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Best Castle Stays in England in 2023

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English Castle Hotels – But First, a Little Background for the History Lovers!

Castles have a long history in England. Defensive hill-forts were common in the time of the Celts then later the Romans and Anglo Saxons but the first solid stone castle structures came with the Norman invasions in the late 11th century.

Norman Era

These first rudimentary examples were classic Motte and Bailey structures often built mainly with timber.

These first English castles could be constructed, and destroyed, relatively quickly, and by the 13th century, the by then fully established Normans had replaced the majority of them with more solid stone structures.

These castles became crucial to the subjugation of native populations at the fringes of their power and to the defence of their territory.

Within the next few centuries, they would become a standard feature of military conflict, not only in England but all over Europe.

Tudor Period

Many of England’s most impressive castles were built in the Tudor period (1485 to 1603), and by Henry VIII in particular, when the Royals lived in constant fear of invasion from the continent.

Not long after their reign ended though, in the 1600s, advances in cannon technology lead to them being proven as vulnerable in various conflicts throughout Europe.

The End for Castles

English castles were last properly put to work during the Civil War of 1642 and there too they were far too often breached.

That war’s end lead to a period of peace in England during and after which castles generally had one of three fates: to be converted into aristocratic stately homes/manor houses, to be knocked to the ground, and a manor house built in their place, or to be deserted and left to fall into ruin.

Victorian Era

There are still many examples in England of relatively intact medieval castles that retain remnants of their ancient defensive structures but there are many more that are in fact Victorian and Georgian era castle follies.

These castle follies, grand stately homes usually built in the Neo-Gothic style, often on the site of a more ancient preceding structure, were all the rage in the 19th century.

They adopted many old castle defensive and aesthetic features but only for the sake of appearances.

Our Choices

Our choices for the best castle hotels in England include authentic medieval defensive castles, Neo-Gothic follies, and manor houses, and they’ve all got plenty of individual history for you to discover.

Most are child/family friendly, many are pet friendly, some have both B&B and self-catering accommodation, and a few are 5 Star luxury castles with a whole range of top hotel features like spa facilities, swimming pool, golf courses, etc.


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    • Thornbury.castle.from_.church.arp_.750pix

    Thornbury Castle Hotel

    Category: B&B Castle Hotels, Family Friendly Castle Stays, and Dog/Pet Friendly Castle Stays
    Address: Thornbury Castle Hotel
    Thornbury
    South Gloucestershire
    BS35 1HH
    United Kingdom
    Most Famous Guests: King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn. Thornbury Castle Hotel is a true luxury B&B retreat at the edge of the South Gloucestershire Cotswolds, and one of the finest examples in England of a genuine, immaculately preserved, Tudor castle. You can soak up history with a stroll through the castle itself and its beautifully tended grounds which include, surprisingly enough, a 500 year old vineyard, or treat yourself to a massage in the privacy of your own bedchamber and also enjoy some of the Cotswold’s very best food at the castle restaurant. THE ACCOMMODATION: The castle has 27 rooms in total ranging from classic baronial style bedchambers to some quite lovely superior and deluxe rooms and suites, as well as a cute two bedroom annex cottage in the castle yard. Check your options on the booking page here. Most of the beds are four poster or coronet in style and you’ll find period features throughout, including, in some rooms, an old style fireplace. Their bathrooms are suitably luxurious too and all in all no modern comforts are spared. FACILITIES & THINGS TO DO:   The castle has plenty of common areas; opulent old style sitting rooms and of course READ MORE
                 
   

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