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The Ancient Unicorn

2.0 star property
Guesthouse in Barnard Castle

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Ancient Unicorn

Classic Twin Room, Ensuite | Lounge
Bar (on property)
Classic Double Room, Ensuite
Bar (on property)
Bar (on property)

Reviews

9.0 out of 10

Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Non-smoking
  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
Main amenities
  • Weekly housekeeping
The price is £73
includes taxes & fees
19 Dec - 20 Dec

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 10 of 10 rooms

View all photos for Deluxe Double Room, Ensuite

Deluxe Double Room, Ensuite

Deluxe Double Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Digital channels
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Classic Twin Room, Ensuite

Classic Twin Room, Ensuite

Classic Twin Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Heating
Fridge
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Microwave
Stovetop
Coffee/tea maker
Oven
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Double Room, Ensuite (Upstairs WT)

Double Room, Ensuite (Upstairs WT)

Double Room, Ensuite (Upstairs WT)

Highlights

Separate dining area
Heating
Kitchenette
Blackout curtains
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Shower/bath combination
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Basic Triple Room, Shared Bathroom, Courtyard View (Mini Unicorn)

Basic Triple Room, Shared Bathroom, Courtyard View (Mini Unicorn)

Basic Triple Room, Shared Bathroom, Courtyard View (Mini Unicorn)

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Blackout curtains
Separate bedroom
Digital channels
Pet friendly
  • 18 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Family Triple Room, Ensuite

Family Triple Room, Ensuite

Family Triple Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Digital channels
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

View all photos for Comfort Cottage, Ensuite, Courtyard View (Charles Dickens Cottage)

Comfort Cottage, Ensuite, Courtyard View (Charles Dickens Cottage) | Lounge

Comfort Cottage, Ensuite, Courtyard View (Charles Dickens Cottage)

Highlights

Separate dining area
Heating
Kitchen
Fridge
Blackout curtains
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Classic Double Room, Ensuite

Classic Double Room, Ensuite

Classic Double Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Comfort Double Room, Ensuite

Comfort Double Room, Ensuite

Comfort Double Room, Ensuite

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Basic Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

Basic Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

Basic Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Digital channels
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Basic Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Basic Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Basic Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Heating
Premium bedding
Separate bedroom
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About the area

Map
The St, Bowes,, The Street, Barnard Castle, England, DL12 9HL

What's nearby

  • Barnard Castle - 5 min drive
  • Bowes Museum - 8 min drive
  • Teesdale - 21 min drive
  • High Force - 25 min drive
  • Yorkshire Dales National Park - 28 min drive

Getting around

  • Durham (MME-Teesside Intl.) - 41 min drive
  • Kirkby Stephen Station - 20 min drive
  • Bishop Auckland Station - 26 min drive
  • Shildon Station - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Babul’s - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Coach & Horses - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Redwell Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Golden Lion - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬7 min drive

About this property

The Ancient Unicorn

When visiting Barnard Castle, The Ancient Unicorn is a great choice to consider. Freebies such as breakfast and self-parking are added perks, and guests looking to stay active can experience the nearby hiking/biking trails.

Languages

English

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 17 rooms
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
    • Contactless check-in and check-out are available
    • Minimum check-in age – 18
    • Check-out time is 10:00 AM
    • Contactless check-out
DONE

Special check-in instructions

    • Guests will receive lockbox information
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
    • Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE

Pets

    • Pets allowed (dogs only)
    • Service animals welcome
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • Free on-site self-parking
DONE

Other information

    • Smoke-free property
    • No stag or hen parties

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free breakfast

What to do

  • Hiking/biking trails nearby

Room amenities

More

  • Weekly housekeeping

Fees & policies

Policies

This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag and hen parties.
This property does not have lifts.
This property accepts credit/debit cards.
This property is professionally cleaned.

Also known as

Ancient Unicorn Inn Barnard Castle
Ancient Unicorn Barnard Castle
Ancient Unicorn
Ancient Unicorn Barnard
Ancient Unicorn Inn
The Ancient Unicorn Guesthouse
The Ancient Unicorn Barnard Castle
The Ancient Unicorn Guesthouse Barnard Castle

Frequently asked questions

Are pets allowed at The Ancient Unicorn?
Yes, dogs are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at The Ancient Unicorn?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at The Ancient Unicorn?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime. Check-out time is 10:00 AM. Contactless social distancing and check-out are available.
What is there to do at The Ancient Unicorn and nearby?
Have fun during the warmer months with activities nearby such as hiking.
What's the area around The Ancient Unicorn like?
The Ancient Unicorn is located a short 16-minute walk from North Pennines.

