A storied hotel where history meets distinctive hospitality

Nestled in the Wiltshire town of Amesbury, the George Hotel stands as a quiet sentinel to centuries of British history. With its origins dating back to the 13th century, it began life as a humble hostelry for pilgrims en route to Amesbury Abbey.

By the late 15th century, it had evolved into a recognised inn, and the timber-framed structure we see today was constructed around 1560—its beams weathered by the tread of time, yet proudly intact.

In the summer of 1645, amidst the tumult of the English Civil War, this inn became a temporary headquarters for Sir Thomas Fairfax, commander of the Parliamentary forces. From here, Fairfax was urged to destroy nearby Stonehenge, then viewed by some as a symbol of paganism. Wisely, he refused, and the stones remain, casting long shadows across the plain, just as the George casts its own over the town’s high street.

Its guest list reads like a roll call from the pages of English history: monarchs including Henry VIII, James I, and George V are said to have graced its rooms. Writers, too, found inspiration here—Charles Dickens is believed to have penned part of Martin Chuzzlewit within its walls, and the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson passed through during his travels.

As railway lines brought new travellers and the Salisbury Plain became a military training ground, the George served as an officers’ mess during the First World War. It has since been lovingly restored, blending historic charm with modern comforts.

Today, it remains a gateway to Stonehenge, to the past, and to the enduring stories of Britain’s coaching inns.