It’s been just over a month since I eloped to Thornbury Castle with my now-husband (if you’re eloping, you might find my packing list helpful!), and staying at this castle hotel was one of the most special days of my life. The setting was a huge part of that—we’re just getting the pictures back now, but every setting is gorgeous, because the background was stunning on its own. So as I’m reflecting on my weekend there, I thought I’d do a little hotel review of the Thornbury Castle Hotel!

The history

The castle was conceived of, and constructed with funds from, Edward Stafford in 1510. At the time, his wealth and influence was seen as a threat to Henry VIII, and was accused of treason and beheaded in 1521, at which time Henry VIII took over the property. He and then-wife Queen Anne Boelyn visited the castle in 1535, staying for 10 days (a longer trip than planned, as there had been a plague outbreak in Bristol).

In 1547, Edward VI inherited the castle when his father died, and although he used funds to restore the castle, it’s not known whether or not he visited. In 1554, Queen Mary I eventually returned the castle to the care of the Stafford family—she had visited several times in her childhood, and this gesture of returning it to its original heirs was meant to thank the Stafford family for their support of her mother, Catherine of Aragon. Fast-forward to the 1960s, after being handed down from family member to family member, and it was sold to a private owner for (and this part kills me) £26,000. It’s been sold a few times since then

A little tidbit that I found interesting: the accusation of treason by Stafford has been depicted by Shakespeare in the play Henry VIII, who used Stafford’s title (the Duke of Buckinghamshire) as the treasonous character’s name.

The room

We stayed in the Jane Seymour room, which wasn’t a suite (which I define as having a kitchenette) but it might as well have been, it was so spacious. These rooms were designed for Royalty to stay in, and so the layout is open and spacious. Although the charm of the space is of course the history, the rooms have been done up with modern amenities—including an LED TV that can tell you the history of the room you’re in, which I thought was kind of cool (like an interactive museum plaque, where you’re staying in the exhibition!). Other features included a writing desk, a living room area, a closet with an iron, and a huge fireplace built into the wall.

One thing to highlight; although the queen-sized bed with the thick curtains was such a vibe for a historic night, it also served a practical purpose; we visited in early May, and the nights were cold. Castle walls don’t come with a ton of insulation, so I’d suggest bringing warm PJs if you like to feel snug!

The garden, grounds, & common spaces

Inside the castle there are common areas, such as the library or restaurant, that lead out to the garden grounds. Across the courtyard of the main castle entrance, the additional castle building also has larger rooms available for rent (we were shown as an option for a larger wedding party). The outdoor grounds is really where this property shines, though: 12-foot tall hedges with doorways through them, a rose garden, about a dozen bee skeps, and a treetop-roofed arch at the foot at the garden all make for beautiful grounds. The restaurant will serve you at an outdoor table, if that’s your preference.

There’s also an outdoor herb and veg garden, where the property grows the needed ingredients for its menu. In fact, the property was so committed to sustainability that it waited until the month prior to our wedding to set our menu, so that it would know what types of foods the garden would grow at that point. And speaking of food…   

The food

Granted, I’m a bit biased: when you have your wedding somewhere, even an elopement, the hotel will tend to pull out all the stops. So I’m not going to talk about my wedding meal, which was five courses and delicious. I will say that the restaurant had a six-course dining menu that could be ordered to your table each night, and a lot of the dishes were the same as the amazing ones I had at my wedding night.

But for the rest of our meals, I was still very pleasantly surprised. Breakfast—which can be taken in the restaurant, or in-room for an additional fee—is included in all hotel stays, and their night-before menu is nothing like a continental breakfast. Choosing hot and cold plates the night before, and a time you’d like to eat, ensures your favourite meal arrives to your table hot and ready when you are. I had the poached eggs on English muffins with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce, wholewheat toast, and a selection of mini-pastries, with a fresh pot of tea and orange juice.

Lunch was the same calibre: a selection of soups and sandwiches (toasted ham and cheese being my favourite!) and a late-night charcuterie board filled me up nicely. The hotel had no problem accommodating my nut allergy, and when I explained I wasn’t drinking alcohol, had suggestions for mocktails to try instead.

Another little treat that I enjoyed—some friends knew I was getting married at the hotel, and ordered a little treat to be waiting for us when we arrived. The hotel staff worked with a local chocolatier to get treats to our hotel room. Between that and their sustainability practices, it’s clear that the staff really care about client’s dining experience.

The one time that I felt a little disappointed in my food was ordering the smoked salmon course I ordered for dinner. I had been warned that it was a very light meal, and I think I didn’t take this warning seriously enough—it was literally 4 coiled pieces of smoked salmon, less than I’d ask for on a bagel. But this was my fault, for not taking the warning seriously enough!

The Area & Things To Do

This is something I can’t speak to personally, unfortunately. Thornbury as a community isn’t one we got to explore in the hubabaloo of our elopement; we mostly stayed within the castle walls, exploring the grounds and enjoying our fancy room. But Bristol is only about a 25-minute Uber away, and I’d recommend a visit—I’ve gone five or six times, and I’ve never been disappointed with its nightlife, dining, and culture. But honestly, I don’t think I’d book a castle stay and then not spend time enjoying the castle!

Final Verdict

I would really recommend the Thornbury Castle Hotel! For a weekend away where I got to imagine being a princess, it was a lovely experience, full of good food, amazing sights, and very relaxing weekend overall. I’m so glad that I got to get married there, and feel like royalty for a day. If you’re looking to book in at the Thornbury Castle Hotel, their website can be found here. Happy travels!