Manor Castle Hotels

  • LISTINGS BY COUNTRY
    • Austria
    • Britain
      • England
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    • Czech Republic
    • France
      • Loire Valley
      • South of France
    • Germany
    • Ireland
    • Italy
      • Tuscany
    • Portugal
    • Spain
    • Switzerland
  • BY CATEGORY
    • 5 Star Castle Hotels
    • B&B Castle Hotels
    • Castles to Rent
    • Dog/Pet Friendly Castle Stays
    • Family Friendly Castle Stays
    • Michelin Star Restaurants
    • Self Catering Castle Stays
    • Spa Facilities
  • ALL LISTINGS: MAP SEARCH

Amberley Castle Hotel

August 20, 2019 By Manor Castles

  • Screen Shot 2020 10 11 at 16.12.00 768x527
  • 89906000 768x576
  • p1arstq8kemicm5f1e0v1aau1gv61t 58 768x1152
  • download
  • p1arstq8k62371av214hk159tdema 7 768x1039
  • 89904614 768x530
  • 89905971 768x577
  • 64762364
  • p1arstq8k510dqi401u6gog61m9m5 2 768x1152
  • 89904667 768x576
  • 65410037 768x512
  • p1arstq8kr189c469ca7418555o 181 768x386
  • 89905994
  • 65369919 768x512
  • 65369579 768x512
  • 65369580 768x512
  • 65369680 768x512
  • 14902027
  • 65369700 768x438
  • 89905982 768x512
  • p1arstq8k410mfi17okno41i8i4 1 768x512
  • 65369577 768x480
  • 65369909 768x480
  • 89903791 768x576
  • 89903942 768x512
  • 89903946 768x512
  • 89903952 768x512
  • 89904611 768x554
  • 89903954 768x512
  • 89904333 768x593
  • 89904335 768x512
  • 89904338 768x512
  • 89904344 768x512
  • 89904618 768x556
  • 89904661 768x512
  • 89904663 768x512
  • 89906163
  • 89904673 768x537
  • 89905973 768x524
  • 89905978 768x512
  • 89904670 768x576
  • 89905990

Castle Categories: B&B Castle Hotels and Family Friendly Castle StaysCastle Tags: Best Castle & Manor House Hotels near London, Best Castle Stays in England in 2023, and Best Castle Stays in South East England in 2023

Profile
Photos
Map
Address
Availability & Prices
  • Most famous former guests: King Henry VIII, King Charles II, Queen Elizabeth II.

    The 12th century era Amberley Castle is a unique luxury hotel just south of London, in West Sussex, England with an impeccable historical pedigree. Some of England’s most famous historical figures have passed through its doors and it still retains a huge amount of historical features, including 60 foot high defensive walls, portcullis and moat.

    In its present incarnation as a luxury hotel it offers an immersive historical experience as well top class service and facilities including an 18 hole putting green, tennis courts, a croquet lawn and a famous fine dining restaurant.

    ACCOMMODATION:

    It has a selection of extremely comfortable, nicely decorated rooms and suites divided between the castle itself, and two atmospheric 17th century stone buildings tucked into the castle’s dry moat, known as the Manor House and the Bishopric.

    Most of the rooms and suites are historical in nature, with four poster beds, antique furniture, classic thick velvet curtains and lattice windows, with a few being more modern in style, though never modern enough to make you forget you are staying in a deeply historical building. Tip: If you request a four poster bed on the booking form that will, by default, guarantee you a historic room.

    All the accommodation offers modern conveniences including WiFi, flat screen TV & DVD player, tea & coffee makers facilities etc., and the bathrooms are in general very luxurious and romantic, with nice lighting, deep baths and a generous range of L’Occitane toiletries.

    Note: Amberley is in the ‘family friendly’ category but only children over the age of ten are welcome to stay.

    PRICES:

    Check out all the details – prices, reviews and more photos – on the booking page here.

    FACILITIES & THINGS TO DO:  

    As you will gather from the History section below, the castle has strong royal connections and is a wonderful place to explore. We’d recommend that one of the first things you do is to join one of their daily guided tours which include lunch or afternoon tea, then afterwards, as an overnight guest, you can wander this extraordinary property at your own leisure, to better soak up its unique atmosphere in the quiet of an evening.

