Best Western Walworth Castle Hotel

Best Western Walworth Castle Hotel descritpion

Walworth Castle Hotel is in the rolling Tees Valley countryside, west of Darlington. Dating back to 1189, this historic building is surrounded by 18 acres of stunning lawns and woodlands.
In the evening, you can enjoy a relaxed traditional roast meal around the open fire or dine more formally in the elegant restaurant, awarded an AA rosette for food excellence.
Walworth Castle Hotel features an outdoor sitting area with sun umbrellas at the back of the hotel, which seats over 50 people, and there is a children's adventure climbing frame area.
Some rooms have impressive four-poster beds and a hot tub, with striking views of the lawns and countryside. The rooms are furnished with luxurious fabrics and magnificent decor.
Free wireless broadband access is available in the hotel.

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Facilities of Best Western Walworth Castle Hotel

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Cycling | Massage | Playground

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Buffet-Style Restaurant

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for Best Western Walworth Castle Hotel

Review 1：Rooms are a little too cold for comfort. Especially the bathroom. Price of breakfast is a little high at £12.50.

Review 2：Situated in a nice rural area. Beautiful building and food pretty good. Staff are very helpful. Breakfast is very good.

Review 3：The room in the West Wing was very cold and although the room was clean there were cobwebs at high level in the bathroom and bedroom, carpeted corridor to the room needed a good vacuum

Review 4：Good location, nice and quiet

Review 5：Stunning castle , Rooms were clean with a modern bathroom , Rooms had a dated decor to fit in with castle style worked really well . Staff were polite and helpful, lovely food in the restaurant and reasonably priced breakfast was nice too overall a great trip away and would return .

Review 6：The staff was so friendly Our food was delicious. The fireplace in the dining area made for a warm and inviting space to relax and enjoy our evening.

Review 7：The bedroom was disappointing from the rest of the castle. Cold water and the room was drafty.

Review 8：The food was excellent we would go back for something to eat again.

Review 9：The receptionist was very helpful and chatty, she even had a birthday card delivered to our room for my husband. Lovely castle, great location and good food.

Review 10：Breakfast was 25.90 for 2 adults and was extremely poor quality. Go elsewhere for breakfast. Complained and was told the manager would be informed and that was all

Review 11：Was our wedding venue 3 years ago and is a lovely place.

Review 12：On the 6th November I was taking part as maid of honour in my friends wedding due to take place at 3pm. A few of the other bridesmaids had checked in early no problem so thought I'd see if my room was free and available to check into at 1:45 bearing in mind check in is usually at 2pm. I was told I'd have to pay £25 to check in early and my room wasnt ready as someone had slept in this room the night before. I have no idea as to why I was going to be charged an early check in fee when the other girls hadnt.

Review 13：The rooms were lovely. Really clean we stayed for our friends wedding, food was delicious.

Review 14：some dismal public rooms

Review 15：The wonderful staff couldn't do enough to help. Good food. Good price.Very peaceful. Lovely castle hosted my ancestor in 1603.

Review 16：Staff were snotty when they found out they has taken me to the wrong type of room as I had upgraded it earlier in the week and they didn't seem to be aware of this change. They also lacked professionalism when speaking to us about queries. they were snotty when they found out I was getting married the next day but not at the hotel surely all guests should be treated the same no matter what

Review 17：Lovely room, lovely bed, great food in the bar. Great price for a Castle room

Review 18：I had been given an extra 2 hours on checkout by Booking.com but none of the reception staff know anything about this Genious deal. I had housekeeping knocking on the door wanting in to clean and make up our room. Perhaps Booking.com could instruct the hotel prior to the visit so that staff are aware of this benefit. I did feel uncomfortable when they appeared to know nothing about the Genious deal on later checkout.

Review 19：The setting and character of this hotel is stunning and the staff are very helpful.

Review 20：Rooms require refurbishment. Price of breakfast was extortionate and should be included in the room price. Selection of drinks at bar was very limited and staff inexperienced.

Review 21：Nothing

Review 22：Nothing. Everything was perfect.

