Castle hotel
Otterburn Castle
Otterburn, Northumberland
Level 4 Castle-Style MansionLevel 4: a Grade II listed castellated country house rebuilt after 1830, incorporating an 18th-century house, with a 1904 tower added. No defensive history survives in the current fabric.
Sleep inside the walls
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Otterburn Castle is a Grade II listed castle hotel in Otterburn, Northumberland, rebuilt in a castellated Tudor style after 1830 on the site of an earlier tower. Level 4: it has 17 en-suite bedrooms and no defensive medieval fabric, but its library commemorates the nearby 1388 Battle of Otterburn. It suits wedding parties and country-house guests rather than those seeking a genuinely medieval castle.
Quick facts
- Castle Authenticity Scale
- Level 4: Castle-Style Mansion
- Where you sleep
- Sleep inside the walls
- Built
- Rebuilt after 1830, incorporating an 18th-century house, with an extension added in 1904
- Architecture
- Castellated Tudor-style country house
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed (list entry 1156191, listed 7 January 1988)
- Rooms
- 17
- Bedrooms
- 17
- Star rating
- Four-star (Booking.com)
- Guest rating
- 8.2 out of 10 on Booking.com (September 2026)
- Dogs
- Listed as allowed on Booking.com; check the rules
- Restaurant
- Yes (hotel website)
- Weddings
- Yes (hotel website)
- Listed on Booking.com
- EV charging point, Restaurant, Family rooms, Parking, Free wifi
- Last checked
- September 2026
The story
The story of Otterburn Castle
Otterburn Castle, also recorded as Otterburn Tower, stands in Otterburn, Northumberland, within the Northumberland National Park. Historic England's listing (Grade II, list entry 1156191, listed 7 January 1988) describes a country house, now a hotel, built after 1830 for a Mr James, incorporating an earlier 18th-century house, in dressed stone with a castellated Tudor-style front. A further castellated tower was added by the architect F. W. Rich in 1904.
An earlier fortified tower on or near the site was linked to the 1388 Battle of Otterburn, fought between English and Scottish forces, and the current building's library has an inglenook fireplace decorated with painted panels depicting scenes from that battle, according to its listing description. The dining room carries the crest of the Pease family, one of the house's historic owners.
The estate was sold to the army in 1944 for use with nearby artillery ranges and later returned to private and hotel use, according to secondary historical accounts.
The sleep
Rooms at Otterburn Castle
The hotel has 17 en-suite bedrooms, all within the castellated house itself, according to the property.
The library and drawing room, which contain the fireplace and marble mantelpiece noted in the building's listing, are part of the same historic building as the guest bedrooms.
The table
Eating at Otterburn Castle
The hotel's restaurant offers what it describes as a farm-to-table dining style using local ingredients, alongside an espresso bar, according to its own site. A pub-style bar was planned for the property.
The grounds
Around Otterburn Castle
The estate covers around 32 acres of deer park and woodland within the Northumberland National Park, according to the hotel's own site.
What we'd flag
What we'd flag
- The current building has no surviving medieval defensive fabric: it was rebuilt after 1830 on or near the site of an earlier fortified tower, so guests should expect a castellated country house rather than a medieval stronghold.
- The hotel's own site does not publish a dog policy, so check directly before booking if travelling with a pet.
- Weddings here can host up to 250 guests, and all wedding alcohol must be sourced from the venue, according to the hotel's FAQ.
Who it's for
Who Otterburn Castle suits
Wedding parties and country-house guests interested in the history of the 1388 Battle of Otterburn are well suited here, with all 17 bedrooms inside the historic castellated house.
It is not the right choice for travellers specifically wanting to sleep inside a genuine medieval castle, since the current building dates mainly from after 1830.
Where Otterburn Castle is.
Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.
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Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- EV charging
- Restaurant
Otterburn Castle: questions
Is Otterburn Castle a real castle?
Not in the medieval sense. It is a Grade II listed castellated country house rebuilt after 1830 on or near the site of an earlier fortified tower, with a further tower added in 1904.
Can you sleep inside the historic building at Otterburn Castle?
Yes. All 17 en-suite bedrooms are within the castellated house itself, according to the hotel.
Can you get married at Otterburn Castle?
Yes. The hotel's own FAQ describes weddings for up to 250 guests, with full ceremony and alcohol licences and an outdoor noise curfew of midnight.
Are dogs allowed at Otterburn Castle?
The hotel's own site does not publish a pet policy, so this should be confirmed directly with the hotel before booking.
Sources and checks
Last checked: September 2026. We checked these sources for this page. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- britishlistedbuildings.co.uk: Grade II listing, build date, architectural description, interior features
- otterburncastle.com: bedroom count, dining, general description
- otterburncastle.com: wedding capacity and terms, parking, check-in