The Best Castle Bedrooms You Can Stay In
What makes a wonderful bedroom?
We all know that the look and feel of a bedroom plays a significant role in the comfort and contentment of its occupants. In your home, the colours, fabrics, furniture and overall layout have a huge impact on your enjoyment of being in that space. The same is true, of course, of how you choose to surround yourself on a holiday or short break.
Home to a very large and varied selection of hand-picked luxury properties, Celtic Castles’ portfolio certainly features an eclectic mix of bedrooms to choose from; some fit for royalty, some as calming as a loch on a still, summer’s day and some full of so much character they have their own personality as well as their own name!
Where would you like to sleep?
Here are some of our favourite bedrooms selected by our castle experts. Whether for their comfort, uniqueness, history or simply their overall atmosphere, each one has something rather special that we’d love to share with you. Prepare for a journey across the UK and Ireland and you may just discover the bedroom you never knew you wanted to sleep in until now!
The Catherine of Aragon Suite - Thornbury Castle
A ten-foot bed (the largest in any UK hotel), 71-square metres of living space and simply the fact you are sleeping at the top of a tower(!) (fairy-tale fans take note) make it a firm favourite for Séamy in the Celtic Castles team. The spiralling staircase steps to the top of the tower are no mean feat for castle dwellers who choose this bedroom, but they are certainly worth it for their authenticity and the spectacular views once you open the grand wooden door at the top.
In this extravagant suite you’ll admire 24-carat guilding, sumptuous Tudor furnishings in regal golds and velvet blues that, set against rustic exposed stone walls, will take you back in time to a world of regality and splendour. The imposing four-poster with its Imperial crown-like top is every bit as ornate and majestic as a wife of Henry VIII.
Queen Mary’s Chamber - Neidpath Castle
As delicious as it is famous, this wonderful bedroom hosted Mary Queen of Scots herself during her castle stay in 1563 and today includes complimentary chocolates and luxurious skincare products for those lucky enough to stay here. Beth at Celtic Castles finds it full of atmosphere and warmth not least created through the huge roaring fire, soft terracotta walls and richly-coloured fabrics and paintings, but also its link to the famous queen known for her charm, beauty and entrancing nature.
This bedroom, seeping with stories but still keeping secrets, presents itself as if awoken from a deep but impromptu sleep; an historical place in time filled with antiques, cosy nooks and delightful period features. Watch the sun light up the room, listen to the walls talk and absorb its intense history before exploring the rest of the castle.
The McCain Suite – Mingary Castle
Within a 13th-century restoration on the coast, Roger, The Castle Man himself, invites you to climb the hand-carved staircase to the top of the castle to discover the McCain Suite, featuring two bedrooms each with king-size, solid-oak, four-poster beds. The natural wood aesthetic extends to the floor and across the arched doorway. Feeling cocooned in this simple, light room, you just know a wonderful night’s sleep awaits.
The serene suite, where an evening bath and stargazing go hand-in-hand, leaves the finer detail to the outdoors: be captivated by stunning views over the Sound of Mull towards the moors and mountains from your own private terrace, imagine floating in the Atlantic Ocean from the castle’s original battlements with 360-degree views of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and watch golden eagles soar and the dolphins dive from your cocooned cliff-top haven.
The Radcliffe Room - Langley Castle
Another Castle Man favourite is this striking bedroom set deep within the seven-foot thick walls of one of few Medieval fortified castle hotels in England.
Named for Sir Edward Radcliffe's connection with Langley - his grandfather leased one of the baronies from Henry VIII in 1514 and over a century later Sir Edward bought the Langley Barony from the Earl of Annandale - its exposed stone walls and original arched doorways invite guests to experience the fascinating history for themselves.
Submerge yourselves in the characterful ambience of this room, featuring a window seat recessed into the thick castle walls, luxuriously framed by dramatically sweeping drapes, an ornately carved super king-size, four-poster bed and beautiful antique furniture. A bathroom to write home about is brought into the 21st century with atmospheric lighting, a sunken circular bath and private sauna.
The Priests’ Hiding Hole – Carlton Towers
This bedroom within our portfolio of properties is favoured by Simon at Celtic Castles for its sheer novelty, above everything else. It dates back to the 16th century during the Reformation, where Catholic clergy took shelter in the event of a raid by the king’s forces. Priest holes were constructed to hide the priests should the family home be raided by pursuivants—priest hunters—and the hiding spaces could be found in fireplaces, gables, and staircases. In the case of Carlton Towers, theirs was under the floorboards...
The room itself is a typical ‘historic home’ bedroom with cascading drapes and Regency style wallpaper in gentle tones, topped with detailed plasterwork and dotted with gilded-framed family portraits. Its large windows look out over the vast parkland. However, the true excitement is seen through the glass panels in the floor, which illuminate what was once a secret space beneath the bedroom.
