Visit England’s magnificent cathedrals, in some of the country’s most historic cities, and stay & dine in one of these superb hotels nearby.
Sandburn Hall
Luxury Country Getaway just £97.50pp
A unique venue with a fresh approach. Sandburn Hall is set amongst 1000 acres of lakes and woodland, on the outskirts of York. With stunning views of the countryside and lakes from the 18 hole golf course, and the converted barn restaurant, this is the ideal location for a peaceful break or an action packed weekend. Incredible bedrooms and excellent relaxed vibe.
York Minster is one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals, with foundations rooted in the nation’s earliest history. A masterpiece in stained glass and stone, its vast are spaces alive with the sanctity and tradition of worship and heavenly music; or its quiet corners revealing unexpected stories and human inspiration. With 128 medieval windows, York Minster has more historic stained glass than any other building in the UK, housing 60% of all surviving medieval stained glass in situ within its windows. The Great East Window, currently undergoing restoration as part of the York Minster Revealed project, is the world’s largest medieval stained glass window.
The Lincoln Hotel
Sparkling Escape just £84.50pp
The Lincoln Hotel is a restored 1960’s hotel that offers comfortable rooms, delicious food and incredible views. Located just next door to the stunning Lincoln Cathedral, making the hotel ideally placed for guests wanting to explore the medieval city. Lincoln Cathedral sits on an escarpment, dominating the landscape and visible for miles. The vast church has a Norman core built by William the Conqueror’s cousin, and was embellished by early English Gothic in the restoration by St Hugh of Lincoln at the end of the 12th century. Visitors can enjoy up to three tours within the entry price, including in the summer months the Wren Library, described by Sir Roy Strong as the most beautiful room in England. The Chapter House, in which the English Parliament met, a Refectory and Shop complete the visit.
Poets House
Luxury Sparkling Escape just £132.50pp
Originally consisting of three properties, and once the home of a renowned local author, Poets house is a stylish hotel, restaurant and events venue, coupling the buildings’ original charm with stunning views of Ely cathedral, elegant interiors, pretty courtyard garden, and lovingly prepared food in the restaurant. Just an hour from London, it offers the perfect blend of luxury and comfort. Highly regarded by historians and architects from all over the world for its beauty and size, Ely Cathedral is the only UK building to be listed as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Medieval World’. Visible for miles around, the Cathedral is often referred to as ‘The Ship of the Fens’. Ely Cathedral is a magnificent structure with a history dating back over 1300 years. Ely has an association with many who have shaped history including King Canute, William the Conqueror, Hereward the Wake, Henry III, Edward III, Queen Phillipa and Oliver Cromwell. More recently the Cathedral has become better known as a film location, having being used as a film set for ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’, ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and ‘The King’s Speech’.
Willington Hall
Sparkling Lazy Break just £97.50pp
Guests can relax in Georgian splendour at this small family owned boutique hotel in Tarporley in the peaceful Cheshire countryside. Sumptuous bedrooms, the finest locally-sourced produce, picture-perfect gardens, and great hospitality all combine to offer guests a welcoming and relaxing stay. It’s a great base for exploring too, and is just 10 miles from historic Chester. Chester Cathedral stands at the centre of this most historic city. According to legend, there has been a Christian church on the site since Roman times while the present building was begun in 1092 as a Benedictine monastery. The monastic foundation was dissolved in 1540, but the building survived as the ‘new’ Cathedral of the Diocese of Chester created in 1541, and therefore little damage was done; as a result Chester Cathedral is a wonderful example of a medieval monastery.
Lumley Castle
Romantic Lazy Break just £95pp
Surrounded by beautiful parklands overlooking the River Wear, a magnificent monument to a bygone age of chivalry & honour. Located between historic Durham & vibrant Newcastle, perfectly situated to explore the North East of England. Individual rooms and sophisticated dining provide an ideal location for a unique, historical break or romantic retreat. Described as ‘the best Cathedral on planet earth’ (Bill Bryson), Durham Cathedral forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with breath-taking Romanesque architecture, exquisite stained glass, and the most complete set of surviving monastic buildings. Durham Cathedral has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage for more than a millennium. It houses the shrine of St Cuthbert, the 7th century Bishop of Lindisfarne; and the tomb of the Venerable Bede, author of the early 8th century The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, who is known as the The Father of English History.
The Moonraker Hotel
Lazy Country Getaway just £70pp
Nestled on the outskirts of Trowbridge and just minutes from Bradford on Avon, The Moonraker is ideally located for leisure travellers. A warm welcome, unpretentious seasonal dining, and exquisitely comfortable beds await. Built in beautiful Bath stone and just 15 minutes from the city itself, guests can delight in a perfect blend of history, personality, and friendly hospitality. Built in 1176–1450 to replace an earlier church on the site since 705, Wells Cathedral is moderately sized for an English cathedral. Its broad west front and large central tower are dominant features. It has been called “unquestionably one of the most beautiful” and “most poetic” of English cathedrals.’
Swinton Park
Romantic, luxury castle hotel near Ripon, North Yorkshire, set in 200 acres of parkland, lakes and gardens. Featuring a 3 AA rosette restaurant and stunning guest bedrooms, it’s the winner of a Green Tourism Gold Award, and is the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Ripon Cathedral has a history stretching back almost fourteen centuries. Dominating the Ripon skyline, the amazing building has inspired the likes of Lewis Carroll and Wilfrid Owen and continues to inspire and uplift visitors and worshippers alike. The present church was founded by Saint Wilfrid and dedicated in 672, although it has been rebuilt several times since. The ancient Saxon crypt – one of the oldest in the country – is the only part of Wilfrid’s original church that remains to this day. The Cathedral also has many other interesting features, not least the medieval woodcarvings that decorate the choir stalls, which are believed to have inspired Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.
