County guide · The Castle Rolls
Best castles in Derbyshire
4 castles in Derbyshire, and only two of them let you inside a building. Bolsover is the most-reviewed: an English Heritage pleasure palace of the 17th century whose roofed Little Castle keeps its painted ceilings and decorated fireplaces. Peveril, also English Heritage, stands above Castleton in the Peak District, and you climb a steep path to reach the keep. The other two are outdoors only: Elvaston is a Gothic Revival house whose building is closed, with 321 acres of grounds around it that are free to walk, and Duffield, the only open-access ruin here, is the National Trust-owned footprint of a large Norman keep, with no walls standing.
Map
Every castle on this list - 4 in total, 1 free to enter
Bolsover Castle
Derbyshire
Roofed Little Castle; ruined terrace range
Elvaston Castle
Derbyshire
The castle building itself is closed to the public (Heritage at Risk); the 321-acre grounds are free and open all year.
Peveril Castle
Derbyshire
Duffield Castle
Derbyshire Free entry
Foundations only of huge Norman keep; free entry
Common questions
How many castles are there in Derbyshire?
This roll lists 4 visitable castles, fortresses and tower houses in Derbyshire. Of those, 1 is free to enter and 2 charge admission.
Which castles in Derbyshire are free to visit?
Duffield Castle is the one open-access castle in Derbyshire with no admission charge. Elvaston Castle is grounds-only, so the building can't be entered; check the operator for grounds entry and parking charges.
What is the best-rated castle in Derbyshire?
Bolsover Castle is among the highest-rated castles in Derbyshire on this roll - 4.6/5 from 6,758 Google reviews.
Can you reach any castle in Derbyshire by train?
One of the 4, Duffield Castle, sits within 1.5 miles of a railway station (Duffield, 0.3 miles). That's a straight-line distance from the station to the castle, so the walk on the ground is longer than the figure.
Can you go inside every castle in Derbyshire?
Not all of them on the same terms. 1 of the 4 restricts what a visitor can see. At Elvaston Castle you can walk the grounds, but the building itself isn't open to visitors.