Castle Hotels with the Most Spectacular Views in the UK

May 7, 2022
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Castle Hotels with the Most Spectacular Views in the UK

Do you have a penchant for medieval history and a taste for adventure? In the UK, historic manors and castles have been transformed into the best hospitality venues. Dotted with original features such as stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and even moats, these hotels pad out your staycation. Just a one-night stay in one of the best castle hotels will leave you feeling like the royals.

Here are the best castle hotels in England.

1. The Castle at Edgehill

Location: Edge Hill, Ratley, Banbury OX15 6DJ

Price per night: from £120

The Castle Inn, also known as the Radway Tower or the Round Tower, offers exceptional dining and service. As one of the best food pubs in Banbury, it provides a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Located upon the summit of Edgehill, the inn offers the best views of the Warwickshire countryside.

In fact, on a clear day, it’s possible to make out the foothills of the Welsh mountains and Wrekin in Shropshire. The hotel overlooks the battlefield of Edgehill, where the first major battle of the English Civil war occurred.

The octagonal tower of the pub is where King Charles I summoned his officers on the afternoon of October 1642 to prepare for war. At the Castle, you can sample their Sunday toast and dishes which you can down with ale whilst enjoying the best views in the county.

If you’re planning a wedding, the Castle at Edgehill is one of the most beautiful wedding venues. It has four en-suite rooms situated in the main tower. Each has a four-poster bed, en-suite shower room and offers stunning views of the countryside.

2. Hotel Endsleigh

Location: Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0PQ

Price per night: from £225

Situated on the Devon/Cornwall border overlooking 108 acres of woodland gardens is Hotel Endsleigh. This posh hotel is set in an 1811 Regency shooting lodge. Located by the River Tamar, the Grade I listed historic house is also surrounded by grottos, follies and fairy tale gardens.

Created by Humphrey Repton over 200 years ago, it was one of his last commissions. This fairy hotel has 19 luxurious rooms. Each room is individually designed with elegance. The furniture is a mix of new and old and you can find unusual pieces.

Converted into an enchanting hideaway by Olga Polizzi and Alex, her daughter, the hotel has a wood-panelled reception area. Stepping into the hotel feels like walking into an ancient castle, even though the hotel is not a castle. As you move through the hotel to take in the views, you’ll find two homely drawing rooms with roaring fires, plum sofas and botanical paintings.

The hotel serves dinners outside under parasols or in the original panelled dining room. It has a library equipped with everything from PG Wodehouse to Zadie Smith and more. Every afternoon, the library table groans under the weight of freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches, cakes and more. The hotel also has a private room that sits 80 guests, and it’s suitable for large dinners.

3. Bickleigh Castle

Location: Bickleigh, Tiverton EX16 8RP

Price per night: from £75

On the banks of the River Exe in Devon is Bickleigh Castle. This fortified manor house stands where a Norman motte castle once stood in the late 11th century. They dismantled it in the mid 12 century, and in its place, they built a small stone chapel. In the 15th century, the Courtenay family built a mansion and lived there with the Carew family until the English Civil War.

For many years, the buildings fell into disrepair, but they restored them in the 20th century. The Norman chapel and a 12th-century gatehouse still exist. Today, Bickleigh Castle is the perfect wedding venue. Many couples have made their wedding dreams a reality.

The venue can sit up to 120 guests or more on the gazebo lawn beside the river. So whether you’re planning a 120 guest wedding or an intimate event, Bickleigh Castle enchanting grounds with stunning surroundings is the best venue.

Bickleigh Castle has four private cottages that offer flexible family accommodation. Located around the Central Courtyard, the 11th century Castle sleeps 40 guests in a combination of singles, doubles and twin rooms. Many of the rooms are en-suite. So, if you’re looking for a peaceful or romantic break, this is the right place. With walled gardens to roam, rivers to walk and several attractions nearby, you’ll enjoy your stay at the Bickleigh Castle.

