Royal Escapes in Britain
The countdown is on for the Coronation of King Charles III, taking place on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Whether a royal enthusiast or looking for the ultimate royal treatment, visitors can tread in royal footsteps by staying on or nearby to Britain’s royal residences and estates at cottages, hotels and castles with Royal links all across Britain. From estates owned by members of the royal family to places and destinations where they have stayed, Britain has an amazing collection of regal places to stay.
Located in the Norfolk Coast of England, the country retreat is used by the Monarch and the royal family during the holidays. The garden house on the estate, listed by Norfolk Hideaways, was the former home of the queen’s head gardener and is the closest estate to the royal house and is available for rent.
Hampton Court Palace Georgian House
Originally the kitchens for George, Prince of Wales, The Georgian House was built in 1719 at Hampton Court Palace and has since been converted into a five-bedroom house. King Henry VIII was the most famous resident of Hampton Court Palace, along with each of his six wives. Most palace visitors are typically required to leave the palace grounds at closing, but those staying in the five-bedroom Georgian House can continue to explore the palace’s spectacular courtyards and gardens.
The Duchy of Cornwall Holiday Cottages
The Isles of Scilly, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, are partly owned by royalty as part of the Duchy of Cornwall. The royal family owns nearly a third of the residential buildings on the islands, including four that are available to rent, as well as holidaying there themselves.
The Bowling Green Apartment at Carisbrooke Castle
Located in the heart of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, The Bowling Green Apartment has views across the tower and high castle walls, with direct access to wander the grounds of King Charles I’s bowling green, the tranquil Princess Beatrice Garden.
Located north of Edinburgh in Cairngorms National Park, the Scottish castle is privately owned by the Royal Family and has been a popular summer retreat for them through the years. When the royal family is not staying at the Castle, the public can rent one of six self-catering cottages on the royal grounds.
Built in the mid-18th century near Cowes on the Isle of Wight, this Italianate style residence served as a private home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Visitors can stay in one of three apartments on the property: the Pavilion Cottage, No 1 Sovereign’s Gate and No 2 Sovereign’s Gate.
Llwynywermod Estate, North Range
Sitting within courtyard range of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall’s Welsh royal residence of Llwynywermod, are two barn conversions on the grounds available to rent when not in use by the royals. North Range is one charming barn conversion available for occasional holiday let and is beautifully furnished to suit the style of the property.
Plas Dinas in Snowdonia, North Wales
The Plas Dinas country house was once the ancestral home of the Armstrong-Jones family and was previously lived in by Lord Snowdon and HRH Princess Margaret. Plas Dinas is Grade II listed and dates back to the mid-seventeenth century with extensive Victorian additions. The 15-acre home has ten luxury bedrooms and features antiques and memorabilia.
Tour the Official Royal Residences and stay nearby
It is possible to tour royal residences and stay nearby to get the most from a visit and tread in royal footsteps in and around the area.
The King's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of Scottish royal history, the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and is open year-round for tours. Explore the Historic Apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, enjoy the magnificent Great Gallery, and explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey and the Palace’s gardens. Although you can’t stay in the palace, the Cheval Abbey Strand Apartments at Holyrood, crafted from a courtier’s house with 500 years of history is located at the foot of the famous Royal Mile, offers a boutique living experience as close as you can get to the royal residence.
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and is open to visitors throughout the year. Royal fans can stay at the nearby Balmoral Gardens which is very nearby in Central Windsor to enjoy views of the castle, pop in for a tour, visit the grounds and the resident herd of deer and walk ‘The Long Walk’.
Hotels With Royal Connections
The first Raffles opening in London sees a 120-room and suites flagship hotel launching in the iconic, Grade II-listed Old War Office building on Whitehall. The hotel looks out onto where the coronation Parade will take place right in Westminster.
The only hotel which has received a Royal Warrant for its hospitality services in 2013, The Goring is well loved by the royals being only five minutes away from Buckingham Palace itself. The hotel also played a part in Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, as royals from across the world stayed at the hotel, giving way to its nickname of the ‘annexe to Buckingham Palace’.
The five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair is a favourite to an array of royals including Queen Victoria, has hosted members of the royal family several times and continues to be one of the destinations for visiting royals from all over the world. Its blue and gold Royal Suite was inspired by the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Now a luxury hotel, visitors can sleep in the same chamber where Henry VIII had stayed with Anne Boleyn, and look out of the same windows as Henry’s daughter, Princess Mary (later known as ‘Bloody Mary’), who spent some of her childhood at the castle. Thornbury had become the property of the Crown after Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed but Mary later returned it to the Duke’s son.
The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent in the city of Bath, England that was built between 1767 and 1774. It is one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom. King George III’s second eldest son, Frederick Augustus was one of the famous residents of what is now The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. The hotel occupies houses 15 and 16 of the famous Royal Crescent.
Check out our Coronation landing page for more royal content and register on www.assets.visitbritain.org for supporting images.