Stay 
Exeter Cathedral
approx. 14 km
The Anglican cathedral of St Peter, seat of the Bishop of Exeter; the present building was complete by about 1400.
Photo: Rüdiger Wölk, CC BY-SA 2.5
Bickleigh Castle Hotel: sleep in a fortified manor on the River Exe, Devon
Bickleigh Castle is a fortified manor house on the banks of the River Exe at Bickleigh, in Devon. Once much larger, it now consists of buildings from several periods, including a 12th-century gatehouse and a Norman chapel often cited as the oldest complete building in Devon. Expedia lists it as Bickleigh Castle Hotel, an upscale castle stay near Tiverton.
At a glance
- Location
- Bickleigh, near Tiverton, Devon, on the banks of the River Exe; about 14 km as the crow flies from Exeter Cathedral
- Accommodation
- Castle described by Expedia as an upscale castle; according to Wikipedia a fortified manor house that serves mainly as a wedding venue
- Highlights
- Norman chapel, 12th-century gatehouse, garden, children’s playground, steam room, barbecue and picnic area, free parking
- Guest rating
- 8.0/10 from 140 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm · check-out by 10.30 am
- Good to know
- No pets · breakfast at extra cost · no lift · non-smoking
Staying at Bickleigh Castle Hotel: a night in a Devon manor castle
Bickleigh Castle is not a grand palace but a group of historic buildings arranged around a courtyard, which together once formed a water castle. Expedia lists it as Bickleigh Castle Hotel, an upscale castle. Photos in the listing show carved wooden headboards, a traditional four-poster bed with a floral cover, a stone-built house with a thatched roof and the castle standing in green meadows with grazing cows.
According to the listing, facilities include a garden, a children’s playground, a steam room, a barbecue and a picnic area, plus a conference room and a meeting room. Free Wi-Fi is available in some public areas, rooms are cleaned daily, and the staff speak several languages. A high chair and an ice machine are also mentioned.
Wikipedia notes that the castle serves principally as a wedding venue and is at times open to the public by appointment, so it is worth checking the details of your stay on the listing. Breakfast is available at an extra charge. There is no lift.
Photos of Bickleigh Castle Hotel
The history of Bickleigh Castle
- Late 11th or early 12th century – A Norman motte castle is built on the site; it is dismantled in the mid-12th century, and a small stone chapel is built in the bailey around the same time.
- 15th century – The Courtenay family build a mansion and incorporate some of the earlier buildings; the Courtenay and then the Carew families live here until the English Civil War.
- 1644 – Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, stays at the castle as a guest of the Carews on her way to Exeter.
- 1645 – Parliamentarian troops attack the castle after slighting nearby Tiverton Castle and demolish the main manor house and inner keep, a response to the Carews’ Royalist sympathies.
- After the Restoration – A typical Devon farmhouse of cob and thatch is added.
- Early 20th century – After falling into disrepair and serving as a farm store and cottage, the buildings are restored.
- 1924 – The Carew family’s ownership of the estate ends.
- 1933 – The Fisherman’s Cot is built beside the river.
The Norman chapel and a 12th-century gatehouse still exist, as do the 15th-century Courthouse and parts of the original Norman curtain wall. The gatehouse is a Grade I listed, three-storey stone building with turrets, and a central carriage archway leads into the courtyard.
The chapel’s sanctuary is the oldest part and pre-dates the Norman additions; its 15th-century wagon roof is still in place, and it is often cited as the oldest complete building in Devon. On a small hill behind the castle, among rhododendrons, are the remains of an Anglo-Saxon motte.
Facilities and services at Bickleigh Castle Hotel
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); room details may vary from room to room.
Rooms and comfort
- Daily housekeeping
- Ice machine
- Free Wi-Fi in some public areas
- Non-smoking property
Food & drink
- Breakfast at extra cost
- Barbecue
- Picnic area
Castle & grounds
- Garden
- Steam room
- Children’s playground
- Wedding service
- Conference room and meeting room
- Computer workstation
Service
- Free parking without service (limited spaces)
- Multilingual staff
- High chair
- Wheelchair-suitable path; no lift
Where Bickleigh Castle is: on the River Exe in mid Devon
The castle stands at Bickleigh, a village in Mid Devon on the banks of the River Exe, with Tiverton as the nearest town. Expedia puts the Devon Railway Centre about 3.9 km away, and says that Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life, St Peter’s Church, Tiverton Castle and the Exe Valley Leisure Centre are all within about 10 km.
