You can stay at a fairytale English castle once home to famous king – with tower suites and UK’s largest four-poster bed
Acting royalty like Sophia Loren and Laurence Olivier attended parties at the castle before it was transformed into a hotel
YOU can live your dream of being a prince or princess by renting a castle in the UK – where you can sleep in the tower suites.
Located in Gloucestershire, Thornbury Castle has a gruesome tale of beheadings – although nowadays visitors are treated like royalty.
Built in the 1500s, the castle has housed kings, queens and dukes, including the likes of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn.
The Gloucestershire-based castle opened as a hotel in 2019 and is thought to be the only Tudor castle open as a hotel in England.
Photos from inside the castle reveal a series of atmospheric rooms complete with original medieval features including stone walls, carved ceilings and tapestries.
There are said to be 27 bookable bedrooms at the hotel, including the Catherine of Aragon Tower Suite.
The blue and gold-themed suite sits at the top of a 77-step spiral staircase and features the largest four-poster bed in any hotel in the UK.
History buffs will want to book a stay inside the Henry VII Suite, which is said to be the very room where Henry VII and Anne Boleyn went on their honeymoon.
The Castle Suites, the Henry VII Suite and the Jane Seymour Suite are just as opulent too.
The kitchen has been awarded 3AA rosettes, with a choice of dining options available.
Visitors celebrating a special occasion can book a six-course tasting menu from £95 per person.
Afternoon tea is also served at Thornbury Castle as well as A-la Carte dining.
Set in 15 acres of land, Thornbury Castle is home to several garden areas where guests can stroll, including The Rose Garden, the Kitchen and Herb Garden and the Privy Garden and Labyrinth.
Prices start from around £220 per night.
The castle has a 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from more than 700 reviews, with one person writing: “This was an amazing experience.
“We walked the grounds, played croquet, our imagination was alight with thinking of the things that went on here over the centuries!”
Another person added: “This place is stunning, the rooms are amazing and absolutely spotless.”
The earliest account of the existence of Thornbury Castle was in the time of King Athelstan (925 – 940), who was the grandson of King Alfred the Great.
Humphrey Stafford lived at Thornbury at the start of the 15th century and was made the 1st Duke of Buckingham in 1444.
After Humphrey’s death at the Battle of Northampton in 1460, the property fell into the hands of his son, Henry Stafford, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham.
The duke helped place Richard III on the throne and was made Constable of England as a reward.
However, in 1483 after being summoned to visit King Richard, instead of accepting the invitation the Duke started to gather troops in Wales with the intention of leading them across the Severn.
The uprising was unsuccessful and the Duke had to seek refuge but he was soon captured thanks to a £1,000 bounty on his head, and he was beheaded in Salisbury without trial.
The castle was also used by Henry and Anne Boleyn before Mary Tudor spent many years at the property, returning it to the descendants of the Duke upon her death in 1554.
Acting royalty have also visited Thornbury Castle, with one of its previous owners putting on parties that stars such as Sophia Loren and Laurence Olivier attended.
What is it like to stay at a castle?
SUN Travel’s Hope Brotherton stayed at Warwick Castle this year after the West Midlands-based castle opened a new on-site hotel, here’s what she thought…
If you really want to relax, then you might want to spend a night at the newly-opened , where history, literature, myths and legends all seamlessly collide to create a fun-filled family-friendly overnight stay.
Entering the lobby, we’re met by a huge and mighty animatronic knight on horseback towering over us.
Suddenly, the seemingly ordinary pictures mounted onto the surrounding walls burst into life, firmly instructing us to attempt to pull the sword from the stone that lays at the knight’s feet.
It’s Arthurian folklore with a touch of Harry Potter thrown in – and it paves the way for a truly magical stay from the moment we arrive.
Set within the 64-acre fortress grounds, the new hotel has 60 rooms, designed specifically for families that bring history to life (literally).
Medieval motifs, like a coat of arms, a pair of crossed swords and tapestry-inspired artwork decorate the walls.
Each room comes equipped with a comfy double bed, a set of bunk beds and a small travel cot with plenty of family-friendly touches, including ample room for pushchairs in the entryway and heaps of storage space.
Other practical features include a desk area with a vanity mirror, USB and USB-C charging points next to the plug sockets, a tea and coffee station and a wall-mounted telly.
The castle theme runs throughout every element, even in the en-suite bathroom where tapestry-like pictures cover the walls.
And outside of the bedrooms, even more myth and mystery awaits.
Down by the river, there’s a whole host of activities for little ones to get stuck into including a tiny training camp for knights where they can learn tactical defence skills with a sword.
I was delighted when I bagged a bullseye at the archery station on my first go – although the arrows went flying past on my following attempts.
While the entertainment is largely geared towards younger guests, adults are still catered for at the outdoor Warwick Barrel Bar, serving lagers and IPA on draft as well as canned Pimms and G&Ts or soft drinks.
When you’ve worked up an evening appetite, hotel guests can head to the Knight’s Village, a medieval banquet hall with a carvery buffet station – there’s also pots of pasta and hash brown bites, for pickier eaters.
Meanwhile, these are some of the most popular castle stays that can be booked in the UK.
And here are some bizarre holiday homes from around the world that people can rent.
