Top Things to do in East Midlands
Top Hotels in East Midlands
- 1. Lace Market Hotel
- 2. Premier Inn Skegness Seafront hotel
- 3. Buxton Crescent
- 4. Mercure Nottingham City Centre George Hotel
- 5. Casa Hotel
- 6. Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Chapel Bar) hotel
- 7. Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel
- 8. Jurys Inn Nottingham
- 9. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Nottingham - Gateway
- 10. Premier Inn Lincoln City Centre
10 Castles in East Midlands That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in East Midlands, United Kingdom including Holme Pierrepont Hall, Bolsover Castle, Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincoln Castle, Tattershall Castle, Rockingham Castle, Elvaston Castle, Newark Castle, Bolingbroke Castle, South Kyme Tower.
Restaurants in East Midlands
1. Holme Pierrepont Hall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 63 reviews
The earliest built brick building in the county. Built by Sir William Pierrepont in 1500 and still lived in by his descendants, the house surrounds a Courtyard Garden of 1875 possibly influenced by Nesfield on three sides with the local Parish Church of St Edmund on the fourth.The East Garden which was laid out in 1973 has a winter flower garden full of snowdrops, aconites, daffodils and hellebores among other plants. The wild Tulipa Sylvestris which has been here since the 17th century flowers in the park.The house has family portraits and regional furniture and welcomes groups on guided tours throughout the year. The house is also available for weddings, meetings, seminars and other such events.
Reviewed By 2timelesstravels
We love Holme Pierrepont Hall, it's a brilliant place for a day trip whether you enjoy water activities or just taking in the scenery.
2. Bolsover Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,467 reviews
With spectacular views over Derbyshire, the fairy-tale Stuart mansion, Bolsover Castle, was designed to entertain and impress. Its reputation for revelry lives on as we now entertain you and your family. Wander the lavish rooms of the Little Castle, explore the romantic ruined terrace range, and delight in the views from the wall walk. Start your visit in the exhibition in the Riding House then run wild in extensive grounds (and fun play area).
Reviewed By Beverley1991 - Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom
Loved our visit here, we visited on a gloomy weekday afternoon, the entry price was very cheap for the amount of time you can spend here and when we visited it was very quiet allowing us to take our time looking around and taking some great photos. After paying you walk onto the site and there are buildings on the left which have information in to gain an insight into the history of this castle, then you can view the castle ruins wondering around different levels and imaging what it would have looked like in its original state, there are also amazing views from here. Then there is the little castle which is a beautiful little castle building were you can go into and look around all levels which have interesting and unique rooms and then from here you can walk around the wall which surrounds the castle with some beautiful views of the site and surrounding views. There is also a lovely small garden area which was well maintained and would be lovely to sit in on a sunny day. We spent around 3 hours here and loved every minute. Before leaving we had a drink in the on-site cafe which was reasonably priced and also bought a few items from the gift shop which were also very reasonable, the staff were friendly chatting to us about our visit and asking how far we had travelled to visit. Would definitely recommend this place if you have a love for history and castles.
3. Grimsthorpe Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 299 reviews
Historic house with gardens and parkland. Facilities include -Adventure playground, tearoom, gift shop and cycle hire shop. Cycle miles of traffic free tracks and trails in the park or take a guided tour of the castle and find out more about this hidden delight. Henry VII visited 500 years ago - come and see for yourself what makes this place so special.
4. Lincoln Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,164 reviews
Three great attractions. One great day out. Medieval Wall Walk. Victorian Prison. Magna Carta. Enjoy spectacular views across Lincolnshire from our completed Medieval Wall Walk. Visit the David P.J. Ross Magna Carta Vault and see one of only four remaining original Magna Carta along side the Charter of the Forest. Immerse yourself in the lives of prisoners and their daily routines in the Victorian Prison and see the unique separate system chapel. 1000 years of history - where it happened. Winter Opening Hours: 10:00 - 16:00 Summer Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Reviewed By 356manfredb - Telford, United Kingdom
The main purpose for us to go to the Lincoln Castle during our visit to Lincoln was to see the Magna Carter signed by King John in 1215 and the Charter of Forest with the seal of King Henry III appended in 1217. These two supremely historic documents can only be viewed together at the Lincoln Castle, with no equal worldwide! The jail, crown court building and castle grounds are quite interesting and walking on top of the castle walls offers panoramic views of the Town and surrounding countryside. This is a must visit Tourist Attraction in Lincoln!
5. Tattershall Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 842 reviews
Tattershall Castle proudly rises from the flat Lincolnshire fens; a survivor of conflict, decay and restoration. Built of red brick in an era of stone, this fortified manor is one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of English medieval brickwork. A past home to Lords, ladies, soldiers and cows, the castle was built by the Treasurer of England, Lord Ralph Cromwell in the 1440s and saved for the nation by Lord Curzon of Kedleston in 1911. Take the winding staircase, wander through vast echoing chambers and walk out onto the battlements revealing the beauty of the Lincolnshire countryside. Eating and Shopping: Guardhouse shop selling hot and cold drinks, wrapped cakes, sandwiches, crisps, ice-cream, gifts and souvenirs. Picnics welcome. Making the most of your day: Free audio guides for children and adults. Events throughout the year, including Easter Egg fun, medieval re-enactments, open-air theatre and Christmas market. Accessibility: Site contains loose gravel paths (difficult for manual wheelchairs) and uneven grassy surfaces. Wheelchair access to the ground floor only. Access to the rest of the castle via a spiral staircase (149 steps) and steps to the basement. Dogs: Welcome on leads in the grounds only.
