Maxstoke Castle
Warwickshire, England
Photo: Steve Wilson from Marchwood, The New Forest, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Bs0u10e01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Fetherston-Dilke family (private)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Limited tour days
- Nearest station
- Coleshill Parkway, 2.0 miles (straight-line)
- Note
- Privately lived in; opens to the public one confirmed day a year for the National Garden Scheme, a tradition now 50 years running.
Pinpoint
Maxstoke, Birmingham B46 2RD
Telephone 07500 058599
Opening Hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
The times last taken from Fetherston-Dilke family (private) have not been rechecked since the season changed, so they are not shown. Fetherston-Dilke family (private) publishes the current ones.
Visitor essentials
- Facilities
- On open day only: cake, plant and gift stalls, garden games and tours of some rooms; no wheelchair access inside, dogs not permitted.
Sir William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon, built this moated, octagonal-towered castle in 1345, and the Fetherston-Dilke family, who still live there today, have owned it since the 17th century. It opens to the public just once a year, on an Annual Open Day that has now run for 50 consecutive years in support of the National Garden Scheme.
At a glance
Who to know
Sir William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon · built the castle in 1345
Worth the trip
A 15th-century chair reportedly used at Henry VII's coronation feast after Bosworth, and a table said to be linked to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, are both still inside the castle.
Before you go
The one open day a year (June, ticketed via the castle's own site) is the only way in - reviewers who've made it say the gardens, moat and a few rooms are opened up, and it sells out weeks ahead.
What visitors say
Maxstoke Castle reviews · 4.5 / 5 across 145 Google reviews
Visitors who've attended the annual open day describe a genuine family home rather than a museum piece, with a moat, gardens and a few rooms opened up alongside artisan stalls.
Several say it's easy to miss since it only opens once a year, and recommend booking early as it regularly sells out.
“Open day was superb. Great friendly crowd. Lovely house and castle gardens”- Ian Hun, visitor review
Within reach of Birmingham (9 miles) - see what else is nearby.
Getting in - what Fetherston-Dilke family (private) says
One confirmed open day a year (June), a tradition running 50 consecutive years for the National Garden Scheme; contact via events@maxstokecastle.com for tickets. No wheelchair access inside, dogs not permitted.
Taken from Fetherston-Dilke family (private)’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 William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon · 1345
Sir William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon, built Maxstoke Castle in 1345 on a rectangular plan with octagonal corner towers and a moat. After Clinton's death in 1354 the castle passed through his widow, and in 1437 Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham, acquired it and made further additions. Parliament garrisoned the castle during the Civil War between 1642 and 1645. The Fetherston-Dilke family gained possession in the 17th century and still own and live in it today. The surrounding parkland has been a golf course since 1898.
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
- “There was plenty of parking on a field near the house, with good parking attendants, the volunteers were all great.” - M
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Steep stairs up to the first floor.” - M
- Facilities
- “There was no cafe as such but lots of mobile units selling drinks, cakes and pizzas.” - M
Common questions about Maxstoke Castle
Where is Maxstoke Castle?
Maxstoke Castle is in Warwickshire, England, at Maxstoke, Birmingham B46 2RD.
How do you visit Maxstoke Castle?
Maxstoke Castle opens on limited tour days rather than every day, and is looked after by Fetherston-Dilke family (private). Because the dates are restricted, check the official site and book ahead before travelling.
What is the highlight of visiting Maxstoke Castle?
A 15th-century chair reportedly used at Henry VII's coronation feast after Bosworth, and a table said to be linked to the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, are both still inside the castle.
Is Maxstoke Castle a ruin or still intact?
Maxstoke Castle is largely intact - Privately lived in; opens to the public one confirmed day a year for the National Garden Scheme, a tradition now 50 years running.
