‘Beautiful’ County Durham hotel in village which won first World Cup

Sitting on the village green in West Auckland, The Manor House Hotel is one of County Durham’s oldest buildings – a 12th-century former hunting lodge that has been welcoming guests for centuries.

West Auckland is a former mining village in County Durham that carries one of English football’s most extraordinary facts: it is the home of the first World Cup.

When England face Argentina in Wednesday’s semi-final, local people will do so knowing that a team of colliery workers from this small village won the original world championship 117 years ago.

Even today, signs around West Auckland proclaim it the “home of the first World Cup”.

At the centre of it all, overlooking the village green, sits The Manor House Hotel — a 12th-century building with original wooden beams, sloping roofs and creaky floorboards that has watched the village’s story unfold for centuries.

The statue on West Auckland village green

The hotel

The Manor House dates to the early medieval period and is listed by Historic England as the former principal residence of the Eden family, who occupied it from the 16th century before moving to Windlestone.

It is reputed to have served as a hunting lodge for Henry VIII.

The building retains much of its original character — guests who arrive expecting a standard hotel are consistently surprised by the age and atmosphere of the place.

Today, it operates as a 31-room hotel with a spa, indoor swimming pool, restaurant, brasserie and dog-friendly courtyard rooms.

Room rates start at £80 for a cosy double, rising to £130 for a deluxe room.

The restaurant serves traditional and locally sourced British cuisine, while the adjacent brasserie offers the same kitchen in a more relaxed setting.

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 9.30am for breakfast, 11.30am to 5pm for lunch and 6pm to 8.30pm for dinner.

On Saturdays lunch service runs from 11.30am to 5pm and dinner from 6pm to 8.30pm.

On Sundays dinner is served from 6pm to 8.30pm.

What visitors say

The Manor House holds a Travellers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor, placing it in the top ten per cent of properties on the platform.

A reviewer from Bishop Auckland who visited in February 2026 wrote: “Received a warm welcome in the lounge.

“Had Sunday lunch in the brasserie as we had our dog with us.

“He was given a welcome bowl of fresh water and a fuss from the waitress.

“Starters (soup and pate) were perfect… The service was really friendly and kind.”

A visitor from Canterbury who stayed in August 2025 wrote: “I must say, in our experience, the food was excellent.

“We chose the chicken and the beef.

“Both were delicious, well cooked, perfect-sized portions and delivered with a smile and very friendly service…

“The sticky toffee pudding was delicious.

“Excellent value, good service and very tasty food.”

A reviewer from Canada, who visited for afternoon tea in June 2024, described it as “such a beautiful place with a nice menu option.

“Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Facility was very clean with lots of seating options.

“Highly recommended.”

The first World Cup

West Auckland Town AFC were an amateur colliery team when they were selected — some accounts suggest by mistake, as the Football Association had declined the invitation — to represent England in the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy in Turin in 1909.

They won the tournament, beating FC Winterthur of Switzerland 2-0 in the final.

They returned two years later to defend the trophy and won it again, this time beating Juventus in the final — keeping the trophy for good as the rules of the competition specified.

Getting there

The Manor House Hotel is on The Green, West Auckland, DL14 9HW.

It is approximately three miles from Bishop Auckland town centre and around 13 miles south-west of Durham City.

By road, take the A688 from Bishop Auckland towards Barnard Castle and turn off at West Auckland.

Free off-street parking is available on site.

The nearest train station is Bishop Auckland, which has regular services from Darlington, itself on the main East Coast Main Line.

Taxis are available from Bishop Auckland station to West Auckland.

The X1 bus service connects Bishop Auckland with West Auckland village.