Ripon, United Kingdom
Swinton Estate
Castellated country estate
Castellated country estate
This ancestral seat operates as an expansive country playground, where days out on the moors end beside drawing room fires.
“You can live like Lord and Lady Grantham at this ancestral Yorkshire castle, which hosts Downton Abbey–themed weekends.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
An eighteenth-century castellated Gothic castle with drawing rooms designed by James Wyatt.
Remarkable
A dedicated fly-fishing school and falconry across twenty thousand private estate acres.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
a beautifully picturesque 18th-century castle surrounded by some 200 acres of lake-dotted parkland.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Footpaths lead directly from the grounds into Masham, a market town known for its two traditional breweries.
The rooms
Bedrooms have traditional plaids and floral fabrics, with each room styled around a Yorkshire place or historical figure.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
A chemical-free bio-filtered pool sits on the spa terrace, and an indoor hydrotherapy pool has massage jets.
The spa and studio
Nine treatment rooms use Bamford and OSKIA products, and yoga classes run beneath vaulted timber beams.
Samuel's Restaurant
Menus draw on produce from the four-acre walled garden, served under ornate coffered ceilings and tall Gothic windows.
The Terrace Restaurant
The cocktail bar and dining room sit beside the country club, opening onto outdoor tables by stone garden walls.
At the table
The Castle Bar pours drinks across an oval marble-topped counter set with brass racks and velvet barstools.
How it began
The Cunliffe-Lister family bought back their ancestral seat in 2000, reclaiming the castle after decades of use as a school.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.