought of our recent visit to Leeds Castle Go Ape in Kent – and I’ve tried to answer any questions you might have in this review too. I was too wimpy to take part so I sent the troops up instead! 😂

Visit: August 2024

Who is Go Ape suitable for?

Go Ape at Leeds Castle offer several courses to cater to different ages and bravery levels, so if you’re wondering which is the best course for you or you children, here are your options:

The Treetop Adventure:

Designed for younger children, or those new to high rope activities, the Treetop Adventure course is lower to the ground but it still offers plenty of thrills. It’s a great way for kids to build confidence and have fun while staying safe – and these routes are shorter should they want to get down. Children need to be over 1m tall to take part and under 6’s must have a supervising adult up on the course with them. There were little ones tackling this course happily when we visited (they were so brave!) but there were also children having a wobble too so, if you’re not sure if they’ll like it, this is the best place to start. The zip lines are great fun and a good reward for completing each section of the course. At Leeds Castle Go Ape there are two courses in the Treetop Adventure.

Treetop Adventure Plus:

Once you’ve completed the two routes in The Treetop Adventure course, those booked on the Treetop Adventure Plus can tackle a third course which is higher, longer and trickier. Finn and my niece and nephew were OK with this one, but Lola did struggle a bit with a few of the sections – particularly the climbing wall – so this one is still quite a challenge. (You certainly wouldn’t get me up there doing it!) 😂

And, for those who might not be ready for the full-on Treetop Challenge, the Adventure Plus course offers a slightly less daunting but still exciting experience. It’s perfect for younger teens or adults who want a taste of adventure without going all-in – and this session is only one hour which was definitely a good option for my children’s attention span! I think for most kids under about 12 years old, this course or the Treetop Adventure is probably the best idea.

The Treetop Challenge:

The Treetop Challenge is the main Go Ape course, designed for adults and kids aged 10 and up. It’s a high-adrenaline experience that includes Tarzan swings, wobbly bridges, and long zip lines that send you soaring above the forest floor. The course is well laid out, with varying levels of difficulty to keep even the most daring adventurers on their toes. The Treetop Challenge is also the longest of the courses – and they advise you allow 2-3 hours to complete it. I think my 13 year old son would enjoy this course too – it’s probably a good level of challenge for confident teenagers and adults! There isn’t always a huge amount to do activity wise with teenagers, so Go Ape (with this challenge in particular) is great for the older ones. You can also get 15% off the Treetop Challenge with code: FAMILY15 at the moment.

How long is Go Ape at Leeds Castle?

If you’re taking part in the Treetop Adventure or the Treetop Adventure Plus courses the sessions are one hour. And, as I mentioned above, the Treetop Challenge guidelines recommend you allow 2-3 hours to complete that particular course. When we attended there were some very terrified children who held our group up for a good 25 mins before being rescued and guided down. Whilst it was a bit frustrating it is understandable given the nature of the activity. Our kids were then worried they’d wasted a big chunk of their time but the staff reassured them they could still complete the course regardless of the time, so we were probably there about 1 hour 20 minutes, despite our session being an hour.

Make sure that you arrive about half an hour before your time slot too. That’ll give you plenty of time for popping to the loo at the Leeds Castle entrance, getting the kit on and having your safety briefing. You’ll also want to complete the waiver forms online before your visit to save time.

Is Go Ape safe?

As a parent, you can never be too careful and I totally understand if you’re worried about the safety side of things. But, before you even step foot on the course, there’s a thorough safety briefing. Similar to an inflight safety guidance demonstration – the staff played the instructions whilst they provided visual examples. The staff then asked the kids questions to check their understanding, before demonstrating it all with their own guidelines again to make sure that the children understood how to use the harness, carabiners and pulleys. There was then a little practice section for them on the ground before they began the course.

I thought the staff were very thorough with the safety side of things. The staff also checked the kids’ harnesses multiple times before they started, and once again between the courses. They were very friendly with the kids, and there were even staff on the equipment with some of the younger visitors guiding them through it. (And rescuing others when they were struggling!) The harnesses worn on the Treetop Adventure / Treetop Adventure Plus courses have two clips attached to the rope system – one of which can’t come off at all. The second one clips on and off as they move between the platforms. I can be a bit nervous, so I thought it was important to add to my review that I felt like the kids were in safe hands at Leeds Castle Go Ape, Kent.

Will Leeds Castle Go Ape be open in the rain?

The Go Ape courses remain open in all weathers – unless there is thick ice, a thunderstorm or strong winds. So they advise coming prepared for the weather and dressing appropriately – you might want to bring a change of clothes too!

Can you cancel Go Ape?

