Thornbury Castle and Restaurant
Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn honeymooned here
Arriving at Thornbury Castle is a regal affair…
I passed through a chocolate box village, alongside a Victorian gatehouse, up a sweeping driveway and under the arch of the main castle into the courtyard. There’s no parking in a far-off carpark and dragging your cases half a mile to your digs, your immersion in the world of Tudor hospitality starts the moment you alight from your vehicle, right next to the castle.
Beginning my two-day historic idyl at a Tudor castle once owned by Henry VIII was off to a spectacular start. He honeymooned there for 10 days with Anne Boleyn in 1535. Henry’s elder daughter, Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I), also spent time at Thornbury Castle,
Check-in experience
At reception it’s half check-in and half history lesson – both are expertly conveyed. A short rundown of the property’s history and a quick brief about the lay of the land and it’s time to explore! The 28 bedchambers are spread across the entire property – some in the main building while others are in adjoining towers and turrets. Then it was off to my room with a porter. The Tudors didn’t have elevators but they did have lots of corridors and staircases, which all add to the beguiling whimsy of bedding down in a castle. The receptionist was wonderful, in fact the staff members are all unfailingly helpful.
The room
All rooms are named after famous historical families and figures. I was in ‘Woodstock' in the oldest part of the castle, with walls well over a metre thick. Woodstock is in a tower across the courtyard and accessed via a heavy stone staircase. But it’s well worth the trek, I felt like king for a day… or two.
With the open fire crackling in the hearth as I soaked in the tub it was hard not to believe it was the role I was born born to play. An enormous four-poster bed as soft as marshmallow, an open fire, heavy drapes and tapestries and intricate plasterwork on the ceiling, it’s the sort of hotel room you don’t want to leave. Ever.
Many of the rooms have four-poster beds and all have period furnishings, and the décor throughout the hotel artfully recreates the Tudor style in which royalty and aristocracy would have lived it up large, 500 years before. You can even sleep in the very room once occupied by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. There are single rooms, right up to huge tower suites. The Duke’s Bedchamber claims to have the largest hotel bed in England.
Bathroom
The regal affair continued in the ensuite. From embroidered slippers and bathrobes to embossed toilet paper and luxury amenities, the toasty bathroom was luxuriously appointed and everything just as it should be, and a little bit more. The claw-foot bath and separate shower almost seemed too pristine for such an ancient building, but the modern conveniences were much appreciated.
Location
Nestled in the leafy landscape of South Gloucestershire, this stately seat is only a 2.5-hour drive from London and a stones-throw from Bristol and Bath. It’s the perfect jumping off point for exploring the West Country and Cornwall. And while you’re there, why not continue on through Wales or pop over to Ireland on the ferry?
“Nestled in the leafy landscape of South Gloucestershire, this stately seat is only a 2.5-hour drive from London and a stones-throw from Bristol and Bath.”
The library
Dining
Such was my excitement at staying in a castle that after testing the bed I spent a moment nursing a tumbler of single malt by the fire... and loving life. At Thornbury the mind can’t help but wander and I found myself imagining what it was like 485 years earlier, when Henry and Anne were guests. Daydreaming and gazing into the fire quickly turned to snoozing and I missed dinner.
But breakfast was tremendous – a full English that lived up to its name. Coffee was endless, and service was excellent – a sound ten out of ten and the meal a solid nine.
There are four dining areas, including an atmospheric Tudor Hall and Baron’s Sitting Room, and from May to September you can even dine in the dungeon. For hundreds of years, the kitchen garden has provided much of the food used at Thornbury Castle, and thanks to the combined skills of the head gardener and their team, the vegetables, edible flowers and seasonal fruit used by the chefs are just about as fresh and flavoursome as you can get.
Tech
Complimentary high speed in-room Wi-Fi and all public areas.
Perfect for
Couples, families, doggies, vacations and weekends away. Fancy a pamper? Choose from a range of relaxing, invigorating or deep-tissue massages to have in-house.
Kids
Children eight and over are welcome. Outdoors, there's a variety of activities to conjure up the atmosphere of Tudor England. Play croquet on the lawn; have a go at archery, or learn the basics of falconry.
“At Thornbury the mind can’t help but wander and I found myself imagining what it was like 485 years earlier, when Henry and Anne were guests. ”
Ever slept in a four-poster bed?
Pets
Well-behaved pets are welcome in select rooms. Access to public lounges and gardens, costs £15 per day.
Would I return?
Tudor style meets modern excellence. Thornbury has many return visitors and I’d be honoured to be among them. The vastly comfortable four-poster beds, magnificent open fireplaces, and unique features like the dungeon dining room make the castle a delicious cocktail of elegance, history and luxury.