South-East England's Summit
Leith Hill is the highest point in south-east England. The summit stands at 294 metres above sea level, and from the top of the tower it rises to 313 metres – above the symbolic 1,000-foot mark that its builder, Richard Hull, specifically intended to breach.
Hull, a Bristol merchant who bought nearby Leith Hill Place in 1754, built the tower in 1765 as ‘a place for people to enjoy the glory of the English countryside’. Originally called Prospect House, it was designed as a viewing platform and occasional residence. When Hull died in 1772, he asked to be buried beneath it – a wish that was honoured. The tower subsequently fell into ruin, was filled with rubble, and bricked up. It was not fully restored until 1984, when the National Trust reopened it to the public.
The Views
On a clear day, the view from the tower takes in 13 counties. To the south, the Weald stretches to the English Channel and the South Downs. To the north, London's skyline is visible on the horizon. The panorama is among the most extensive in southern England and repays the climb up the narrow spiral staircase.
The Woodland
Leith Hill sits within ancient woodland rich in wildlife. Bluebells and wood anemones appear in spring, and the woodland is home to great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, and tawny owls. The surrounding Leith Hill estate includes Leith Hill Place, childhood home of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, which is also in National Trust care. Several waymarked trails connect the tower, the house, and the surrounding woodland, making a half-day or full-day walk straightforward.
