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Top 17 Self Catering Castle Stays in England

Staying in a castle is a romantic, wonderful experience.

Whilst England has a selection of Castle Hotels offering indulgence and luxury, there are also a large number of wonderful, romantic, historic self catering options to stay in a castle.  Just imagine for a weekend or a week you are king or queen of all you survey?  Or, maybe you have always dreamt of being a princess or knight or your little darlings have?

Read on for 17 handpicked top options for a holiday in a castle:

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All properties are unique and offer something different and special. They are not sorted in order of preference; they are sorted simply into alphabetical order.

Blencowe Hall

Penrith Cumbria – Sleeps 24

Penrith Winter

Seen from a distance Blencowe Hall looks like an impressive manor castle and indeed Blencowe Hall is a Grade I listed fortified manor house that has a rich history dating back to medieval times. 

As you approach the house you can see the towers, one of which has the extensive damage evident from an attack during the English Civil War. 

Blencowe has 12 bedrooms and 2 of these have huge glass windows that are an interesting contemporary repair that fills the gaps of the historic damage and leaves the history in place offering stunning views. 

The decor is a traditional and contemporary style that compliments the period features. The grounds are lovely with formal gardens that reach 30 acres of walled gardens are in keeping with the style and age of the house.

Blencowe is an extremely comfortable location for a family get together or offers various options for larger groups. The kitchen has a four oven Aga as well as an electric oven and gas hob. 

There are 2 American style fridge freezers and plenty of equipment for large groups. There is a breakfast room and formal dining room both that seating 24, a butler’s pantry, games room, 11 bathrooms, 2 cloakrooms and plenty of space and comfort.

USP:  The damaged tower with its modern repair.

Book your stay here.

Cotehele

Near Saltash, Cornwall – Sleeps various

Cotehele House

Cotehele is a Medieval castle with Tudor additions and is a country estate in the care of the National Trust.  From the moment you arrive, you know you are caught up in the history of the place. 

Cotehele is open to the public and has a range of activities, interests and shops to suit most people.  Few visitors though realise that one of the doors marked private leads to a holiday apartment or that the cottages near the sawpit are available to rent for holidays, or even that there are 2 other castle-like holiday cottages in the grounds.

Hall Court

The most special is Hall Court the apartment in the oldest part of the castle. Wow!  The apartment is accessed from the ground floor and sleeps 2.  Upstairs is a comfortable sitting room that oozes castle charm, a well-appointed kitchen/diner, a bathroom and a double bedroom. 

For those going away with family as well as the romantic castle apartment, there are 8-holiday lets in all, with 7 cottages to choose from at Cotehele as well.

Retainers Court

Overlooking the ancient chapel, Retainers Court is a lovely 15th Century 2 story house, with thick walls and castle mullioned windows. 

Retainers Court sleeps 3, having a sitting room, kitchen, dining area, bathroom, double and single bedrooms. Not accessible due to location and very steep stairs.  Under 12’s are not allowed to stay at Retainers Court.

Malt House

Malt House is situated on the private Cotehele Quay and overlooks the river Tamar, from the outside it looks like a mini castle due to its tower.  Sleeps 6 in king-size, twin and a room that can be either, en-suite to master and 2nd bathroom, kitchen, sitting room, utility and a tower room.

All Cotehele Accommodation

You come and go as you please and a later checkout is available on Sunday’s.  Guests have free access to the grounds out of hours, so can really enjoy the place once the visitors and staff have left or finished for the day.

USP:  A true taste of an ancient working estate on the banks of a river.

Deer Park

Near Malton, Yorkshire – Sleeps 10

Market Day - Malton - Yorkshire - England

A folly built by the gentry to look like a castle that is now available for self-catering holidays.  Described as a ‘crenellated, gothic miniature castle with a long and fascinating history’, the folly is Grade II listed and surrounded by an enclosed garden with views over 20 acres of parkland to Scampston Hall a stately home. 

With 6 bedrooms, including some on the ground floor the folly sleeps 10 and has a ramp for accessibility and they accept dogs.  On the ground floor there is a large kitchen including an Aga, utility room, dining room, breakfast room, drawing room, morning room and hall.

USP:  A listed Folly making a mini castle that is accessible for all.

Book your stay here.

The Mediaeval South East Tower of Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – Sleeps 4 – 12

A view along the Aouth Quay in the town of Great Yarmouth

The Mediaeval castle that forms part of Great Yarmouth’s ancient wall is spread over 5 floors and has a kitchen diner, sitting room, two bedrooms, 1 double and twin and space for up to 4 double airbeds for larger groups,  there is 1 bathroom, a car parking space, with free on-street parking close by near the medieval wall. 

The thick castle walls feature original + shaped windows and the interior stonework is mostly painted white below the beamed ceilings.  There are modern touches, there is Wifi and a dishwasher as well as everything you’d expect.  The decor is an eclectic mix of 19th and 20th Centuries and adds to the charm of the place.

USP:  An historical building with accommodation over 5 floors.

Book your stay on Airbnb here.