The Bell Inn Bramshaw
Sparkling Country Getaway just £130pp
Nestled in the New Forest village of Brook, this charming, traditional country inn has been owned by the same family for almost 230 years. With modern and individually designed bedrooms, award-winning restaurant, and warm hospitality, it’s ideal for both couples and families. For over a thousand years, people have come to seek inspiration in Winchester Cathedral. From a small Saxon church to a great Cathedral, the long history of this sacred place stretches back over 15 centuries. Discover glorious church architecture, priceless treasures, great works of art, historic events and famous people. See the 12th-Century Winchester Bible, illuminated in gold and lapis lazuli, contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley and Barbara Hepworth and the burial place of England’s much loved novelist Jane Austen.
Mallory Court
This stylish, luxury country hotel, set in acres of landscaped gardens near Leamington Spa in the Warwickshire countryside, features sumptuous elegant bedrooms, relaxing wood-panelled lounges, and two award winning restaurants, one exquisite fine dining, and one brasserie. Coventry Cathedral has been a place of worship for the past 1,000 years. Today, visitors see the new Cathedral (consecrated in 1962) built along sided the Ruins – the cathedral was devastated by bombing in 1940. Inside the Cathedral are works of art, described as a ‘Casket of Jewels’, created by the artists of the 1950s and 60s. These include Sutherland’s Tapestry of Christ in Glory, contemporary stained glass and sculptures.
Bovey Castle
Exclusive Country Getaway just £234.50pp
Located in Dartmoor National Park, the 5 star luxury Bovey Castle sits majestically on the edge of the valley overlooking the stunning Edwardian gardens and flowing River Bovey. The Great Western restaurant offers exceptional food, immaculate service and a superb atmosphere. There’s an award winning spa and treatment rooms, and an 18 hole golf course on-site. Exeter Cathedral was founded by St Edward the Confessor in 1050 shortly before he re-founded Westminster Abbey and both churches are dedicated to St Peter. Exeter Cathedral is considered the finest examples of Decorated Gothic architecture anywhere and has the longest span of medieval vaulting in the world and the tallest medieval Bishop’s Throne Canopy.
Haycock Manor Hotel
Sparkling Lazy Break just £147.50pp
Sitting on the River Nene in idyllic Wansford, surrounded by breathtaking countryside, Haycock Manor is a great option for those wanting a stress-free getaway. Explore the nearby medieval villages, stroll around Rutland Water, or just enjoy the hotel’s comfortable and charming rooms, and award-winning dining. Peterborough Cathedral is one of the finest Norman cathedrals in England. Founded as a monastic community in 654 AD, it became one of the most significant medieval abbeys in the country, the burial place of two queens and the scene of Civil War upheavals. Archaeological evidence around and underneath the Cathedral indicates that there was a Roman building on the site. Evidence of a boundary ditch and monumental stonework may indicate a substantial building such as a temple or monumental arch.
Bowden Hall
Sparkling Escape just £72.50pp
Recent refurbishments have brought Bowden Hall back to its former glory, boasting a breathtaking blend of traditional and contemporary design. Superbly located for exploring the Cotswolds, the hotels offers large spacious bedrooms, a renowned restaurant, and stunning views in its parkland setting. Gloucester Cathedral boasts a captivating history that transcends its religious significance. Dating back to the 11th century, this medieval masterpiece showcases a blend of Norman and Gothic architectural styles. Originally founded as an abbey, it later became a cathedral in the 16th century. Gloucester Cathedral has witnessed significant historical events, including the coronation of King Henry III in 1216. Its stunning cloisters gained fame as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies. With its intricate stonework, breathtaking stained glass windows, and a rich tapestry of history, Gloucester Cathedral stands as a testament to the region’s cultural heritage.
The Barnham Broom
With first class facilities, Barnham Broom boasts a stylish setting in the heart of the Norfolk. With two golf courses, health club, luxury Spa and more, it is the perfect base to explore both the city and the surrounding area. The resort overlooks 300 acres of beautiful countryside, offering contemporary bedrooms and an award-winning Brasserie. Norwich is one of the few English cities which can boast two cathedrals, each with outstanding and diverse collections of stained glass. The Anglican Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity can trace its roots back to 1096 and, as would be expected from a religious building of this antiquity, has experienced many alterations and additions through the years. Similarly it contains a wonderful selection of glass windows which date from medieval times through to the current era. Conversely, building started on what is now the Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist in 1882, and it was officially opened in 1910. Unlike the eclectic variety of glass contained in the Anglican building, the vast majority of windows here were not only made over this same period but by one firm, John Hardman and Co., and have been described as one of ‘the glories of the Cathedral’.
The Bermondsey Square Hotel
Romantic Lazy Break just £74.50pp
Located in the heard of thriving Bermondsey with its thriving restaurant, bar and club scene, art galleries, design studios and boutique shops, the Bermondsey Square Hotel is perfect for a celebratory night away in London. Close to Tate Modern, The Shard & Tower Bridge. St. Paul’s Cathedral, an iconic landmark in London, holds a rich historical significance beyond its religious importance. Built in the 17th century, it stands as a testament to the city’s resilience and architectural brilliance. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the cathedral replaced the previous structure destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666. Its construction took over 35 years to complete, showcasing the mastery of craftsmanship and engineering of the time. St. Paul’s Cathedral has witnessed numerous historical events, including the funerals of prominent figures like Winston Churchill. Today, it remains a symbol of London’s heritage and a must-visit attraction for history enthusiasts.
