British History Breaks is the first website to profile the historic and authentic stories behind luxury historic accommodation in the UK.
Over 30 million tourists visit our shores every year but less than 50% step outside of London. British History Breaks (BHB) has ambitious plans to inspire these tourists to branch outside of London to explore the vast history and incredible scenery that our country has to offer.
Every property that features on the site has been visited to ensure it meets a strict criteria. Only 4* and 5* properties which have been carefully restored, sympathetic to their original style, with authentic and interesting histories have been accepted.
BHB encourages International tourists and Britonn=s with an interest in history to use its site to explore the true stories behind each property, plus the events and characters that connect them, which helped to make Britain what it is today. Exclusive incentives are on offer for all BHB customers, such as a champagne cream tea, a bottle of Ruinart Brut Rose, a historical book or a box of homemade chocolates upon arrival. Customers are encouraged to book direct for the best deals, or they can take advantage of BHB’s personal service to coordinate their dream trip, which can include chauffeurs, helicopters and local tour guides.
The acquisition of estates during the 1940’s, meant many properties that feature on BHB were used as hospitals during WWII, then subsequently left derelict with their owners unable to cover their maintenance costs. The property boom of the late 90’s gave owners and investors the confidence to bring hundreds of estates and castles back to their former grandeur, with the hotel business model projecting a healthy return on investment.
Some properties such as Peckforton Castle (Cheshire, England) are family owned and run, while others such as Blairquhan Castle (Ayrshire, Scotland) have welcomed international investment to refurbish their properties to an exceptional standard.
All properties that feature on the site are catered with breakfast available at a minimum so visitors can arrive, relax and immerse themselves in their surroundings.
Three types of properties feature on the site:
1. Exclusive Hire with Breakfast, which includes Aikwood Tower (sleeps 10, from £750 per weekday night with breakfast, minimum 2 nights). A four story 16th Century Tower in Selkirk (Scottish borders), which was once home to William Scott and ‘Muckle-mouth’ Meg, Grandparents of Sir Walter Scott.
2. Fully Catered Hotel, which includes Langley Castle (25 rooms, from £200 per room per night). This 14th Century Castle is one of only four fortified castles remaining in England, which was sensitively restored in the late 1800’s as a lifetime project of Cadwallader Bates and his wife Josephine. Its current owners have made Langley Castle into one of the finest hotels in Great Britain, with stylish and modern amenities in keeping with the stunning style of the castle.
3. Country House with Breakfast, which includes Plas Dinas (9 rooms, from £129 per room per night). A grade II listed 17th Century Country House with original family memorabilia and period furniture throughout. The homely touches are not just for show; HRH Prince William recently followed the family tradition by dining as a guest at Plas Dinas.
British History Breaks co-founder Lewis Stallard says: “London is a fantastic city, one of the worlds’ finest, but our strong regional accents indicate the diversity of our small windswept island. Each area has a unique personality, born in the foundations of its history. If tourists want to experience the real Great Britain, they will need to branch outside of London to find it. We want to inspire tourists to do that in style.”
Heritage tourism is booming, worth 26 billion pounds last year according to the Heritage Lottery Fund, but there are pockets of incredibly historic areas that are almost never visited.
Photo caption: Dalhousie Castle, in Edinburgh.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
