A storied hotel where history meets distinctive hospitality
The White Hart Royal in Moreton-in-Marsh is a splendid fusion of history and hospitality. Once a 17th-century coaching inn, it famously hosted King Charles I during the English Civil War. Today, it offers stylish rooms with modern comforts, some featuring four-poster beds and private gardens. Guests can savour seasonal British cuisine in the Courtyard Restaurant or relax by the inglenook fireplace in the Snug Bar. Set in the heart of the Cotswolds, it’s an ideal base to explore the region’s charm. A true gem where past and present harmoniously converge.
Take a walk with us, back in time
The White Hart Royal Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, a splendid tapestry woven through centuries of English history. Nestled at the crossroads of the ancient Fosse Way and the route from London to Worcester, this famed inn has stood as a silent witness to the ebb and flow of time.
Originally known as The White Hart, its most illustrious guest was none other than King Charles I, who sought refuge here twice during the English Civil War, in 1644 and 1645. These visits, once the stuff of local legend, were substantiated by a rare 17th-century diary discovered in the Huntington Library, confirming the monarch’s stays during those tumultuous times.
The inn’s prominence grew with the advent of the turnpike roads in the 18th century, becoming a vital coaching stop.
In 1782, the Winslow family commissioned a Georgian façade, enhancing its stature. The arrival of the railway in 1853 ushered in a new era, with proprietor Robert King embracing the royal connection by acquiring the royal coat of arms and renaming it The White Hart Royal.
Today, under the stewardship of The Coaching Inn Group, the hotel has been thoughtfully restored, preserving its historic charm while offering modern comforts. Guests can still admire the preserved wattle-and-daub construction from the 1400s and relax by the grand Tudor fireplace, imagining the footsteps of kings echoing through the halls.
In the heart of the Cotswolds, the White Hart Royal stands not just as a hotel, but as a living monument to England’s rich and regal heritage.
Moreton-in-Marsh and The Cotswolds
Moreton-in-Marsh is the golden gateway to the Cotswolds. Vibrant markets, historic inns and rolling hills define this timeless region where England’s rural past and present walk hand in hand through Cotswolds’ stone villages and fields with stone-walled lanes.
