It’s every girl’s dream to stay at a castle, and a little while ago this dream finally came true for me! Staying at Thornbury Castle was a luxurious treat that left me asking “Can I just move in and stay here forever?”
If it’s your dream to stay at a castle as well, then read on to learn all about what it’s like to stay at this beautiful place!
Thornbury Castle History
Thornbury Castle has a very interesting history, going all the way back to 1511 when it was constructed as a home for Edward Stafford, the 3rd Duke of Buckingham. However, as a historic site it actually goes back far further…all the way to the 10th century and the time of the Domesday Book.
Supposedly, Brictric son of Algar (a Saxon nobleman) refused the advances of Matilda of Flanders. When she later married William the Conqueror, William imprisoned Brictric and awarded all Brictric’s holdings to Matilda. Talk about a great, movie-worthy love triangle!
But the current castle was built in the early 1500s and its owner didn’t fare any better than Brictric. If you know your history, then you know that the 1500s means everyone’s favorite king, Henry VIII, was in power. And Stafford was one of the many people arrested for high treason and executed on Tower Hill during his reign.
After executing Stafford, Henry took the castle for himself and spent ten days here on his honeymoon tour with Anne Boleyn in August of 1535. Today, you can still stay in the same room (the Tower Suite) where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed during this time. You can’t get much closer to history than this!
After the death of Mary Tudor (aka Bloody Mary), the property was returned to the duke’s descendants. It eventually fell into disuse and ruin, until the 1850s when it became a family home.
Since that time, the castle has had a succession of recent occupants…until today when it is open to guests! It’s a luxurious and historical experience that you won’t soon forget!
Want to stay where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn did? Check out Thornbury Castle on TripAdvisor or book your room today!
Thornbury Castle Experience
Thornbury Castle is an amazing place to stay—not just because of its history, but also because of everything else that comes along with spending a night at this beautiful castle. I went in May 2018 and loved it!
The grounds of Thornbury are stunning and the perfect place to enjoy a stroll in the morning or evening. There is a lovely little vineyard and a walled garden that is quite delightful as well. When I was there, they had a chalkboard up that had all their month’s plans for the garden on it…from weeding, to the specific types of new plants they were going to put in.
There is also a delightful courtyard where you can enjoy sitting or having tea or coffee or the like while you take in the magnificent surroundings!
If you are staying the night, then when you check in the staff will show you to your room so you can get settled in. There are some rooms up in the towers as well as some in the main area of the castle, so depending on where you are you may get a different type of experience. The rooms up in the towers require you to walk up a lot of stone steps, while the ones inside are paneled with beautiful wood.
During my time at Thornbury, I stayed in the Howard Suite (one of the deluxe room options). And it was gorgeous! With a four poster bed, a large sitting area, tapestries, velvet, and bell pull ropes that turn on and off the lights…I was in heaven!
This room is the type of room that makes you think that you really might have time traveled back to the 1500s. Albeit a cleaner, nicer, and electricity-using version of the 1500s…with much more comfortable beds too!
One of the things I loved the most was the way light filters into the room through the windows. It was also a treat to be able to look out onto the gardens and beautiful green lawn below. And every single detail was taken care of…all the way down to the toiletries and little sewing kits in the bathroom.
Because I came with several other members of my family, there were three rooms total that we had booked for the night. So my family members let me pop over to see their rooms as well and take a few photos.
While not all the rooms have four poster beds, each one is clean and beautiful and luxurious! I especially love the tall windows in the classic room located in the heart of the castle.
There were a few things, however, that may use some improvement. While the rooms were very clean, the carpeting did have quite a few spots on it in all the rooms. For such a luxurious place, it would be nice if the carpet looked a little more spotless. There was also a wedding happening at Thornbury Castle the night we were there, and while weddings should definitely have a lot of festivities, it would have been nice if the staff had asked them to quiet down as it got later into the night. It seemed a little crazy for music to still be pumping past midnight and keeping all the other guests awake.
Besides these few minor issues, our stay here really was flawless. Staff were friendly and helpful as needed, and the rooms were as gorgeous as you could possibly hope for when staying at a castle in England!
Check available dates and make your Thornbury reservation now!
Thornbury Castle Restaurant
Dining at Thornbury Castle is an elaborate and delicious event. We started with appetizers and drinks in a sitting room and then moved to the dining room for our meal. The dishes were all fun to try, and the different desserts were especially enjoyable!
Thornbury states that for hundreds of years the kitchen garden has been providing a lot of the food used at the castle, and that is still the case today. The head gardener and her team make sure to cultivate lots of fresh vegetables, edible flowers, and seasonal fruit to make the dishes at the restaurant as fresh as possible!
If you choose, you can also have breakfast included with your stay. You can choose from a range of delicious dishes (and some more unfamiliar ones to Americans, like kippers!) There is also the option to have afternoon tea at Thornbury, which is a delightful affair in the lounge, sitting room, or library.
Thornbury Castle FAQ
Here are a few frequently asked questions about Thornbury Castle in case you are curious or have any of these questions yourself!
Where is Thornbury Castle?
Thornbury Castle is located in Bristol, South Gloucestershire. It’s just a few hours west of London by car, which is an easy distance for a night or weekend getaway!
How do you get to Thornbury Castle from London?
If you are wondering how to get to Thornbury Castle from London, the easiest way is probably by car. If you don’t have your own car, you could always rent one (I used Enterprise when I was in England).
If you prefer to take public transport, you could always take the train from London to Bristol Parkway and then either take the T1 bus the rest of the way or take Uber or a Taxi for the last leg. If you decide on this option, you can easily book train tickets from Trainline here.
How far is Thornbury Castle from London?
Thornbury is 124 miles from London (200 km). If you decide to drive to Thornbury, it will take you around 2.5 hours. If you take public transport, however, it could be more like 3.5-4 hours.
Are children allowed to stay at Thornbury Castle?
Children are welcome to stay at Thornbury Castle, as long as they are at least eight years old.
How old is Thornbury Castle?
If you read the history above, you’ll know that the current castle was built in 1511. This means Thornbury Castle is over 500 years old!
Thornbury Castle: Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a castle to stay in in England or for a luxurious night away, then Thornbury Castle is the perfect choice! Even if you’re just looking for Thornbury accommodation, you really can’t go wrong with a stay here. This castle scores high for both luxury and history…and if I ever get a chance to stay here again you’d better believe I’m taking it!
Click here to check out reviews on TripAdvisor or you can book a room at Thornbury now!
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