The stone front of a castle hotel with lit windows and mature trees

Castle hotels

Castle hotels in the UK

The honest guide to sleeping in a castle. 17 true castles and 79 other castle stays in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is our full list of castle hotels in the UK: 96 places where the castle itself is the hotel or can be rented as a whole. We've checked thousands of UK places to stay that use the word 'castle'. Only around one in seven turns out to be a genuine castle stay.

Every stay is rated on our Castle Authenticity Scale, based on the building's history. On our Castle Authenticity Scale that breaks down as 17 true castles, 40 castle-style mansions, three towers, forts or follies, eight castle estate stays, two historic houses, nine castles in name only and 17 still being checked. Level 5 means you sleep inside walls built for defence; level 4 means a later mansion built to look like a castle. Both can be excellent, but they are not the same stay, and the list shows which is which before the star rating.

Looking for cottages in castle grounds instead? See castle estate cottages. For whole castles for a group, see rent a castle.

The list: 96 stays

Level 5 True Castle

Barcaldine Castle

Benderloch, Argyll

An L-plan tower house built in 1601 to 1609 as a military outpost. All six guest rooms are inside the historic castle building.

Sleep inside the walls

EV charging

5-star · Guests 9.8/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Roch Castle

Roch, Pembrokeshire

A Grade I listed castle first built around 1200 to 1270. All six named bedrooms are inside the original castle structure.

Sleep inside the walls

EV charging

5-star · Guests 9.7/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Mingary Castle

Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, Highland

A late 13th-century curtain-wall castle, restored between 2013 and around 2016. All four guest suites are inside the historic castle enclosure.

Sleep inside the walls

Dogs allowed
EV charging
Restaurant

Guests 9.6/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Menstrie Castle Stay

Menstrie, Clackmannanshire

A 17th-century courtyard house, Category A listed. All three self-catering apartments are inside the historic castle walls.

Sleep inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Family rooms

4-star · Guests 9.5/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Thornbury Castle

Thornbury, South Gloucestershire

A Tudor castle begun around 1511 for Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Guests sleep in the historic inner court, including tower suites reached by the original spiral stair.

Sleep inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Restaurant
Family rooms

5-star · Guests 9.5/10

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Level 5 True Castle

YHA St Briavels Castle

Saint Briavels, Gloucestershire

A royal castle built in the early 12th century, with a gatehouse added in 1292. Guests stay inside the historic castle building, now run as a youth hostel.

Sleep inside the walls

Guests 9.3/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Crossbasket Castle

High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

A 16th-century tower with a 19th-century house added, category A listed. Some bedrooms are inside that historic fabric.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Restaurant
Family rooms

5-star · Guests 9.2/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Ballygally Castle

Ballygally, Larne, County Antrim

A 17th-century Scottish-style tower house, Grade A listed. Four Tower Rooms sit inside the original building; most rooms are in a later wing.

Some rooms inside the walls

EV charging
Restaurant
Family rooms

4-star · Guests 9.0/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Langley Castle

Hexham, Northumberland

A mid-14th-century tower house, Grade I listed. Nine bedrooms are inside the castle itself; other rooms are in separate estate buildings.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
EV charging
Restaurant

4-star · Guests 9.0/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Lumley Castle Hotel

Chester-le-Street, County Durham

Built after licences to crenellate in 1382 and 1392 for Sir Ralph Lumley. Some rooms sit in the medieval castle, others in the courtyard range.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Restaurant

4-star · Guests 8.8/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Star Castle Hotel

Hugh Town, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

An Elizabethan star-shaped fort built from 1593 under Francis Godolphin. Some bedrooms are inside the historic fort, others are in later garden buildings.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Pool
EV charging

4-star · Guests 8.8/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Braidwood Castle

Braidwood, South Lanarkshire

A fortified tower built around 1581 to protect against Border Reivers. Guests sleep on every floor of this historic structure.

Sleep inside the walls

Dogs allowed

4-star

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Level 5 True Castle

Dalhousie Castle

Bonnyrigg, Midlothian

A stone keep built around 1450 within later curtain walls, Category A listed. Some rooms are inside the historic castle, others in a separate lodge.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Restaurant
Family rooms

4-star · Guests 8.4/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Dornoch Castle Hotel

Dornoch, Sutherland, Highland

A bishop's palace with a tower dating from around 1500, whose south wall survives at about nine feet thick. Nine of the 21 bedrooms are inside this historic tower.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
EV charging
Restaurant

3-star · Guests 8.3/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Walworth Castle Hotel

Darlington, County Durham

A Grade I listed mansion built around 1600 with corner towers, on the site of an earlier Hansard family house. Most bedrooms are inside that historic building, some in a later annex.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
EV charging
Restaurant

3-star · Guests 8.3/10

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Level 5 True Castle

Freswick Castle

Freswick, near Wick, Caithness

A 16th-century Sinclair and Mowat tower house, recast as a mansion in the late 18th century and Category A listed. Guests sleep inside the historic house, in six bedrooms.