Review 23：The building was fabulous and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful and went out of their way to make everything perfect

Review 24：We don't get the opportunity to get away too often and stayed hereas it was close to where we were dining.Firstly we were put In a twin when we had booked a double room and explicitly requested this on the booking. At check in this was not mentioned and we were sent to our room in the west wing. The hotel claimed they had rung us to inform us of the twin but they hadn't. Having been a hotel receptionist in a past life this is usually something that would be clarified on check in. The receptionist who was lovely then moved us to another room in the main castle however it was a fraction of the size of the room in the west wing. It was more like a staff accommodation room than a guest bedroom and certainly was not worth what we paid for it!! It was not comparable & Very disappointing. Breakfast we paid in addition for; it was edible but not fantastic. Certainly not cooked to order. Toast was cold and minimal and the staff barely spoke let alone cracked a smile. Would we stay here again certainly NOT and I wouldn't recommend it to a friend. We dined out so cannot comment on evening meal.

Review 25：Our room, in the west wing was cramped, cold (even with the radiator on), it was dim and dismal (one light bulb not working), the carpet next to the smallest en- suite was frayed and the room was noisy. We heard one neighbour going to the bathroom at 4 30 am and leaving his extractor fan on for the rest of the night. The room was so small with no wardrobe and nowhere in the bathroom for leaving toilet bags. It was such a great disappointment

Review 26：The public rooms were very good, the restaurant was perfectly acceptable, the service was good and the staff were very pleasant

Review 27：Lack of wardrobe/storage space in bedroom. Inadequate bedside tables.

Review 28：Friendly staff. Very good menu choice and large portions. Full size bath provided

Review 29：I can't speak for the main hotel, but the room was in the West Wing (presumably cheaper, set up mainly for business travellers and pretty similar to a travel lodge) was a little tired, and could have been cleaner. The hotel looks very nice outside and inside, until you have to follow a ratty little passage to get to the West Wing from reception. it felt like being shunted to one side so the decent folk in the expensive part won't see the rabble. If that wing is treated separately, have a separate reception and make a virtue of it.

Review 30：Every staff member I encountered from front of house to cleaners was unfailingly friendly and helpful.

Review 31：This fantastic Castle is located in beautiful, peaceful countryside. It emanates a welcome as soon as you step out of your car. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff to make your stay pleasant and memorable.

Review 32：The bedroom was extremely small. The coffee making facilities were alright but not enough milk. There is only enough milk for one coffee. Yet there is a lot of coffee. Perhaps if you added some dried milk sashes

Review 33：The hotel looks fantastic on approach and the furnishings are brilliant

Review 34：Very cold room, no heating on. Small room for double on the west wing. Breakfast not good. Had to be put in the lounge as no room in the breakfast room. felt like you were in a corridor.Not an enjoyable atmosphere as loud with other guests ho had finished their breakfast and children running around. Waiting 50 minutes for our breakfast then when it arrived poached egg was hard and very dry. Muffin dry. This was such a shame as travelled from Southampton for a family wedding. We had been to the castle before and stayed in the castle which was a better facility.

Review 35：Comfortable bed

Review 36：The room was very dated and basic, it look like the servants quarters. I know the price was reasonable but the travel lodge type room would of been a better option. Staff and food and location very good, shame about the room.

Review 37：WiFi was a little sketchy okay if you went downstairs

Review 38：It's a Castle how great is that.Staff went out of there way to look after us. Great room great location great people

Review 39：Couldn't fault a thing. All the staff were super, friendly, helpful, had time to talk, always had a smile, very polite. Facilities were good, everything we needed, towels and shampoo etc were renewed every day even though we left our towels hanging up indicating we didn't need them changing. We were there from Friday to Monday and when we checked in the receptionist warned us that there was a Wedding on Saturday so it might be noisy from the disco in the evening. However, this didn't bother us at all and thought we expected there might have been some late night noise, we heard nothing. The castle itself is fabulous, the grounds are amazing and along with the birds of prey centre, open every day and the ice cream parlour down the road, we had a lovely weekend. We will definitely return.

