The Maiden's Tower at Leeds Castle has won the AA award for 2017's Unique B&B of the year.
The castle – which, confusingly for tourists, is located in Kent – is one of the finest, and best-preserved, castles in the world. Originally a Norman stronghold, it was used by Edward I as a royal residence; Henry VIII also spent many happy days there with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. (Before he divorced her, of course.)
Royal residents have long been a thing of the past, however, and since 1976 the castle has been open as a tourist attraction. Of late, they've also moved into accommodation – everything from cottages to and it's one of these options, the Maid's Tower, which has won the AA's prestigious award.
13 beautiful palaces where guests are welcome, in Britain and beyond
Hazel Plush takes a look at the magnificent palaces where guests are welcome.
There are five bedrooms within the tower, in a part of the castle which dates back to the 16th century, each named after one of the princesses who has stayed at the castle and decorated in Tudor style.
The romance doesn't end merely with the setting and rooms, however: guests also get some lovely extras such as a boat ride on the moat and an opportunity to go on a 'hawk walk' with the castle's falconers.
Leeds Castle is in Kent, five miles from Maidstone – prices for B&B in the Maid's Tower start at £260 per room, per night.
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
Pugs in pearls: Nine times dogs stole the show on publishing’s most famous pageEvery Monday, Melanie Bryan, delves into the hidden depths of Country Life's extraordinary archive to bring you a long-forgotten story, photograph or advert.
-
The Swan at Fittleworth review: The 500-year-old inn that’s as popular now as when Turner stayedThe Swan at Fittleworth's previous guests include Kipling, Turner and J. M. Barrie.
-
Pack up your jumpers: Is Scandinavia the new Mediterranean?Climate change means increasingly unbearable heat and dangerous wildfires across swathes of Europe — so what is the alternative? Words and photographs by Emma Lavelle.
-
Sophia Money-Coutts: Can I get away with flying Business Class if my other half is in Economy?Sophia Money-Coutts is the new Debrett's and she's here every Wednesday to set some modern etiquette wrongs, right.
-
Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary’s joint adventure to the Arctic that you've never heard about and what its re-creation can tell us about the state of EarthIn 1985, Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary adventured to the North Pole; 40 years later, their children re-created the expedition.
-
'Truffle hunters are fiercely protective of their favoured spots, often passed down from older generations': The Croatian peninsula with a proud culinary traditionBlessed with perfect growing conditions, Croatia’s abundant north-western peninsula promises rich pickings for gastronomes.
-
Portofino is Italy's answer to the Garden of Eden. The Splendido hotel put it on the mapThe storied Splendido recently emerged from extensive refurbishment. Luke Abrahams checks in to check it out.
-
Seeking substance and style: Island hopping in the CycladesThere’s more to the Cyclades than headline-making Mykonos and Santorini, says Lucy Halfhead.
-
Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, hotel review: 'Doing nothing has rarely, if ever, felt so good’Country Life’s Editor-in-Chief is full of praise for the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, built next to the site of an epic battle, on the Greek mainland.
