Trip 2011

A separate post about an individual hotel is a bit out of ordinary for this trip, but the Langley Castle Hotel is an extraordinary hotel.

View of the Langley Castle Hotel. Our room had the window directly above the larger cathedral-style window directly above the door. Americans would call it the 3rd floor.

Construction of Langley Castle began in the year AD 1350, and over the years it fell into ruin while changing hands of ownership.  In the late 19th century, restoration was begun.  In the 20th century, the castle was used as a barracks during the Second World War and as a girls’ school before being turned into a hotel.

We arrived in the late afternoon after spending the day traveling part of Hardian’s Wall from Carlisle to Hexham.  The original plan had us go all the way to Newcastle and Wallsend at the far eastern end of the wall, but by the time we finished seeing Housesteads Roman Fort, it was obvious we were not going to be going any more further east than we absolutely needed to due to time constraints.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we found that the room Kathy had requested had been changed to another, due to the need to use the elevator, but we got that “sorted out” and were shown to our room, the Radcliffe Room, the room that was originally requested.

A four-post king sized bed, armoire, and more in the Radcliffe Room at Langley Castle Hotel.

You might think that a castle, especially in the month of January in the north of England might be a cold and drafty affair but Langley Castle was anything but.  Our room was warm and sumptuous.  The bathroom was incredible – a walk-in “rain” shower, a sunken bath, and a small sauna.  The double sinks would be handy later for a long needed round of clothes washing!

After settling in a bit, we made for a room where we could be served “Afternoon Tea“.  It was a welcomed relief from the travel of the day.

Back to our room to do some rearranging of items in the suitcases, and then a bit of relaxing before we went down to dinner in the dining room.

The window seat of the Radcliffe Room, set into the 7-foot walls of Langley Castle, overlooks the entrance to the castle.

Dinner was exceptional, even if we can’t remember what we had at this point!  I remember having something fish – scallops, I want to say – that were deliciously soft yet firm at the same time.

After dinner, we had a marathon session of clothes washing, and used the sauna to help get most of them dry by morning.

Breakfast, of course, did not disappoint.  The full English breakfast was to be had before leaving the castle for the drive to Duxford.