Stay In A Castle

With romantic four-posters, antiques galore and even the odd suit of armour, spending a night in a British castle is a magical experience.

- Edward Aves

From mighty medieval fortresses that have stood sentinel since the Norman invasion to baronial stately homes built to impress, Britain is peppered with fantastical castles. While some, like Windsor and Edinburgh, are among Britain’s best-loved attractions, and others still lie in private hands, a special few have been converted into sumptuous hotels and B&Bs: a delightfully decadent way to soak up Britain’s rich history.

Surrounded by atmospherically ruined battlements and entered via a magnicent twin-tower gatehouse – popular with white doves that itter in and out of its putlog holes – Sussex’s Amberley Castle is one of England’s most romantic places to stay, with a pedigree dating back over 900 years. Illustrious guests have included Henry VIII, Charles II and the current Queen.

Within the ve-foot-thick curtain walls, the ivy-clad, seventeenth-century Great Hall is the heart of the castle, with its weathered stone oors and Gothic tracery windows. Public areas are festooned with all manner of military regalia: the jousting lances on the grand staircase would have dealt a mighty blow.

Rooms feel grand but welcoming, and feature antique furnishings and inch-thick drapes to keep out the winter chill. The barrel-vaulted Queen’s Room makes an impressive setting for dinner – an extravagant affair that lifts classic English ingredients with continental air and creativity. The wine list alone stretches to thirty pages, and service is attentive and discreet.

The next morning, wander into the idyllic village of Amberley, with its thatched-roof cottages – many built from castle stone pulled down by Oliver Cromwell’s men – and twelfth-century church, or, if you’re feeling active, borrow a pair of Dubarry boots for a hike on the gorgeous South Downs.