Lumley Castle Hotel, at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has teamed up with the Bowes Museum, at nearby Barnard Castle, to create a mini-break designed to showcase the region’s fascinating social and cultural heritage.
Lumley Castle’s Bowes Museum break will combine a two night stay at the four star hotel – which has offered shelter to kings and princes in the course of its 600 year history – with tickets to the award-winning museum, which has royal links of its own.
A magnificent French-style château, it was created in the late 19th century by John and Joséphine Bowes; ancestors of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and was the museum’s patron until her death in 2002.
It houses internationally renowned collections of European fine and decorative arts spanning five centuries including works Canaletto, El Greco, Courbet and Turner, along with its iconic Silver Swan, an 18th century musical automaton, which plays every day at 2pm.
And along with its permanent collections, summer visitors will also enjoy a series of temporary exhibitions including the current Milk Snatcher, Gerald Scarfe – The Thatcher Drawings, which runs until31 May and Yves Saint Laurent – Style is Eternal, from 11 July to 25 October.
Guests at the castle, which sits in nine acres of grounds, will stay in one of its 73 rooms, either in the main building or in converted courtyard accommodation.
Guests will also be served a traditional cream tea on one afternoon of their stay and a full English breakfast on both mornings.
Located just off the A1(M) Junction 63, Lumley Castle is six miles from Durham City and 20 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne and is easily accessed by road, rail and air.
The two night Lumley Castle Bowes Museum break costs from £210 per couple and is based on two people sharing a Courtyard Double or Twin bedroom.
Entrance tickets to Bowes Museum only are included and there may be an extra admission charge for temporary exhibitions.
For more information call 0191 389 1111, email reservations@lumleycastle.com or visitwww.lumleycastle.com.