The Ancient Unicorn Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely stay Very cosy
Tracy, 1-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The pub/hotel has evolved from a traditional coaching inn which has being doing basically the same job for over 400 years. Our room was basic, but had character (window seats) and the main facilities were fine (good bed, plenty of heating and lots of hot water). There is parking in the old cobbled coaching yard and the town of Bowes is quiet, but conveniently close to the A66.
John, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Landlady was amazing. I arrived in a sorry state coming off the Pennine way. An hour later showered and fed I was on my way into BC in a taxi she organised. Room was clean and the whole place had been been repainted and felt looked after.
Alastair, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Loved our first experience at the ancient unicorn wonderful staff beautiful food I would highly recommend anyone to stay or visit you won’t be disappointed A****
Mickie, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Great little cottage.
Charles Dickens cottage was great for a family of 4 on a short break. Comfortable and convenient location just off A66 without braking the bank. Great to have a fully equipped kitchen as well if you have kids to feed.
jakub, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

We (couple adult daughter dog) stayed at the Ancient Unicorn to break the journey between East Anglia and Scotland. We arrived at the charming inn located in the centre of the lovely Pennine village of Bowes to be told that we had been upgraded to the Charles Dickens Cottage(!) because there was a problem with our booked room. The Cottage was immaculate and comfortable with a fantastic shower. Despite the fact that the staff were very busy because there was a folk group getting set up to play in the bar nothing was too much trouble for Karli and her staff to make us welcome. We had an excellent dinner of home-made food (made earlier in the day by Karli!) in the dog-friendly restaurant and then enjoyed a pint of real ale in the bar. And the cooked breakfast in the morning was fabulous. A perfect stay and so, so much better than a generic motorway hotel. The area is full of attractions in its own right (we had a quick look at the ruin of Bowes Castle just up the road) and we will be back!
Bill, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

lovely little hideaway
I stayed with 2 female friends in a small but comfy courtyard room. We stayed for tea on the night and it was gorgeous, the staff were friendly and accommodating swapping the meal to suit our needs. Next morning breakfast was included so we all had a large full English, veg option available. We will definitely be back. Small issue re damp smell in bathroom but loved the place.
Jac, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Friendly, helpful staff. Modern, very clean en-suite room with comfortable bed. Evening meal and breakfast good. Great to meet Gus the dog!
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

An unpleasant experience
The hotel is self service. I received a text with a code to open a key box. The latch and lock on the bedroom door were broken on the inside, meaning that I could unlock the door from the front but could not latch or lock it. I had to push the sofa against the door overnight for security as I had a lot of expensive camera equipment in the room. There was no internet available despite being promised and sent a WiFi password. The walls were paper thin and I was woken up by drunken guests at 1am followed by another wake up at 3am due to a man loudly vomiting.
Matt, 1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lovely place to stay
We loved our stay. The staff were lovely and the whole place was cute and friendly
Sharon, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Relaxing stay in historic inn.
Nice stay in an historic inn, with clean room, good pub food and a hearty breakfast. Reasonable price too - what's not to like?
David, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

1-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

We loved the quaintness of the hotel - it was beautiful too. The area is perfect for walking/rambling and was very quiet. The staff we encountered were lovely, kind, helpful and polite. And we particularly loved Gus, the resident doggie. Checking in was easy when we realised it was a staff-free experience and had to use codes and lock boxes to get the keys - simple and effective.
Brenda, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

It was in a quiet wee village but if you have a car you can go to town I upgraded to a cottage and it had a microwave and kettle also a hob was very clean and there’s parking the breakfast and food was lovely would go again
jennifer, 2-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beth, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Caroline, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Marcel, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Craig, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Lisa, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Fantastic experience
Booked the Deluxe double as a stop over, and had a lovely night's sleep.
Andrew, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

Not great
No WiFi available in our room even though it is stated on the website. You had to go down to the door of the bar in the pub to pick up the WiFi. I contacted the number given and they sent the WiFi password a couple of hours later after they obviously didn't read my message properly. I measured back but heard nothing else. The hairdryer in the room turned on, got hot without blowing air and then shut down, I left a note saying this may be a fire hazard.
Nicola, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

4/10 Fair

Unfortunately our stay was ruined by the repulsive smell contained within the property (Charles Dickens Cottage). When we arrived the smell of damp dogs was overwhelming. We were offered a tokenistic can of air freshener to spray around the property. This failed to eliminate the smell which remained all week. This was compounded by a number of soft furnishings containing dog hair. The property is defined as pet friendly on their website but be warned (certainly within the Charles Dickens Cottage) that if you have sensitive smell you would be advised to book a different cottage!
clive, 5-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

A very convenient overnight stop on our drive north to Scotland. Lovely old building in the heart of the village. We arrived late but had been provided with codes that gave us access to our 3-person room, which was very comfortable and fine for an overnight stay but might be a bit small if you were staying longer. Very comfortable beds but rather a lot of noise from the adjacent room. Very good value for money - we would certainly consider returning to use the Ancient Unicorn as a base for exploring the local area.
John, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Geoff, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Happy visitors
We were delighted by this place, we had a very warm welcome and very well appointed, spotlessly clean rooms; which were very comfortable. The food was good and the atmosphere very relaxing. Cheerful friendly staff made it a good place to stopover on our travels.
suzanne, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review