Kirby Muxloe Castle
Leicestershire, England
Photo: Pahazzard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Soloist, CC BY-SA 3.0 · steve p2008, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Limited tour days
- Entry pass
- English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass
- Nearest station
- Leicester, 4.3 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Guided tours on selected days
Pinpoint
Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 2DH
Telephone 0370 333 1181
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
Open select dates for tours
Checked against the official page on 13 August 2026.
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Free on-site parking, plus some additional on-street parking in Oakcroft Avenue; no coach or minibus parking.
- Access
- Not wheelchair accessible; disabled visitors cannot be set down at the entrance because the drawbridge blocks it, and paths include gravel and a wooden bridge.
- Dogs
- Dogs on leads are welcome.
- Safety
- The castle is surrounded by a deep moat, and the towers have steep spiral stairs with limited clearance.
An unfinished 15th-century brick castle begun by William, Lord Hastings, and left incomplete after his execution in 1483 - the same fate, and the same patron, as Ashby de la Zouch down the road. It's a genuinely small site, walkable in fifteen or twenty minutes, with interior access limited to guided tours on selected days only.
At a glance
Who to know
William, Lord Hastings · began the unfinished brick castle; executed in 1483
Worth the trip
The brick construction itself - an early and unusually well-preserved example of brick rather than stone castle-building in England.
Before you go
Double-check opening times directly before travelling - at least one reviewer arrived to find the car park gate locked outside guided tour hours, and satnav directions can misroute you toward a nearby farmer's field rather than the entrance; the on-site toilet is a single portaloo that isn't always unlocked.
What visitors say
Kirby Muxloe Castle reviews · 4.2 / 5 across 649 Google reviews
Reviewers consistently enjoy Kirby Muxloe's peaceful grounds and moat, recommending it for a picnic or a short walk, and several praise a particularly knowledgeable member of staff.
One visitor was caught out by reduced opening hours: the castle interior is now only accessible via pre-booked tours, with the shop and cafe having been removed, so it's worth checking before visiting.
Toilet facilities are also limited or unavailable on site.
“A nice quiet place for a picnic and walk. The only bad parts were that Google decided not to take me to the entrance. If I hadn't noticed the signs, I would have ended up in a farmers field. And the toilet was a single…”- Ian westwood, visitor review
Within reach of Birmingham (30 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Walks at Kirby Muxloe Castle
Kirby Muxloe Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“We were allowed to walk round the grounds as that is open 24/7.”- Charrot, visitor review
Also worth knowing: dogs are reported welcome.
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
William, Lord Hastings · 1480
William, Lord Hastings began construction of this brick-built castle in October 1480, amassing over 1.3 million bricks. When Edward IV died in 1483, Hastings was executed by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and work stopped immediately. The castle remained incomplete; today only the decorated gatehouse and west tower survive.
Drawn from English Heritage's own page.
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
- “When we arrived for just after 11am, the gate to the car park was locked, and had a sign saying ‘for Guided Tours only’.” - Charrot
- Facilities
- “The chap also told us the castle status had been ‘down graded’ by the trust, and that opening hours had severely been reduced, and the cafe and shop taken away.” - Charrot
Common questions about Kirby Muxloe Castle
Where is Kirby Muxloe Castle?
Kirby Muxloe Castle is in Leicestershire, England, at Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 2DH.
How do you visit Kirby Muxloe Castle?
Kirby Muxloe Castle opens on limited tour days rather than every day, and is looked after by English Heritage. Because the dates are restricted, check the official site and book ahead before travelling.
Are there walks at Kirby Muxloe Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “We were allowed to walk round the grounds as that is open 24/7.”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
What is the highlight of visiting Kirby Muxloe Castle?
The brick construction itself - an early and unusually well-preserved example of brick rather than stone castle-building in England.
Is Kirby Muxloe Castle a ruin or still intact?
Kirby Muxloe Castle is a partial ruin - Guided tours on selected days.