Sleep inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Golf

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Level 5 True Castle

Hazlewood Castle & Spa

Tadcaster, North Yorkshire

A castle built after a 1286 licence to crenellate. Nine of the 32 rooms are inside the historic castle, the rest in later courtyard buildings.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Spa
Restaurant

4-star · Guests 7.9/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Acton Castle

Praa Sands, Cornwall

An 18th-century house built as a gentleman's retreat, not a fortification, and named and listed as a castle. The Garden Apartment is one of seven dwellings within the historic building.

Sleep inside the walls

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Branxholme Castle

Hawick, Scottish Borders

A category A listed 16th-century tower house heavily altered and incorporated into a later mansion remodelled in 1837. It is not confirmed which part the two guest suites are in.

Family rooms

4-star · Guests 9.8/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Midford Castle Sport and Wellness Resort

Midford, near Bath, Somerset

Built in 1775 in Gothic style by architect John Carter, with no defensive history. One self-catering let sits on the castle's own ground floor, others are in separate former outbuildings.

Some rooms inside the walls

Guests 9.8/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Glenapp Castle

Ballantrae, South Ayrshire

Built in 1870 as a Scottish Baronial mansion by architect David Bryce, with no earlier defensive structure on the site. Guests sleep in the mansion or a garden cottage, not a medieval fortress.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Spa
Restaurant

5-star · Guests 9.5/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Cringletie House

Peebles, Scottish Borders

Rebuilt around 1863 by architect David Bryce with corner turrets in his baronial style, replacing a 1666 house, with no defensive history. Most bedrooms are in this Victorian house.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
EV charging
Restaurant

4-star · Guests 9.3/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Sneaton Castle

Whitby, North Yorkshire

A castellated house built around 1830 for James Wilson, with no earlier defensive history. Some rooms sit in the original house, others in a 1914 priory extension.

Some rooms inside the walls

Restaurant

4-star · Guests 9.3/10

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Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Augill Castle

Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

A Grade II listed house in castellated Gothick style, started in 1841. It was built as a grand house, not a defensive castle, and guests sleep inside it.

Some rooms inside the walls

EV charging
Restaurant
Family rooms

4-star · Guests 9.2/10

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96 stays on a map.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.

Compare at a glance

Filter any column, or click a heading to sort. Guest ratings are from Booking.com (September 2026).



Barcaldine Castle	5 True Castle	Argyll & the Isles	Sleep inside the walls	5-star	9.8	No
Roch Castle	5 True Castle	West Wales & Pembrokeshire	Sleep inside the walls	5-star	9.7	No
Mingary Castle	5 True Castle	Highlands & Islands	Sleep inside the walls	-	9.6	Yes
Menstrie Castle Stay	5 True Castle	Stirling, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs	Sleep inside the walls	4-star	9.5	Yes
Thornbury Castle	5 True Castle	Somerset & Bath	Sleep inside the walls	5-star	9.5	Yes
YHA St Briavels Castle	5 True Castle	Cotswolds & Gloucestershire	Sleep inside the walls	-	9.3	No
Crossbasket Castle	5 True Castle	Glasgow & the Clyde Valley	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	9.2	Yes
Ballygally Castle	5 True Castle	Northern Ireland	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.0	No
Langley Castle	5 True Castle	Northumberland & the North East	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.0	Yes
Lumley Castle Hotel	5 True Castle	Northumberland & the North East	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.8	Yes
Star Castle Hotel	5 True Castle	Cornwall	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.8	Yes
Braidwood Castle	5 True Castle	Glasgow & the Clyde Valley	Sleep inside the walls	4-star	-	Yes
Dalhousie Castle	5 True Castle	Edinburgh & the Lothians	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.4	Yes
Dornoch Castle Hotel	5 True Castle	Highlands & Islands	Some rooms inside the walls	3-star	8.3	Yes
Walworth Castle Hotel	5 True Castle	Yorkshire	Some rooms inside the walls	3-star	8.3	Yes
Freswick Castle	5 True Castle	Highlands & Islands	Sleep inside the walls	-	-	Yes
Hazlewood Castle & Spa	5 True Castle	Yorkshire	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	7.9	Yes
Acton Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Cornwall	Sleep inside the walls	-	-	No
Branxholme Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	-	4-star	9.8	No
Midford Castle Sport and Wellness Resort	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Somerset & Bath	Some rooms inside the walls	-	9.8	No
Glenapp Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Ayrshire & Arran	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	9.5	Yes
Cringletie House	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Edinburgh & the Lothians	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.3	Yes
Sneaton Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Yorkshire	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.3	No
Augill Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Cumbria & the Lake District	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.2	No
Glengarry Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Highlands & Islands	Rooms outside the historic walls	3-star	9.2	No
Portmeirion Village & Castell Deudraeth	4 Castle-Style Mansion	North Wales	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.2	No
The Culloden Estate and Spa	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Northern Ireland	-	5-star	9.2	No
Lews Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Highlands & Islands	Sleep inside the walls	3-star	9.1	Yes
Cornhill Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Glasgow & the Clyde Valley	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	9.0	No
Schloss Roxburghe Golf Resort	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.9	Yes
Glengorm Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Argyll & the Isles	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.8	No
Inverlochy Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Highlands & Islands	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.8	Yes
Killeavy Castle Estate	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Northern Ireland	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.8	Yes
Stonefield Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Argyll & the Isles	Sleep inside the walls	4-star	8.8	Yes
Swinton Park Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Yorkshire	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.8	Yes
Meldrum House Hotel Golf and Country Estate	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Aberdeenshire & Moray	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.7	Yes
Carberry Tower Mansion House and Estate	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Edinburgh & the Lothians	-	4-star	8.5	No
Dalmunzie Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	-	3-star	8.5	Yes
Fonab Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.5	Yes
Sherbrooke Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Glasgow & the Clyde Valley	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.5	Yes
Ardoe House Hotel & Spa	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Aberdeenshire & Moray	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.4	Yes
Château Rhianfa	4 Castle-Style Mansion	North Wales	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.4	No
Glenskirlie Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Stirling, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs	Sleep inside the walls	4-star	8.4	No
Amberley Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Sussex	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.3	Yes
The Atholl Palace	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.3	Yes
Tregenna Castle Resort	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Cornwall	Some rooms inside the walls	3-star	8.3	No
Otterburn Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Northumberland & the North East	Sleep inside the walls	4-star	8.2	Yes
Peckforton Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	North West	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	8.1	No
Ruthin Castle Hotel and Spa	4 Castle-Style Mansion	North Wales	-	4-star	8.0	Yes
Cave Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Yorkshire	Sleep inside the walls	3-star	7.9	No
Camelot Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Cornwall	Sleep inside the walls	-	7.8	Yes
Mansfield Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Highlands & Islands	Some rooms inside the walls	4-star	7.4	Yes
Craig-Y-Nos Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	West Wales & Pembrokeshire	Sleep inside the walls	3-star	7.0	Yes
The Waverley Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	Sleep inside the walls	3-star	7.0	No
Dalnaglar Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	Sleep inside the walls	5-star	-	Yes
Forter Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	Sleep inside the walls	-	-	Yes
The West End, Hawarden Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	North Wales	Sleep inside the walls	-	-	Yes
Lickleyhead Castle	-	Aberdeenshire & Moray	-	-	-	Yes
Spedlins Castle	-	Dumfries & Galloway	-	4-star	-	Yes
Rowton Castle	-	Heart of England	-	-	9.1	No
Melville Castle	-	Edinburgh & the Lothians	-	4-star	9.0	Yes
Hallgreen Castle	-	Perthshire, Angus & Dundee	-	-	8.8	Yes
Tyr Graig Castle	-	North Wales	-	4-star	8.7	No
Kilconquhar Castle Estate	-	Fife	Some rooms inside the walls	-	8.4	Yes
Tulloch Castle Hotel A Bespoke Hotel	-	Highlands & Islands	-	3-star	8.2	Yes
Kincraig Castle Hotel	-	Highlands & Islands	-	4-star	8.1	No
Barony Castle Hotel	-	Edinburgh & the Lothians	-	4-star	8.0	Yes
Elen's Castle Bed, Breakfast and Bar	-	North Wales	Rooms outside the historic walls	3-star	8.0	No
Broomhall Castle Hotel	-	Stirling, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs	-	3-star	7.9	Yes
Kinnettles Hotel & Spa	-	Fife	-	5-star	7.8	No
Machermore Castle	-	Dumfries & Galloway	-	-	7.2	No
Buittle Castle	-	Dumfries & Galloway	Some rooms inside the walls	-	-	Yes
Little Tarrel Castle	-	Highlands & Islands	-	-	-	Yes
Machermore Castle	-	Dumfries & Galloway	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	-	No
The Water Castle	3 Tower, Fort & Folly		Sleep inside the walls	4-star	-	No
Grimsbury Castle	3 Tower, Fort & Folly	Sussex	-	-	-	No
Scargill Castle	3 Tower, Fort & Folly	Yorkshire	Sleep inside the walls	-	-	Yes
Hever Castle Luxury Bed and Breakfast	2 Castle Estate Stay	Kent	Rooms outside the historic walls	5-star	9.6	No
Leeds Castle Stable Courtyard Bed and Breakfast	2 Castle Estate Stay	Kent	Rooms outside the historic walls	4-star	9.2	Yes
Brunston Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Ayrshire & Arran	Rooms outside the historic walls	-	9.1	No
Cardigan Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Mid Wales	Rooms outside the historic walls	5-star	9.1	No
Muncaster Castle Coachman's Quarters	2 Castle Estate Stay	Cumbria & the Lake District	Rooms outside the historic walls	4-star	8.9	Yes
Number 6 Narrow Water Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Northern Ireland	Rooms outside the historic walls	-	8.4	No
Bickleigh Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Devon	Rooms outside the historic walls	2-star	7.0	No
Bickleigh Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Devon	Rooms outside the historic walls	-	-	Yes
Bovey Castle	1 Historic House	Devon	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.6	Yes
Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel	1 Historic House	Heart of England	-	4-star	8.0	Yes
Langhouse Castle Bed and Breakfast	0 Castle in Name Only	Glasgow & the Clyde Valley	-	-	9.8	Yes
Colcombe Castle Hotel	0 Castle in Name Only	Devon	Rooms outside the historic walls	3-star	9.4	No
Dunster Castle Hotel	0 Castle in Name Only	Somerset & Bath	Rooms outside the historic walls	3-star	9.3	Yes
Green Castle	0 Castle in Name Only	West Wales & Pembrokeshire	Rooms outside the historic walls	4-star	-	Yes
Le Petit Chateau & William de Percy	0 Castle in Name Only	Northumberland & the North East	Rooms outside the historic walls	5-star	8.5	Yes
Castle Green Hotel in Kendal	0 Castle in Name Only	Cumbria & the Lake District	Rooms outside the historic walls	4-star	8.4	No
Castle Hotel Windsor	0 Castle in Name Only	Oxfordshire & Thames Valley	-	4-star	8.3	Yes
Sherwood Castle	0 Castle in Name Only	East Midlands & Peak District	Rooms outside the historic walls	-	7.6	Yes
Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool	0 Castle in Name Only	North West	Rooms outside the historic walls	-	5.7	Yes

Questions

What is a castle hotel?

A castle hotel is a hotel inside a castle building. That can be a medieval fortress, a 16th-century tower house or a Victorian mansion built in castle style. Our Castle Authenticity Scale separates them: level 5 is a true castle, level 4 a castle-style mansion, so you can see which kind you are booking.

Can you actually sleep inside a real medieval castle in the UK?

Yes. The stays we rate level 5 were built as castles or fortified houses, and at least some bedrooms are inside those historic walls. Many also have rooms in later wings, so check the Sleep inside the walls label on each castle and ask for a room in the old building when you book.

Where are most castle hotels in the UK?

Scotland has the most. Of the 175 castle stays across our country pages, 99 are in Scotland, followed by England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland's many 19th-century Baronial houses explain much of that lead.

Are castle hotels expensive?

Prices vary widely. A room in a small tower house run as a bed and breakfast can cost far less than a night at a five-star castle resort. We do not publish prices from our data because they change daily; use the Check prices button to see live rates for your dates.

How we built this list: we started from thousands of UK places to stay with 'castle', 'château' or 'castell' in the name, removed pubs, flats and hotels that are simply on a Castle Street, and added castles that do not use the word at all. What remained was checked against heritage records and the hotels' own information. You can read the full method on how we choose.

Two labels do most of the work. The level tells you what the building is. The Sleep inside the walls label tells you where your bedroom is, which is a different question: a true castle can still put most guests in a modern courtyard wing.