I

f you like the idea of staying in a proper castle (with four poster beds, red-brick battlements and the whole shebang) but shiver at the prospect of life without Jacuzzi baths, posh toiletries and flat-screen TVs, then perhaps you should give this place a whirl.

Put simply, it’s got the lot, with 19 individually designed bedrooms and a rather excellent restaurant serving up treats like pan-fried mackerel, rump of lamb and baked apple. Intimate lighting and old oak-panelled walls ensure the atmosphere is all very English, but do keep your eyes peeled for some cheeky modern twists as you head back to bed.

We especially like the colourful murals of monkeys dressed up as 19th-century clowns painted by Rowton’s resident artist, Jaci Vienna, and the ones of apes wearing the dresses of Madam Pompadour. Cheeky.