English Heritage

Ashby de la Zouch Castle achieved its greatest glory as the purpose-built status symbol of William, Lord Hastings. The same man also built Kirby Muxloe Castle. Lord Hastings added the impressive keep-like Hastings Tower – a luxurious self-contained residence, and a castle within a castle. Today, you can still climb 24 metres (78 feet) to the top for fine views of the Leicestershire countryside.

A stubborn Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, Ashby fell to Parliament after a long siege in 1646. You can explore an atmospheric underground passage from the kitchen to the tower, probably created during the siege.

Visit, and you’ll be following in the footsteps of the Regency visitors who flocked to the ruined castle after it starred in Walter Scott’s wildly popular historical novel, Ivanhoe.