Thornbury, Gloucestershire

Where Tudor Grandeur Reigns Supreme

Sleep where kings have slept, and dine as though the centuries never passed.

There are hotels that offer history as a footnote, and then there is Thornbury Castle — where history is the very stone beneath your feet. This magnificent Tudor fortress, built in 1511 and once graced by Henry VIII himself, has been reimagined as one of England's most extraordinary Relais & Châteaux retreats. Positioned on the gentle Gloucestershire edge of the Cotswolds and within easy reach of Bath and Bristol, it offers that rarest of combinations: genuine medieval grandeur softened by every contemporary luxury you could desire. Pass through the castle gateway and the modern world simply falls away.

Beyond the striking stone walls, each uniquely conceived bedchamber tells its own story — heavy wooden doors giving way to Tudor opulence dressed in the finest contemporary fineries. But it is perhaps at table where Thornbury truly earns its crown. The 3AA Rosette restaurant serves artful, British-inspired cuisine in surroundings that have pleased everyone from Tudor monarchs to Laurence Olivier. This is dining as theatre, as time travel, as sheer, unapologetic indulgence.

For couples seeking a staycation of genuine distinction, Thornbury Castle is simply without rival. Whether you spend your days exploring the Cotswolds villages that ripple outward from its walls, watching birds of prey soar over the castle grounds, or simply losing yourselves in the quiet luxury of your bedchamber, the sense of occasion never wavers. Some places make you feel like a guest. Thornbury Castle makes you feel like royalty.

Notable Features

What Sets It Apart

Tudor castle
Henry VIII connection
Historic dining

Gallery

Inside & Out

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 1

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 2

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 3

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 4

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 5

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 6

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 7

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 8

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 9

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 10

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 11

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 12

Thornbury Castle — interior and exterior view 13

Guest Voices

What They Say

“Unbelievably great place to visit! Hands down the best hotel stay we've ever had! We stayed in the Jane Seymour room which was fabulous. We felt very privileged to stay and soaked up the atmosphere of this special historic building. The food we had was super high quality and all the staff were on point and attentive. I took lots of photographs to have as a keepsake but we would certainly want to return one day.”

PQpod Pierre Quibell5/5

“A Photographer's Verdict: The Best Wedding Breakfast I've Ever Tasted! As a professional wedding photographer with 10 years of experience and hundreds of weddings photographed, I have sampled countless wedding breakfasts—and I can genuinely say that the three-course meal I had at Thornbury Castle Hotel is the best I have ever experienced. I was completely blown away by the quality. Each course was amazing, elevating the meal from standard catering to a truly exceptional fine-dining event. If a couple wants to give their guests an unforgettable experience, the food at Thornbury Castle Hotel will absolutely deliver. I cannot recommend this highly enough!”

Richard Gayle5/5

“My husband and I stayed at Thornbury Castle for 9 days over the xmas and new year period. We found all of the staff to be amazing and the room was wonderful and regal! We had a private celebration on our own and the venue and food was superb! Thank you Georgia and all of the team at Thornbury! An unforgettable experience :)”

Summer Smith5/5

“We held our wedding here, 26 people - the whole experience was outstanding. The castle is obviously very beautiful- it is also maintained so well, and rooms full of lovely touches. Staff are always friendly yet unobtrusive, helpful and efficient - special thanks to Sophie for always being calm and amazingly helpful. The food was wonderful, over all our visits and the wedding itself.. Our day was so very special here!”

Michaela Robertson5/5

“Our stay at Thornbury castle was good! We really enjoyed our room… spacious, comfortable bed and a lovely view of the courtyard! Shout out to the breakfast- bar staff to be so kind and prefessional… Dario and Hattie are amazing…also the blonde lady at the bar ( not sure the name but she had an est European accent, I think ) she was extremely kind! Overall a great stay!”

Federico Sangiacomo5/5