With just one guest bedroom at the top of a Norman castle keep, this is surely the most exclusive and romantic B&B in the Guide. 'Castle stays are always special, but this one is unique,' says a Guide insider. Built in the 12th-century for Aubrey de Vere, one of William the Conqueror's knights, the castle has a history that is full of drama. When Horace Walpole visited in 1748, he found 'the last remains of the glory of the old Aubrey de Veres… shrunk to one vast ruinous tower'. He should see it today, in the care of Jason Lindsay, a descendant of the de Veres, Earls of Oxford, and his architect wife Demetra. Climb a spiral staircase to your sleeping quarters on the top floor, where English fizz awaits. The Lindsays have made creative use of antique finds and upcycled material. A richly draped four-poster bought on ebay stands on a dais made using salvage from Southend Pier. Surprises include a fridge in a wardrobe, filled with 'a breakfast feast fit for a king'. 'Cleverly concealed' modern comforts include a bath for two inside a carved cabinet. For dinner you can walk to a village pub, or opt for a tasting menu in the Banqueting Hall, beneath one of the largest Norman arches in Britain.