The Old Folly

Hunmanby near Filey, Yorkshire – Sleeps 2

Stay in your own castle ruin for a week or weekend.  With gothic arched windows and vaulted ceilings, this folly has the feel of a castle and the outside appearance of a castle ruin.

Near the Yorkshire coast, the comfortable accommodation comprises of a kitchen, comfortable sitting room, minstrels gallery and bedroom with modern bathroom.  Book a stay and dogs go free, the garden is accessed via a big archway and is shared, there is also shared freezer space.

USP:  Stay in a very comfortable castle ruin.

Book your accommodation here.

Orchardleigh Castle

Frome, Somerset – Sleeps 12

Dusk at Frome

Ten miles from Bath the Castle is set in a 500-acre estate and sleeps 24.  The 2 battlements can be rented separately and each sleeps 12.  Each battlement has a garden with hot tub and BBQ and inside the stone floors, wood panelling and exposed stone walls act as a reminder that this is a very old building. 

USP:  2 battlements that can be booked together or separately.

Book your stay here.

Pottergate Tower

Alnwick, Northumberland – Sleeps 2

Alnwick Castle, England

Pottergate Tower sleeps 2 and was built as part of the town of Alnwick’s defences.  The contemporary furnishings are very tastefully done to enhance the ancient surroundings and the tower simply oozes tasteful, romantic charm.

The views across the rooftops of Alnwick and beyond are stunning and include the castle itself and the surrounding countryside. 

The first floor kitchen and dining area are reached via a spiral staircase and another staircase takes you up to the living area and luxurious modern bathroom. 

The mezzanine bedroom at the top has a lovely beamed ceiling and stone walls; it feels like a true castle bedroom.  Pottergate has thick stone walls, arched windows and it is impossible to forget that this really is a Grade 2 listed medieval castle-like tower. 

The tower is a historical landmark that was listed in 1952 and is an easy walk to Alnwick Castle, which is instantly recognisable as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.

USP:  Unique contemporary style, tastefully done to compliment the medieval.  Overlooks “Hogwarts”, but had the name Potter already.

Book the Pottergrate Tower here.

Quartermasters Apartment Brancepeth Castle

Brancepeth near Durham County Durham – Sleeps 3

Quartermasters Apartment is a ground floor south facing apartment in the castle, one of the oldest castles in the north of England, Brancepeth Castle and is close to Durham, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The apartment sleeps 3 and features charming cosy accommodation that includes bare stone walls. The living space is open plan and there is a double bedroom and single bedroom, 2 shower rooms. 

Guests have free access to some of the castle grounds and there is parking for 2 cars. The castle has a fascinating history and once belonged to the famous Neville family.

USP:  Ground floor, wheelchair friendly.

Book your stay at Brancepth Castle here.

Scargill Castle

County Durham – Sleeps 2

Scargill Castle was built in 1550 on the site of an even earlier medieval castle. Recently it has been lovingly and carefully restored into a delightful retreat for two from a crumbling ruin. 

21st Century comfort sits alongside the historic character with ease. When you arrive you pull into your own private parking space and go through a gate into your private sheltered courtyard gardens, go into the sunny entrance hall and marvel at the internal stone doorway leading to the stone staircase to the upstairs, the castle has a kitchen, banqueting dining hall, living room, bedroom and bathroom. 

A hamper of food and wine is left for guests and treats for visiting dogs along with a tea tray set for when you arrive.

USP:  See the restoration photos and those from the television programme Time Team.

Book your stay at with Booking here.

Shute Barton

Axminster, Devon – Sleeps 10

Shute Barton building in East Devon

Shute Barton is described as an exclusive holiday home and as one of Devon’s most important manors.  Arriving at Shute Barton to start your holiday, you cannot help but be impressed by the battlements and tower. 

There are many original features including one of the largest fireplaces in England in the Great Kitchen.  The house has 5 bedrooms and sleeps 10. The ground floor has a kitchen, laundry room, dining room, sitting room and games room as well as the Great Kitchen with that fireplace. 

There are 2 steep spiral staircases to the bedrooms on the 1st floor.  The rooms are 3 doubles, a twin and a room that can be twin or double. 

There is a staircase to a medieval hall on the top floor with an original ceiling that is unheated but available to guests.  There is a private garden exclusive to the castle on 2 sides and larger gardens to explore. 

Shute Barton welcomes up to 2 dogs and late checkout is available on Sundays.

USP:  Great Kitchen with its fireplace and the top floor medieval hall.

Book your stay with the National Trust here.

Tawstock Castle

Barnstaple, Devon – Sleeps 8

Barnstaple medieval Long Bridge which spans the River Taw in North Devon

Tawstock is a Grade II listed 18th Century Bailey Castle situated on a rounded hilltop in open countryside that gives stunning 360 degree views of Devon countryside. 

The wood-panelled ceilings top the mixture of original features and modern tech. The kitchen is modern, slick and partly circular, there is a living/dining area, a ground floor shower room, 4 bedrooms including 2 rounded ones, 2 doubles and 2 twins, and one of the twins has twin four poster beds which is a nice taste of history. There are 2 bathrooms. 

