Kings and queens have stayed here. Courtiers have flirted with ladies-in-waiting in the ancient yew-hedged gardens. Serving girls have chattered in the stone-flagged courtyard. Today, Thornbury Castle still resonates with history and is the only Tudor castle in England to be open as a hotel…and it’s only 15 minutes from the M5.

Accommodation

Enjoy a regal night's sleep in the Duke's Bedchamber where King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn slept or favour the Gloucester Bedchamber and wake up to a view of the oldest Tudor gardens in England - the Privy Garden and Goodly Garden.

There are 25 bedchambers and all are fabulously atmospheric, most with four-poster or coronet beds, stone walls, tapestries, roaring fires, ornate carved ceilings and views to historic parkland and the River Severn beyond. The Tudor Bedchamber even has arrow-slit windows.

Each bedchamber is an experience. The Duke's Bedchamber is located in the tower, has a unique octagonal shape and has had some very impressive previous guests. The Howard Bedchamber has a magnificent, hand carved four-poster bed, a fabulously ornate ceiling and two real fires.

All rooms are luxuriously warm - most have real fires. They're also extremely comfortable with opulent, well-appointed bathrooms, colour TVs (carefully screened, of course) and welcoming touches such as the decanter of sherry you'll find on your arrival.

However, if you're looking for complete privacy, the Thornbury Castle Gatehouse, sitting prettily in its own garden, could be exactly what you're looking for.

Dining

Thornbury Castle is renowned for its many traditional English favourites such as the famous treacle tart and butterscotch pudding as well as the exceptional Sunday roasts. The cheeseboard is exclusively British too but you'll also find plenty of modern, internationally-inspired dishes on the menu.

All dishes on our lunch and fixed price dinner menu use only the finest and freshest ingredients, sourced from local markets and suppliers wherever possible. We grow our own herbs on the premises and a quantity of vegetables such as courgette flowers and cherry tomatoes.

There are three dining rooms at Thornbury Castle all featuring original fireplaces, fine pictures, elegant tableware and leaded windows, enabling guests to enjoy an intimate dinner for two as well as a private party for as many as fifty. The majestic and secluded Baron's Sitting Room is excellent for private dinner parties as well as functions in general. The Oriel Dining Room, wood-panelled, intimate and so romantic, is perfect for an intimate tete-a-tete. The hexagonal Tower Dining Room with ancestral portraits and heraldic crests can accommodate up to 30 guests.

So whether you want to enjoy a quiet meal with your partner, celebrate a family anniversary or hold a business function, you can be sure the magnificent surroundings and excellent service will make it a very special occasion.

Childrens High Tea

Children's High Tea will be served between 6 pm and 7.15 pm each evening as children under 12 years of age are not allowed in the dining rooms after 7.15 pm.

We provide a baby listening service and babysitting can be arranged to prior notice.

Private Dining

Overlooking the vineyard and courtyard, the Baron’s Sitting Room, with handsome wooden panelling and a wonderful open fireplace, provides the most perfect environment for a private party. Majestic and secluded, the atmosphere of this room contributes greatly to the success of a private lunch or dinner, be it family, friends or business.

However, for smaller private occasions, the more intimate and exclusive Oriel Dining Room might be preferable.

Thornbury Castle has three dining rooms, each one with its own unique charm and ambience. They are all baronial in style with panelled walls, heraldic shields and open fires.

Weddings & Civil Partnerships

The unique character of this remarkable hotel makes it the ideal setting for a wide variety of spectacular social occasions, especially weddings.

Step behind the heavy oak doors and you'll find a magnificent hotel with roaring fires, delicious modern cuisine and sumptuous bedchambers – a truly special setting for an overnight stay, a weekend away or for more formal occasions.

The king of England once walked these rooms and grounds. Today, the 500 year-old castle-palace with its beautiful oriel windows, Tudor hall and historic parkland is yours for a time – a memorable setting for formal functions such as weddings, celebrations and conferences.

Leisure & Relaxation

One of the most enjoyable pastimes at Thornbury Castle is simply to wander around the castle and the grounds, walking where one of the most famous and infamous Kings of England once walked.

On site facilities – croquet and archery – but we are pleased to offer clay pigeon shooting and falconry on site with prior notice (extra charge). Fishing, quad biking and other activities can be arranged off-site, again with prior notice (extra charge). Clay pigeon shooting has also been a very popular activity with Thornbury Castle guests.

Business Meetings

There can be few more inspiring settings for a business meeting than the rooms and grounds where one of England's most notorious kings once walked. Today this 500-year-old castle-palace with its beautiful oriel windows, Tudor hall and gardens and historic parkland provides a unique venue for your meeting - a private, undisturbed retreat.

We understand that it can sometimes be difficult working away from home. Our dedicated, friendly team, together with the luxurious comfort of Thornbury Castle, will ensure you benefit from all the conveniences of your office whilst enjoying the comforts of home – That’s why all conference rooms at Thornbury Castle are equipped with wireless broadband.

Location

The castle is situated on the northern edge of the town of Thornbury, off the A38, which is 5 miles from junction 16 of the M5.