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Exterior & Views 1, The Ancient Unicorn, Durham

Public Area 2, The Ancient Unicorn, Durham

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Inn

The Ancient Unicorn

Durham, Durham

Reviews

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4.3/5

GoodFrom 50 reviews

5.0/58 Sep 2025

Sarah • Trip with Friends

Very friendly establishment. Great service and good dinner menu and breakfast. The cottage could of done with a deep clean as there was loads of spiders and cobwebs. Would definitely stay there again but maybe in the pub next time

5.0/57 Sep 2025

Timothy • Family Trip

5.0/524 Aug 2025

Verified traveler • Couple Trip

It was the perfect place for a stopover. The room was lovely, the food was good, and the service was good too.

5.0/511 Jul 2025

Louisa • Family Trip

A little basic but comfy, very quiet, delicious breakfast and friendly and accommodating staff.

5.0/58 May 2025

George • Family Trip

didn't like the price differential between booking direct with the hotel to booking with you.

5.0/54 Apr 2025

paula • Couple Trip

Such a lovely stay property was lovely very clean inviting and cosy and great for our dogs too. The staff were so lovely friendly helpful and made us feel very welcome. I am coeliac and they were fantastic with the food for me would highly recommend loved it

5.0/513 Mar 2025

Hayley • Couple Trip

Excellent staff and well positioned for a stop over.

5.0/59 Mar 2025

Deirdre • Couple Trip

We only were there for 1 night but it was a very comfy and enjoyable one. We had dinner there and it was very good also breakfast next morning was cooked as you ordered and a very good choice of cold items we had room 5 and it was a beautiful room with tea and coffee making facilities

5.0/525 Feb 2025

Markus • Family Trip

We had a fabulous stay in the Ancient Unicorn. We were a family of 4 and also had our dog with us. We stayed in the Charles Dickens Cottage and it was outstanding. When we arrived, the cottage was warm and welcoming. The kitchen was well-equipped. The breakfast was delicious and the staff were super friendly. The location is great for exploring the area. We look forward to coming back in the future.

5.0/526 Jan 2025

Lilly • Couple Trip

Lovely rooms , comfy bed & comfy pillows , great shower. Service & hospitality was fantastic ! Would highly reccomend.

5.0/55 Jan 2025

Ruth • Solo Trip

Lovely stay with lovely hosts. If you’re gluten free, the landlord is coeliac so you get a fabulous breakfast!

5.0/57 Dec 2024

Tracy • Family Trip

Lovely stay Very cosy

5.0/530 Sep 2024

Jean • Trip with Friends

Very friendly, helpful staff.

5.0/529 Sep 2024

Angela • Couple Trip

Fabulous room . Helpful, friendly staff . Lovely food .

5.0/523 Sep 2024

John • Couple Trip

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.

5.0/513 Sep 2024

Alastair • Solo Trip

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.

5.0/526 Aug 2024

Mickie • Family Trip

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****

5.0/57 Aug 2024

Bill • Others

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!

5.0/518 Jul 2024

Jac • Trip with Friends

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.

5.0/522 Jun 2024

Verified traveler • Couple Trip

Friendly, helpful staff. Modern, very clean en-suite room with comfortable bed. Evening meal and breakfast good. Great to meet Gus the dog!

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No Elevators

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Location

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The St, Bowes,, The Street, Barnard Castle, England, GB

Nearby Destinations

All distances are measured in straight lines. The actual travel distance may be different.

Accommodation Rules

Check-in Procedure

Check-in3:00 PM-anytime

Check-out10:00

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit/debit cards
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and outdoor lighting
This property is professionally cleaned

Guests will receive lockbox information. Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools.

Want to check in early? Fill out the Special Requests form on the booking page.

More Policies

This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
The property is professionally cleaned.
Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

About The Ancient Unicorn

The Ancient Unicorn Location
Located in Barnard Castle, The Ancient Unicorn is a 2-minute drive from North Pennines and 5 minutes from Barnard Castle. This guesthouse is 16.5 mi (26.6 km) from Yorkshire Dales National Park and 4.8 mi (7.8 km) from Bowes Museum.

The Ancient Unicorn Facility and Service
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.

The Ancient Unicorn Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 15 guestrooms.

Restaurant and Cafe
Satisfy your appetite at the guesthouse's coffee shop/cafe. Mingle with other guests at the complimentary reception, held daily. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary breakfast is included.

Important Information
The following facilities are closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday:

Bar/lounge
Dining venue(s)

Room Type and Price

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 - Thu, 27 Aug 2026 (1 night)

1 Room, 1 Adult, 0 Children