A castle for Christmas!
And why not?
A castle for Christmas may seem like a tall ask for Santa, but when you see how many splendid castles are out there offering amazingly affordable Christmas packages (considering what’s included in those packages), you won’t think twice about asking for a castle for Christmas!
And when it comes to a Christmas photoshoot, there are few backdrops more magical than a castle rising up from the landscape, perhaps with snow dusting the ground, definitely with holly, twinkle lights, and a Christmas tree in the courtyard.
I can hear the questions dancing in your head now. But where, how, when…?
Read on to learn how to make this Christmas wish and fairytale photoshoot come true!
The wonderful truth is that there are castles waiting for visitors all over Europe⎼Austria, Germany, France, and so on.
Though many castles were lost in the 19th and 20th centuries, as families couldn’t afford the upkeep and they fell into neglect, many others were bought up and restored, some by non-profit national organizations, others by entrepreneurs who wanted to create a luxury hotel in a unique setting.
This Christmas we’ll focus on the United Kingdom, where there is no shortage of castles. Rumor has it that there are over 2,000 castles in Scotland, about 1,500 in England, 600 in Wales, and the Irish claim they have too many to count! Many of these castles are in ruins, but some have been restored. And of those, some offer spectacular Christmas packages!
Here are just a few popular ones:
Bovey Castle ⎼ with extensive grounds, including a golf course, set in England’s beautiful Dartmoor Park
Chateau Rhianfa ⎼ built in the romantic French Gothic Style but located on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales with a view of Snowdonia
Dromoland Castle ⎼ located in County Clare, elegant and once home to Gaelic Irish royalty
Mingary Castle ⎼ really a Scottish fortress set on a cliff overlooking the ocean, but with a lovely Georgian interior
Thornbury Castle ⎼ in Gloucestershire, England, and a honeymoon stop of Henry VIII and Anne Bolelyn (you can actually stay in the same room they did!)
Tulloch Castle ⎼ a 12th century castle with all the trimmings in Northern Scotland near Inverness
So the question becomes not so much where to find a castle, but which one to choose! Here are some suggestions when making your choice:
Choose the country first (Scotland, England, Wales, or Ireland)
Consider what’s nearby (cities, sights, places you’ve always wanted to visit)
Read all the Christmas packages (this is the fun part!)
Appearances (yes, looks count here!)
What does Christmas at a castle involve?
The real question should be, what doesn’t it involve?
Each castle goes through every effort to make their guests’ Christmas experience one they’ll never forget, from the room, to the meals, to the activities.
No matter which United Kingdom castle you choose, your stay will most likely include the following:
Photo by: Kris in Vienna
A crafted itinerary
This is when your holiday starts, even before you arrive at the castle!
At websites, like Celtic Castles, each castle advertises a detailed description of their Christmas package including a rough itinerary of each day. Often times, after you book and as the holidays approach, they’ll send you updates with more tantalizing details.
Most Christmas stays at a castle are for two to three nights. We highly recommend opting for the three-night package if you can because, after all, how often do we stay at a castle? Three-night packages start on Christmas Eve and go through December 27th. That means you’re enjoying all the magic of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as Boxing Day, a holiday celebrated on the 26th in the U.K. and other Commonwealth countries.
The itinerary not only allows you to get excited before the visit, but takes the pressure off of wondering how you’ll fill your time or what you’ll eat. The impressive staff, who truly do think of everything (and will all know your names from the moment you arrive!) have done all the planning for you!
Merry food & drink
“Feasting” and “castle” have historically gone hand-in-hand, and from the moment you arrive at your Christmas castle you will be wined and dined to the holiday nines!
There will be holiday treats for all ages and each castle will showcase the regional flavors of the season. Think shortbread and whiskey in Scotland and Ireland (along with some bagpipers), sloe-gin and Christmas pudding in England, and Buck fizzes (the British predecessor of the French Mimosa) all around!
Upon arrival you might be treated to mulled wine and mince pies or served a full afternoon tea. That evening, being Christmas Eve, there will be a multicourse feast served in the dining room or restaurant. And should you attend Midnight Mass at a nearby church, the staff will have refreshments waiting to warm you upon your return.
Christmas morning arrives with a full breakfast, served either in the castle’s dining room or brought to your bedchamber. There is a late afternoon Christmas feast and then, in recognition of full bellies and overflowing spirits, a light buffet in the evening.
Boxing Day will have its own feasts and decadence, and on your last morning the castle will send you off with a grand breakfast.
Cozy castle lodging
Imagine climbing forty stone stairs up a spiraling staircase to your room. Because you just might in a castle!
And the brass key that opens the door to your baronial room may barely fit in your handbag or pocket!
Lodgings in a castle should be grand and unforgettable. It’s not uncommon to find four-poster beds, plush seating areas with fireplaces, antique writing desks, clawfoot bathtubs, and mullioned windows overlooking the grounds. For Christmas, many castles will add a decorated tree if you wish, and surprise you with a bag of goodies...bathrobes and slippers to keep, chocolates and jams to enjoy!
Every castle will be different, which is why you should take time to look over the room galleries on their websites before booking. After all, you want visions of sugar plums dancing in your head as you sleep!
Seasonal activities & Christmas spirit!
As with rooms and food, every castle will have something different on offer and you’ll be able to get an idea of what they are from their itinerary. Activities will range from brass rubbing to treasure huts, golf tournaments to falconry displays, cocktail making to snowman building.
And you’ll want to visit with your fellow guests. Many castles accommodate around 30 for Christmas and the holiday stay offers a chance to get to know each other. Make new friends over warm drinks in the evening, do puzzles beside the fire, or get out and explore the castle grounds together.
On Christmas Eve carolers may arrive to sing before dinner, which will be a formal occasion with men in evening suits and women in gowns. On Christmas Day, many castles will distribute gifts to their guests and broadcast the Queen’s speech for all to enjoy. And somewhere in there, Santa may make an appearance!
How to make the most of your holiday
You’d think that being in a castle would be enough to make your holidays complete. And you’re not far from the truth! But here are a few tips to make the most of your castle stay.
Photo by: Olga in London
Consider before and after
You might want to arrive in the country of your castle a few days earlier to get your Christmas shopping done, maybe in festive London or Edinburgh. Or after, travel on for an end of year adventure.
Learn about the castle
The staff will be able to answer questions and there may even be a guided tour available. However you do it, make time to learn about the castle you’re visiting. It will make your visit all the more special, and you’ll be better prepared for all your family and friends’ questions!
Participate
The prospect of a snowman building contest or brass rubbing may not appeal to all of us, but if you’ve traveled halfway around the world to spend Christmas in a castle, take advantage of everything that’s on offer. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Take time for yourself
Castles have nooks with windows overlooking the grounds and libraries with sofas and fires that are just begging you to curl up and relax. And if you never sleep in, this is the time! Take some quiet time to yourself to soak it all in. “It’s Christmas, I’m in a castle, all is well!”
Book your photographer
You’re living a Christmas fairy tale. Don’t let this photo opp slip by! Plan a photoshoot on Boxing Day or the last morning of your stay to create the perfect souvenir of your Christmas castle holiday.