Reviewed By Spike754 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Loved going here - am seriously thinking of joining national trust if other trust sites are as good as this - church nearby is worth a look as well - castle is great access all round couldn’t go on battlements as restoration was in process but saw everything else - great bit of history and amazing views from top
6. Rockingham Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 357 reviews
Set on a hill overlooking five counties, Rockingham Castle was built by William the Conqueror. The Castle was a royal residence for 450 years. In the 16th Century Henry VIII granted it to Edward Watson and for 450 years it has remained a family home. The pre-dominantly Tudor building, within Norman walls, has architecture, furniture and works of art from practically every century including, unusually, a remarkable collection of 20th century pictures. Twelve acres of formal and wild garden command splendid views over the surrounding countryside. The Castle is open to day visitors on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter through to September and from June on Tuesdays as well. Groups are welcome on open days or by pre-arrangement for a private guided tour on weekdays. The beautifully appointed Castle Gift Shop is situated in the courtyard along with our licensed Walkers House Tearooms which serve lunches, cream teas and wonderful homemade cakes.
Reviewed By stephenbE141SH - Solihull, United Kingdom
Brilliant day at this fantastic private castle . Luckily we went during a Viking 're enactment which was brilliant. It's a fantastic castle full of history and everywhere you look is a photo well worth a visit
7. Elvaston Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 385 reviews
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Visited on a Saturday and the car park was packed, lots of great trails to explore because of the recent rain some very muddy areas which with wellies on can be fun, ice cream at a social distance queue to end the visit made it very worth while.
8. Newark Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 608 reviews
Entry to the castle grounds is free of charge. The Castle has stood proudly on the banks of the River Trent for nearly 900 years. History of the Castle includes the death of King John, Knights Templar and as well as the English Civil War, War of the Roses, Anarchy Wars and Baronnial Wars. Guided tours of the Castle are conducted normally on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Surfaced pathways in the castle and gardens allow suitable access for wheelchairs. During the visit, relax in the quiet garden areas and admire the picturesque views. Entertainment often occurs seasonally, with a bandstand for concerts available, and makes for a great day out. Newark Castle and Gardens offer nearby parking, so it is easily accessible by car. It is also close to historic market places; Southwell market and Newark market, so why not visit the pretty market towns too.
Reviewed By Earlfalcon
A great place to relax, or soak up a bit of historical atmosphere, overlooking the river. If the weather's nice, of course...!
9. Bolingbroke Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By 786carolb - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Monday 19 October 20, I went with my friend to ‘Bolingbroke Castle’ which is under the care of the English Heritage. Bolingbroke Castle was one of three castles built by Ranulf de Blundeville, Earl of Chester and Lincoln, in the 1220’s after his return from the Crusades. The other castles being Beeston Castle and Chartley Castle. After Blundeville’s death, the castle remained in the ownership of the Earls of Lincoln and was later inherited through marriage by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. As an extremely powerful member of the royal court, with royal connections, John of Gaunt became the guardian of Richard II when the young king succeeded to the throne at the age of 10 years old. John of Gaunt and his first wife, Blanche, lived at the castle during the 1360s. Their son, Henry of Bolingbroke, was born there in 1367. Their son Henry had a tempestuous relationship with Richard II and was exiled in 1397. He returned to England after the death of his father in 1399, enraged that the king had seized the estates he had inherited. Richard was in Ireland, attempting to quell a rising, when he heard of Henry’s return. These events marked the end of Richard II’s reign. Henry of Bolingbroke was encouraged to claim the throne of England from his unpopular rival, and Richard was imprisoned. Soon afterwards, Henry was crowned king as Henry IV. There is no evidence to suggest that Henry IV ever returned to his birthplace again and lived in the castle. The main function of Bolingbroke castle during the 15th and 16th centuries was as an administrative centre for the estates of the Duchy of Lancaster. The names of the towers, i.e. the Auditor’s Tower and Receiver’s Tower, refer to their use during this period. Surveys undertaken at the castle in the 17th century show that only a few of the towers then remained in use and that the enclosing walls were extremely dilapidated. During the Civil War, the castle became a defensible base for a Royalist garrison and was besieged by Parliamentarian forces in 1643. The Royalists surrendered this castle in the winter of 1643, and the entire castle was destroyed. My friend and I entered through the gatehouse towers into the open central area of the castle. Bolingbroke Castle is a prime example of 13th-century architectural design and is described as an ‘enclosure’ castle. Such castles are characterised by curtain walls with towers enclosing a courtyard. Within this courtyard there would have been timber-framed structures, including a great hall and service buildings, evidence of which was found in excavations during the 1960s. The south-west tower, known as the King’s Tower, was rebuilt between 1444 and 1456 on an octagonal plan. By this time, the castle was more than 200 years old, and this remodelling represents an attempt by the owners to express their wealth and importance. From the Auditor’s Tower can be seen the Rout Yard – the field to the south of the castle – which contains several earthworks, including a rectangular enclosure. My friend and I mooched round this lovely castle for a couple of hours and we took some very nice photographs of the castle and surrounding areas. If you like castles, this is well worth visiting if you are in the area.
