Budding time travellers are well-advised to visit this stunning 16th century castle, which stands in 15 acres of regal splendour surrounded by vineyards and a Tudor garden.
Thornbury Castle is now renowned for being one of the finest country house hotels in England – even if you are not a guest you can join the likes of Sophia Loren and Lawrence Olivier by visiting the hotel restaurant for some fine dining, or take a stroll through its historic landscaped grounds. Be sure to check the website for details of upcoming events.
Adjacent to the castle is St Mary’s Church. It was built in the 12th Century making it the oldest surviving building in Thornbury, and one of 7 churches in the area.
The castle started life as a manor but was given a major upgrade in 1511 by Edward Stafford, an English nobleman who became the 2nd Duke of Buckingham and whose subsequent accusation and execution are depicted in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII.