Ruthin Castle Hotel

The historic Ruthin Castle Hotel is located in an actual castle, with its grounds set within ancient battlements built for King Edward I, who ruled England in the 13th century. The castle has a long history with the the royals: King Edward VII was a frequent houseguest and Prince Charles stayed here the night before his investiture of Prince of Wales in 1969. 

The facade of the hotel is stunning -- red and stone brick complete with parapets and ivy crisscrossing its walls. The entrance to the lobby is guarded by two large roaring marble lions and overarched by climbing wisteria vines. The interiors are equally breathtaking, as the lobby has dark-wood floors covered by a navy-and-cream rug, which are framed by brown-leather armchairs and two cream fabric sofas. Decorative touches include red-and-cream coffered ceilings, wood paneling, walls lined with taxidermy elk and zebra heads, an electric fireplace below family shields, and a magnificent crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. The rest of the hotel echoes this antique theme, with items ranging from numerous suits of armor to grandfather clocks and centuries-old oil portraits. 

The grounds are also worth exploring, featuring gardens, roaming peacocks, and plenty of castle-specific structures. This hotel is rumored to be haunted and rooms can be dark, somber, and moderately spooky, and absolutely terrifying for those that get pulled in by staff ghost stories. Though there are meeting rooms here for local businesses, this hotel is most popular with tourists looking for a step back in time or wedding parties who want a unique venue for their special day.

Ruthin Castle Hotel is located in the small medieval town of Ruthin in North Wales. The hotel is accessed via a private road that leads up from the town center. While not exactly a bustling metropolis, Ruthin offers a few attractions for tourists and several restaurants. Ruthin Gaol, a 1800s-era prison where visitors can learn about what life in the Victorian prison system was like, is a six-minute walk away. The oldest Welsh timbered house (called Nantclwyd y Dre)is a one-minute walk away, and a town craft center where visitors can watch artists at work and get the chance to buy their creations is a nine-minute walk away. Those who want a little more to see and do in town might get bored staying here.

For more outdoorsy guests, the city of Ruthin is located near Loggerheads Country Park, a pretty river valley with lots of trails to explore. Trails lead to the Clwydian Range, a 22-mile chain of heather-covered hills and limestone cliffs. Getting there, however, requires a car -- it is a 14-minute drive away.

All of the 54 rooms are decorated in different colors and styles, they all were designed to reflect the hotel's historic character. Expect to see canopy beds, carpeted floors, and fun additions such as belted-leather side tables or antique photos along the walls. Across the board, rooms come with Nespresso coffeemakers and Twinings teas, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Most of the rooms look out onto the rest of the castle or the gardens. Bathrooms are modern with either tubs or showers, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and hairdryers.

The Castle Luxury Rooms are the smallest and hardest to move about, particularly in their tiny bathrooms. It's probably best to spring for a more spacious Castle Deluxe Room or one of the suites. All of the suites have different features recommending them, but the Prince of Wales is the biggest. It occupies an entire floor, and is outfitted with a canopy bed and a bathtub directly behind it (there's a partition). Note that some rooms are showing a bit of wear and there have been reports of cleanliness issues.

The hotel has two restaurants on its grounds. The most upscale, Bertie's Restaurant, serves locally sourced cuisine and a three-course Sunday lunch in a room filled with white tablecloths, crystal chandeliers, and velvet drapes. For a more casual dining experience, there is the Library Bar, an oak-paneled room with brown-leather couches, a fireplace, and shorter menu with a full bar. Both restaurants serve afternoon tea, which can be taken outside on the terrace, weather permitting. For history buffs, the hotel offers a medieval feast with accompanying entertainment in an appropriately decorated banquet hall featuring wooden plates and metal goblets. 

A day spa called The Moat has a hot tub and variety of massage and body treatments available. A hardwood-floored gym with a variety of cardio and weight-training equipment is on-site. There are five conference rooms (the largest of which can seat 130) and multiple event spaces on the grounds for weddings or other celebrations. There is extensive free parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.