Currently a very bare space with little furniture, it depicts what the ‘hiding hole’ would’ve been like centuries ago. The English Roman Catholic priest, Thomas Thwing, was captured here in 1680. He was hung, drawn and quartered on the Knavesmire at York.
Oliver Cromwell - Borthwick Castle
This stunning castle is home to an array of characterful bedrooms, the ancient exposed stone walls of each the perfect rustic canvas to showcase their ornately hand-carved antique beds, sumptuously tactile fabrics and the free-standing, roll-top bathtubs bestowed upon them.
Another one of Simon’s preferred rooms is Oliver Cromwell, featuring free-standing bath, a massive stone fireplace, and imposing chandelier. Its ambient lighting creates a moody atmosphere.
The Blue Room – Huntington Castle
The only bedroom in this unique and spectacular castle that doesn’t have its own en-suite, is the one favoured by Lizzy at Celtic Castles because it simply adds to its character. Other pleasing features include the beautiful combination of blue panelled walls punctuated with gold tones of the long drapes, hanging portraits, lamp stands and the rug that brings the room’s aesthetic together.
The Blue Room is a lovely space in which to rest your head after an activity-fuelled day on the castle’s estate, hiking through the Blackstairs Mountains or boating along the River Barrow. Natural light spills in through generously-sized sash windows whilst antique furniture and ornaments invite guests to make themselves completely at home, in a space in which you will want to spend as much time as possible during your stay.
The Laird's Room - Forter Castle
This castle's most superior bedroom features a king-size, four-poster Ralph Lauren bed, large sofa and open-plan bathroom with roll-top bath and free-standing brass Drummonds shower. It is also a favourite abode of Julie at Celtic Castles for its beautiful red drapes overhanging the four-poster bed - which requires a step up as it is so high - its dark wooden beamed ceilings, deep stone access off a spiral staircase and authentic Scottish feel.
The bathroom facilities just steps from the bed within the main room make for a much plusher and more convenient night-time solution to the under-bed pots of bygone eras!
Number 10 - Killochan Castle
Room 10 in this striking castle offers incredible views of the gardens and grounds from its position right at the top of the tower. It is a favoured room by Alice at Celtic Castles for its undeniable charm. The bedroom itself has ample space in which to relax and unwind and the antique furnishings, including an original period writing desk and chair, and charismatic paintings will transport you to a bygone era.
This room is attached to the original turret, repurposed as a walk-in closet, and this fact alone adds a lot of charm to the bedroom as well as providing luggage space. A morning cup of tea or coffee can be thoroughly enjoyed from the comfort of the sunlit king-size bed, perfectly positioned to look out through the pretty sash window onto the surrounding parkland.
Clarke Bedroom - Kilmartin Castle
Described by The Guardian as ‘One of the coolest castle conversions ever…’, each bedroom is worth a mention. However, a particular highlight for Amy at Celtic Castles is Clarke Bedroom, named after previous owners of Kilmartin. Featuring a bespoke Harris Tweed headboard, a walk-in rain shower and a five metre high vaulted ceiling, despite its modest size, its uniqueness has an abundance of charm. It’s such a tactile bedrooms full of texture and colour and pattern; from the shiny orange shower tiles to the exposed rough stone walls to the smoothly sanded Jacobean sideboard and soft, cosy bedding.
Its teal-hued walls are painted in limewash harl and feature an alcoved wood store, taking you right back to the simple living of the 16th century. Luxurious modern touches of mood lighting, richly-coloured wallpaper, twin basins and a deep comfy bed create at atmospheric haven to truly relax in.
Add some drama to your stay...
When you come to a castle hotel, you do not want to feel as if you are at home; you want something that is different and memorable, from ostentatious furniture to unusual design or historic features to incomparable window views. Castle bedrooms can be seen as a stage of the master craftsmen and craftswomen of bygone eras; sleeping in exceptionally-carved, four-poster beds, under beautifully hand-painted ceilings and moulded plasterwork, surrounded by intricately-weaved tapestries and oil-painted portraits, all adds to the theatre of your experience when staying in a castle bedroom.
Why choose Celtic Castles?
Should you wish to enquire about any of the featured bedrooms in this article, our friendly, knowledgeable team would be delighted to hear from you. Our castle experts are available 7 days a week and offer a completely free, unbiased service, from your initial venue search through to the booking process. Our comprehensive, easy-to-navigate website provides an extensive array of both exclusive-use properties and castle hotels featuring detailed descriptions and beautiful photographs so you get a real feel for the castles.
We are always very happy to hear from our customers after a stay in one of our castles – perhaps you would like to suggest one of your favourite bedrooms we can add to our list above?