Tawstock Castle has a roof terrace, an acre of fenced lawn and is set in 8 acres of parkland. There is ample parking and a helipad.

USP:  A Hilltop standalone fortress.

Book your stay with Booking here.

The Tower

Blickling, Norfolk – Sleeps 4

The Tower is a romantic compact tower that looks like a castle and stands alone surrounded by its own garden and then countryside.  There is a fantastic roof terrace giving the added charm to the elegantly appointed little castle.

The Tower sleeps 4 people but is not suitable for children under 6 due to the bedrooms being on different floors and separated by a steep spiral staircase. There is parking for 2 cars.    

The accommodation comprises of a kitchen and a sitting/dining room and bathroom on the ground floor, with a twin that can be made into a double on the first floor and a further double bedroom with en-suite on the second floor.  The Tower roof terrace leads to the round tower.

USP:  A castle in miniature that has a square and a round tower.

Book your stay with National Trust here.

The Turret

Charlecote Park, WarwickSleeps 6

With a view of the grounds and the entrance gatehouse and surrounding parkland, the Turret is another unique Castle style holiday home, this time in the Turret of a large country house.  Accessed by an ancient “secret” door the comfortable first floor self contained apartment sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms has pretty latticed windows, period features and exposed beams.

USP:  A secret door leads up to a comfortable apartment.

Book your stay with Cottage World.

Walton Castle

Clevedon, Somerset – Sleeps 16

Clevedon Pier sunset

A fascinating castle with circular cobbles and lion statues, close to the sea and not far from Bristol this 17th Century castle sleeps 16 in 8 bedrooms, 5 of which are actually some of the eight castellated turrets that surround the central octagonal castle. 

The main entrance opens into a large kitchen with an impressive circular granite dining table. On the first floor, there is a grand sitting room, library and reading room and on the top floor there is a lovely master bedroom with en-suite and a private terrace. 

Downstairs from the kitchen there are 2 double rooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom and the 5 outside rooms all have en-suite.

Outside there is a sunken patio that leads to the underground swimming pool, has a hot tub and BBQ area.

USP:  Impressive castle with an underground swimming pool.

Book your stay here.

The Water Tower

Trelissick Estate, TruroSleeps 2

This is a romantic getaway that will take your breath away!  The arched barn door entrance leads to the winding staircase and the 4 storey Victorian tower has a circular shaped room on each floor. 

It really does look like a fairytale princess tower and you could imagine Repunzel letting down her hair. The Water Tower sleeps 2 for a romantic getaway.

The bathroom is on the ground floor, a double bedroom on the first floor, with the sitting room next and the kitchen/diner at the top, so this is truly a quirky place to stay. The accommodation is pretty and there is a reserved parking space and a garden that is shared with another holiday cottage. 

USP:  Quirky fairytale princess tower.

Book your stay with National Trust here.

Watermouth Castle

Near Ilfracombe, DevonSleeps various

Watermouth Castle

Situated at Watermouth Bay on the north coast of Devon and housing 7 self-contained apartments featuring a shared heated indoor swimming pool. 

This castle was built in the mid 19th Century and has recently undergone extensive restoration.  2 of the apartments overlook the harbour, 3 overlook the south court of the castle towards the wooded hillside and 1 has sea views from the living room.

The apartments are in a separate part of the castle to that which is open to the public; however guests enjoy free passes to the castle attractions which include a museum, theme park style attractions, a large model railway, underground theatre and water spectacular.  The castle is only 500 metres from the beach.

USP:  An historic castle apartment stay on a mini theme park.

Book your stay here.

Whitehall Pele Tower

Mealsgate, Cumbria – Sleeps 8

A Grade 1 14th Century tower the miniature castle-like house has been the same family for over 150 years and has an acre of grounds incorporating a fascinating Victorian manor house ruin. 

The first floor sitting room has a large Tudor fireplace and the tower sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms, the large well-appointed kitchen/dining room incorporates 2 full-sized ovens and has a separate utility room.  Also, on the ground floor is a games room. 

The first floor has a large sitting room and 2 bedrooms with a bathroom and separate WC.  On the top floor is the master bedroom, another bedroom and a bathroom and the stairs to the roof terrace. The Tower has views over the ancient pastureland that is home to lovely wildlife and birds.

NB: The centrally heated house offers a unique and comfortable place to stay, but if the oil central heating is on for more than 8 hours there is an additional charge at £3.00 per extra hour per day.

USP:  A Victorian Manor House ruin in the grounds of this 14C Tower.

Book your stay with Cottages here.

What better backdrop for a romantic weekend, or big family event that a castle….  Above are 17 of the best options in England to suit a variety of needs and tastes. 

What they all have in common is their long history and sense of that history.  All have comfortable accommodation that is self-catering so you can come and go as you please, some offer catering options that you may wish to explore when you look into booking.



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Kat
Hi, I'm Kat, an Australian that moved to London in 2013 to start a new adventure. What a roller-coaster that was! I love helping others move to the UK and people explore the world! I’d be honoured if you’d say, “Thanks!” with a £3 coffee on Ko-fi.

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