Review 40：Our shower leaked badly as sealant missing more worried about damage to room underneath. Reported it and rolled up towels supplied only first night. We stayed three. Two lamps with no bulbs. Bar menu could be improved on.

Review 41：Beautiful and relaxing setting

Review 42：The bar menu could be improved upon.

Review 43：Walworth Castle is in beautiful settings. We were there for three nights celebrating nephews wedding and loved it. Such a relaxed atmosphere and staff very helpful.

Review 44：The budget room we booked was not up to standard so paid a subsidy to upgrade to an acceptable standard.

Review 45：The castle and grounds gave us an experience a little out of the ordinary

Review 46：Castle has no lifts so is not suitable if you have mobility issues.. We had to lug our bags up the stairs ourselves and along a lot of corridors and through multiple sets of doors.

Review 47：Location is lovely as are grounds. Hotel is a bit run down. Can.t rate breakfast as we didn't have it included but evening meal was ok.

Review 48：For this grade of hotel, the bathroom needs a little attention. Shower hose in plastic and squashed. Step into bathroom very high and wonder if older person could manage it. took one hour to order afternoon tea. Table cloth left on table and was stained.

Review 49：The breakfast The upgrade was appreciated.

Review 50：Beautiful location and the bedroom and bathroom was fabulous. Breakfasts were delicious and staff were courteous and efficient. reception staff especially need a mention. Please pass it on!!

Review 51：Breakfast service Rather poor and breakfast very overpriced. One fried egg not cooked, bacon dry. Although butter and side plate arrived the toast didn't until we requested it.

Review 52：Dinner at the pub was expensive and poorly prepared. The power went out in the morning and breakfast was essentially cancelled.

Review 53：The room was lovely and comfortable

Review 54：Menu very disappointing with little choice. Lovely lamb but served on a pile of broth in the middle of summer didn't seem to go!

Review 55：reception and service was good .room was clean and comfortable. Would stay again.

Review 56：Small room with even smaller shower room, not as expected. Shower had broken head & hose with moldy mastic giving impression not cared for. Bed springs dug into body & when moving noisy enough to wake you up.

Review 57：Greeting

Review 58：Something was wrong with the plumbing in our bathroom but there was an immediate and courteous response and we were looked after so well. No hotel is immune from the odd problem, but there was such a good customer service response that it stopped it being a problem at all really

Review 59：Staff - in particular Aurilele and Tony - were wonderful. Clean, comfy accommodation in a beautiful setting. Nice food too.

Review 60：When I made the booking though booking.com I asked for hotels with breakfast included. Only to be told on my first morning it was room only. As a business traveler I would not book room only. :-(

Review 61：We liked the history of the castle and the period décor. We had some lovely food and the staff were very nice. Our room was comfy and had a bath and a shower.

Review 62：Very small room and cramped bathroom. Bed was uncomfortable and creaky. First evening meal in restaurant was variable in quality but acceptable, but on our second night we eat in the bar and were served fish and chips swimming in grease and one of the party sent back a steak and ale pie as inedible,

Review 63：Room was in west wing which was quiet, well away from noisy function areas. Good atmosphere in bar and restaurant.

Review 64：Rooms were dire, Prisoner Cell Block H comes to mind. Breakfast was minimal, poor choice, dismal dining room.

Review 65：The staff tried their best, with very little to work with. Gave us an upgrade for no extra cost.

Review 66：The bedding was coarse and scratchy. Only one plug worked in our room. The castle is old, it's a castle! So squeaky hallways and staircases. The carpet was worn. Our room was over the kitchen, so as soon as we opened the room, it smelled of old grease, like an old diner.

Review 67：I came to England wanting to stay in a castle and I did. The grounds of the castle were peaceful and nice, parking was good. There was a wedding party with loud music, but we didn't hear it in our room. We did stay in the castle, not the newer addition. Our room was nicely decorated and the bathroom was spacious and spotless. Breakfast was lovely!

