From “Downton Abbey” to “Game of Thrones” to “Harry Potter,” British castles regularly make an appearance in popular TV shows and movies, leaving some travelers with a desire to live out their castle dreams. Great Britain offers no shortage of castles for a daytime visit, but only a handful allow guests to stay overnight.
Centrally-located castles can serve as basecamps from which to venture out to explore the surrounding British countryside or can be added on as an indulgence for a night or two to a longer tour that visits multiple regions of Great Britain.
To help advisors find the best castle stays in Great Britain, TMR has rounded up seven castles, one each in a different region of Britain (listed from north to south).
(TMR has included travel advisor specific information whenever possible – GDS codes, onsite trade contact, etc.)
Photo: Lumley Castle
1. North East England – Lumley Castle (County Durham — closest cities: Durham, Newcastle)
Lumley Castle, set on nine woodland acres, was built more than 600 years ago by Sir Ralph Lumley, whose family has been in possession of the castle for centuries (minus a short period after Sir Lumley was involved in a failed plot against King Henry IV). Among its most high-profile visitors was King James VI in 1603.
Today it operates as a four-star hotel and event venue with 72 bedrooms spanning four categories ranging from Classic to the three suites, which are kitted out for royalty with four poster beds, roll-top or Jacuzzi bath, a separate sitting room, and views of the estate’s woodland parkland.
The castle isn’t just a place to stay. It hosts an Escape Room, once-per-month Elizabethan-themed banquets, castle tours, afternoon tea, and more.
Rooms can be booked per night or as part of the North East Heritage package that includes a two-night stay, tickets to Beamish (the living museum of the North), afternoon tea for two at the Castle, and a full English breakfast each morning.
Travel advisors can book stays for their clients at Lumley Castle via the generic reservations email or via their preferred GDS system.
Photo: Muncaster Castle
2. North West England – Muncaster Castle (Cumbria County — closest cities: Liverpool, Manchester)
Believed to have been built on top of Roman remains, Muncaster Castle dates back to the late 13th century, was enlarged in the 14th, and has consistently been updated through the years.
Though the property has belonged to the same family for 800 years – they still live there – portions of the property are open to the rest of the world for tours and castle stays. Some of its most famous visitors have included King Henry VI who blessed the family with the “Luck of Muncaster” and King Edward VII who said the view from the castle was “the most perfect in England.”
Stays at the Castle are either in the oldest tower of the castle or in the self-catering Coachman’s Quarters, located in a converted stable block. In the castle itself, there are two double rooms and one twin room available. In the Coachman’s Quarters, there are nine ensuite bedrooms, each accommodating between one and four people in doubles, twins, or family rooms.
Inside the Quarters, there is a kitchen for guests to cater for themselves, a large dining space with plenty of room for everyone, and a communal lounge where there are games and a big TV for entertainment.
Included in the Castle Suite room rate is entry to the public parts of the Castle, garden entry, access to the Hawk & Owl Centre, three spectacular daily Flying Displays and Taster sessions in The Weapons Hall. The guests are also free to explore the extensive gardens out of hours.
While staying in either accommodation option, guests have free access to the estate gardens and the Hawk & Owl Centre, with its daily display of raptors flying. Castle Suite guests also get entry to the public parts of the Castle and a taster session in the Weapons Hall. There is a supplemental charge to enter the castle for guests in the Coachman’s Quarters; there is an audio guide that can be downloaded for a self-guided tour.
Travel advisors wanting to learn more about Muncaster Castle or book their clients a stay there can reach out to Hannah Clapp. Advisors looking for a DMC that can bundle Muncaster Castle into a longer tour can contact Mountain Goat Tours.
Photo: Christopher Chambers / Hazlewood Castle
3. Yorkshire and the Humber – Hazlewood Castle (North Yorkshire County — closest cities: Leeds, York)
The history of Hazlewood Castle dates back more than one thousand years – the earliest mention of it can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086 – though it hasn’t always served as a castle. (For instance, from 1939 to 1953 the property served as maternity hospital.)
Owned by the Vavasour family for most of its history, the castle has a tenuous link to the tales of Robin Hood, with the 13th century’s Maud Le Vavasour and her noble-turned-outlaw husband said to be the inspiration for Robin Hood and Maid Marion.
Hazlewood also has royal ties, with Mary, Queen of Scots having spent a night in 1569 at the castle.
Now owned by Ashdale Hotels, Hazlewood Castle serves as a four-star hotel, day spa, and restaurant. In the castle proper are nine rooms and mini apartments. In the courtyard, guests will find the 12-room St. Margaret’s. Through a secret door in the library (not in the main building), are 11 more rooms.
Because all rooms are modern, with few to no period touches, Hazlewood Castle is probably not the best choice for clients who want the “real” castle experience.
Clients who want to spend some time exploring the property, which is set on some 77 acres of woodland, can check out hiking and quad bike trails, as well as activities such as axe throwing and archery.
Travel advisors can find out more about booking their clients at Hazlewood Castle by emailing the generic info email.
The Rose suite. Photo: Warwick Castle
4. West Midlands – Warwick Castle (Warwickshire County — closest cities: Coventry, Birmingham)
The origins of Warwick Castle date back more than 1,000 years to a wooden fort originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. The castle was then rebuilt in stone during the 12th century and refortified in the 14th century during the Hundred Years War. It was converted into a country house in the 17th century and eventually sold off by the Greville family (the Earls of Warwick) in 1978. Today, it is operated by Merlin Entertainments, offering daily activities, live shows, property tours, and overnight stays.
