Bolsover Castle Visit

Perched dramatically on a ridge in Derbyshire, Bolsover Castle is not your typical medieval fortress. While it occupies the site of a 12th-century castle built by the Peverel family, the spectacular structure seen today is a 17th-century luxury retreat. It was envisioned by Sir Charles Cavendish and brilliantly brought to life by his son, William Cavendish—the Duke of Newcastle. William was a poet, courtier, equestrian master, and a notorious playboy of the Stuart era. Rather than designing a stronghold for warfare, Cavendish built an extravagant "mock-castle" designed purely for romantic chivalry, lavish entertainment, and impressing high-society guests, including King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria.- July 2026