Review 68：So much history in the castle. I have driven past a few times on my travels and always wanted to stay here and I was not disappointed. The staff were very good and the breakfast was great. I actually had a better room than the one I booked so this was fantastic.

Review 69：We stayed in the annex which was an expensive bog standard very snug room, which the bathroom wasnt cleaned properly, someone had used the toilet and not cleaned it afterwards. No tea making facilities which isnt a great deal but considering the price of the room.. Oh and they dont do breakfast in bed :-( Shower was not existing as ran it for 10 mins and still water trickled out.

Review 70：The location was lovely, couldnt fault it at all.

Review 71：Room maybe a little dated but no worries really.

Review 72：Friendly staff, quiet location, good food. For me personally much preferable to a Premier Inn or similar on a busy road.

Review 73：No bad experiences!!!!

Review 74：It's difficult to state just one thing that we liked as it was all great, however if we have to make a decision, it was the food. Superb evening meal in the restaraunt, and wonderful breakfast.

Review 75：Tiny room with no storage. Very misleading. We got a "standard roomin castle." It was a good price but I expected a little bit more ora bit larger room. If you pay twice as much I think you might get adecent room.

Review 76：Castle location was nice, food was good. Staff was pleasant.

Review 77：The attentive staff. Loved the farmers bar and the food was excellent. Peaceful and quiet, a great place to de- stress. I used to live here when it was a school and my father was a teacher. Loved it then but much better now as a hotel

Review 78：nothing

Review 79：Staff made us feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. Everyone commented on the high quality of service and food! Perfect and unobtrusive customer service

Review 80：The interior needs upgrading and redecorating, otherwise it feels scruffy. Some of your guests were not of the best and would have been more at home in one of HM's prisons. One was very rude to the waitress at breakfast.

Review 81：The staff were good. The grounds looked good. Nice quiet location.

Review 82：Never stayed in such a small room, we had to shuffle around the bed, andwe are both slim, The bathroom was in a converted wardrobe the toiletwas next to the shower cubicle we had to reverse in..... Verydisappointing

Review 83：Hotel was really lovely

Review 84：The bleakest bedroom I have slept in this year. Impressive 4 poster in a very large room which was furnished with basic mis- matched items - sofa at end of the bed, leather affair, so uncomfortable that eventually sat on floor to watch TV. the dining room chair did not appeal as a seating option although did use it to kneel on to check out the view (very nice) from bedroom window. Window sill very high too. Bed so high ( no problem with that - steps were provided) that small table lamps either side, I like to read in bed, were useless.

Review 85：Location. Very good snack meal - beautifully presented. Very clean room. Bathroom - very good shower and the robe was a nice touch. Room was well heated and with 15ft+ high ceiling that was a blessing. Very pleasant receptionist.

Review 86：One member of staff was particularly grumpy & rude on one day at breakfast. This took the shine off the otherwise great service

Review 87：Went to a wedding here, lovely venue and setting. Good free wifi & free parking, quite small rooms but adequate. Great selection of breakfast options

Review 88：The room was quite dusty in places in particular the bedside table and it had sticky cup/glass ring marks on it. One member staff at breakfast on the second morning of our stay was not very helpful did not offer us toast like the morning before and came across as rude it seemed when we asked for something like extra sauce and when ordering our hot food we were a burden! We were quite a large group and also did not appear to like the fact we moved two tables together! Very disappointing when we paid extra for breakfast and were there as part of a wedding party which had been there all weekend!

Review 89：The lady on reception most of the weekend was very helpful and very friendly! The hotel is in a lovely picturesque setting. The room (a castle room) was quite small but functional the bed was very comfy!

Review 90：Beware, if you stay in the rooms (15,14,13) close to the staff cleaning room/kitchen in the 'stable block'. they don't seem to realize that people may be sleeping or working and they shout their personal business up and down the corridors. The bar in the evening lacked atmosphere, it was quite cold and no music. Staff only come in the room to serve so you literally are sitting in a quiet cold room.

Review 91：Bed was comfortable, breakfast was very good. Bar food was very nice and well cooked. Reception staff helpful.

