Thornbury Castle
9.4 Bristol, England
500-year-old Thornbury Castle allows you to retrace the steps of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, as you walk along corridors and through grounds that they once explored.
It offers an intimate Tudor opulence, within easy reach of London. Take the 90 minute train ride to Bristol, followed by a 30 minute taxi journey to the castle, or drive directly in approx 2 hours.
The perfect balance of historical finery and contemporary luxury lies behind the heavy wooden doors of each uniquely designed room.
Bedrooms
Thornbury Castle has 26 carefully-restored bedchambers, each as unique as the history they were built on. Every room boasts iconic period details alongside lavishly realised bathrooms and furnishings. Beyond the heavy wooden doors you will find sumptuously heavy, regal fabrics draped over each bed and upholstered on each piece of furniture; lovingly preserved, scene-setting tapestries adorning the rugged curves of the stone walls and evocative, atmospheric light emitted by carefully placed period-sensitive fixtures.
Dining
Thornbury Castle's reputation for attention-grabbing food began 50 years ago with patron chef Kenneth Bell – the first chef in the UK outside of London to earn a Michelin Star.
Today's artfully-prepared dishes are made with lovingly tended produce, sourced from a kitchen garden that was first cultivated centuries ago.
The head gardener ensures that the chefs are able to work with the finest and freshest ingredients imaginable; the chefs ensure that those ingredients are transformed into British-inspired cuisine, both comforting and unexpected, considered and extravagant, reverential and contemporary.
The world-class sommeliers provide the final, unforgettable element of the evening, with a selection of exclusive vintages from the far reaches of the cellar and a lovingly, expertly chosen selection of 200 wines from England, Europe and the New World.
Leisure
There’s plenty of see and do amongst the 15 acres of land that surround Thornbury Castle, and the castle is a comfortable walking and driving distance from some of the UK’s most beloved tourist destinations.
History
Thornbury Castle was originally conceived and constructed by Edward Stafford, the only man to rival the king’s wealth and status at that time. It was a display of wealth and ambition that Henry did not take kindly to and, after Stafford was found guilty of treason, the king took control of the castle he so coveted.
Prices
For larger bookings and events, please
Location
Thornbury Castle stands in the South Gloucestershire countryside, on the edge of The Cotswolds. The city of Bristol is just 12 miles away, with historic Bath also close by. The journey from London takes around 2 hours by car. Alternatively you can take a 90 minute train ride from London Paddington to Bristol, then the castle is approx 30 mins away by taxi.
Reviews
9.4
So this was a birthday surprised for my partner Jenna, her bucket list wish was to wake up in a castle on her birthday. We were greeted by Georgia at reception who checked us in and gave us a guided tour to our room which was the Catherine of Aragon suite 77 steps up the tower. So quite a walk haha. The room is incredibly beautiful, you don’t get a scale of how big the bed is until you see it in person and it’s very comfortable. The views from our windows from our room and bathroom were stunning. I loved the personal touches in the room, like the hand written letter from Georgia which was wax sealed, the complimentary sloe gin and small macaroons. We stayed during May bank holiday, so temperatures were in its 34c, yet the room stayed a comfortable, the room’s fan was a touch, certainly helped. The staff were incredibly polite and always willing to help and assist. We chose to have room service for dinner, which was burgers and fries, the food was spot on, catering for Jenna’s needs which was gluten free and oat free. In the evening, we walked around the beautiful gardens and have a drink out on the green, the castle looks stunning when the lights are on. In the morning we had breakfast in the lounge, again food was beautifully cooked. I honestly highly recommend staying at the castle, Jenna and I have decided to now make it an annual break for us. Perhaps try out the other suites / rooms and stay longer next time around.
Beautiful Tudor castle with genuine fixtures and fittings. Staff friendly and helpful, restaurant offers high quality meals. Very clean throughout, highly recommended.
Beautiful setting for an amazing building. Our bedchamber was stunning - all and more we’d hoped for. The fireworks for NYE were the best I’ve ever seen.
Lovely staff and wonderful food which made our Christmas very special.
What a magical place! My family felt like we were stepping into a different time, like a fairy tale life. The Castle is such a great blend of historical features yet well maintained and comfort. The grounds are so peaceful, staff so helpful and rooms so grand - my family did not want to leave! I only wish we booked fewer day activities off campus so we could have hung out at Thornbury even more.