    The 12 acre grounds outside add to the historical ambience and are equally wonderful to explore. There are the old castle walls, the (now dry) moat as well as some beautiful Victorian style English gardens. There are tennis courts too, an 18-hole putting course and a croquet lawn.

    The food at Amberley is known to be some of the best in all of Sussex, with the dining area being either the magnificent Queen’s Room, with its 12th century barrel-vaulted ceiling and open fireplace, or the Norman era Great Room with its high lancet windows tapestries and coats of armour.

    Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are available, including a lavish 7 course evening taster menu. Examples of main courses include  guinea fowl with pear, and date and pistachio couscous, and panfried sea bass with baby fennel, saffron and champagne sauce. A separate vegetarian (though not vegan) menu is also available, with choices like wild mushroom risotto, and quail egg tartlet with truffle and pea purée.

    It is very much a fine dining and the atmosphere is undeniably formal; the dress code demands, at the very least, smart casual wear, and certainly no shorts or trainers. Snacks, mainly canapés, can be had throughout the day though in the castle lounge or on the terrace outside, as well as very enjoyable afternoon teas, and various drinks.

    LOCATION:

    The castle is in the lovely little village of the same name; Amberley, Sussex, which has a railway station with connections to London, Gatwick Airport as well as Arundel, Bury, Chichester, Littlehampton, Worthing and Brighton.

    Getting there from London by car is also very straightforward being about 60 miles to the south west of the city via the A3, the A283 and finally the B2139, passing through the lovely South Downs National Park along the way.

    A LITTLE HISTORY:

    Historical records show that the site on which Amberley Castle now stands was granted to the See of Selsey by Cædwalla of Wessex in AD 683, with the first recording of a structure at the site being a timber lodge built in 1103 by the Bishop of Chichester, Ralph de Luffa.

    The estate would be in the possession of the Bishops of Chichester for centuries with the building being replaced and upgraded several times. A stone hall replaced the timber lodge around 40 years later under Bishop Seffrid I, and in 1200 this was extended by his successor, Bishop Seffrid II. Further enhancements were made by the Bishop John Langton in the early 14th century including the construction of the Great Hall.

    In 1377 Bishop William Reade had this newly constructed Great Hall upgraded and fortified the entire site with the addition of 40 foot walls, a gatehouse and an oubliette type dungeon. Bishop Robert Sherborne was the last Bishop of Chichester to occupy the castle when he died in 1536.

    In 1526 it had the honour, if that is the word, of hosting King Henry VIII, there reportedly to seek preliminarily advice on the chances of an annulment from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, due to her inability to produce a male heir. Reports say the signals from Amberley were not positive but, undeterred, Henry went on to petition the Pope in Rome. When again the idea was rejected Henry, very famously, severed links with the Catholic Church and declared himself Supreme Head of the new, Protestant, ‘Church of England.’

    From 1536 onwards Amberley, though still officially in the Bishopric’s possession, would be leased out to various tenants over the years. In the English Civil War a Royalist tenant at Amberley lead to Oliver Cromwell ordering his General, William Waller, to attack and capture it. This he did, reportedly knocking some 20 feet off the defensive walls and destroying the Great Hall in the process. The castle was then forcibly sold on before being restored to the Bishop after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. In the same year Amberley, and the Bishop, would receive a morale boosting visit from King Charles II.

    REVIEWS:

    “This may be the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. Stunning! The building and gardens are stunning and the albino peacock was an added bonus! Beautiful! We were upgraded to a junior suite as it was our wedding anniversary which was lovely. The private access to the battlements from an old door in our bathroom was a fab surprise! The food was amazing – my husband wanted the tasting menu so the chef created a vegetarian tasting menu for me so we could eat together. We will definitely be back :)”

    “The experience of staying in the castle is really unforgettable. The lounge and the library with open fires have a truly historic feeling with fantastic stone mullioned windows. The staff were very attentive and went out of their way to make the stay most memorable. The dinner and breakfast were brilliant in a wood paneled dining room. A stay is highly recommended. You will not be disappointed….”

