Stay 
Compton Wynyates
approx. 3.5 km
A Grade I listed Tudor country house of red brick around a central courtyard, castellated and turreted in parts, begun around 1481. It is still a private house.
Photo: Row17, CC BY-SA 2.0
Your Private Cotswolds Castle: a private stay in Brailes, Warwickshire
Your Private Cotswolds Castle is a self-contained holiday let in Brailes, a village in the north Cotswolds of Warwickshire, which Expedia presents as a fairytale stay in a honey-stone setting. The village has real castle credentials of its own: a Norman motte stands at its heart and the great church of St George is known locally as the “Cathedral of the Feldon”. It makes a base for Compton Wynyates, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle.
At a glance
- Location
- Brailes, Warwickshire, in the north Cotswolds, about 5 km east of Shipston-on-Stour (Expedia gives Banbury as the postal town)
- Accommodation
- Private holiday let presented as a castle; the listing does not describe the building’s architecture. It mentions bedrooms (one with a fireplace), a children’s room with bunk beds, two bathrooms and a small patio
- Highlights
- Wi-Fi in all rooms, laundry with tumble dryer, two bathrooms with showers, patio and terrace, central heating, a honey-stone village with a Norman castle mound
- Guest rating
- 10/10 from 7 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from 3 pm · check-out at 11 am
- Good to know
- No pets · non-smoking · Moreton-in-Marsh station about 24 minutes by car · Oxford Airport about 52 minutes by car
Staying at Your Private Cotswolds Castle: a private holiday let in Brailes
Your Private Cotswolds Castle is listed on Expedia as a whole private property rather than a hotel room, so it suits a party that wants the place to itself. The listing mentions bedrooms (one with a fireplace), a children’s room with bunk beds, two bathrooms with showers and a small patio with a table and chairs for warm evenings.
Practical comforts include Wi-Fi in all rooms, a laundry with a tumble dryer, bed linen and towels, soap, hairdryers, toilet paper and central heating. Smoking is not permitted on the property.
The listing’s name promises a fairytale castle stay in a honey-stone village, but it does not describe the building’s architecture or history. Think of it as a castle-themed holiday let in a genuine Cotswold village, and read the current listing for details before booking. Meals are not part of the stay: the village pub, The George Hotel, is a 13-minute walk, and other pubs and restaurants are 10 to 18 minutes away by car.
Photos of Private Cotswolds Castle, Brailes
The history of Brailes and its castle mound
- 1123–1153 – A Norman motte-and-bailey castle is raised on Castle Hill in Brailes, perhaps on the orders of Roger de Beaumont, Earl of Warwick; the earthworks survive as a Scheduled Monument.
- 13th century – The village is home to William de Brailes, one of only two illuminators of medieval manuscripts whose names have been recorded.
- c. 1280 – The south aisle of St George’s Church is added; it is the oldest part of the present building.
- c. 1330–1340 – The nave is extended to six bays, a clerestory is added and the chancel is rebuilt with its Decorated Gothic east window.
- 16th century – The George Hotel, the village pub, dates from this century.
- Early 17th century – The manor house is built; in 1726 a range holding a Roman Catholic chapel is added.
- 1863 – A Methodist chapel is built in Upper Brailes.
- 1879 – Excavations beneath the nave arcade reveal 12th-century foundations of an earlier church.
Brailes is a civil parish of two adjoining villages, Lower and Upper Brailes, set among hills in the north Cotswolds. In the middle of the village, Castle Hill is a natural knoll that was raised higher in the Norman period to form the motte of a castle. Both the motte and the bailey earthworks survive.
The parish church of St George is the largest in the Kington Hundred and is Grade I listed. Its tower is 120 feet (37 m) high and carries the third-heaviest ring of six bells in England. The manor house, Grade II* listed, was built in the early 17th century.
Facilities at Your Private Cotswolds Castle
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); please check the listing for the latest information.
Sleeping and bathrooms
- Bed linen provided
- Two bathrooms with showers
- Hairdryer, towels, soap and toilet paper
- Central heating
Connected and practical
- Wi-Fi in all rooms
- Internet access in some public areas
- Laundry
- Tumble dryer
Outdoors
- Patio with table and chairs
- Small terrace with seating
- Village walks and hills on the doorstep
House rules
- Non-smoking property
- Pets not allowed
- Check-in from 3 pm, check-out at 11 am
Where Your Private Cotswolds Castle is: Brailes in the north Cotswolds
Brailes lies about 5 km east of Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire, at the northern end of the Cotswolds. The village is surrounded by hills: Brailes Hill, at 232 m, is the fourth-highest point in Warwickshire. Expedia gives Banbury as the postal town, but the coordinates sit in Brailes itself.
Stratford-upon-Avon is about 19 km away as the crow flies, Warwick Castle 25 km and Blenheim Palace 27 km. By car, Expedia puts Moreton-in-Marsh station at about 24 minutes and Oxford Airport at about 52 minutes. Expedia also lists the Cotswolds Distillery about 4 km away.
