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The table where we sat and had coffee! What a view!
What history lover hasn’t dreamed of staying overnight in a castle? Well, now you can!
When I started planning my very first history tour, I spoke to Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, and asked them if it was possible to stay there. I was blown away when they said that if I was willing to book the whole Astor Wing then I could – wow!
So, Tim and I and 19 other Tudor history lovers spent four nights last May at Hever Castle in their private Astor Wing. We had the whole wing to ourselves, we got to eat in the main castle dining room and we had access to the castle and grounds when the general public weren’t around. Tim and I made a habit of walking down to the lake every morning before breakfast and chatting to the gardeners as they went about their daily sprucing of the exquisite gardens. Did we pretend that we were the Lord and Lady of the estate? You bet we did, in our heads anyway! It was pure magic!
But Hever Castle isn’t the only castle you can stay at on our tours. We have just added the Discover the Tudors tour to our programme and that includes a stay at Leeds Castle, a castle which dates back to the 12th century and which received a visit from Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon in 1520 as they made their way to the Field of the Cloth of Gold.
What about our other accommodation venues, are they castles?
Well, here’s a brief rundown…
- Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon – This hotel in the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, has parts which date back to the 16th century. Features include Tudor panelling, leaded lights and an Elizabethan staircase. It also has a vaulted cellar leading to an underground passage which was once used by monks from Worcester. This hotel is used on the Discover the Tudors Tour.
- Bosworth Hall Hotel and Spa – This a Grade II listed mansion, set in 11 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, which dates back to the 17th century. It features individually designed rooms with a period style. This hotel is used on the Executed Queens Tour.
- The Tower Hotel – Not a historic building but we chose this luxury 4 star Guoman Hotel because of its location, just a stone’s thrown from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, and with views over the River Thames. Close to the action of Tudor London! This hotel is used on the Tudor London Tour.
Last Year's Anne Boleyn Experience group dining in Hever Castle's dining room
