Best Castle Stays To Live Your Best Life

Fancy a luxurious overnight castle stay? We do too. Check out our winners' highlights and top picks!

by Abbi James

Let's face it, we've ALL wanted to stay in a castle at some point or another (don't deny it, we know you're lying!). Living that true princess life, or dining like a king? Sign. Us. Up.

So how can we make this dream come true? Well, staying in a luxurious castle just so happens to be our most popular Weekender prize from our Weekly Draw! And we can see why...

If stepping back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life sounds like a dream to you (especially with everything going on right now), then an overnight stay in a beautiful castle is exactly what the doctor ordered. Never mind a little taste of luxury, we're talking luxury by the bucket-load.

The UK is blessed with some absolutely stunning castles worthy of their spot in the history books.

Coombe Abbey

First on our list is Coombe Abbey, which can be traced back to 1150 AD, and is set in 500 acres of stunning parkland.

Our lovely TripHunters winner, Monika, whisked her other half away for a luxury birthday retreat. With the chaos this year has brought to us all, what better way to unwind than to retreat to the calm of the countryside?

“Coombe Abbey is absolutely stunning...while the hotel itself makes you feel like royalty!” — Monika

After a delicious 3-course dinner, Monika topped off the evening with some room service – but with a sparkling twist! Who doesn't love a bit of champers every now and then?

“Coombe Abbey is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for relaxed and romantic weekend, it makes you forget about the stress of the world and feel like royalty!” — Monika

Coombe Abbey is not just a glorious hotel for those who love to kick back and relax – it's oh so much more! With an 80-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest lake, conservation areas teeming with wildlife, and bird hides, you're sure to get back into nature in no time. For those who want to explore their wild side, you can even check out Go Ape within the park's woodland! Might be giving Tarzan's loincloth a miss though...

Another one of our brilliant winners, Hannah, took her lovely mum on a castle stay adventure more recently. After being upgraded to a grand room of luxury, they decided to explore all there was to offer!

“One of our highlights was being able to incorporate a localite prize we won and did some axe throwing within the grounds which myself and my mum were much better at than we thought we would be!” — Hannah

For those who love to explore the great outdoors, take a stroll by a meandering river, a history-filled moat or a lake teeming with nature. If you're even more adventurous, pack your (very sophisticated) wellies and take a trip through forests galore. Who knows where your Prince Charming might be wandering?

Thornbury Castle

If you're after a Tudor castle with the likes of a dungeon dining room, grand hall and open fireplaces, then Thornbury Castle has got you covered. There's no shortage of activities on offer, with both archery and falconry promising to keep you busy. For those who enjoy kicking back and relaxing, take in a spa treatment or two before strolling the kitchen gardens and 14 acres of stunning grounds.

Great food speaks to the soul – and what better way to live the life of luxury/while away the afternoon than to enjoy afternoon tea on a sun-kissed terrace? Even better with a glass of something sparkling!

Our lucky winner, Nicole, packed her bags to spend the weekend at Thornbury Castle, and her verdict was “It was just amazing! Thanks so much TripHunters” — we're super jealous, Nicole!

When it comes to sleeping arrangements, who HASN'T dreamed of their perfect four-poster bed? Soft feather pillows, silky bedlinen, and a dreamy sheer curtain (you know the one)... Even better if it has a bell for room service! Although this might not be at the top of everyone's necessities, a good hearty breakfast ought to be. None of that single-piece-of-buttered-toast nonsense, oh no. When you stay in a beautiful castle, your breakfast ought to be second to none. We always make sure our castle stay winners start their day right with a beautifully-cooked breakfast in a stunning courtyard, balcony, jaw-dropping dining hall or the like.

Shendish Manor

For those who love a spot of golf on your hols, then Shendish Manor is the place to BE! Golf might not be my forte, but ahh what I wouldn't give to have free reign over a golf buggy...

The fabulous Phoebe checked herself into this Victorian wonderland — a little getaway to escape the chaos we’ve all been surrounded by as of late. Dinner on the terrace overlooking formal Dutch Gardens? We'll be here all night, thanks!

How about you? Would you agree with our previous winners and choose one of the above, or do you have somewhere else in mind? Whatever your dream castle stay might be, you can win it with TripHunters. Enter now!