Swinton Park Hotel
If you have always dreamed about what it would be like to sleep in a grand and luxurious castle in the Yorkshire countryside, the Swinton Park Hotel, situated on 200 acres of gardens and lakes, is for you. With 25 double rooms and five suites, it is the highest-rated hotel in Yorkshire and Cumbria. For romantics wishing to ignite a few sparks, book the dreamy Turret Suite where you will wake up to views of the moorlands and deer park. Fill your days with on-site activities, which include, bicycling, croquet, fishing and shooting. Bring your breeches and boots to explore the area on horseback, English-style. A bountiful four-acre walled garden is a special castle treat, literally. With an abundance of assorted fruits and vegetables as well as one acre devoted to flowers, this treasure is perfect for a daily escape. In the courtyard, you will find a spa with five beauty treatment rooms, relaxation zone and Jacuzzi pool. All guest rooms are outfitted with flat-screen TVs, satellite channels, wireless Internet, CD player and luxury toiletries. Rates for 2010 start at $241 USD for a single, $264 to $438 USD for a double and $453 to $559 USD for suites. Breakfast is included. Dogs are allowed at an additional daily rate. Fly into Manchester Airport, which is a one-hour drive away.
Swinton Park Hotel
Masham
Ripon
North Yorkshire, England
866-810-3039
swintonpark.com
Amberley Castle
Amberley Castle is a historical medieval gem. For over 900 years this hideaway fortress has been undercover behind 60-foot curtain walls. History buffs will marvel in the impressive twin-tower gatehouse to the south of the entrance and a garderode tower with gun loops to the north. Inside the walls, escape to the gardens with the heavenly scent of English roses; afternoon tea is served in a haven of camellias and magnolias in the upper courtyard. Koi-filled ponds create a serene setting among topiaries dating back to the 1920s. The castle has two restaurants, a tennis court, croquet lawn and an 18-hole professional putting range. A storybook thatched-roof tree house and rope bridge is a favorite spot among guests. The 19 luxury antique-outfitted guest rooms feature the latest in modern amenities, including whirlpool spa bathrooms. Four-poster beds are available in many of the guest rooms. Guest rooms are located in the Manor House, Tower House Mews and for views of the castle, there are five Bishopric guest rooms. To arrive in style, arrange a chauffeur driven Aston Martin, Ferrari or Bentley. It will surely put the icing on the cake. The castle is located in West Sussex and near the village of Amberley. For current rates, visit the castle website.
Amberley Castle
Nr. Arundel
West Sussex, BN18 9LT
+44-017-9883-1992
amberleycastle.co.uk
Bolebroke Castle
Built around 1480 and formerly Henry VIII's hunting lodge, Bolebroke Castle entices English history buffs for its wealth of history and historic romance. Guests can get a sneak preview of the castle by watching the movie, "The Other Boleyn Girl." The castle and grounds were used as the film's location. Henry VIII hunted in nearby Ashdown Forest and Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, lived only five miles away in Hever Castle. It is there that Henry VIII courted Anne. Bolebroke Castle is a secluded 30-acre estate in Hartfield, which is the village where Pooh Bear's storybook adventures took place. The castle is filled with 16th-century antiques and furniture. Run your hand over the solid oak Elizabethan staircase, which is among the finest in existence and curl up to a toasty fire on a chilly evening. The Great Hall is home to the second largest fireplace in all of England. There are four guest rooms at the castle overlooking the lakes, including Henry VIII's bed chamber with a grand oak four-poster bed. A castle tour takes place daily where you will discover what life was like during Henry VIII's reign over 500 years ago. Pooh Country Tours start at Bolebroke Castle. For current rates, visit the castle website.
Bolebroke Castle
Edenbridge Road
Hartfield, East Sussex TN7 4JJ
+44-1018-9277-0061
bolebrokecastle.co.uk