4. Tregenna Castle

Location: Trelyon Ave, Carbis Bay, Saint Ives TR26 2DE

Price per night: from £80

Overlooking the coast of St Ives is the ideal holiday venue – Tregenna Castle. Builtin the 18th century by Samuel Stephens, it’s set on an extensive woodland estate and overlooks St Ives Bay. Sitting on 72 acres and perched on the hilltop overlooking the streets, the resort has 99 rooms and 55 self-catering properties.

Each room has traditional decor, tea and coffee making facilities, plus TVs. Guests have the choice of sea view rooms for two and family rooms for four. You can choose bedrooms with bunks which sleep up to 6 people. Guests settle into the west wing of Tregenna Castle, close to the Brasserie restaurant and other top-notch facilities.

Among the acres of subtropical gardens is an 18 hole golf course. The playground is for all guests to enjoy for the duration of their stay. So, if you fancy playing a game of golf or tennis, Tregenna Castle has got you covered.

Parking is free, even on school holidays, and there are plenty of activities even for the little ones. From January 2022, renovations and remodelling will occur within the hotel between 8 AM to 4.30 PM, Monday to Friday. As such, there will be noise in the reception area. Also, the resort will close the Lounge Bar, but drinks will be available in the Brunel Lounge.

5. Lumley Castle

Location: Ropery Ln, Chester-le-Street DH3 4NX

Price per night: from £129

The Lumley Castle is a top historical place in the UK. Perfect for weekend getaways, this posh hotel overlooks the River Wear and the Durham County Cricket Grounds. The Castle is a 14th-century quadrangular building. As a Grade I listed building, it’s named after Sir Ralph Lumley, who converted the family manor house into a castle in 1389.

This is after he returned from wars in Scotland. By the 19th century, the Castle was the residence of the Bishop of Durham. It later became a hall of residence for University College, Durham. In the 1960s, the University College sold it to fund the building of residential halls.

Today, it’s a 73 bedroomed hotel. Each bedroom is tastefully decorated with furnishing from a bygone era. You can find four-poster beds, feature baths and rooms with breathtaking views over the parkland. The rooms are currently located adjacent to the Castle where the original stable block stood.

Perfect for a romantic getaway, these rooms come with refinements such as bathrobes, slippers and a Nespresso machine. To enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and afternoon teas, check out the traditionally styled Library Bar. It has cosy surroundings where you can sit back and enjoy your meal and drinks.

6. Thornbury Castle

Location: Castle St, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HH

Price per night: from £260

As the only Tudor castle in England, Thornbury Castle is a beautiful 16th-century building. It stands in 15 acres of regal splendour. Constructed in 1511 as an additional residence for Edward Stafford, it was a display of wealth by Stafford that King Henry did not take kindly to. After Stafford was found guilty of treason, Henry took the Castle and turned it into a retreat.

While Thornbury Castle is not a true military fortress, it’s built to impress and has weathered the tumult of British History. Today, this Grade I listed building is a 26 room luxury hotel and restaurant.

The rooms are beautifully decorated in a traditional style. They have lavish bathrooms, four-poster beds and other luxurious contemporary comforts. Situated in the north and south wings of the Castle, the rooms have plenty of space for you to relax and experience the intimate atmosphere.

Set on 15 acres, it’s surrounded by the Rose Garden with over 200 stems chosen for their historical roots. You also have the Privy Garden and Labyrinth that offers the classic Tudor garden experience. In addition, the hotel has a stone wall of white flowering foliage where you can relax and enjoy your refreshments.

7. Langley Castle

Location: Langley Castle Hotel, Langley, Hexham NE47 5LU

Price per night: from £150

Built in 1350, Langley Castle is a Grade I listed building. Sir Thomas de Lucy built the restored medieval tower house. He built it as a great H shaped tower of four storeys. Unfortunately, during the campaign against Archbishop Scrope and Perceys, it was severely damaged in 1405 by Henry VI forces. The Castle remained a ruin until Cadwallader Bates, a local historian, bought and restored it in 1882.

