Best Staycations
20 February 2026
There is a particular thrill that comes with sleeping inside castle walls. The knowledge that centuries of history surround you, that the stone beneath your fingertips has witnessed sieges and feasts, coronations and quiet winter evenings by the fire. Britain is home to thousands of castles, but only a handful have been reimagined as places where you can actually lay your head for the night. These are not museums with ropes across the doorways. They are living, breathing hotels where the past has been woven into something genuinely luxurious.
We have spent months visiting castle hotels across England, Scotland, and Wales to find the ones truly worth the journey. What follows is our honest assessment of where to stay if sleeping in a castle is on your list, along with practical advice on what to expect, what to pack, and how to make the most of it.
Why Castle Hotels Are Worth the Splurge
The appeal of a castle hotel goes beyond novelty. These are properties that cannot be replicated. No developer can build a new Norman keep or a thirteenth-century tower house. Every castle hotel is, by definition, unique. The walls are thick, the windows are often mullioned, the staircases spiral in ways that modern building regulations would never permit. There is a romance to it that even the finest contemporary hotel cannot match.
That said, castle hotels are not for everyone. The rooms can be draughty. The corridors are sometimes labyrinthine. Mobile phone signal may be patchy at best. But for those who appreciate history, architecture, and a sense of occasion, there is nothing quite like it.
The Best Castle Hotels in Britain
Roch Castle Hotel, Pembrokeshire
Perched on a volcanic crag overlooking St Brides Bay, Roch Castle is a twelfth-century Norman fortress that has been transformed into one of the most striking small hotels in Wales. With just six suites, it feels more like staying in a private home than a hotel. The interiors are contemporary and restrained, letting the architecture do the talking. Floor-to-ceiling windows have been cut into the ancient walls, framing views across the Pembrokeshire coast that are genuinely breathtaking. The castle sits within easy reach of some of the finest beaches in Britain, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path passes close by. Breakfast is superb, served in a vaulted dining room that dates back to the twelfth century.
Thornbury Castle, Cotswolds
Thornbury holds a singular distinction in English history: it is the only Tudor castle to operate as a hotel. Henry VIII stayed here with Anne Boleyn in 1535, and you can sleep in the very bedchamber they occupied. The castle is surrounded by the oldest Tudor garden in England, and the restaurant serves estate-grown produce in a setting of genuine grandeur. The rooms vary enormously in character, from the intimate Tower Room to the expansive Duke's Bedchamber, but all share that unmistakable sense of sleeping somewhere that genuinely matters.
Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Scottish Highlands
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Ben Nevis, Inverlochy is perhaps the most celebrated castle hotel in Scotland. Queen Victoria stayed here in 1873 and wrote in her diary that she never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot. The hotel has maintained that standard ever since. The Great Hall, with its frescoed ceiling and roaring fire, sets the tone. Bedrooms are decorated in rich tartans and antiques, and the dining room holds a Michelin star. It is expensive, certainly, but Inverlochy delivers an experience that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world.
Amberley Castle, South East
Hidden behind its massive curtain walls in the South Downs, Amberley Castle is a medieval fortress that dates to 1103. The portcullis still works. The twelve-foot walls still stand. And yet inside, the hotel is comfortable, warm, and beautifully appointed. The twelve-acre grounds include a croquet lawn, an eighteen-hole putting green, and gardens that bloom with abandon in summer. The restaurant, set in a barrel-vaulted dining room, is exceptional. Amberley succeeds because it takes its history seriously without making it feel like a museum.
Langley Castle, Northumberland
A fourteenth-century tower house set in ten acres of Northumberland woodland, Langley Castle offers genuine medieval atmosphere at more accessible prices than some of its southern counterparts. The walls are seven feet thick in places, and original features including a chapel, spiral staircases, and window seats set into deep embrasures have been preserved throughout. The castle sits close to Hadrian's Wall, making it an excellent base for exploring one of Britain's most significant Roman sites.
Swinton Park, Yorkshire
Swinton Park is a castle estate on a grand scale. The ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family sits in two hundred acres of parkland, lakes, and deer-grazed pastures on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. The castle dates to the seventeenth century, with additions in virtually every subsequent era, giving it a pleasingly eclectic character. The cooking school, which uses produce from the four-acre walled garden, is a particular highlight. Rooms range from the intimate to the baronial, and the spa is housed in a converted Georgian stable block.
Rowton Castle, Shropshire
A seventeenth-century castle set in seventeen acres of gardens and grounds, Rowton Castle offers a more intimate castle experience. The interiors blend period features with contemporary comfort, and the restaurant makes good use of local Shropshire produce. The castle is well positioned for exploring the Welsh Marches, with Shrewsbury, Ludlow, and the Long Mynd all within easy reach.
Ruthin Castle, North Wales
Set within the ruins of a thirteenth-century fortress, Ruthin Castle Hotel occupies a later building within the original walls. The medieval banquets held in the vaulted undercroft are theatrical and entertaining, if not exactly subtle. But the castle's position, overlooking the Vale of Clwyd with the Clwydian Range beyond, is undeniably romantic. The spa, set within the castle grounds, is a welcome addition.
Bovey Castle, Devon
Strictly speaking, Bovey Castle is a country house built in the early twentieth century rather than a true castle, but its scale, setting, and ambition earn it a place on this list. The estate covers sixty-five acres of Dartmoor National Park, with its own golf course, falconry centre, and extensive outdoor activities. The rooms are grand without being stuffy, and the dining options range from formal to relaxed. It is particularly well suited to families who want the castle experience without sacrificing modern amenities.
Castle House, Herefordshire
A Georgian townhouse rather than a fortress, Castle House takes its name from its position beside the ruins of Hereford Castle. It earns its place here through the quality of its accommodation and dining. The restaurant holds a long-standing reputation as one of the finest in the Welsh Marches, and the rooms are decorated with an understated elegance that feels entirely appropriate for a property of this calibre.
What to Expect from a Castle Hotel Stay
Castle hotels vary enormously, but certain things are consistent. Walls tend to be thick, which means rooms are quiet but can be cool, even in summer. Bring layers. Staircases are often narrow and spiral, which adds character but can present challenges for heavy luggage. Most castle hotels have limited room numbers, which means service tends to be personal and attentive.
Dining is frequently a highlight. Many castle hotels have invested heavily in their restaurants, and the combination of historic surroundings and ambitious cooking can make for a memorable evening.
Do not expect uniformity. Each castle is different, and that is precisely the point. The best castle hotels embrace their quirks rather than trying to smooth them away.
Planning Your Castle Hotel Break
Book well in advance, particularly for weekends and school holidays. Many castle hotels have fewer than twenty rooms, and the best ones fill up quickly. Most offer dinner, bed, and breakfast packages that represent better value than booking each element separately.
Consider midweek stays, which are often significantly cheaper and come with the bonus of quieter surroundings. Some castle hotels also run special events, from murder mystery weekends to historical tours, that are worth investigating.
The drive is often part of the experience. Most castle hotels are set in the countryside, approached along tree-lined drives or perched on hilltops with commanding views. Allow extra time to arrive in daylight if you can, because the first glimpse of a castle at the end of a long drive is one of the great pleasures of British travel.
