Leicestershire Castles

Ashby de la Zouch Castle

The building began as a manor house in the twelfth century and only achieved castle status in the fifteenth century, by which time the hall and buttery had been enlarged with a solar to the east and a large, integral kitchen added to the west wing. Ashby has hosted royal visitors – notably Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned there twice, and James I, who attended masques and lavish entertainments. The setting for Ivanhoe’s famous jousting scenes has played host to royalty. The ruins at Ashby form the backdrop to the famous jousting scenes in Sir Walter Scott’s 1819 classic, Ivanhoe

South Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, LE65 1BR  Tel: 01530 413343

Belvoir Castle

The ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for one thousand years. Notable treasures include works by Poussin, Holbein & Rubens.There are also chinese silks, furniture, porcelain and sculptures.

Belvoir, NG32 1PE  Tel: 01476 871002   Email

Kirby Muxloe Castle 

An unusual castle in that it remains today much as it was in the fifteenth century - unfinished ! Commissioned in the 1480’s by William, Lord Hastings, interest in completing the building waned somewhat when he was executed by Richard III soon after coming to the throne

Oakcroft Avenue, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 9MD Tel: 0116 238 6886

Oakham Castle

The splendid Great Hall of Oakham Castle is one of the finest examples of late 12th century domestic architecture in England. It was built by Walkelin de Ferrers, a Norman baron, in about 1180-90.

Market Place, Oakham  LE15 6HW  Tel: 01572 758440  Email

Rockingham Castle

Built by William the Conqueror, Rockingham was a Royal fortress for 450 years. For the last 450 years it has been home to the Saunders Watson family. The Castle has superb furnished rooms of several periods, and is surrounded by 12 acres of superbly contrasting gardens. Exhibitions set out the Castle’s fascinating history and a new audio visual depicts the ’Castle under Siege’.

Rockingham, Market Harborough LE16 8TH    Tel: 01536 770240  Email