Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Partial ruin
- Access
- Limited tour days
Pinpoint
Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 2DH
Telephone 0370 333 1181
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.
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.
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.
Guided tours on selected days
“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