Exeter Airport is about 39 minutes by car, and Polsloe Bridge station about 17 minutes, according to the listing. Exeter Cathedral is some 14 km away as the crow flies, and National Trust Killerton is also named among nearby sights.
Beyond Exeter, the coast at Exmouth and the open moorland of Exmoor are within roughly 30 km, with Dunster Castle and Okehampton Castle a little further.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from Bickleigh Castle)
| Bickleigh (village) | approx. 600 m |
| Devon Railway Centre | approx. 800 m |
| Cadbury Castle (hillfort) | approx. 2.5 km |
| Silverton Park | approx. 5.5 km |
| Exeter Cathedral | approx. 14 km |
| Powderham Castle | approx. 24 km |
| Exmouth | approx. 27 km |
| Exmoor | approx. 28 km |
Distances are calculated as the crow flies; driving times are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around Bickleigh Castle
Powderham Castle
approx. 24 km
A Grade I listed fortified manor house about 10 km south of Exeter, today a historic house museum.
Photo: raymond cocks, CC BY 2.0
Exmouth
approx. 27 km
A port town and seaside resort on the east bank at the mouth of the River Exe, about 18 km south-east of Exeter.
Photo: Adrian Pingstone, public domain
Exmoor
approx. 28 km
Hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon, named after the River Exe, which rises at its centre.
Photo: Sean_the_Spook, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dunster Castle
approx. 37 km
A former motte-and-bailey castle, now a country house, on a steep hill called the Tor in Somerset; fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period.
Photo: Mike Crowe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Okehampton Castle
approx. 37 km
A medieval motte-and-bailey castle built between 1068 and 1086 by Baldwin FitzGilbert after a revolt against Norman rule.
Photo: john spivey, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tours & activities near Bickleigh Castle Hotel
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
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Coasteering
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Wildlife, Sea Cave and Bushcraft Kayak Safari in English Riviera
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Bath Tour - 3 Hour Private Tour with Local Guide, £220 per group
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Private Tour of West Cornwall Highly Varied Full Day Experience
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View details ›Who is Bickleigh Castle Hotel for?
History lovers
A Norman chapel, a 12th-century gatehouse and a 15th-century Courthouse, with a story linked to Queen Henrietta Maria and the Civil War.
Families
The listing mentions a children’s playground, a garden, a high chair and a picnic area.
Weddings and gatherings
The castle serves principally as a wedding venue; Expedia mentions a wedding service, a conference room and a meeting room.
Explorers of Devon
Exeter, the coast at Exmouth and Exmoor are all within about 30 km.
Good to know before booking Bickleigh Castle Hotel
- Check-in is from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm; check-out is by 10.30 am.
- Pets are not allowed.
- Breakfast is available at an extra charge.
- On-site parking is free but without service, and spaces are limited.
- There is no lift. A wheelchair-suitable path is listed; for accessibility requests, contact the property via the booking confirmation.
- The property is non-smoking, and Wikipedia describes the castle as principally a wedding venue, so check the details of your booking.
Find available dates at Bickleigh Castle Hotel
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at Bickleigh Castle Hotel?
Yes. Bickleigh Castle Hotel is listed on Expedia as an upscale castle near Tiverton in Devon.
Are pets allowed at Bickleigh Castle Hotel?
No. According to Expedia, pets are not allowed.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Check-out is by 10.30 am.
Is there parking?
Yes, on-site parking is free and without service, with a limited number of spaces.
Is breakfast included?
Breakfast is available at an extra charge, according to the listing.
What is there to see near Bickleigh Castle?
Exeter Cathedral is about 14 km away, Powderham Castle about 24 km, Exmouth about 27 km and Exmoor about 28 km.
Room photos, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Bickleigh Castle Hotel listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a Devon castle beside the River Exe? Check availability and current prices for Bickleigh Castle Hotel on Expedia.
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