The village is located five miles (8.0 km) to the east of Maidstone, the county town of Kent.
Etymology
It appeared in the Domesday Book as Esledes, possibly referring to a stream name.[3][4] It is so called because the village is on the hillside above the River Len, a tributary of the River Medway. An alternative explanation for the name is that it derived its name from Ledian, who built the first wooden fortress here in 978.[5][6]
To the west and between Otham and Leeds the area of Caring is located. Caring has a number of modern farmhouses, in the style of an Oast house. Another attraction is the old Vineyard, a free tourist feature.
It also has a primary school, Leeds and Broomfield Church of England Primary.[7]
^Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. Translated by Williams, Ann; Martin, G. H. London: Penguin Books. 2003. p. 19. ISBN0-14-051535-6. OCLC54415956.