Middleton Castle

A regal retreat fit for a king, and now available to the public for the first time in almost 600 years, Middleton Castle has all the ingredients for an unforgettable luxurious escape.

Here’s the lowdown, to impress your guests before they’ve even RSVP’d –

Middleton is a Grade 1* listed castle, complete with its own moat and 85 acres of stunning parkland grounds to explore.

History buffs will be delighted to discover that Middleton was constructed during the reign of Henry VI in 1455, just six years before he was ousted in the War of the Roses.

500(ish) years later, the castle is now a stunning holiday venue, capable of sleeping up to 30 guests in 15 bedrooms, five of which have their own elegant ensuite bathrooms.

In the house, the Gatehouse wing has a luxurious double bedroom, along with a sitting room. The main house first floor is home to five ensuite double bedrooms, along with a double bedroom with a separate bathroom.

There are two cottages close to the main house, each self-contained with their own kitchen, living room, and sheltered stone terrace.

You’ve got a family kitchen with an Aga, as well as a separate prep kitchen and an oak panelled dining room to host epic meals and events. Then there’s four (count them) reception rooms, including a games lounge complete with table tennis, snooker table and a collection of board games.

Explore the castle grounds and discover a summer house, croquet lawn (of course) and outdoor seating area. Then sit back, relax and take in the sheer majesty of the uninterrupted views across the moat.

About the location

Middleton village lies on the A47, around three miles east of King’s Lynn. Norwich is just over an hour’s drive away, and London takes around two and a half hours by road or rail.

Edmund’s favourite feature

“Many stately homes can claim to have a ‘timeless’ quality, but this one is next-level. A morning stroll through the garden, complete with beautifully manicured conical hedges, feels like you’ve stepped back to Tudor times (without losing phone signal).”

Things to do

Just beyond the castle grounds are plenty of invigorating walks through fairy-tale woodlands and rolling farmland, with the historic market town of King’s Lynn a ten-minute drive away.

You’re also close to Norfolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the famous Hunstanton Seal Sanctuary, and other coastal delights such as Cromer and Holkham Beach.

The more adventurous can track down a buggy safari at the antipodean-sounding Watatunga Nature Reserve, home to Europe’s most varied collection of deer and antelope (that’s the deal closer, right?).