thornburyroom

When I decided to go to England for the 12th time, I asked John, my English teacher, "Where do you recommend I should go this time?" He answered immediately, "I highly recommend Thornbury Castle. I loved having lunch there. Many English people take a day return from London." John continued telling me his experience, "Upon arrival, they took me to the drawing room. There is a library next to it. Then, I drank an aperitif. The atmospere was wonderful. The service was very good. You'll enjoy a visit. I assure you."
Because he recommended Thornbury so strongly, I began to want to go and asked Akiko who would travel with me to England, if she would like to visit Thornbury too.
John said, "If you want to have lunch at the hotel on Sunday, I think that you should reserve a table." Therefore, I searched "Thornbury Castle" on the Internet and sent mail to them. "I'm writing this e-mail from Japan. I like England very much and have visited many times.......Next month, my friend and I are visiting again. I asked my English teacher where we should visit this time. He recommended me to visit your hotel because he had enjoyed having lunch at your hotel many times........Can we reserve a table for two at the restaurant on 17th March?"
The next day, I received an answer. "Thank you for your e-mail. We would be delighted to welcome you to Thonbury Castle for lunch on 17th March and will expect you at 12:45 pm if that is convenient for you. Our menu changes daily but I attach herewith a sample Sunday lunch menu for you to see. If you would like me to send you a colour brochure, let me have your home address."(If you saw the menu, it will make your mouth water, I think!!）
"12:45 pm is convenient for us, so would you reserve a table for us? Would you please send me a colour brochure and directions to the Castle to the address below?"
"If you need information on how to get here, taxi, train etc. please let me know." "There are always lots of taxis outside the railway station. If you would like me to order a taxi especially for you to make sure there is one waiting for you then please let me know."
I sent some mail to them like this and always received their response the next day. I received a brochure which I had asked　in a week. As john said, what nice people they are! I was deeply moved by their kindness even before visiting.
According to the brocure, Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn once stayed in Thornbury Castle. How gorgeous all the rooms which I saw on the brocure are! I lost my nerve a little because I felt it was beyond my means. However, I had already reserved a table, so I should go! I was determined to visit.
　

When you go to Thonbury Castle Hotel, you will take the train from London, Paddington, to Bristol Parkway, the nearest station. It will take you 1and half hours to go there on a weekday, but strangely on Sunday, it will be 2 and half hours. "Why?", I asked John. He answered, "I don't know. However, Sunday trains are always slow."
After I went, I found out that routes were different between the outward and return journey. When we went there, the train stopped at Reading, Chippenham, Swindon, and then Bristol Parkway after leaving Paddington. However, when we came back, the train stopped at Bath spa, Reading, and then Paddington. Besides, on the outward journey, the train ran backwards from Swindon. It means that the train arrived at Bristol Parkway by a roundabout route. Probably, Sunday trains take a different route from weekday trains.
After you arrive at Bristol Parkway, you will take a taxi to go to the castle. You'll arrive after about a twenty-minute ride. It cost us fifteen pounds from the station to the hotel as the hotel had informed us.
　

We arrived at the hotel before our resevation time, a little after 12 o'clock. "We have a reservation..."
They showed us to the drawing room as John had mentioned.

There were some stained glass windows in the drawing room. Through the windows, we saw the garden.

　Cutting through the drawing room and passing through a door, we came to the library.（This is what John had said!）
　"Do you want something to drink?"
　Akiko and I ordered gin and tonic.
　After that, we walked aound the garden(below) waiting for our lunch.

　After a while, when we returned to the castle and sat down in the drawing room, a woman came and said, "Your lunch is ready."