Certain experiences consistently make it to the majority of people’s bucket lists, and I would argue that staying in a castle hotel is definitely one of them!
Recently, I had the opportunity to stay at Thornbury Castle – the only Tudor Castle Hotel in England – and I don’t think I could’ve ticked this experience off my bucket list in any better way.
Located only 30 minutes north of Bristol, Thornbury Castle preserves its 16th-century charm while providing all the modern amenities and comforts expected today (it is a Relais & Châteaux property, after all). To top it off, it is known that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed here as part of their honeymoon tour!
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First impressions: 5/5
I’ll admit that it would be very difficult for a stay like this to disappoint on first impressions. After all, you arrive at a real historical castle and get to stay inside – without any roped off artefacts, or special ticketed zones!
Once inside, the castle grounds and the interior of the building itself keep up the immersive illusion of this 500-year travel back in time, preserving its Tudor heritage and regal grandeur.
From the stone walls to the wood panelling and intricately-crafted curtains, tapestry, and carpets; nothing in the castle’s halls and common areas falls short of opulent. The courtyard and the gardens felt very intimate and peaceful too, as the castle hotel only houses 27 bedchambers.
A total dream for the history buffs, I would say!
Rooms: 4.75/5
To add to the magic, Thornbury Castle only houses 27 rooms, and each bedchamber is uniquely named and decorated. Our Superior Deluxe Castle Suite was named after Catherine Howard (Henry VIII’s fifth wife) and included a small frame with an excerpt about her life story, which I found to be a very special touch.
To say that the room reveal was mind-blowing, is an understatement.
Though there are ground-level rooms, our Castle Suite was located on the first floor, facing the inner gateway on one side and the entrance courtyard on the other. To access it, we climbed a spiral stone staircase leading to our heavy, wooden room door (the staff carried our luggage for us).
Upon turning the skeleton key, a warm light revealed itself, shining from the windows into the opulently-decorated room with bright red and gold accents. WOW.
The four-poster bed immediately jumped out to me – something I usually see in museums, and which felt like it should be behind a rope – except I would be sleeping on it tonight. Plus, it boasts a carving of the Howard family crest on the wooden panel. Am I dreaming?
Other authentic details keeping the magic alive are the exposed stone walls, the fireplace, and the stunning ornate ceiling. A delicious complimentary bottle of local sloe gin literally left a sweet taste in my mouth from the start.
If I had to nitpick anything about the room, I would probably point to the TV and the modern appliances on display. I know… this is the 21st century, and modern appliances are part of the modern comforts that guests expect in hotels.
However, when most of the magic of staying in a castle hotel is to be immersed in another era, the sight of a modern TV right opposite the four-poster bed creates some dissonance.
A constructive suggestion could be to conceal the TV in a double-door cabinet, out of immediate sight yet easily accessible, should guests wish to use it.
Food and drink: 5/5
Thornbury Castle has one onsite restaurant, which has been awarded 3AA rosettes and 4 red stars for the quality of its food and dining service. The Castle also prides itself in its own kitchen and herb garden as a source of fresh ingredients for use in the restaurant.
The restaurant is open to non-guests, subject to reservation in advance. Dining options include 6-course tastings with drinks pairing options, and a 3-course dinner menu. Although we didn’t try the Afternoon Tea this time, we did indulge in the 3-course dinner. Of course, we also enjoyed breakfast on the morning of our stay.
I can confirm that the food at Thornbury Castle meets the level expected of the type of establishment. After a poor dining experience in London the same week of our stay, Thornbury’s restaurant reminded me of what good culinary execution is meant to taste and feel like for the price point.
I selected vegetable and fish dishes, while my partner leaned towards the meat options. The pea soup with crème fraiche and mint, not only packed layers of flavour depth and contrast, but also felt velvety and light. The fish dish had plenty of texture, keeping each bite fun and flavourful between the halibut, clams, and mussels mingling with the salted cod mash.
