Discover the New Pre-Loved Leeds Castle Book Shop at the Pavilion
Welcome to a world of stories at the charming second-hand bookshop nestled within the picturesque Pavilion of Leeds Castle. This delightful space will be open to all book lovers on 5th April 2025, welcoming visitors Thursday to Sunday during term time, and seven days a week throughout the school holidays. Our hours are from 10:30am to 3:30pm during our winter hours, and 10:30am to 4:30pm during our summer hours, perfect for a relaxing visit.
At our bookshop, you can explore a delightful selection of pre-loved books to suit your interests. Whether you’re an avid reader seeking your next literary adventure or simply in search of a captivating story to enjoy on a leisurely afternoon, we have something for everyone. Our dedicated volunteer team is here to ensure that your experience is special, offering a warm welcome and friendly assistance as you browse our collection.
DONATE BOOKS AND Join Our Community
We’re seeking cheerful and enthusiastic individuals to join us as Bookshop Volunteers. If you love engaging with people and creating memorable experiences, this role might be perfect for you!
As a volunteer, you’ll assist with categorising and selling books, support our visitors, and help enhance their overall Leeds Castle experience. Join a friendly team and take this opportunity to make a difference in our vibrant community. Are you ready to lend a helping hand? Visit here.
We warmly welcome book donations to enrich our collection at the Pavilion Pre-Loved Bookshop. If you have pre-loved books you’d like to contribute, please contact us at bookshop@leeds-castle.co.uk to arrange your donation.
Our Heartfelt Thanks
The opening of our bookshop would not have been possible without the expertise of PAYE Stonework and Restoration Ltd. Their commitment to preserving Leeds Castle’s unique heritage played a key role in revitalizing the Pavilion. Based in London and the South East, PAYE is a market-leading stonework and restoration contractor that generously donated their time and skills, completing the restoration in less than a week. The quality of their work has truly exceeded our expectations.
Helen Bonser-Wilton, Chief Executive at Leeds Castle Foundation, expressed her delight, saying: “I expected it to be good, but it’s truly incredible—it literally took my breath away.” She added: “Being able to use this space for events, community groups, a second-hand bookshop, and perhaps even hosting Father Christmas”.
Matt Kember, Managing Director of PAYE Stonework and Restoration, shared his thoughts on the project: “Together, our aim is to inspire the young people taking part to take up a traditional trade and pursue a career in stonemasonry, and give those who didn’t a better understanding of the UK’s built heritage. The crowning piece of the project was to undertake the restoration of Lady Baillie’s Pavilion so it could be turned into a community space in the castle grounds.
“This project, undertaken by both PAYE and Leeds Castle staff in their own time and at no charge, provided us with the opportunity to give something back by creating something that is a tangible benefit to Leeds Castle visitors and the local community.”
The Pavilion restoration project stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when heritage experts, local communities, and passionate individuals collaborate. We are deeply grateful to PAYE for their generous support and to everyone who contributed to bringing this vision to life.
To learn more about this incredible project, visit here.
We invite you to visit our new bookshop, immerse yourself in the joy of reading, and become part of our community!
