A Traditional Peak District Village Pub
Sitting proudly on the village green in the picturesque village of Litton, The Red Lion is a wonderfully traditional Peak District pub packed with history, character and charm.
The pub dates back to 1787, when three miners’ cottages were converted to create the inn that stands here today. Inside, thick exposed stone walls, wood panelling, cosy little rooms and roaring fires gives The Red Lion the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a proper country pub.
Kristina, Tomas and their team have created a place that appeals to visitors and locals alike. Despite its popularity with walkers and those exploring the Peak District, The Red Lion remains very much a village pub, with a friendly atmosphere, plenty of familiar faces and often a good story or two being shared over a pint.
When the weather is kind, there is also seating outside overlooking Litton’s pretty village green, which becomes particularly lovely when the daffodils appear in early spring.
Stay at The Red Lion
Why head home when you can stay the night?
The Red Lion has two luxury en-suite double rooms, making it a fantastic choice for couples wanting to spend a little longer exploring this beautiful part of the Peak District National Park.
Both rooms overlook the village green and have been comfortably furnished to a high standard, with luxurious beds, crisp bed linen and soft white towels. Guests will also find plenty of hot water, a hairdryer, flat-screen television and everything needed to make a welcome cup of tea or coffee.
It is worth noting that although The Red Lion is a dog-friendly pub, dogs are not permitted in the bedrooms. One of the rooms is also situated above the bar, so guests planning a particularly early night may hear the friendly chatter from the pub below.
With great food and drink downstairs and some of the Peak District’s finest countryside waiting outside the door, it’s a lovely base for a short break.
Walking from the Door
If you’re visiting the Peak District to make the most of the great outdoors, The Red Lion is brilliantly placed.
Litton sits in the heart of the Peak District National Park, surrounded by the beautiful Derbyshire Dales and fantastic network of walking routes.
Guests can set off on foot straight from the pub and spend the day exploring the surrounding countryside before returning to a well-earned pint and something to eat.
The Monsal Trail is also close by, providing even more opportunities for walkers and cyclists to explore the area.
Whether The Red Lion is the starting point, finishing point or both, there aren’t many better ways to round off a day in the Peak District than with a roaring fire, a pint of local ale and a hearty meal.
Eat at The Red Lion
The Red Lion has built an excellent reputation for its homemade food, with many customers returning time and again.
Under the Head Chef, the kitchen uses quality produce from local suppliers to create a varied menu of proper pub favourites alongside regularly changing specials.
One of the best-known dishes is their generous wedge of steak and ale pie served with hand-cut chips, while weekly specials include dishes such as fresh fish. There are fresh sandwiches available at lunchtime, a popular nibbles board to accompany a drink and a tempting selection of desserts, many of which are homemade.
Sunday lunch is particularly popular, with The Red Lion serving a traditional Sunday roast that has become a firm favourite with visitors and locals.
Food is served from 12 noon every day, although the kitchen closes between 3pm and 6pm from Monday to Thursday.
The latest food bookings are at 7:30pm on Sundays and Mondays and 8:30pm on other days.
The pub can get very busy, particularly at weekends and during holiday periods, so booking ahead is highly recommended. Parties of eight or more are asked to pre-order their food.
Drink at The Red Lion
The Red Lion at Litton is famous for real ale and has long been a favourite for discerning beer drinkers. They are in The Good Beer Guide and have also achieved top marks in their Cask Marque assessment, so you can be sure of a decent pint! Our staff are well trained and are always happy to advise when you’re struggling to decide which beer will suit your taste best.
As part of their philosophy of supporting local businesses, the majority of the beer on offer will be brewed in Derbyshire or South Yorkshire.
One of the regular beers is Absolution from Abbeydale Brewery in Sheffield – a mid-straw coloured beer with aromas of tropical fruit and elderflower flavours. The beer is sweet all the way through, balanced by bitterness at the finish. A clean tasting beer, sweetish but not cloying. It is very drinkable… but beware! It packs quite a punch at 5.3%. Winner of many awards, Absolution is a perennial favourite.
For the ones who like a traditional English bitter, they have an exceptional choice. Kev’s Bitter, brewed by the landlord of the pub. It gained huge success from the first batch and is well recommended by the vast majority of bitter drinkers.
The Red Lion also have a good selection for all other tastes. Stout, Porter or other dark beers, nice pale ales, IPA’s, and anything you can think of being rotated every week to keep beer lovers happy and give them a chance to sample something new.
Dog-Friendly
Four-legged visitors are very welcome at The Red Lion – and they may even get to meet Ula, the resident pub dog!
Well-behaved dogs are welcome inside the pub, making it a great place to call in after exploring the surrounding footpaths.
Visiting with Children
Because The Red Lion is a small and traditional pub, babies and children under six are not permitted inside.
When the weather is favourable, families can instead make use of the outdoor seating on the village green.
Discover Litton and the Peak District
Litton itself is a beautiful Peak District village and a wonderful place from which to explore the surrounding area.
The combination of traditional village life, beautiful countryside and walking routes straight from the door makes The Red Lion is particularly well suited to those who want to experience a quieter side of the Peaks.
Whether you’re staying for a couple of nights, calling in for Sunday lunch, stopping for a pint after a long walk or setting beside the fire for the evening, The Red Lion offers exactly the sort of warm, characterful village pub experience that the Peak District does so well.
📍 Explore Near The Red Lion at Litton
Discover attractions, walks, pubs, and bus stops within the local area
- Castleton Visitor Centre 4.9 miles
- Tideswell Walk via Miller's Dale (6 miles) ✨ NEW 0.8 miles
- Eyam via Stoney Middleton Walk (5.5 miles) ✨ NEW 3.6 miles
- Ashford-in-the-Water via Monsal Dale (6 miles) ✨ NEW 3.9 miles
- Stoney Middleton via Coombs Dale (4.75 miles) ✨ NEW 4.5 miles
- Eyam Brewery – Craft Beer Inspired by the Peak District 0.8 miles
- Peak Cavern 4.7 miles
- Peveril Castle 4.7 miles
- Speedwell Cavern 4.9 miles
- The Merchant’s Yard 0.7 miles
- Angel’s Cottage 0.9 miles
- Merman Farm 1 miles
- White House Farm Campsite 1.2 miles
- 🚌 School (Adj) → 173 0.0 mi 173 ✨ NEW 📋 Timetable
- 📍 Distances are straight-line (as the crow flies) and approximate.
🎪 Coming Up
📍 Distances are straight-line approximations.
Nearby Listings
Ad The Merchant’s..
St John's Rd, Tideswell, Buxto...
Anglers Rest..
Millers Dale, Buxton SK17 8SN...
Ad The Bull’s Hea..
The Bull at Foolow, Eyam, Hope...
Ad The Miners Arms..
The Miners Arms Eyam, Water La...
Ad The Ashford Arms..
1 Church St, Ashford in the Wa...
The Peak Hotel..
Peak Hotel, How Lane, Castleto...
Ad Ye Olde Cheshire Che..
How Ln, Castleton, Hope Valley...
Ad The Poachers Arms..
Poachers Arms, 95 Castleton Ro...
The Old Hall Hotel, ..
Hope Valley...
Ad The Pilsley Inn..
High St, Pilsley, Bakewell DE4...
Ad The Maynard..
Main Rd, Grindleford, Hope Val...
Ad The Prince of Wales ..
The Prince of Wales Baslow, Ch...
Ad The Scotsman’s..
School Ln, Hathersage, Hope Va...
Ad The Yorkshire Bridge..
Ashopton Road, Hope Valley S33...
Lathkil Hotel..
The Lathkil Hotel, Bakewell DE...