When King Charles III is crowned On May 6, the world will witness, for the primary time since his mother’s coronation in 1953, a ceremony that mixes over 1,000 years of British glamor and pageantry in sooner or later. But for some, sooner or later might not be enough.
Britain is teeming with castles that supply travelers the chance to walk the identical corridors and sleep in the identical quarters because the monarchs of days passed by. Those who experience the magnificent spectacle set in Westminster Abbey may additionally want to immerse themselves within the noble tradition of the old stone partitions of a few of these castles.
“The sheer drama of Britain’s last thousand years of royal history is sort of a long-running soap opera,” said Tracy Borman, London-based royal historian and creator “Crown and scepter”, a history of the British monarchy from William the Conqueror to Charles III. “You have a king who marries six times, a virgin queen, a crown that changes hands persistently on the battlefield, abdication, usurpation, scandal. It’s principally the most effective drama you may hope for.”
Sleeping in a castle can feel like playing a small part on this vast story. “When persons are in a castle, they always remember it,” said Roger Masterson (aka Castle Man), founding father of the corporate celtic castlestravel agency and booking platform that works with over 100 locks across the UK.
Masterson said he had noticed a rise in Scottish castle bookings last yr, which he attributed to coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the royal family’s journey back to London from Balmoral Castlewhere the queen often spent her holidays. “It really showed Scotland at its best,” he said.
These six British castles might not be Balmoral, but they still give travelers a likelihood to immerse themselves in history and get a taste of life, if not royal, then at the least noble.
Hever Castle
Located in Kent, the ‘Garden of England’ just 35 miles from Buckingham Palace, Hever Castle transports visitors 700 years back in time because of fairy-tale architecture with a medieval sandstone gate, double moat and two portcullises accessed by a drawbridge.
But it is the castle’s history because the ancestral home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, that makes it a well-liked day trip from London. “Anne selected to marry Henry when she lived here in 1526, which ultimately led to her own coronation by breaking with the Catholic Church in Rome – a choice that modified the face of Europe and the course of history,” said Owen Emmerson, Historian of Hever Castle.
Guests staying in a 27-room guesthouse or a four-bedroom cottage set within the 125-acre estate receive free access to the relic-filled exhibition halls and 4-acre Italianate garden. The oak and walnut paneled rooms contain artifacts, including a prayer book belonging to Boleyn which bears her inscriptions and signature. Until November, the coronation robes worn by Cate Blanchett within the 1998 film “Elizabeth” are on display.
Rooms from £185 ($230) weekdays, £210 weekends; a day pass to the castle and gardens is £23.10 including tax.
Scone’s Palace
Over 40 Scottish kings were crowned, including Macbeth Disputed hillbased on Scone’s Palace in central Scotland.
The Gothic edifice, which dates back to the twelfth century and served because the seat of the Scottish Parliament for hundreds of years, was the everlasting residence of an extended line of earls from the Murray family (to whom the castle still belongs today). Travelers can rent a personal wing that may accommodate 16 guests in eight bedrooms. Nobility reigns within the dining room, lounge and long gallery, that are full of royal furnishings including ivory, china, royal portraits and silk brocade wall coverings. Outside, the 100 acres of the property enchant guests with blooming gardens, 250-year-old Douglas fir trees and a star-shaped maze of green and copper beech hedges designed to evoke the Earl of Mansfield’s family tartan.
On guided tours, visitors can see the replica Stone from Scone, the sacred throne that was utilized in the coronation ceremonies of Scottish kings. “In 1296 it was acquired by King Edward I of England and brought to Westminster Abbey,” said Stephen Brannigan, head of Scone Palace.
Perhaps probably the most famous visit to the palace took place in 1842, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were on their approach to the Highlands (at no small cost to the fourth earl, who expressed the inconvenience of the visit in a letter, but additionally knew that refusal was not an option). Prices start at £4,500 an evening (minimum two nights) for 10 people including breakfast and tax; each additional guest costs £450 per night.
Thornbury Castle
Originally an Eleventh-century manor house built for a Saxon lord within the Bristol countryside, Thornbury Castle it was converted right into a fortified castle by Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham, in 1510 with the consent of King Henry VIII.
Guests staying overnight on the château, a 27-room Relais & Châteaux estate, are met with an imposing stone façade dotted with medieval battlements and embrasures, bay windows and manicured Tudor gardens on 15 acres of grounds. The lavish interiors include period décor, cover beds and silk draperies. Outdoors, guests can participate in traditional village entertainment similar to archery and ax throwing, and even enjoy a falconry show.
