Where to stay in 1066 Country

A few weeks back we were invited over to England by VisitBritain, for the weekend to explore a bit of what 1066 Country has to offer. The region is best known for the Battle of Hastings which took place in 1066, hence the moniker! We stayed in several lovely hotels with some of the most charming rooms and ideal locations for exploring the region. You can read more about my highlights from the trip with fun history facts in this blog post, but today I wanted to share a bit more about the accommodation.Do you put a lot of thought into where you stay, or are you someone who focuses more on what you're doing during the day? I'm usually more of the latter, but as I get older and when I travel in colder months (like autumn and winter) I do like to pick nice accommodation since you spend a bit more time inside when it's more chilly! All three of the places we stayed at on this trip were lovely with different highlights, but one thing I really loved about all of them is how old they were. It's really nice to visit a region with so much history and also be able to stay in an inn or former rectory that is part of that history.The Bell Inn in Ticehurst is the cosiest hotel and pub first built in 1296. Our room was finished with the quirkiest details that fit the style of the original building so well; we loved the tree that went through the ceiling of our room and the giant copper rolled tub! Downstairs the pub and restaurant were equally charming with top hat lights, an enormous fireplace decorated with dried hops, and a plethora of charming what-nots decorating the areas around the tables. This hotel was also ideal for exploring the region if you don't fancy being downtown in a more major city. Ticehurst is a small, quiet village and many of the attractions in the 1066 region are only a short drive away. As we aren't a big fan of urban areas, this hotel was one of my favourites in terms of locations--far less stressful worrying about parking or driving on narrow roads and easy access to castles and gardens we wanted to explore on this trip.Swan House is a 15th Century boutique bed & breakfast located in the heart of Hasting's Old Town. The proprietor Brendan was so friendly (Thomas also befriended the resident pup, Matilda) and had great advice about what areas to explore in Hastings. The rooms were warm and cozy; a perfect mix of vintage designs and modern comfort. The breakfast here was also my favourite from the whole trip, they had so many lovely options made fresh to order and it was all delicious! We loved how small and intimate this b&b felt (there's four ensuite rooms at Swan House) and the location was perfect for exploring in Hastings; from here you can walk to most of the major attractions and even the train station wasn't far if you wanted to get out of Hastings to one of the neighbouring towns, like Rye.One of the most striking hotel rooms I've ever seen has to be The Crown room we stayed in at the Old Rectory--high ceilings, a claw foot tub, smoked glass chandelier, and the delightful bookcase that hides a restroom! The room was an absolute treat to stay in. The Old Rectory also has a treatment room, so you can book a massage or facial during your stay as well--our schedule was too busy to allow for a wee massage, but the whole hotel was really a perfect place for a relaxing stay. There's even a walled garden as part of the property too! The hotel is only a stone's throw away from Old Town Hastings and the waterfront, so another great choice if you're looking to explore all that Hastings has to offer.

This is a guest blog post from blogger 'a clothes horse' – you can see the original here.