    >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO CHOOSE YOUR ROOM OR SUITE AT AMBERLEY CASTLE:


     

    Location Category:

    UK

    Castle Hotels in England

    Castle Hotels in S.E. England

    Castle Hotels near London

    • Screen Shot 2020 10 11 at 16.12.00 768x527
    • 89906000 768x576
    • p1arstq8kemicm5f1e0v1aau1gv61t 58 768x1152
    • download
    • p1arstq8k62371av214hk159tdema 7 768x1039
    • 89904614 768x530
    • 89905971 768x577
    • 64762364
    • p1arstq8k510dqi401u6gog61m9m5 2 768x1152
    • 89904667 768x576
    • 65410037 768x512
    • p1arstq8kr189c469ca7418555o 181 768x386
    • 89905994
    • 65369919 768x512
    • 65369579 768x512
    • 65369580 768x512
    • 65369680 768x512
    • 14902027
    • 65369700 768x438
    • 89905982 768x512
    • p1arstq8k410mfi17okno41i8i4 1 768x512
    • 65369577 768x480
    • 65369909 768x480
    • 89903791 768x576
    • 89903942 768x512
    • 89903946 768x512
    • 89903952 768x512
    • 89904611 768x554
    • 89903954 768x512
    • 89904333 768x593
    • 89904335 768x512
    • 89904338 768x512
    • 89904344 768x512
    • 89904618 768x556
    • 89904661 768x512
    • 89904663 768x512
    • 89906163
    • 89904673 768x537
    • 89905973 768x524
    • 89905978 768x512
    • 89904670 768x576
    • 89905990
  • No Records Found

    Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.

    Google Map Not Loaded

    Sorry, unable to load Google Maps API.

  • Church St, Amberley, Arundel
    Horsham
    West Sussex
    BN18 9LT
    United Kingdom
  • Click here to enter dates & check prices.

Recently Viewed:

   

BOOK NOW 

THE VERY LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEED FOR AMBERLEY CASTLE HOTEL:

Click here to reveal prices, availability & reviews at:

Castle Hotel at booking.com

Category: B&B Castle Hotels and Family Friendly Castle Stays
Some Facilities:
  • Sports Activities
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi
  • TV
Click here to enter dates & check prices.
Address: Church St, Amberley, Arundel
Horsham
West Sussex
BN18 9LT
United Kingdom

No Records Found

Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.

Google Map Not Loaded

Sorry, unable to load Google Maps API.

OTHER LISTINGS NEARBY:

    • 29704698 768x512

    Gravetye Manor House Hotel

    39.31 km
    Category: B&B Castle Hotels and Michelin Star Restaurants
    Address: Vowels Lane
    East Grinstead
    West Sussex
    RH19 4LJ
    United Kingdom
    Most famous former guests: Queen Mary, Gertrude Jekyll.  The 400 year old Gravetye is a gorgeous 17 room boutique manor house hotel near East Grinstead, Sussex, Gatwick Airport and just 30 miles from central London. It is surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of peaceful countryside including some deservedly famous Victorian era gardens, and it has one of Sussex’s very finest restaurants, the Michelin Starred ‘Dining Room Restaurant’. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have 17 classically styled en-suite rooms and suites at Gravetye all of which are plush and inviting with super comfortable beds, deluxe soft fabrics, antique furniture, quirky period features and soothing colours and floral patterns all around. They range from small single rooms through superior, classic, deluxe and luxury doubles and, largest of all, double suites which have a separate lounge area. Except for the single rooms they all are spacious, with the largest of the doubles, the luxury doubles being not much smaller than the more expensive suites, and so perhaps offer better value. Check your options on the booking page here.  They all come with garden views and the gardens here are among the most famous in England. Designed in 1885 by its former owner, and one of READ MORE
                 
