Gretna Hall Hotel

“A charming hotel oozing with a history that reaches back as far as the early 18th Century. Breathe in the undeniable romance…you’re in the heart of Gretna Green.”

Built in 1710 as a manor house on Gretna Estate, Gretna Hall Hotel retains all the character you’d expect from a historic building, but with all of the facilities of a contemporary hotel including free Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions offering Freeview channels in all rooms.

Gretna Green is famed for being the place that young English couples used to run away to so that they could get married ‘over the anvil’ without their parents’ permission. Gretna Hall itself has a 200-year history of marrying couples – they’ve even named its restaurant after the anvil which sits in Blacksmith’s Courtyard and where you might see a wedding or two during your stay.

You’re probably not starting your romantic break as a runaway couple, but you could certainly start it by checking in early and sipping some champagne on your arrival. Perhaps upgrade to a sumptuous 4-poster room set within the oldest part of the building and unwind in a roll-top bath, or take a stroll through the gardens and admire its ornamental ponds – there are 10 perfectly sculpted acres for you to explore – before getting changed for supper at the Anvil restaurant. Browse through the extensive wine list and try a delicious haggis filo parcel to start with (the chef only uses local and seasonal ingredients and is meticulous about how he selects them). Or, if you prefer, you could enjoy a plate of food or a pint of ale in more informal surrounds from the generous menu at the Bar and Lounge instead.

Gretna Green sits alongside its bigger sister, Gretna, home to the Devil’s Porridge Museum. Take a step back in time to World War 1 and marvel at the incredible history of the 9-mile long HM Factory Gretna, once the biggest munitions factory in the world.

Escape to nearby Carlisle and visit its historic castle and medieval cathedral that stand proudly in the city. The Gateway Outlet Village, a shopper’s paradise, is only a mile away. The picturesque town of Brampton – with its 135ft motte and wealth of ruins, monuments, churches and 18th-Century inns – is about 20 minutes’ drive away. To the south of Brampton lies Hadrian’s Wall; the 2,000-year-old, 73-mile long World Heritage Site and the best-preserved frontier of the Roman Empire.

Gretna Hall Hotel enjoys a prime location – it’s a 2-minute walk from Gretna Green Rail station and just 1 mile from the M6 and the M27. Edinburgh is less than an hour away by train.