Walworth Castle Hotel

The quiet grounds were lovely for a walk, and my wife especially liked the small woodland area. We were both impressed by the setting. Staff were friendly and helpful, and even showed us the castle dungeon, which is usually closed, while telling us a little about the room. That was a memorable surprise. I was at Walworth Castle Hotel for work and brought my wife along, turning the trip into a short break. The building has real historic character, from the grounds to the corridors, and the atmosphere feels unlike an ordinary hotel. Our room was comfortable and modern. Breakfast was very good, and dinner was excellent, hearty food. A comfortable stay with good meals and welcoming staff, and a nice change from the usual. I’d be glad to come back.

The suite was huge, but the noise kept me awake most of the night. There was loud banging followed by constant grumbling, possibly from the pipes. I wouldn’t choose room 30. The celebratory package check-in went smoothly. The included pre-dinner cocktails were very limited, so we bought drinks from the cocktail menu instead. The two-course meal was nice, though the service was poor. There were hardly any pleasantries, and nobody mentioned the food surcharges for package guests. We were told we could only choose from certain wines, so we picked one of those. Breakfast was okay, but the service felt uninterested and lacklustre, like we were an inconvenience. Staff could use some customer experience training. It’s a shame, but I won’t return.

The staff were cheerful, welcoming, and really helpful, and the atmosphere was lovely. The food was beautifully presented, excellent, and came in generous portions, so it felt like great value. We had a wonderful time at the Walworth Castle restaurant and would happily go back.

We had a great stay at the end of January 2026. The included breakfast was great too, and the food, service, staff, and on-site bar and restaurant were all good. Our room in the main house was warm, comfortable, and quiet. It’s an old castle, so it’s worn and crumbling in places and could do with a full refurbishment. It’s clean, though, and fun to explore, with beautiful authentic castle features and child-friendly gardens. There’s good parking, and you get to stay in a real castle for very little money. Renovation work is underway and may deal with some of the tired areas. Look past those and it’s good value, in a lovely countryside location that makes a handy base for sightseeing around Barnard Castle, Robin Hoods Bay, and Whitby. We’d happily stay again. If you’re after spotless five-star luxury, this probably isn’t the place. For us, the castle’s age is part of its charm.