Thornbury Castle

This one was good enough for Henry VIII, who stayed here with wife Ann Boleyn, & it remains more than fit for a king today. The only Tudor castle in England to be open as a hotel, this luxurious country house, crowned with crenellations, sets the scene, while a pastoral menu delivers the best of modern British with treasonable, but delectable, French touches such as a starter of slow-poached duck egg on toasted brioche with lamb’s tongue & Henry IV sauce, mains of meuniere of Devon pollack served with razor clams & samphire as well as pea & potato puree, & caramelized rhubarb tart with balsamic & strawberry soup & rhubarb sorbet to finish.