This brings us on to cancelling, if the weather does look like it’s taking a turn for the worse you are able to cancel your Go Ape session and get a full refund if the booking is more than 7 days away. After this time, you’ll need to reschedule your session instead – which you can do as long as it’s at least 48 hours beforehand – so keep an eye on the forecast! (Rescheduling costs £5.) It was a really hot day for our visit (about 26 degrees+) but the shade from the trees meant it didn’t feel too warm – so don’t panic if the UK weather suddenly switches from rain to rare sunshine, it actually wasn’t a problem. 😂

What should I wear to Go Ape?

The Go Ape website recommends that you dress for the weather, in comfy clothes that you’re happy to get grubby. You can wear shorts when it’s warm too but not sandals – everyone taking part must wear closed toe flat shoes – so trainers – and they suggest you bring gloves if you’d like something to cover your hands. In case you were wondering (as I was!) helmets aren’t worn at Go Ape.

Where is Go Ape located?

We visited Leeds Castle in Maidstone (Kent) for our Go Ape experience but there are 37 of them so it shouldn’t be too tricky to find a venue near you. Here’s a list of some popular UK Go Ape locations – just click through to find out more about them. Each site offers its own unique features, so it’s worth checking the specific details for the site closest to you or the one that piques your interest! (Some are higher and trickier than others too!)

Go Ape Aberfoyle (Scotland): Located in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, this popular site features the longest zip wire in the UK.
Go Ape Alexandra Palace (London): Located in the heart of London, offering a unique treetop adventure with views of the city.
Go Ape Battersea Park (London): An urban treetop adventure located in the iconic Battersea Park.
Go Ape Bracknell (Berkshire): Situated in Swinley Forest, offering a mix of tree-to-tree crossings and zip lines.
Go Ape Buxton (Derbyshire): Located in Buxton Country Park, this course offers high-speed zip lines and stunning views.
Go Ape Cannock Chase (Staffordshire): Known for its varied terrain and extensive treetop challenges in Cannock Chase Forest.
Go Ape Dalby Forest (Yorkshire): Situated in the heart of the North York Moors, offering scenic views and challenging courses.
Go Ape Delamere (Cheshire): Located in Delamere Forest, this site offers beautiful woodland views and family-friendly adventures.
Go Ape Grizedale (Lake District): Nestled in Grizedale Forest, it offers a unique treetop experience in the stunning Lake District.
Go Ape Thetford Forest (Norfolk): Located in the UK’s largest man-made lowland forest, this site offers extensive treetop challenges.
Go Ape Whinlatter (Lake District): The highest Go Ape course in the UK, located in Whinlatter Forest Park.
Go Ape Woburn Safari Park (Bedfordshire): Unique for its location in a safari park, combining treetop adventures with wildlife views.

Can you enter Leeds Castle grounds with a Go Ape ticket?

The Go Ape tickets don’t include entry to Leeds Castle itself – it’s a lovely place for a family day out but it does come with an additional cost if you wish to explore the castle and gardens. If you do want to visit the castle as well there are a few ways to save money on entrance tickets:

Prebook tickets online – they are cheaper online than on the gate.
Leeds Castle offer a 20% discount for all NHS and Care staff.
In order to promote a healthy planet – Leeds Castle reward car-free visitors with 20% off entry if travelling by train, bus or bike.
Family tickets are available and these work out cheaper than individual tickets.
Leeds Castle tickets are valid for a whole year – so visit a few times and it works out better value for money. They also offer lots of seasonal events throughout the year.
Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be used to purchase Leeds Castle tickets.

Parking is free for both Leeds Castle and the Go Ape area – and there’s plenty of it.

How much does Leeds Castle Go Ape cost and is it good value for money?

Leeds Castle Go Ape is not the cheapest day out, with prices for the Treetop Challenge starting at around £36 per person. However, considering the quality of the experience and the amount of time you spend on the course (typically 2-3 hours), the main course is good value for money. It’s not something you would do every weekend, but for a special occasion or a memorable day out, it’s a good treat for an adrenaline-seeker!

The kids’ Treetop Adventure tickets start at £20 – with the Treetop Adventure Plus slightly dearer from around £26 – and prices do vary at different sites. At Leeds Castle Go Ape the Treetop Adventure Plus course that my husband and children completed is currently £26 per person. The kids also previously enjoyed the Go Ape course at Moors Valley Country Park in the New Forest which was a similar price, and this venue also had a nets activity for younger children if you have little ones not big enough for the main courses.

Though it’s not a cheap activity, my kids and their cousins really love Go Ape! So, whilst we wouldn’t do it all the time, it’s a good summer holiday treat – and the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for families like ours who prefer presents that give us things to do. The kids had a great time and we’ll definitely head back again next year – perhaps even braving the Treetop Challenge course! You can currently get 15% off the Treetop Challenge with code: FAMILY15 – click the link for more info. I hope my review of Leeds Castle Go Ape in Kent has been useful – have fun! And, for even more day out ideas, check out my article: The 10 best things to do in Kent with kids.