Close to home, Traitor’s Ford on the River Stour, about 3 km from the village, is a favourite spot for picnics and sits on the Macmillan Way long-distance footpath. Each May the Brailes Three Hills Walk takes in Castle Hill, Mine Hill and Brailes Hill.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from Your Private Cotswolds Castle)
| Brailes village centre | approx. 600 m |
| Compton Wynyates | approx. 3.5 km |
| Traitor’s Ford (picnic spot on the River Stour) | approx. 4 km |
| Shipston-on-Stour | approx. 5 km |
| Rollright Stones | approx. 8.5 km |
| Broughton Castle | approx. 11 km |
| Banbury | approx. 15 km |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | approx. 19 km |
| Warwick Castle | approx. 25 km |
| Blenheim Palace | approx. 27 km |
Distances are straight-line from the coordinates in the listing; driving times are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around Your Private Cotswolds Castle
Rollright Stones
approx. 8.5 km
Three prehistoric monuments on the Oxfordshire–Warwickshire border: the King’s Men stone circle, the Whispering Knights dolmen and the King Stone, raised at different times.
Photo: Midnightblueowl at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Broughton Castle
approx. 11 km
A medieval fortified manor house on an artificial island inside a wide moat, two miles from Banbury. The Grade I listed castle opens to the public in summer.
Photo: David Stowell, CC BY-SA 2.0
Stratford-upon-Avon
approx. 19 km
Market town on the River Avon at the northern edge of the Cotswolds and the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare, hence a popular day out.
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Warwick Castle
approx. 25 km
A medieval castle that grew from a wooden fort built by William the Conqueror in 1068, rebuilt in stone in the 12th century and refortified in the 14th.
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Blenheim Palace
approx. 27 km
One of England’s largest country houses, built between 1705 and 1722 in Woodstock, seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Photo: Jvhertum, public domain
Tours & activities near Private Cotswolds Castle, Brailes
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds & Warwick Castle Day Trip
Discover over a thousand years of history at one of England’s most beautiful medieval castles before visiting the picturesque town of …
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England in One Day: Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip from London
Visit some of England’s most beautiful towns and countryside on this 12-hour tour of Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon. Travel …
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Warwick Castle, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day trip
Travel to Warwick Castle, Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and The Cotswolds. Our custom day trip guarantees unbeatable low prices, deluxe …
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From London: Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip by Coach
Explore Stratford-upon-Avon on a relaxing day trip from London. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Shakespeare’s New Place …
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Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare, History & Town Highlights Tour
Get your bearings in Stratford-upon-Avon on this 1.5-hour walking tour with a friendly local guide. Perfect for first-time visitors, this tour …
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Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds Day Trip from London
See some of England's famous towns and castles on this full-day trip from London. Visiting Oxford, you'll enjoy a city walking tour and see the …
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The Twisted Tales: Stratford-Upon-Avon's Dynamic Walking Tour
Stratford-upon-Avon is famous for one thing… but there’s an entire town of stories waiting to enthral you — long before we even mention Stratford's …
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Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
See where Shakespeare lived, hangout and found so much inspiration on this affordable self-guided walking tour of Stratford-Upon-Avon. • Take in the …
View details ›Who is Your Private Cotswolds Castle for?
Families
The listing mentions a children’s room with bunk beds and a small patio, a practical set-up for a family break in the countryside.
Castle and history fans
A Norman motte in the village, Broughton Castle, Warwick Castle and the Tudor splendour of Compton Wynyates are all within reach.
Walkers
Brailes Hill, the Three Hills Walk and the Macmillan Way at Traitor’s Ford make this a good base for easy countryside walks.
Shakespeare and Cotswolds sightseers
Stratford-upon-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour, the Rollright Stones and Blenheim Palace can all be visited as day trips.
Good to know before booking Your Private Cotswolds Castle
- Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
- Pets are not allowed, and the property is non-smoking.
- This is a private holiday let; the listing does not describe the building’s architecture or history, so read the current description and photos before booking.
- The village pub, The George Hotel, is a 13-minute walk; other pubs and restaurants are 10 to 18 minutes away by car.
- A car is recommended: Moreton-in-Marsh station is about 24 minutes away by car and Oxford Airport about 52 minutes.
Find available dates at Private Cotswolds Castle, Brailes
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at Your Private Cotswolds Castle?
Yes. It is a private holiday let in Brailes, Warwickshire, that can be booked through Expedia. Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
Is it a real castle?
The listing calls it a private castle but does not describe the building’s architecture or history, so it is best seen as a castle-themed holiday let. The village itself has the earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle.
Are pets allowed?
No. According to Expedia, pets are not allowed in this property.
How far is it to Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle?
Stratford-upon-Avon is about 19 km and Warwick Castle about 25 km as the crow flies; Blenheim Palace is about 27 km away.
What is the nearest station and airport?
According to Expedia, Moreton-in-Marsh station is about 24 minutes away by car and Oxford Airport about 52 minutes.
Is there somewhere to eat nearby?
The George Hotel in Lower Brailes is a 13-minute walk away, and Expedia lists several other pubs and restaurants 10 to 18 minutes away by car.
Photos, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Your Private Cotswolds Castle listing on Expedia.
Dreaming of a fairytale break in a honey-stone Cotswold village? Check availability and current prices for Your Private Cotswolds Castle on Expedia.
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