Updated July 21, 2020.

It’s Museum Monday in the best kind of way! A while back I had the pleasure of staying at the Brick House Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg–I literally stayed inside a living museum! It’s one of Colonial Williamsburg’s “Colonial Houses” properties, and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! There were some unexpected perks of staying here, not to mention I got to stay in a piece of history! Here’s what to expect if you choose to stay at one of the Colonial Houses.

Checking In

You will check in for all the “Colonial Houses” at the little white building at 136 E. Francis Street, but don’t be fooled! It’s actually on Colonial Street, which crosses E. Francis Street. Just turn into the Williamsburg Inn property and the building is on your left.

There will be someone there between 7:00am and 11:00pm. Any other time you can go to the front desk at the Williamsburg Inn. When you check in you’ll get real brass keys, identification cards (for discounts on Colonial Williamsburg admission and access to the gym and spa at the Williamsburg Inn), a map, lists of daily activities during your stay, and a parking pass.

Essential Info: What to Know Before You Visit Williamsburg

The Brick House Tavern

I stayed at the Brick House Tavern, right on Duke of Gloucester Street in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg! There are 16 rooms, and due to an unexpected change of plans that extended my trip, I got to stay in two different rooms! Both of them were decorated differently, and both were charming!

There are 6 doors in the front, but only one of them works! It’s the one with the little white sign next to the lock that says “Guest House — Not Open to the Public”. It’s the center right door.

Related: 10 Reasons to Visit Colonial Williamsburg

The Gym and Spa

This was the big surprise of the trip! A stay at any of the Colonial Williamsburg properties gives you access to the spa, gym, tee time of your choice, and a two-hour bike rental! I’ve been in an awful lot of hotel gyms, and this was by far the nicest of them all.

There are daily classes to choose from, outdoor and indoor pools, and equipment that I haven’t seen in any hotel gyms before! For cardio, choose from treadmills, multiple types of exercise bikes, multiple types of elliptical machines, and even a tread climber–my personal favorite! For strength, there are free weights, weight machines of every kind, and even a Smith machine.

Discounts

As mentioned above, a reservation at the Colonial Williamsburg properties gives you discounts on Colonial Williamsburg admission tickets. And it’s a pretty good deal. A regular single-day pass is $40.99, but it’s only $31 for guests. A three-day pass is regularly $50.99, but for guests of the Colonial Williamsburg properties, you’ll pay only $34 for the duration of your stay! So if you’re staying two days, it’s $34. If you’re staying a week, it’s still only $34! And an annual pass, usually $66.99, is only $50.

More here: FREE Things to Do in Williamsburg

Staying in a Colonial Property

In case you’re wondering, I’ll reassure you that you will not only have running water, you will have hot and cold water, a fully functioning toilet, and a shower and/or bathtub for daily bathing purposes. The furnishings will be authentic to the time as either antiques or period-correct replicas. Please be careful! I found the rooms to be quite large, Keurig-equipped, and stocked with high-quality toiletries from the Spa at the Williamsburg Inn. The beds were comfortable as well!

I definitely recommend staying at the Colonial Houses next time you’re in Williamsburg. With authentic historical charm and modern amenities, not to mention the location everyone wants, your stay in Williamsburg will be one to remember!

Need more? Find all my Williamsburg posts on my United States Page!

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