Luckily this isn’t Walworth Castle in London which is a real, non-converted prison. No this is Walworth in County Durham, one of England’s most rural and beautiful counties. Parts of the castle date back to the 12th Century when a string of fortifications were erected around the country by the Norman invaders in order to brutalize the locals. Nowadays, you will find the locals smiley and welcoming and in no need of brutalizing.

Parts of the castle are maintained as part of English heritage and you can tour the grounds, explore the castle and check out the scary dungeons. The local area is full of places of historical interest. If pampering is more your thing, you can book an appointment with the hotel’s own hair and beauty professionals and even get a fake tan which has recently become something of a tradition in Northern England. You can eat and drink in a traditional English pub and their restaurant has been awarded an AA rosette. There is also the option for private dining in one of their special rooms.