Elvaston Castle
Derbyshire, England
Photo: John Bennett from Derbyshire, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Ashley Nadin (Topbuz…, CC BY 3.0 · Jonathan Clitheroe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Derbyshire County Council
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Grounds only
- Nearest station
- Spondon, 1.5 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- The castle building itself is closed to the public (Heritage at Risk); the 321-acre grounds are free and open all year.
Pinpoint
Borrowash Road, Elvaston, Derby DE72 3EP
Telephone 01629 533870
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
Park open year-round, 9am-5pm (Nov-Mar) or 9am-8pm (Apr-Oct); entry on foot free at all points
Checked against the official page on 14 September 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Facilities
- Courtyard cafe, toilets, playground, gardens, church and woodland trails; car park charges apply except for Blue Badge holders.
James Wyatt redesigned this Elizabethan house into a Gothic Revival showpiece for the Earls of Harrington in the early 1800s, and landscape gardener William Barron spent 20 years turning the grounds into an elaborate private garden. The 11th Earl sold the estate to Derbyshire County Council in 1969 and it opened as a country park the following year - the 321 acres of parkland and gardens are free to walk, though the castle building itself has stood empty since a teacher training college moved out in 1947 and is now on the Heritage at Risk Register.
At a glance
Who to know
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington · commissioned James Wyatt's Gothic Revival rebuilding in the early 1800s
Worth the trip
William Barron's 19th-century gardens, with mature topiary and specimen trees planted as a secluded retreat for the 4th Earl and his wife, the actress Maria Foote.
Before you go
The castle building is closed to visitors and reviewers note it's a shame they can't get inside, but the grounds, gardens, church and a courtyard cafe are all open and free; car parking is charged except for Blue Badge holders.
What visitors say
Elvaston Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 5,186 Google reviews
Visitors consistently praise Elvaston's gardens, woodland and courtyard cafe, with several long-time locals returning to what they call one of Derbyshire's most beautiful parks.
The recurring complaint is that the castle building itself remains closed, which reviewers hope the council will eventually resolve.
“Great architecture set in wonderful woodlands & manicured gardens.”- Simon James Swalwell, visitor review
Within reach of Birmingham (35 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what Derbyshire County Council says
Grounds free and open on foot year-round; the castle building itself is closed to the public and not safe for entry. Paid car parking except for Blue Badge holders.
Taken from Derbyshire County Council’s own website and read 14 September 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
History
Sir John Stanhope (1633 manor house); James Wyatt (Gothic Revival rebuilding) · 1633; rebuilt 1815-1836
The estate was held by Shelford Priory until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538, when the Crown sold it to Sir Michael Stanhope; a manor house went up in 1633. James Wyatt began redesigning it in Gothic Revival style for Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington, in the early 1800s, and landscape gardener William Barron spent the 1830s and 1840s creating elaborate private gardens for the 4th Earl. The house served as a teacher training college during and after the Second World War until 1947, after which it declined steadily. The 11th Earl sold the estate to Derbyshire County Council in 1969, and it opened as a country park in 1970; the castle building has been on the Heritage at Risk Register since 2008.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “Plenty of parking, playground is well maintained for the kids.” - Paul Brodzinski
- Facilities
- “From the house, extensive gardens, church, fabulous tea room and grounds it's just a joy.” - Paul Brodzinski
Common questions about Elvaston Castle
Where is Elvaston Castle?
Elvaston Castle is in Derbyshire, England, at Borrowash Road, Elvaston, Derby DE72 3EP.
Can you go inside Elvaston Castle?
At Elvaston Castle the grounds are open to visit but the castle interior generally isn't, under Derbyshire County Council. Check the official site for current access before you travel.
What is the highlight of visiting Elvaston Castle?
William Barron's 19th-century gardens, with mature topiary and specimen trees planted as a secluded retreat for the 4th Earl and his wife, the actress Maria Foote.
Is Elvaston Castle a ruin or still intact?
Elvaston Castle is largely intact - The castle building itself is closed to the public (Heritage at Risk); the 321-acre grounds are free and open all year.