In the Second World War, it was a barracks, then a girls school before Dr Stuart Madnick bought it. He converted it into a posh hotel. Set on 10 acres of woodland estate, the hotel boasts of 9 deluxe and feature rooms within its medieval walls.

There are 18 more rooms known as the Castle View accommodation. They have free WiFi, Sky TV, tea and coffee making facilities, shower and ironing facilities. So whether you’re looking for a week-long family stay or business trip accommodation, the 10-acre grounds is a haven for those seeking peace.

8. Amberley Castle

Location: Church St, Amberley, Arundel BN18 9LT

Price per night: from £250

The posh 19 bedroom Amberley Castle is a 900-year-old castle. Surrounded by 12 acres of gardens, it stands in the village of Amberley. Built in the 12th century as a manor house, they fortified it in 1377, giving the house a rhomboid-shaped stonework. The Castle features high curtain walls, internal towers, a gateway and a hall.

Initially used by the bishops of Chichester, it’s now a privately owned hotel. Nestled in the Sussex countryside, the rooms are uniquely designed and furnished with fine fabrics and antiques. The linen are crisp white and laid on Vispring beds to guarantee comfort and good night sleep. Each room benefits from complimentary fluffy robes, slippers, bath lotions, free WiFi and more.

On the castle’s first floor, you’ll find the Queen’s room with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and the Great Room with its high lancet windows and oak flooring. Open from 12.30pm to 9.00pm, the restaurants have a long-held reputation for delivering sumptuous cuisine. You can order afternoon tea, desserts, meals and wine.

With one of Amberley Castle’s dining and drinking gift vouchers, you can treat a special someone to a great evening.

9. Bovey Castle

Location: Dartmoor National Park, North Bovey, Newton Abbot TQ13 8RE

Price per night: from £229

The Bovey Castle is an award-winning hotel. Nestled in the valleys of Dartmoor national park, the hotel stands within 275 acres of beautiful countryside. First opened as a hotel and golf resort by Great Western Railways, it has 60 rooms and 22 self-catering country lodges.

In the 1990s, Peter de Savary bought and refurbished the hotel, renaming it Bovey Castle. He later sold it to the Rigby Group Plc in 2014. The main building is in Jacobean style with a Great Hall. The interior features panelled rooms with carved features. In the hotel’s elegant rooms, guests can stay in style. The rooms are currently located in the main hotel and private mews buildings.

Each room has a modern en-suite shower room, double bed, and stunning views of the private courtyard or woodland. All rooms are usually serviced by housekeeping after every third night.

There are two dining options – the Great Western Restaurant and the Smith’s Brasserie. The restaurants are perfect for fine dining and provide a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere. Meals served at the restaurants are always prepared using local fresh produce from Dartmoor. In addition, guests can indulge in a selection of teas, sandwiches, cakes and other meals.

10. Studley Castle

Location: Hardwick Ln, Studley B80 7AJ

Price per night: from £89

Studley Castle is an upscale hotel situated at Studley, Warwickshire. The Lyttelton family once owned the 19th-century manor house. Francis Lyttelton Holyoake, the high Sherrif, inherited Ribston Hall and sold it to finance a new mansion at Studley.

The new country house, designed in Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1836. This building was never used as a castle. However, Studley College occupied it between 1903 and the early 1960s. It became a training and marketing centre for Rover, the automotive brand, and later converted into a £50 million hotel and opened in April 2019.

As the newest member of Warner Leisure Hotels, Studley Castle has over 200 rooms. Arranged across four locations, guests have the choice of historic suites. The 156 Studley rooms are classically designed with king-sized beds and bathrooms.

