A686, Langley-on-Tyne, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Genuine 14th-century castle with medieval features
Set on 12 acres of woodland garden with peacocks
Close to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty
Castle rooms feature plush medieval-style decor and
furnishings
Drawing room lounge with fireplace and small bar
Fine-dining restaurant with tasting menus and Sunday
lunch
Cooked breakfast included in the rate
Free Wi-Fi throughout
No on-site
leisure, spa, or health facilities
Not all rooms are
within the castle
Restaurant portions
can be small
The upscale Langley
Castle Hotel is housed in a genuine 14th-century fortress complete with
numerous medieval features and period-style decor. It is set in a peaceful
Northumbrian woodland next to the North Pennines, and a 35-minute
drive from Newcastle. Rooms are suitably plush with decent amenities, though
only some sit in the castle (and these can only be accessed by stairs). Dining is high-end
though portions aren't always generous. Those seeking a golf course and wellness facilities may prefer Matfen Hall, though the rooms here are more impressive.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Genuinely atmospheric medieval castle set in pretty woodland
While you'll find
many hotels with the word "castle" in their name, few of them turn out to
actually be what most of us think of as one.
First built in 1350 and restored to its original glory in the 19th
century, the Langley Castle Hotel can claim to be one of only a
handful of genuine fortified castle hotels that exist in the British Isles. Set
at the end of a private driveway, its high battlements with views over the Northumbrian
Valley and formidable seven-foot thick fortress walls impress from the start. After passing a tinkling fountain and sculpted shrubbery, guests enter the castle, where they'll be met by two striking suits of medieval armor standing before elegantly carved
wooden paneling, all lit in an atmospheric yellow glow. The rest of the
property doesn't disappoint either, with an antique staircase winding past
moody hallways dotted with coats of arms and ancient tapestries. The property
is set on 12 acres of woodland and well-tended gardens whose peace is only
occasionally broken by the caw of one of the free-roaming resident peacocks.
Location
Set on the edge of the beautiful North Pennines 35 minutes from Newcastle
The hotel is set
in tranquil woodland in the heart of the Northumbrian Valley, just north of the
North Pennines AONB (Area of Natural Beauty) and almost half way between the
cities of Carlisle (a 45-minute drive) and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (a 35-minute drive). The
property is also just a six-minute drive from the quaint village of Haydon Bridge, while
Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads Roman Fort are 20 minutes away by car, as is the entrance to the vast nature reserve of the Northumberland National Park.
Rooms
Plush rooms split between castle and annex buildings
Nine of the
guest rooms are situated within the castle itself, while another 18 are located
in conversions of historic buildings within the grounds. The castle's five
Feature Rooms are the most lavish, featuring plush, period decor, high ceilings,
exposed stonework and chandeliers, and window seats overlooking the gardens. Most have four-poster beds, some have sofa beds, and one even has a fireplace. Deluxe Castle Rooms share similar features but with more subdued decor, while
the annex rooms (dubbed Castle View Rooms) tend towards a slightly more modern take on traditional
styling. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea/coffee facilities, and flat-screen
TVs with satellite channels (full Sky package). Attractive bathrooms vary but most have attractive light beige tile and heated towel racks; some have tubs and separate showers, some have shower/tub combos, and some have big walk-in showers. Castle rooms are accessed via stairs
(not elevator).
Features
Lavish and atmospheric spaces for dining, drinking and relaxing
A Northumbrian
breakfast (essentially a full English) is provided free of charge in the
elaborate medieval-style surrounds of the Josephine Restaurant, which also
serves fine-dining taster menus and Sunday lunch. Some reports suggest portions
can be on the small side. There's also a lavish drawing room full of comfy
seating, antique artworks, and a log-burning stove, plus a small bar area. The
Pavillion is a tasteful, contemporary extension of the dining facilities
usually used for private dining. While there's plenty to do in the surrounding
area, there's nothing in the way of leisure, spa, or health facilities on-site.
