ST BRIAVELS CASTLE - England's worst prison and overnight in the oubliette room! 

Nestled in the Forest of Dean and overlooking the River Wye, sits the UK's most fantastic YHA, St Briavels castle. We spent a wonderful evening relaxing in the old chapel and slept in the west tower of Edward I's gatehouse in a room housing the castle's oubliette!
The castle at St Briavels was built in the 12th century and was the Crown's administrative and judicial centre for the Forest of Dean, as well as an arsenal for locally produced weaponry. Its royal visitors included King John, who favoured the castle as a hunting lodge. The castle remained in use as a prison and a courthouse long after it had lost its military functions. It was fully restored in the mid-20th century and now operates as a YHA.
Book your stay here - www.yha.org.uk...