Many have a patio or private balcony overlooking Warwickshires fields. In addition, there are 24 Castle Rooms in the 1830s built castle. Spread over three floors, they are individually designed. Some have roomy lounges while others offer countryside views.

Besides stunning views, the hotel is synonymous with great food and drink. Guests have the choice of two restaurants and a variety of bars and lounges.

11. Leeds Castle

Location: Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL

Price per night: from £95

Leeds Castle is one of the loveliest castles globally. It’s built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len. Constructed in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur, the first simple stronghold served as a military post. This was during the time of Norman intrusions into England. In the 13th century, the Castle went into the hands of King Edward (I). It became his favourite residence and later used by Henry VIII as a home for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Leeds Castle boasts of holiday cottages situated across the stunning 500-acre estate. Surrounded by woodland scenery, the historic cottages include:

Weir Cottage
The Oast
Keeper’s House
River Lodge
Knights Cottage and more.

A stay in the cottage entitles you to entry to the grounds. You can eat at the restaurants and explore the grounds in the evening once they close the gates to day visitors.

There are plenty of activities to keep the children entertained. They include Adventure gold, Knights’ stronghold playgrounds, Squires’ court or the underground grotto. Adults can enjoy a stroll through the castle grounds or a game of golf.

12. Ryde Castle Hotel

Location: Esplanade, Ryde PO33 1JA

Price per night: from £90

Book your staycation at the majestic Ryde Castle Hotel. Built by Henry VIII to defend against the Spanish Invasion, this stately Victorian house has 18 refurbished bedrooms. Some of the rooms offer fantastic views of the sea while others have four-poster beds. However, all are inviting.

They have fabulous decor, a private bathroom and all the essentials that promise a restful sleep every night. The Ryde Castle Hotel serves a hearty selection of pub classics. You can relax with a glass of fine wine or real ale while feasting on sizzling steaks, succulent burgers and other dishes.

When staying at Ryde Castle Hotel, you will wake up to a tasty Full English or continental breakfast to energize you for the day ahead. There are plenty of things to do and many sights around the hotel.

You can visit the Brading Roman Villa, Newtown Nature Reserve, Cowings Sailing Regatta and the Osbourne House. Other places you can visit include the Quarr Abbey, the Wight Military and Heritage Museum and the lovely Ryde beach.

13. Cave Castle Hotel

Location: Church Hill, South Cave, Brough HU15 2EU

Price per night: from £83

Nestled among acres of manicured lawns, woodland and parkland is Cave Castle Hotel. Henry Boldero Barnard built the castle in 1875. The house remained in his family from 1748 to 1925 and still retains its original stone features, turrets and charm. It’s said that John Washington, the great grandfather of George Washington, lived on the estate before emigrating to America.

As one of the finest hotels in East Yorkshire, it’s a beautiful Victorian manor house with more than 71 bedrooms. Each room is individually designed with a mix of traditional and contemporary décor. The hotel offers accommodation for all, and you’re sure to get a wonderful sleep no matter the room you stay in.

Cave Castle Hotel has an 18 hole golf course which guests can use at discounted rates.

14. The Castle

Location: Castle Grn, Taunton TA1 1NF

Price per night: from £116

The Castle in Taunton has its origins in the Anglo Saxon period. Built to defend the town of Taunton by William Giffard in 1129, the Grade 2 listed landmark is now a hotel run by the Chapman family. The hotel boasts 44 bedrooms, each with its own personality and comfort.

Each room varies in size and design. The Castle suite is spacious with king-sized beds, a walk-in bathroom and a shower. With a sofa bed and velvet armchairs, these rooms have everything you need for your stay. The Castle Suite is perfect for family getaways or couples on a romantic break.

The hotel has Garden rooms that have double aspect gothic windows and offer views of the Norman garden. They are traditionally decorated in the English country style with sprawling king-sized beds. Besides great rooms, the hotel has an award-winning kitchen. Guests can order freshly baked pastries, working lunches, afternoon tea and dinner.