Since the 12th century, Amberley Castle has nestled in the lee of the lovely South Downs but few have had the good fortune to discover what lies within its walls....until now!

Since September 1988, the Cummings' family have made Amberley Castle their home and flair and imagination have transformed this magnificent historical treasure into an enchanting Country Castle Hotel and Restaurant.

Amberley is a castle with a difference, it offers overnight accommodation in the most romantic of surroundings. Within the curtain walls of this historic fortress, you can choose any of the fourteen luxurious rooms (each named after a Sussex castle) in the massive gatehouse. The Queen's Room restaurant is located in a section of the castle dating from the 12th century.

Amberley Castle captures the spirit of dreams and legends: the magnificent 14th century walls and solid security of the oak portcullis enclose a delightful garden of serene privacy. The mighty battlements afford weald and downland views of unrivalled beauty and the buildings' very antiquity lends a magical flavour of history to the elegantly appointed public rooms.

The lands of "Amberley" where the castle stands were given by the Saxon King Caedwalla to St Wilfred, 1st Bishop of Selsey, in 672. They later became the property of the See of Chichester and in the 12th century Bishop Luffa built the Manor house, the oldest part of the castle. In 1377, King Richard II granted Bishop William Rede a "licence to crenellate" and he raised the great curtain wall and gate-towers as protection against pirates. Rede also built the Great Hall and the "oubliette", a deep and sinister pit, made secure with an iron grille.

After the mid-16th century, the castle was let to a succession of tenants. Queen Elizabeth I held the lease between 1588 and 1603. During the Civil War, Amberley Castle was attacked by the forces of Oliver Cromwell, who attempted to recover some unpaid taxes from the Royalist tenant, John Goring. Evidence of the destruction they wrought exists to this day.