Augill Castle, England Family-Friendly Stay

A visit to Augill Castle in Cumbria, England, feels like stepping back in time. We visited this enchanting castle twice with our kids during our trips through England. Augill Castle is located in the Lake District near the Yorkshire Dales. Beautiful green fields with drystone walls that go on for miles surround this 19th-century castle.

I loved learning the story about this castle property. The Bennet family purchased the run-down version of Augill Castle in 1997 and renovated it into a boutique hotel. Augill Castle was built in 1841 by John Bagot Pearson on the edge of his family’s property, in an effort to outdo his brother. He designed it as a Victorian folly castle, with a great hall, ornate lattice windows, castellated towers, and turrets. Now these details give this bed and breakfast hotel a unique medieval style.

We visited Augill Castle in Cumbria twice with our three kids and we thoroughly enjoyed our stays. Upon arrival we were greeted by a beautiful grand entrance with towers, that leads to the castle’s inner hall. In summer, the castle is decorated with wisteria climbing up the stone walls. Furthermore, the outside grounds are beautifully maintained. We enjoyed exploring the nearby walking paths surrounding Augill Castle.

Augill Castle in Cumbria, England near the Lake District has a beautiful 19th-century Victorian style.

I love all the beautiful Victorian castle details, including the turrets, lead pane windows, and stone towers.

Wisteria grows on the stone walls in the summer at Augill Castle in England.

Inside Augill Castle

The current owners of Augill Castle, Simon and Wendy Bennett, did a beautiful job renovating the interior of this Victorian castle. Inside the entrance, a fireplace and lounge area feels cozy, with dark tones, leather furniture, and a coffee table steamer trunk. A hunting lodge style makes this space sophisticated, while modern accents add light and pops of color.

On the other side of Augill Castle’s grand hall, an English living room with blue walls and beautiful light fixtures feels welcoming. I think this pretty fluted lamp and the British flag pillow are beautiful home accents. On the walls you can find glimpses of the castle owners’ family and story.

In contrast, this extra sitting room in Augill Castle has red decorating accents. These include velvet chairs and a multi-bulb lamp, next to a card table perfect for games. This Victorian castle hotel is very family friendly, with plenty of space for kids to play. A dress up trunk in the hallway welcomes children with a variety of outfits, dresses, and costumes.

On the other side of the hall, we enjoyed having breakfast in the dining room. We could also schedule ahead to order tea and treats in the afternoon. Augill Castle has a full restaurant, a charming dining room with plenty of tables and a piano, and a sunroom bar. I can especially recommend their delightful English breakfast spread!

Castle Bedroom Suite

Additionally, Augill Castle has 12 bedrooms which visitors can reserve for an overnight stay. Our family has stayed in Augill twice during our time in Cumbria, England and adventures in Europe. On our first visit, we stayed in one of the bedroom suites on the second story of the castle. This castle interconnecting suite called The North Wing has two rooms, which were perfect for our family of 5. My husband and I stayed in the first room with a king bed. Conveniently, our three children stayed in the connected second room with twin beds and a roll-away bed. Both rooms had their own bathrooms.

I especially love all the details at Augill Castle, such as this vanity with small glasses and brandy. Inside the rooms, classic furniture compliments simple bedding, British-inspired pillows, and old fashioned wall art.

The second bedroom of The North Wing suite at Augill Castle feels welcoming and designed for kids!

Thoughtfully redesigned bathrooms at Augill offer modern convenience in an old-world style.

The second time we visited Augill Castle, we stayed in the Orangery. This suite is next to the castle and has two connecting bedrooms, a small sitting area, and a bathroom. The beautiful lattice door and windows give this private space a whimsical style.

Renovating a Castle

In his book Undressed for Dinner, written by castle owner Simon Bennett, he describes some of the problem solving they did when renovating Augill Castle in Cumbria. As you can imagine, it was no small task to update a 19th-century castle to modern plumbing and electrical standards!

In the end, the Simon and his wife did a great job accomplishing their vision to create a castle hotel. The whole castle is beautiful and it’s easy to appreciate the details. We really enjoyed staying at Augill Castle and making memories with our kids!

Outside the castle, a grassy front yard surrounds this circular drystone fixture. It has benches for sitting, and some English flora, but otherwise looks like a remnant from the past.

What do you think? Would you like to stay a few nights at Augill Castle in England?