    • 92215390

    Hever Castle Hotel

    55.21 km
    Category: B&B Castle Hotels, Family Friendly Castle Stays, and Self Catering Castle Stays
    Address: Hever Castle & Gardens
    Hever
    Kent
    TN8 7NG
    United Kingdom
    Most Famous Former Guests: Queen Anne Boleyn, Queen Anne of Cleves. Hever Castle Hotel near London in the Garden County of Kent, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife and the mother of Elizabeth I, putting it right in the top league of England‘s historically meaningful properties, and perhaps at the very top of historically meaningful properties that you can actually stay at. Now before you start to imagine waking up in Anne Boleyn’s bedroom, it must be pointed out that that though the double moated castle dates back to the 13th Century their 28 B&B rooms are set in two Edwardian era extensions. That being said though, as a guest at Hever you are also allowed exclusive access to the castle itself, right up until midnight each day. Named the Astor Wing and Anne Boleyn Wing, these two Edwardian extensions were built in 1903, in a tasteful mock Tudor style by the then castle owner, William Waldorf Astor, as extra accommodation for friends and family. Each wing comes with its own dining and lounge area and they and the rooms display a strong sense of the past with some gorgeous antique furniture, old tapestries and art pieces READ MORE
                 
    • 53015545 768x479

    Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor

    65.09 km
    Category: B&B Castle Hotels, Castle Spa Hotels, Family Friendly Castle Stays, and Dog/Pet Friendly Castle Stays
    Address: Windsor Rd, Water Oakley
    Windsor
    Berkshire
    SL4 5UR
    United Kingdom
    Most Famous Former Guests: Prince Imperial Napoléon, Lilly Langtry, Christopher Lee. Perhaps Windsor’s most famous hotel, the luxury Oakley Court is a fabulous Neo-Gothic castle hotel on the banks of the River Thames. It has a quite palpable, brooding Gothic atmosphere, something that lead to it being the set of many movies and TV series; The Rocky Horror Picture Show, various Hammer House of Horrors films and The Hound of the Baskervilles to name but a few. The setting by the Thames, in lovely Windsor, near London, can not be beaten and it has 33 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland to explore, as well as a nine hole golf course, tennis courts, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, and a very fine restaurant. ACCOMMODATION: They have a choice of rooms graded, and priced, as standard, luxury or executive, and a number of larger suites with separate seating areas. They are all spacious and beautifully appointed with most of them being in the relatively modern annex adjacent to the castle. If you want something more traditional then go for the Mansion House Rooms; these are in the original castle building and are more old fashioned in style. READ MORE
                 
    • lanesborough hotel 768x446

    Lanesborough House, Hyde Park Corner

    71.35 km
    Category: 5 Star Castle Hotels, B&B Castle Hotels, Castle Spa Hotels, Family Friendly Castle Stays, Michelin Star Restaurants, and Dog/Pet Friendly Castle Stays
    Address: Hyde Park Corner, St. James's
    Westminister
    Greater London
    SW1X 7TA
    United Kingdom
    The Lanesborough, on Hyde Park Corner, has perhaps London’s most prestigious address and consistently appears near the top of any sensible list of that city’s finest luxury hotels, with its double Michelin Starred Céleste Restaurant being an added bonus. A Grade II listed, Neoclassical building, it was built in 1827 during the reign of George IV to replace the previous mansion built by the 2nd Viscount Lanesborough in 1719, when the first King George; George I, was on the throne. The present day hotel is a stunning place, lavishly furnished in late Georgian/Regency style, it offers a level of luxury and class that few hotels in London, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, can match. For all its opulence though what also makes the Lanesborough stand out is its surprisingly down to earth, friendly ambience. THE ACCOMMODATION: The Lanesborough has 93 rooms and 43 suites to choose from, with la crème de la crème being the incredibly opulent, 363 m² – 3900 square feet, Lanesborough Suite. All the rooms and suites are doubles though an extra bed can also be provided if needed. The interior design at the Lanesborough, both in the accommodation and throughout the hotel READ MORE
                 
View all

ABOUT US:

About Manor Castles

CONTACT US:

info @ manorcastles.com 

COVID-19:

Covid-19 Help Center

LEGAL STUFF:

Terms & Conditions-Privacy Policy

In Partnership With:

English Heritage & Manor Castles

Copyright © 2018-2022 manorcastles.com | All rights reserved

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!