Things To See and Do
Explore Bolsover’s Little Castle
The Little Castle at Bolsover was created as an extravagant retreat by playboy, poet and courtier, Sir William Cavendish. With medieval-style turrets and towers, it was a building designed to surprise and delight.
Even royalty came here. In 1634, Sir William spent a staggering £15,000 on banquets and entertainment for King Charles I, and his Queen Henrietta Maria.
Brilliantly preserved and beautifully restored, the labyrinth of sumptuous rooms will treat your senses with richly coloured wall art, carved marble fireplaces and stunning painted ceilings.
Let technology bring the Terrace Range to life
The vast Terrace Range overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale was also created by Sir William. Now a dramatic roofless shell, this was once a range of stately rooms that formed the entrance to Bolsover Castle.
Use your multimedia guide to fire your imagination and ‘see’ the grand dining room, long gallery and basement kitchen that stood here brought back to life.
Relax in the Fountain Garden
The Fountain Garden at Bolsover was designed around the statue of Venus – the goddess of love and pleasure – emerging from her bath. It included a secluded chamber for intimate banquets set into the garden wall. With re-glazed original windows and new hand-carved doors, we have now opened this room to the public.
Wander the gardens and enjoy the 5,000 plants and flowers we have planted to capture the spirit of the garden in its heyday. Fan-trained fruit trees and colourful planting around the walls are all lovingly tended by our volunteer gardeners. Garden fashion in the 17th-century included 'outlandish' foreign bulbs such as tulips, and fanciful designs cut into turf and filled with colourful gravels.
Stroll the wall walk
Stroll along Bolsover Castle's restored wall walk. With stunning countryside views, and the fountain garden down below, you can strut along the Cavalier's catwalk, like a Stuart courtier wanting to see and be seen.
The circular walls go right around the garden, allowing panoramic views over Bolsover Castle grounds and the Vale of Scarsdale. Bring your camera to capture that perfect shot.
Learn about Cavalier Horsemanship
Gallop over to the magnificent indoor Riding School – one of the finest in the country. With its central white post, it's easy to imagine William Cavendish training his horses in their elegant exercises here, in the 1600s.
See the Riding School brought to life at one of our Cavalier Horsemanship displays set to evocative Baroque music. The riders are clothed in the frills, feathers and high boots of the period and expertly demonstrate moves that we know today as dressage.
Check out our event pages to find out our next demonstration date.
Stop for a treat
The decadent excess of Cavalier days may be long gone, but the Bolsover café still serves up a great range of delicious food. There’s a choice of hot meals, snacks, sandwiches, soups, and salads, and there are plenty of cakes, bakes and biscuits if you fancy something sweeter.
Our soup is always vegan and gluten-free, and you'll find gluten-free cakes and salads too. Our juices and coffees are Fair Trade.
You can find allergen and nutritional information here.
If you’re looking for a souvenir of your trip to Bolsover, you’ll find English Heritage gifts, including jams and chutneys; toys and books; stationery and cards; heritage related collectables and much more in the shop.
Bookworms will love browsing the secondhand bookshop in the viewing gallery of the Riding House. Thank you! Every cuppa, kid’s treat or secondhand book you buy helps us look after England’s heritage.
Secondhand Bookshop
Looking for a new book or have a few that you'd like to donate? Visit our secondhand bookshop in the viewing gallery of the Riding House.
Why not pop in and have a look? We've got lots of perfect reading spots around our stunning castle.