HAVE you ever wondered what it would be like to live like a king? Well now I know after staying at a stunning 16th century castle hotel in Gloucestershire near the Cotswolds and Welsh Borders.
Thornbury Castle, a Relais & Chateaux Hotel, is the only Tudor Castle in England to be open as a hotel. King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn slept in one of the 26 bedchambers in 1535 and walked through the ancient gardens.
From the huge Tudor bedrooms to the vast public areas this stately pile has the wow factor and then some. History is everywhere you look with period furniture and perfectly preserved/restored décor.
Our room was vast and of course boasted a four poster bed with wood panelled walls, lofty ceilings and a giant stone fireplace yet also had the latest tech to make your stay as comfortable as possible – flat screen TV, wi-fi, sumptuous carpets and a bathroom to die for including a big walk in shower and underfloor heating.
Guests can sleep in the room once occupied by King Henry, but we were in the Queen Mary bedchamber.
A stay here is an experience like no other, visitors can step back in history and wake in the most historic setting. On-site facilities include croquet, archery, clay-pigeon shooting, and falconry which can be arranged with prior notice and for an extra charge.
The hotel has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes for food quality and 4 Red Stars for service quality and operation of the hotel. Led by Executive Head Chef, David Williams, Thornbury Castle offers diners an indulgent experience in a relaxed setting with the finest interiors.
Guests can choose from a wide range of delicious and impressive dishes including a 6-course tasting menu, a la Carte menu, afternoon tea, and lounge menu. The hotel grows a lot of its produce in their kitchen garden meaning chefs can work with the finest and freshest ingredients possible.
We enjoyed a three course meal from the a la Carte menu and the culinary care and expertise that went into our food was clear to see and taste. With food cooked to perfection the amazing dining room was busy despite it being a Monday night showing the popularity of the establishment which is also open to non-residents.
The castle was originally constructed in 1019 by Edward Stafford, the only man to rival King Henry VIII’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 and executed the king took control of the castle he so coveted. A brief retreat for Henry VIII and the equally unfortunate Anne Boleyn, Thornbury Castle has weathered the tumult of British history over the centuries.
Following Henry VIII’s death it passed through the hands of his children, Edward VI and Queen Mary Tudor (Mary I) and then several other owners (some of whom also met unfortunate ends) before being bought for just £26,000 in 1966 when it first became a hotel.
The current owners acquired Thornbury in 2019 and embarked on a comprehensive restoration project which continues without any effect on guests…. there is even EV charging available.
Today, it stands just as tall as it did in those days of courtly intrigue; renewed with care by its current custodians and imbued with the regal grandeur of its past. Built to impress the most powerful man in the country, five centuries later, it still has the power to impress.
Bedchamber rates at Thornbury Castle start from £299. For dinner, three courses from the A-la-Carte menu costs £75. For more information about Thornbury Castle please visit
By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth