Guide
The best castle hotels in the UK, by one clear rule
The best castle hotels in the UK, by our rule, are true castles where at least some bedrooms are inside the historic walls and guests rate the stay at least 8.5 out of 10 on Booking.com. Barcaldine Castle, Roch Castle, Mingary Castle, Thornbury Castle and Crossbasket Castle head that list in September 2026.
How we chose these castle hotels
Lists of the best castle hotels usually mix medieval fortresses, Victorian mansions and hotels that only borrow the name. This one does not. Every castle below is level 5 on our Castle Authenticity Scale: built as a castle, tower house or fortified house, with at least some bedrooms inside those walls.
The second filter is what guests say. We only include a castle with a guest rating of 8.5 out of 10 or more on Booking.com when we last took the figures, in September 2026. Ratings move, so each castle page shows the rating with its date.
What the rule leaves out matters too. A castle can be superb and still miss the list because guests sleep in a later wing, or because it has too few reviews to rate fairly. Those castles are all on our full list of castle hotels in the UK, with the same labels.
True castles in Scotland
Barcaldine Castle is an L-plan tower house on Loch Creran, built from 1601 to 1609 for Sir Duncan Campbell, known as Black Duncan. It has six named bedrooms, all inside the castle itself, and the whole castle can also be booked for exclusive use. Guests rate it 9.8 out of 10.
Mingary Castle stands on a rocky outcrop above the shore at Kilchoan, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It was built in the late 13th century and stood as a ruin until a restoration begun in 2013; its guest suites are inside the restored castle, and guests rate it 9.6.
Crossbasket Castle in High Blantyre is a 16th-century tower house on the River Calder, restored from near ruin. Nine bedrooms are inside the original castle, with more in later buildings, so ask for a castle room if that is why you are going. Guests rate it 9.2.
For a group, Menstrie Castle near Stirling is a Category A listed 17th-century courtyard house where three self-catering apartments sit inside the original walls. It suits families and friends who would rather cook than dine formally. More options are on our pages for castle hotels in Scotland.
Level 5 True Castle
Mingary Castle
Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, Highland
Sleep inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- EV charging
- Restaurant
Level 5 True Castle
Crossbasket Castle
High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
Level 5 True Castle
Menstrie Castle Stay
Menstrie, Clackmannanshire
Sleep inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Family rooms
True castles in England
Thornbury Castle in South Gloucestershire was begun around 1511 for Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Work stopped when he was executed for treason in 1521, which is why the building feels part palace, part fortress. Every bedroom is inside the castle, and guests rate it 9.5.
Langley Castle near Hexham is a mid-14th-century tower house that stood roofless for centuries before a restoration around 1900. Some rooms are in the castle itself and others nearby, so check the room type. Guests rate it 9.0.
Lumley Castle at Chester-le-Street was created after Sir Ralph Lumley obtained a licence to fortify his manor house in 1382. It is the largest of the castles here, with rooms both in the medieval castle and in the later courtyard range. Guests rate it 8.8, from more than 5,000 reviews.
Star Castle on St Mary's, in the Isles of Scilly, was built from 1593 as an eight-sided star fort after the Spanish Armada, and sheltered the future Charles II in 1646. Some rooms are inside the fort, others in garden buildings. Guests rate it 8.8. See all castle hotels in England.
Level 5 True Castle
Thornbury Castle
Thornbury, South Gloucestershire
Sleep inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
Level 5 True Castle
Langley Castle
Hexham, Northumberland
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- EV charging
- Restaurant
Level 5 True Castle
Lumley Castle Hotel
Chester-le-Street, County Durham
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Restaurant
Level 5 True Castle
Star Castle Hotel
Hugh Town, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Pool
- EV charging
True castles in Wales and Northern Ireland
Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire is a Grade I listed Norman castle built between about 1200 and 1270, now run as a small castle stay where every room is inside the old walls. Guests rate it 9.7, the highest of any Welsh castle we list. More are on our page for castle hotels in Wales.
Ballygally Castle on the Antrim coast was built in 1625. Its listing record describes it as the only complete Scottish-style tower house in Northern Ireland still in use. Most rooms are in later parts of the hotel, with some in the old castle, and guests rate it 9.0. See castle hotels in Northern Ireland.
Level 5 True Castle
Ballygally Castle
Ballygally, Larne, County Antrim
Some rooms inside the walls
- EV charging
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
Castle-style mansions guests rate highly
Some of the most comfortable castle hotels were never built for defence. They are level 4 on our scale: Victorian or earlier houses built to look like castles. If the look matters more to you than the age of the stones, these are strong choices.
Glenapp Castle near Ballantrae is a Scottish Baronial mansion designed by David Bryce in 1870. One of its later owners, the aviator Elsie Mackay, disappeared while attempting an Atlantic flight. Guests rate it 9.5.
Cringletie House near Peebles was rebuilt around 1863 by David Bryce with corner turrets, on a 28-acre estate. Sneaton Castle above Whitby is a castellated house of around 1830 with a turret bedroom in its original tower. Both are rated 9.3 by guests. For more on the style, read our guide to Scottish Baronial architecture.
Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion
Glenapp Castle
Ballantrae, South Ayrshire
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- Spa
- Restaurant
Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion
Cringletie House
Peebles, Scottish Borders
Some rooms inside the walls
- Dogs allowed
- EV charging
- Restaurant
Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion
Sneaton Castle
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Some rooms inside the walls
- Restaurant
Before you book any of them
Ask where your room is. Most castles on this list have more bedrooms than their historic core can hold, so the cheapest rate is often in a later building. Each castle page has a Sleep inside the walls label and notes under What we'd flag.
Check the size of the place. A tower house such as Barcaldine has six bedrooms; Lumley has 71 and hosts weddings. Neither is better, but they suit different trips.
Look at the date on the rating. We show the Booking.com guest rating with the month we took it, because a new owner or a refurbishment can change the picture within a year.
Questions
What is the best castle hotel in the UK?
By our rule, true castles where you sleep inside the old walls and guests rate the stay highly, Barcaldine Castle in Argyll ranked first in September 2026 with a guest rating of 9.8 out of 10. Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire and Mingary Castle in Lochaber follow closely. Which is best for you depends on the size and style you want.
Which castle hotels let you sleep in the original castle?
Every castle in this guide has at least some bedrooms inside the historic walls. At Barcaldine, Mingary, Roch and Thornbury all guest rooms are in the castle. At Lumley, Langley, Crossbasket, Star Castle and Ballygally some rooms are in later buildings, so choose a castle room when you book.
Are the best castle hotels all in Scotland?
No. Scotland has the most castle stays, but the list above includes true castles in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well. Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire and Roch Castle in Pembrokeshire both have every bedroom inside the old walls and are rated among the highest of any castle we list.