A short drive east

Bolsover Castle, Creswell Crags, and Hardwick Hall

Journey east to discover a spectacular fairy-tale castle, Ice Age caves, and an Elizabethan stately home.

These three sit close together, to the east of Chesterfield. None of them is a reason to cross the country. Each is a short drive, and they can be a day between them.

Bolsover Castle

Bolsover Castle stands on the ridge above the town of Bolsover. The little castle is the romantic one, built for show in the seventeenth century, with a riding school beside it. English Heritage keeps it.

Address: Castle Street, Bolsover S44 6PR
From the Hospital: About fifteen minutes
Open: Until 1 November 2026, daily, 10am–4pm. From 2 November to 23 December, Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm. Closed 24–26 December. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
Admission: English Heritage members free. Booking ahead costs less than paying at the gate. The day’s price is on the English Heritage page.
Map: Google Maps

English Heritage →

Creswell Crags

Creswell Crags is a limestone gorge on the Nottinghamshire border, with caves that people used in the Ice Age. The gorge itself is the walk. The caves are a guided visit.

Address: Crags Road, Welbeck, Worksop S80 3LH
From Chesterfield: Under half an hour
The gorge: Free to walk
Museum: £5. Under 18s free. November, December and January: weekends only, for the museum, the café, and the cave tours.
Cave tours: A separate ticket. Times and prices are on creswell-crags.org.uk.
Parking: £5 all day. On a weekend in winter the gates are 9am–4.30pm. Leave by 5.30pm. Blue Badge holders park free, and register at reception.
Map: Google Maps

creswell-crags.org.uk →

Hardwick Hall

Hardwick Hall is the Elizabethan house Bess of Hardwick built, more glass than wall, with the old hall in ruins beside it. The park is the long part of the visit. It sits near Bolsover. The two are often the same afternoon.

Address: Doe Lea, Chesterfield S44 5QJ
House and garden: Non-member adult £23, or £25.30 with Gift Aid. Child 5–17 £11.50, or £12.70 with Gift Aid. Under 5s free. Family of two adults and up to three children £57.50, or £63.30 with Gift Aid. National Trust members free.
Hours: They change with the season. Last entry to the Hall is 45 minutes before it closes. The park stays open later than the house.
Parking: Included with a house and garden ticket. Members park free.
Map: Google Maps

National Trust →

These are the charges published for 2026. They change, so check the place’s own website before you go.