Bolsover Castle is a historic stately home in Derbyshire, England operated by English Heritage. It’s significant as one of the former homes of the Cavendish family. Today, visitors get to see both a preserved central keep and a collection of ruins around it.
Bolsover Castle was founded in the 11th Century by William Peveril, one of William the Conqueror’s knights. It fell into disrepair though and only received a new injection of life when Sir Charles Cavendish decided to build a new central keep within the old ruins in the 17th century. Essentially, the ‘little castle’ as it’s known, was an aristocratic holiday home. It wasn’t finished when he died however and his son William Cavendish completed it. When you visit today, you get to explore the whole of the little castle, which is perfectly preserved, with its many state rooms.
There are imposing fireplaces, stunning ceiling paintings and incredible views from the windows. There are several floors inside and most of the rooms have beautiful wooden panelling. There are two staircases and from one floor you can access the mock battlements which circle the central keep. These provided a place to walk overlooking the Venus Fountain enclosed garden below. The whole place is absolutely exquisite! On the top floor is a huge lantern room allowing light to flood in from all directions.
William was a playboy of his time and loved horses. He built the huge stables complex which still stands today and includes an indoor riding arena, one the the first of its kind anywhere. He also built a large terrace which overlooked the Vale of Scarsdale and linked the ‘little castle’ to the riding school. This is a roofless shell today, but still offers incredible views. Goodness knows what William would have made of the M1 which now dominates the view!
There’s loads to see and do at Bolsover Castle and we’d recommend the audio guide to bring it to life. It’s one of our favourite UK castles! Bolsover Castle is open all year round but opening days vary depending on the time of year. Adult admission is £20 on the day (2025 prices) although you can save money by buying in advance. Admission is free for English Heritage members.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: Bolsover Castle, Castle Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6PR
Tel: +44 1246 822844
Bolsover Castle is just off the M1 motorway in north Derbyshire.
MORE ON BOLSOVER CASTLE
Bolsover Castle – English Heritage
Bolsover Castle – Wikipedia
Derbyshire Travel Guide – From our sister-site, Free-City-Guides.com