Review 92：A hotel with bucket loads of character as you would perhaps expect. Friendly helpful staff and the food was absolutely wonderful! I stayed in the main castle and had no problems with the WiFi. Plenty of hot water for a lovely soak in the bath. Easy to find and loads of parking. For me, perfect!

Review 93：Love the place and food but asked for a double bed and got a twin that's my only dislike

Review 94：The food was lovely and the hotel was laid out like a castle and not too modernised. The bar staff where lovely and even when our son decided to play up was patient

Review 95：I booked 3 nights, but stayed an extra night. I received a warm welcome from the reception staff and Tony in the bar, after a long journey from Spain to attend my friends Wedding. The Restaurant food was excellent and The Farmers bar food also. The wedding lunch and the decor was just lovely. Beautiful Castle and surrounding countryside. Durham castle is well worth the visit. Trains from Darlington are regular. I would recommend this Hotel especially for wedding receptions or just taking in the scenery. Great to have tea, coffee facilties in the room too. Cant wait for my next visit. Christina Kristiansen

Review 96：Not much to be honest. The bed was a little hard. But other then that it was a lovely stay

Review 97：My partner and I went for a weekend break. The staff were helpful, the room was clean and well looked after.

Review 98：Gorgeous hotel. Stayed for one night..bed and breakfast. Lovely room in the castle..far bigger than expected with a 4 poster bed! Absolutely gorgeous views. Great pub downstairs with good choice of food and drink..and a cosy open fire for that extra comfy feel. Really happy customers..will definitely be returning in the future.

Review 99：The room was a little tired but acceptable in such an old building. Could not find out how to connect to wifi no instructions for dimwits like me.

Review 100：Lovely to see such a lovely building put to good use. The evening meal was exceptional good choice menu. The food was well presented and a high standard. Everything was clean and the staff helpful.

Review 101：The 1st room we were put in room 31 I think, it was like a cupboard .

Review 102：The staff one guy in particular called garath I think he was exellent and he could help enough.

Review 103：We booked a "A larger double room located in the main castle dating back to the 12th century. Most of the rooms have high ceilings and are all individually designed. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout." We got a bog standard twin on par with a travel lodge. Very basic. We expected a special nights stay in a Castle and were very disappointed with a twin room. We were advised to just push the beds together. How romantic.... To add insult to injury, friends at the wedding we were attending saw our room and told us that they'd been originally given it but had been moved after having complained.

Review 104：It was clean and comfortable enough. The staff were pleasant and polite but it wasn't in their power to give us what we wanted (that is, what we thought we'd booked!).

Review 105：Can not think of anything that I did not like

Review 106：I live in a castle and this was just like home from home but with heating! If you want to experience sleeping and living in a castle with out feeling cold this is as close as you will get...

Review 107：Nothing.

Review 108：Everything. Was my sons wedding. Very professional. Beautiful rooms and food. Loved Nan the Owl who flew down the isle. People still taking about her :) prescious day thank you

Review 109：This is no fault of the hotel but there was a wedding in progress so we didn't get much sleep that night as the music went on until quite late. We found the lighting in the room very poor. The hotel needs to look at this urgently. They should not be using low energy candle bulbs in all the light fittings, there are other low energy bulbs that would give a better light. In the dressing room a desk was provided but it was too dark to write anything there! A table lamp would help.

Review 110：We liked the castle very much, the ambiance, furnishings and setting were lovely. All the staff were very kind and friendly and nothing was too much trouble for us even though they had huge commitments with weddings, etc. We would certainly stay again.

Review 111：It was our 6 year wedding Aniversary and I found this place by accident. I used to work at another hotel that is also a castle so I knew what kind of place it could have been. We weren't disappointed it was beautiful from the outside and had lovely grounds which we had a wander round. We were in a castle double number 31 which was at the very top of the hotel. Fine if you are at the peak of physical fitness but a struggle if your not especially if your in heels. There is no lift but this is stated on the website for all to see. The room it's self was lovely and modern with all amenities needed (tea,coffee, tv and wifi) and a good view. The bathroom on the other hand was very clean but tiny! It had a loo, shower and sink but you couldn't swing a cat (not that I had one) The food in the restaurant was top quality and very well priced I've stayed at some 5* hotels around the country and out and some of them didn't come close. Friendly staff and quiet surrounds made for a perfect Aniversary for me and my wife. I would deffinetly go again.

