Appleby Castle♡

Guest review

10.0

This is beautiful castle, worth staying just as an experience. Food is not the best, I would expect but more, but exceptional.

Appleby Castle

10.0

This was an amazing place to stay, very authentic and beautiful. Our room had an updated bathroom, but even though the floor was slanted it was beautiful and comfortable. Craig is not only polite and courteous, but is an excellent cook. Peter played Piano through dinner after taking our dinner order. They both were accommodating worked to make our stay comfortable

Arrive in the day time if you can

4.0

We arrived late in the evening, not ideal but thought it was a hotel. The building was blacked out with no signage, so definitely arrive in the day time for ease if you can. The guy did upgrade us to a cottage and reminded us its a castle first (i.e. not a hotel) so keep that in mind. There are mouse traps etc in the cottage (which in the country/old houses is the norm)

Not the "castle" experience you think you'll get!

6.0

Not really the "castle" experience we thought this would be. Given the cost, the castle is not welcoming, whilst I appreciate this is an old building etc. but the overall ambience is poor. No information given at check-in, long process and poor explanation as to why C/Card details need to be taken/stored (stay was already pre-paid). Room OK but not worth in excess of £200 (without breakfast, no TV etc. (again appreciate it is an old building). Told the manager we would be heading out and whether the key opened the front door, response was no but just buzz and he would let us in. Came back at 8:30pm to find the door locked and no-one around. Buzzed and called the phone number for 15 minutes without any response - was just about to give up when another guest let us in! Not a great experience and general feeling is they don't particularly cater for guests once they have your payment. Location is good though and plenty of bars/restaurants within 10 minute walk - about the only good this to say really.

the worst experience ever.

2.0

Very dirty, pool condition, bad service, expensive price. no tv, no kettle, no chair. Smelly, wet, and cold. the worst experience ever.

Guest review

8.0

This stay is hard to evaluate, because it was uneven. It is an experience staying in a medieval castle. We wandered around the interior to see the rooms, with old paintings, suits of armour, etc., which was interesting. The staff upgraded us from servants quarters to a cottage. The cottage was modernized with a living room and wide screen tv, a bedroom, and bathroom with a tub and walk-in shower. This was all good except for the mouse we saw in the bedroom. We had dinner in the dining room, which was kind of worn down, definitely in need of an upgrade. The food was good but not great, and it was expensive. Service was passable, but simple things like providing a bread plate and a functional candelabra were not done. The meal was fair but this was not as good as it could have been. The staff did upgrade us and helped with the internet and tv, but he was not to be found after our check-in. We never got a tour or got to climb to the top of the tower. I made a mistake in booking by one day, but I recognized and corrected that error on the internet. I asked more than once if they would waive the penalty fee for having to cancel the original registration date and rebook the correct dates, and staff replied to my emails but never responded to my request to waive the fee. In the end we were charged a fairly hefty cancellation fee, which is pretty shabby treatment. It was interesting staying in a castle and the upgrade was great, but the place was just a bit “off.”