“Buckingham’s story is a microcosm of the Tudor era – politics, religion and beheading,” said Tony Cherry, an area historian and creator, who takes a guided tour of the castle, talking about its wealthy history, royal connections and architectural details. “Stafford, the potential heir to the throne, clearly flaunted his wealth and royal blood, making him a threat to the king, who had him tried for treason and beheaded in 1521.” Henry VIII then became the owner of the castle for 33 years and visited it in 1535 together with his second wife Anne Boleyn, who lost her own head the next yr; guests can book a luxury suite named after Henry. Rooms with breakfast from £280 inc tax.
Glenapp Castle
“When our guests arrive, they comment on what it’s prefer to arrive at the massive house because there isn’t any reception or bar,” said Jill Chalmers, Managing Director Glenapp Castlea Relais & Châteaux estate situated on the rugged Ayrshire coast in southwest Scotland.
Panoramic views of the Irish Sea and the volcanic island Ailsa Craig complete with a fairy-tale façade topped with turrets, towers and crenellations, and a 110-acre private estate filled with gardens and woodlands.
“We have personal hosts and butlers who take care of guests,” Ms Chalmers said, adding that the owner of Glenapp Castle often shows guests across the castle. Recently, a four-bedroom penthouse with personal butler, private chef and sauna was added to the hotel’s 17 suites.
Guests can dine within the castle’s recent restaurant, in a 130-year-old greenhouse that resembles an analogous conservatory at Balmoral. Epicures may join the chef to search for Scottish ingredients similar to wood sorrel, bear’s garlic and apple blossom in and across the estate.
Traditional rural activities similar to trout fishing and pheasant shooting are only among the over 70 activities Glenapp offers. Guests may create a private fragrance from 21 botanicals with a master perfumer and explore the Hebrides islands on a personal castle boat overnight tour with a private chef and butler. Low season rates from £323 per night for Garden View Suite including full Scottish breakfast and tax.
Amberley Castle
Originally a hunting lodge from the early twelfth century, Amberley Castle it was converted right into a fortified manor house in medieval times and has hosted King Henry VIII, King Charles II and Queen Elizabeth II for hundreds of years.
Located within the West Sussex village of Amberley, known for its thatched cottages, Relais & Châteaux Castle still boasts its original crenellated stone curtain partitions, working portcullis and twin-tower gatehouse. The interiors feature large wood-burning fireplaces, barrel vaults and stone windows, and the 19 rooms feature exposed beams and original stonework.
“The location of the castle is paramount,” said Mr. Masterson, founding father of Celtic Castles. “It’s near London, in a lovely English village, and you might have really good access to the south coast of England and Arundel Castlewhich is one other super tourist attraction nearby.”
Guests can stroll across the 12-hectare grounds next to the peacocks that live there, or play croquet, tennis or golf on the 18-hole golf course. Near, South Downs National ParkRolling hills, river valleys and forests – ideal for horseback riding, mountain climbing and biking – remain as timeless because the castle. Rooms from £260, based on double occupancy, including breakfast and tax.
Forter Castle
Family, royal or otherwise, is the whole lot Forter CastleA Sixteenth-century fortress situated roughly 80 miles north of Edinburgh within the Scottish Highlands.
“It’s very very like a family home,” he said Catherine Pooleyowner and interior designer who personally chosen every detail of the project, meticulously restoring the castle together along with her father.
Goatskin chairs, antler chandeliers, wrought-iron chandeliers, and tartan rugs share the space with the Pooley family photos and memorabilia. Five of the six bedrooms are named after her father and 4 siblings, and the designs reflect their personalities. Furnishings include antiques and cover beds and Ralph Lauren bed linen. Mrs Pooley also commissioned a hand-painted mural depicting the history of the castle on the ceiling of the Great Hall. Above the fireside within the Great Hall hangs a big Pooley Sword, a tribute to the family’s history of manufacturing the high-quality swords that the royal family uses at certain ceremonial events.
The cramped atmosphere also attracts other families. “Many of our guests are prolonged families with some type of ancestral connection to Scotland,” said Maryln McInnes, the castle’s manager.
In one intriguing transformation, the previous dungeon has grow to be a designer kitchen equipped with Le Creuset utensils, where guests can prepare their very own meals or order a personal chef.
Other extras include a personal bagpipe performance, traditional ceilidh dancing, and highland entertainment similar to archery, air rifle practice, and ax throwing. Low season long weekend rates for as much as 12 people start at £3,812 (minimum three nights) on an exclusive basis including tax.