My partner and I always share dessert, and we both agreed that the vanilla and strawberry cheesecake was a good choice. For the second dessert, we asked the server for their suggestion, and he pointed us to the mango cremeux. Clearly a top choice, as the first bite into the gellified mango pillow launched an explosion of flavour on my taste buds. Incredibly delicious!
Breakfast the morning after offered good classic continental and à la carte options. Along with dairy-free and lactose-free milks (always a must for me as I’m lactose-intolerant), there is also a vegan breakfast menu available.
Given the setting, my partner saw it fitting to order a small charcuterie and cheese plate, and a Full English Breakfast – which featured Cotswold pork sausages and Stornoway black pudding. I, on the other hand, leaned towards the fish and enjoyed a serving of Eggs Royale. We also had tea, coffee, and bread, accompanied by Wilkin & Sons jam and marmalade (the late Queen’s favourite brand).
Service and comfort: 4.75/5
Staying in a 500-year-old castle might sound like an adventurous experience. Doesn’t it feel cold, chilly, spooky,… haunted? Not this one!
I have to hand it to Thornbury Castle for the renovations and restoration work of the castle – there was never a moment where we felt less comfortable than at any other 5-star hotel we could’ve stayed at.
Admittedly, our stay was at the very end of August and we were blessed with pleasant weather, but our room was comfortably warm and dry. The bed, in particular, felt soft as a cloud (and I slept like a baby!).
On the service front, I was greeted with nothing but kindness and promptness to help from the staff. Service over dinner was speedy and very efficient. We found out our server was Portuguese (as I am as well), and he shared that he’s been working at the Castle for nearly ten years with no plans to leave.
I have only not given a perfect score due to slow service over breakfast. The reasons for the service delays weren’t clear to us – and we didn’t ask, as we weren’t in a hurry to leave. However, we overheard a few other guests expressing concerns due to pre-booked activities and other appointments they had to attend. I am happy to write this off as an exception, given we didn’t have any reason to complain throughout the rest of our stay.
To do: 4/5
Staying in a Tudor Castle calls for Tudor activities, and thankfully this castle hotel leaned heavily on its heritage to provide just this.
Small details like indoor Tudor games, such as Tables (nowadays known as Backgammon) are available in the lounge room, free for guests to play. The lounge is inviting enough to spend time on its sofas and upholstered chairs, perusing some of the old books on the shelves, or indulging in Afternoon Tea or drinks.
For the outdoorsy folks, the hotel offers the opportunity to try activities such as croquet on the lawn, archery sessions, or falconry demonstrations. There is also the chance to try on Tudor costumes for a full family photoshoot.
Location: 5/5
As far as location is concerned, Thornbury Castle is very easy to reach. If you have a car, you can drive and even park inside the castle. My partner and I reached the hotel by train and bus from London through Bristol, and it was also very easy to do so as the castle is only a few minutes’ walk from Thornbury’s town centre.
While I consider Thornbury Castle perfect for a one-night stay, those staying for longer have the opportunity to set off and explore the city of Bristol, Bath, or the Cotswolds – all within reach less than an hour’s drive away.
Bottom line
If any of the above doesn’t make it clear enough, I absolutely loved staying at Thornbury Castle, and would love to return.
When considering its history, preservation authenticity, attention to detail, location, and level of comfort and service, I can certainly say that this is a great place to tick “staying in a castle” off your bucket list.
Besides, depending on your dates (weekdays are less expensive), staying in a real castle can be more affordable than you would expect. I consider Thorbury Castle and the entire experience to be very good value for money.
OVERVIEW
Thornbury Castle, Relais & Châteaux
Rooms: 27 bedchambers
Dining: 1 Restaurant
Amenities: Treatment room, Private dining room, Meeting rooms, Tudor Activities
Address: Castle St, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HH, England, United Kingdom
*This review was possible as part of a press stay with Thornbury Castle. Regardless, as always, all opinions are entirely my own and without bias.
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