Clients can choose from four overnight options at Warwick Castle.
For a stay within the castle itself, clients can opt for one of the two Castle Tower Suites. Each lavishly decorated suite is located on its own private floor and features the original high-vaulted ceiling and a four-poster bed in a separate bedroom. Staying in a Tower Suite comes with Champagne on arrival, afternoon tea in the conservatory, and a private tour led by a castle historian.
For families, the Castle’s 24 Woodland Lodges might be a better choice. Located within the estate grounds on the bank of the River Avon, the lodges can sleep up to five, with a double bed and bunk beds, and a separate bathroom with shower. There are also four larger Knight’s Lodges, which can sleep up to seven with an extra sofa bed.
For something more traditional, clients can choose to stay at the Warwick Castle Hotel, which is also located within castle’s 84-acre grounds. Each of the more than 60 rooms comes with medieval-themed finishes, a king-sized bed, and children’s bunk bed.
Photo: Hever Castle
5. South East England – Hever Castle (Kent County — closest city: London)
Set on 125 acres, the double-moated Hever Castle, which dates back to the 14th century, is most well known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. (Boleyn is not the only wife of Henry VIII with a connection to Hever Castle, Anne of Cleves also spent a significant amount of time here.)
The castle also has a connection to the U.S., as it was extensively renovated and expanded by American millionaire William Waldorf Astor in the early 20th century.
Clients interested in spending a night or two at Hever Castle have two options. (Hever Castle is a great overnight option for clients who are basing themselves in or around London, being just 30 miles from the city.)
The first are one of the 27 “five-star Bed & Breakfast” bedrooms, located in the Astor and Anne Boleyn wings, both separate from, but connected to the Castle. Rooms in the Astor Wing, built by William Waldorf Astor and featuring memorabilia related to the Astor family and Edwardian period, can be booked no more than eight weeks in advance. The Anne Boleyn Wing features its own Breakfast Room with window seats looking out across the Orchard to the Castle. Bookings in the Anne Boleyn Wing can be made no more than six months in advance.
The other overnight option is a stay in the property’s holiday cottage, Medley Court, which is attached to the Astor Wing. Though built in 1903, the Cottage maintains the appearance of a Tudor manor house. The four-bedroom cottage can hold up to eight guests and can be booked for a week or more up to a year ahead of time. (Minimum is two nights, when booked no more than eight weeks in advance.) Guests staying at the Cottage have access to the gardens and grounds during times they are closed to the public.
With both the Bed & Breakfast and Cottage options, tickets to the castle and gardens are included in the price.
Travel advisors can find out more about booking their clients at Hever Castle by emailing the generic info email.
Photo: Thornbury Castle
6. South West England – Thornbury Castle (Gloucestershire County — closest cities: Bristol, Bath)
Once the country retreat of King Henry VIII, Thornbury Castle is a five-star Relais & Chateaux Tudor castle located on the edge of the Cotswolds, 12 miles north of Bristol. Built up in the early 16th century, the history of the castle dates back to the early 11th century when it was Thornbury Manor.
The property has 26 “bedchambers.” The standard Deluxe rooms feature period details and furnishings. Suite options include the very one that Henry VII and Anne Boleyn stayed in, as well as the Catherine of Aragon Tower Suite that can only be reached by spiraling stone staircase and features the largest four-poster bed in any UK hotel.
While Thornbury is a great base to explore the surrounding countryside, there is plenty of action on site including longbow archery lessons, axe throwing, and a visit to the falconry to learn about birds of prey, and other Tudor Period experiences.
Guests can also take a tour of the castle with a local historian, or try out the restaurant at Thornbury, which has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes.
Travel advisors interested in booking a stay at Thornbury Castle for their clients can do so directly with the Castle at reservations@thornburycastle.co.uk or via GDS (Amadeus: BRSTCA | Sabre: 613742 | Worldspan: THORN | Galileo/Apollo: 41651) or through Relais & Chateaux. (Advisors who are members of Virtuoso may have access to special pricing or value adds, as Relais & Chateaux is a preferred partner.) Advisors are also welcome to schedule a call for an overview of the property and to determine what accommodations are the best option for their clients. (The property does not have an elevator, for example, so might not be suitable for all clients.)
Photo: Ruthin Castle
7. Wales – Ruthin Castle (Denbighshire County — closest cities: Wrexham, Chester)
The first documented castle built on the site of the present Ruthin Castle was built for King Edward I of England in 1277. It lasted for hundreds of years until it was partially dismantled in 1648. It then sat unused for nearly two centuries until it was bought, renovated, and expanded in 1826. It was later used as a clinic/hospital from 1923 to 1962, before being converted into a 58-room luxury hotel in the early 1960s.
One of the most notable guests to have visited the property in its current hotel form was HM King Charles II who stayed the night prior to his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969.
Today the Castle offers 60 rooms, spanning five room styles. The most opulent are the five suites including the Prince of Wales Suite, the largest and “most individual bed chamber” at the Castle, occupying an entire floor of the Castle tower. The suite is “lavish and flamboyant in style,” featuring antique furnishings and an original carved-wood open fireplace.
Travel advisors can find out more about booking their clients at Ruthin Castle by emailing the generic reservations email.