Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Castle St, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6PR
Telephone 01246 822844
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
A 17th-century pleasure palace built more for show than defence, with the roofed 'Little Castle' preserving painted ceilings and decorative fireplaces alongside a ruined terrace range and a working riding school on the grounds. It reads less like a fortress and more like an elaborate stately folly, and reviewers say it's genuinely fun for children too.
Worth the trip
The painted ceilings inside the Little Castle - reviewers single these out repeatedly as the most striking survival in the building.
Before you go
The garden fountain has been reported non-functional on visits, so don't plan a trip around seeing it running; there's a dressing-up box on site that reviewers say keeps children entertained through a full visit.
Reviewers consistently enjoy Bolsover Castle's quirky, richly decorated rooms and expansive views, along with the friendly staff and family-friendly activities like the dress-up box. A couple of visitors note smaller niggles, a non-functioning fountain and a cafe that felt pricier and less polished, with disposable plates, than other English Heritage sites.
Roofed Little Castle; ruined terrace range
“Beautiful little castle. Plenty of space for children to steam some energy off. Beautiful garden with a fountain in the centre. Unfortunately, the fountain was not functional. Would have loved to see it sprinkling some…”— Cristian Coman, visitor review
Further reading
CubicFun - Neuschwanstein Castle 3D Puzzle (121pc)
Architectural 3D puzzle model, stocked by UK and US retailers.
Find it on Amazon
Gibsons - Castle Cutaway (1000pc)
Detailed cutaway illustration of a medieval castle's rooms, dungeon to battlements.
Find it on Amazon
