vividventures

Hotel Review

Location:

The Royal Kings Arms Hotel is centrally located in the historic city of Lancaster and within easy walking distance of all the main sights and shops.  The hotel was originally constructed in the 17th century in the reign of Charles 1 but was later rebuilt in 1879 following a devastating fire.

Getting there: 

Lancaster is accessible by road from the M6 motorway.  From the south take Junction 33 or Junction 34 if coming from the north.  For visitors arriving by train, Lancaster is on the West Coast mainline with frequent services between London and Scotland.  There are also direct services from Manchester with local services between Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham and Carnforth.

Arrival and check-in:

It was around lunchtime when we arrived at the hotel which stands in a prominent position close to the castle.  First impressions were favourable as we entered the lobby though a pair of glass doors.  The hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment programme to enhance the overall appearance whilst retaining the hotel’s original features.  We were warmly greeted by Fred who was on duty at the reception desk and he soon had us checked into our room which we were able to access straightaway.

The Room:

We took the beautiful old Victorian lift with its classic metal gates up to our room on the second floor.  I was excited to open the door to our room as we were the first guests to stay in the hotel’s newly styled Castle View suite.

The luxurious suite was everything we could have wished for and more and was very spacious having its own separate lounge with a comfortable sofa, coffee table, coffee maker and wall mounted television.

The bedroom was equally lovely with its pink freestanding statement bathtub and television cleverly designed to fit into the tiles above.  The king size bed had a deep blue scallop design headboard with coordinating floral cushions and was dressed in the finest cotton bed linen, topped with a lighter than air duvet ensuring a good night’s sleep.  On the dressing table there was a hospitality tray complete with a supply of teas, coffee bags, bottled water and delicious biscuits.

Moving over to the window, the views of Lancaster Castle were unbeatable as it was almost within touching distance of the hotel.  Wi-Fi was strong and worked seamlessly throughout the building.

Last but not least, the newly fitted bathroom had a beautifully tiled floor, twin wash basins, Elemis toiletries and a large walk-in shower.

The suite is versatile as the settee in the living area can be converted to a sofa-bed, making it ideal for families.

Dining:

We enjoyed dinner, seated at a window table in the hotel’s attractive Brasserie Restaurant.  After being handed menus, we decided to opt for the three course table d’hôte menu which was excellent value at £24.95.

We began with starters of king prawns and sautéed asparagus, both bursting with flavour and beautifully plated.  For mains neither of us could resist lightly battered haddock and chips served with mushy peas which was cooked to perfection.

We ended our meal with sweet treats of lemon tart and vanilla cheesecake, sampling spoonfulls of each other’s as they were both irresistible.  Service was relaxed and I would definitely dine at The Brasserie again on a future visit to Lancaster.

Breakfast is also served in The Brasserie and after bagging a window table once again we helped ourselves to the continental buffet that had been laid out in an adjoining room.  A waitress then brought us a cafetière of coffee and took our orders for cooked breakfasts which were very tasty and set us up for the day ahead.

The Facilities:

There’s an inviting cocktail bar to one side of the entrance lobby with comfy armchairs and city views from the large windows where you can watch the world go by whilst sipping a drink.  During the summer drinks can also be enjoyed in the Secret Garden to the rear of the hotel.

Located on the first floor is the hotel’s ballroom which was in use for a function on the evening we stayed so we popped up the following morning for a little look round whilst it was being prepared for a wedding.  It’s worth noting that the hotel must have excellent soundproofing as we didn’t hear a murmur from the party.  Being located in the heart of the city, the hotel lacks its own car park but with overnight parking being available just a five minute walk away on Dallas Road it wasn’t a problem.

Out and About:

Here are my suggestions of interesting things to see and do in Lancaster.

Lancashire Police Museum: the castle was home to a working prison between 1955 and 2011 and more recently it has been transformed into a museum.  Admission is free as it is run by a team of volunteers most of whom are retired members of the Lancashire police force and warders who served in the prison.  Lancashire Police Museum.

Individual cells have been repurposed as themed galleries covering the history of the Lancashire Constabulary, police training, forensic development and an overview of some of the police departments.

Judges Lodgings Museum: housed in the city’s oldest townhouse built around 1625 by Thomas Covell, Keeper of the castle.

From 1826 the house became a lodgings for the travelling judges of the Assizes Court who would usually spend around a month at one time living there.  The museum is set out as it would have been in those days.  Judges Lodgings Museum.

Museum of Childhood: located on the upper floor of the Judges Lodgings and included in the admission fee.  It comprises a series of rooms displaying the development of toys from the 18th century up to more recent times.

There’s a collection of toys and dolls, a Victorian classroom with old fashioned wooden desks with brass inkwells and a day nursery with a double seated rocking horse.

Lancaster City Museum: based in the former Town Hall overlooking the market square.  The museum documents the city from the pre-historic era through to the present day.  Its varied collection showcases the city’s social history and the industries and people who helped to make the city what it is today.  The museum is also home to the Kings Own Regiment Museum detailing the military history of the city’s own regiment from 1680 onwards.  Admission free.  Lancaster City Museum

Maritime Museum: located in the former Customs House dating back to 1784 on St. George’s Quay overlooking the River Lune.  Its galleries tell the story of the history of the Port of Lancaster, the local fishing industry and the town’s relationship with the sea.  Lancaster Maritime Museum.

Ashton Memorial: towering over the city and visible from afar, is the Ashton Memorial taking pride of place in Williamson Park and set in 54 acres of parkland.  From the hilltop there are magnificent views across to Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells beyond.

The Butterfly House and Mini-Beast Centre: located next to the memorial in what was at one time an Edwardian palm house, is the Butterfly House, a rainforest inspired building filled with tropical plants, winding paths, a waterfall and home to numerous brightly coloured butterflies, koi- carp and tortoises.

Adjacent to the Butterfly House is the Mini-Beast Centre with meerkats and small mammals.  Entrance to Williamson Park and the Ashton Memorial is free, with combined tickets to the Butterfly and Mini-Beast House £4.  Williamson Park.

Overall:

The Royal Kings Arms Hotel occupies a prime position in the city centre and is definitely the place to stay when in town.  With its newly refurbished rooms and updated public areas this grand old hotel has been lovingly restored to meet the needs of today’s discerning traveller.

Details: Royal Kings Arms Hotel, 75 Market Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1JG

During our stay we were guests of Visit Lancaster and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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