Review 112：Bathroom door didn't shut. Room was dirty - long, black, curly hair everywhere. Behind bathroom door had not been cleaned or swept. Bathroom in very poor state of repair. Bath chipped, generally needs a coat of paint and silicone replacing.

Review 113：Location

Review 114：Comfortable accommodation in castle room, fine breakfast, superb steak dinner in bar and helpful staff. Close to Darlington, Walworth Castle is an historic place with real wow factor - the absolute antithesis of modern 'box' hotels. A great find.

Review 115：The location was excellent. Lovely building with peaceful grounds. The staff could not have been more helpful and food was excellent. Our room was large and spacious with lovely views of the grounds.

Review 116：We stayed in the West Wing. The room was very very small , very poorly decorated, the shower was of very low power and not fixed to the wall properly so that when you adjusted the height it all fell off the wall (I reported this) there are no real wardrobe facilities or means of making a drink . Travel Lodge rooms are almost half the price and three times the value for money. Window frames in the building were rotten or badly in need of paint, I would not recommend this hotel to anyone, what a shame we had so looked forward to our first trip away together.

Review 117：Staff were very polite and helpful.

Review 118：Cheap mattress on sloping slatted base, creaked at every turn. Loo in tiny space between wall and shower screen,. No shower cap, No light above dressing table. Cheap decor

Review 119：Everything but the room

Review 120：I advised the hotel prior to visit i was disabled but the accomodation i was given was totally unsuitable due to steps in bedroom and also in corridor to bedroom, lack of handrail supports in bathrooms and the car park was gravelled so not the best for those with limited mobility. I would have rather been told when i rang hotel that it wouldnt be suitable for me.

Review 121：Location and historic beauty of premises

Review 122：Room over kitchens, smells, noise of bottles being recycled and the constant sound of the kitchens extractor unit. The food was good but had to take long journeys around the castle to reach the trestuarants, particularly for breakfast - as we were booking out at reception waiters were passing us with other peoples kippers!

Review 123：casle setting

Review 124：Room was obviously near the kitchen and so the room smelt of cooking morning and night. For a two day stay we did not have a working TV (World cup matches missed!) and we were promised after the first night that it would be fixed for the second night - it wasn't! When we brought this up on the second night we were told "there is a TV room in the hotel". (Apparently there was no working TV in anyone's room for those two nights which for such a hotel I think is very poor - how much longer had this gone on for or how much longer did it go on for after we left and worse it was not mentioned to us at check in). After walking 12 miles that day we just wanted to relax in our own room with the promised TV working!! Unfortunately, I have to say that we would not use this hotel again.

Review 125：Most of the staff were very good. Room was a reasonable size with good en-suite facilities.

Review 126：room to small .unable to wash hair in shower as it was to small no tea/coffee facility did not feel value for money stayed following night at premier inn half the price bigger room and bathroom able to use both shower amd toilet with ease will not be returning to walworth castle.

Review 127：Breakfast was poor value for money. The price was not well advertised. For £12.95 I would expect a lot more. Poorly stocked cold items.

Review 128：Castle in nice setting

Review 129：Rang the castle prior to the stay and staff attitude was appalling. Why the lady who was answering my questions was in the hospitality industry I will never know!! They were unhelpful, to say the least! (I found her being equally unhelpful to an elderly gentleman on my arrival too!)

Review 130：Pretty castle tho wasn't staying in it. Lovely location tho our stay was determined by a friend's wedding.

The Fine Print

The pictures shown may be different from the actual room allocated, as all the rooms are individual.For guests staying on February 14th and 15th, 2014, the only menus which are available are a 3-course traditional roast meal or a 4-course dinner in the restaurant. Extra fees apply.