The loveliest castles to rent in England
The UK’s rolling countryside, rugged beaches and Wordsworthian woodlands have long been magnets for crowds of visitors keen to get their fix of its long history. Indulge in our medieval yesteryear by taking over a castle (it is possible) and behold Britain’s green pastures from your turreted vantage point.
As it turns out, there are a slew of grand fortresses open for stays, so take your pick from our selection below, which, for starters, includes a remote coastal tower built to fend off Napoleon’s ships, a manor once home to no less than three English queens and an imposing stately home only recently opening its doors to visitors. We've reviewed Astley Castle in Warwickshire and then curated eleven more of the best castles in England. We love the look of below.
While we have not stayed in all properties featured below, we have carefully selected these as recommendations based on their location, design and previous guest reviews. All listings on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- the Landmark Trust</a> launched an ambitious architectural competition with a brief to sew the comforts and aesthetics of contemporary living into the ancient shell of the former castle. Witherford Watson Mann, the winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013, did exactly this, melding an open-plan space with industrial lighting, new wooden floorboards emulating the originals, log burners and a cool kitchen into its crumbling structure.\nAn original moat still protects the Grade II-listed Astley (although its hollow oak tree failed to hide Lady Jane Grey’s father, Lord Grey, who was wrenched from its trunk and beheaded for treason in 1554). With this place’s potent history, it's easy to imagine Tudors and Yorkist queens taking a turn about the lake, visiting the small church within the grounds and floating through the pleasure gardens.\n<strong>Sleeps:</strong> eight<br>\n<strong>Price:</strong> from £215 for a minimum of four nights<br>\n<strong>Address:</strong> Astley Castle, 1 Church Ln, Astley, Nuneaton CV10 7QN<br>","contentType":"photo","credit":"J Miller","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_320,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_640,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_640,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_1280,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_1024,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_2048,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_1280,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94c623b149193c8c86f/master/w_1280,c_limit/astley_castle_-july20-jmiller2012_15.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
J Miller2. Astley Castle, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Set in luxuriant Warwickshire countryside, this fortified manor lays claim to three English queens (including the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey, imprisoned in the Tower of London on the day she gained the title) and a vibrant history whirring back to the Saxon period, some of which it helped to mould. A long, narrow drive separates Astley Castle from the small village of Astley and the charming church of St Mary the Virgin.
Following a devastating fire in 1978, rather than leave its ruined walls to decay the Landmark Trust launched an ambitious architectural competition with a brief to sew the comforts and aesthetics of contemporary living into the ancient shell of the former castle. Witherford Watson Mann, the winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013, did exactly this, melding an open-plan space with industrial lighting, new wooden floorboards emulating the originals, log burners and a cool kitchen into its crumbling structure.
An original moat still protects the Grade II-listed Astley (although its hollow oak tree failed to hide Lady Jane Grey’s father, Lord Grey, who was wrenched from its trunk and beheaded for treason in 1554). With this place’s potent history, it's easy to imagine Tudors and Yorkist queens taking a turn about the lake, visiting the small church within the grounds and floating through the pleasure gardens.
Sleeps: eight
Price: from £215 for a minimum of four nights
Address: Astley Castle, 1 Church Ln, Astley, Nuneaton CV10 7QN 
Sprawling castle featured on The Crown, Suffolk
Setjetters will like this gorgeous country pile – it’s been used several times as a filming location for Netflix big hitter The Crown. But its real history is arguably as engrossing as any soapy drama. The Saxon property was built during Queen Victoria’s reign under the eye of legendary architect John Thomas, who worked on the likes of Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster. It’s a feast for the eyes, the senses and the imagination all at once – lengthy banquet halls for massive spreads worthy of Christmas at Hogwarts, 12 immaculate Victorian-style bedrooms and reams of well-loved antique furniture throughout. And when you’ve finished exploring all the various nooks and crannies, head out of the doors to the gardens, where there’s a slew of activities to dig into among the 1,000 acre-grounds. Grab a bike or your hiking boots and hit the trails – a painstaking re-wilding project has drawn plenty of wildlife to the area, or take your riding hat and head to the stables for a leisurely long hack. In the evenings, wine tasting and cocktail classes serve as an aperitif to a locally-sourced feast cooked up by the private chefs. In the summer, there's the chance to dive into the freshwater pool – it’s by far the best way to beat the seasonal heatwaves. Charley Ward
Sleeps: 24
Price: From around £11,972 per night
AirbnbSmartly-renovated castle, Bath
Age has blackened the signature honey-hued stonework that characterises Bath’s architecture on this ancient castle. As you step over the threshold, you’ll feel that you’re stepping back in time. There’s room for the whole gang with 14 bedrooms, each tastefully appointed in typically charming English style with a host of plush fabrics, feather-soft mattresses and, if you nab the right one, beautiful views over the lawns. Among the historical features, a slew of modern amenities breathe new life into this old building; a big communal kitchen making a cosy gathering spot under vaulted ceilings, zippy WiFi that doesn’t waver throughout and a bubbling jacuzzi on the terrace, ready to be enjoyed with a glass of bubbles.
Take breakfast in the royal dining hall (ask your hosts about preparing something bespoke for your next event) or, in the summer months, head outside where the barbecue is ready and waiting. After a day living as all respectable lords and ladies of the manor do, finish off proceedings with a walk through the expansive grounds, which are especially lovely at dusk. Don’t miss the bookable tour of the place, either – the extra context adds something more to an already wholesome country weekend. Charley Ward
Sleeps: 16+
Price: From around £2,800 for a two-night minimum stay
Oliver's TravelsChevaliers Estate, Shropshire
Nestled deep within the Shropshire countryside, this sprawling Grade I listed estate has five distinct homes to cavort around within rolling green lawns, each providing a distinct immersive vision of English country loveliness. For a wholesome hen-do where fresh air and good views are the only things on the agenda, this is a worthy place to hole up for the weekend. Four houses each contain two bedrooms and ensuites, then there’s the more private Library Suite with its own kitchenette. But the star of the show is the Dragon Hall; a sweeping beamed room befitting the historical heart of the space, which brings an unusual English country club- come-Italian feel to this bucolic East Midlands hideaway. A statement Palazzo-style fireplace, gilt frescoes by Jerwood prize winning artist Adam Dant, and two chunky baronial chandeliers provide a regal backdrop to a jumble of luxe velvet furniture ready for reclining on with a good glass of something strong. Meals can be taken in the private dining space. Ask the hosts for the right local chef and they’ll prepare something that showcases the best local Shropshire produce, or bring your own ingredients and cook all together in the large, fully-equipped kitchen – there’s more than enough room for everyone to pitch in and help. Charley Ward
Sleeps: 20
Price: From around £1,250 for a two-night minimum stay
AirbnbDinton Castle, Buckinghamshire
A stay here is one to spark the imagination, and how many castles in the UK can say that they’ve gone viral on TikTok, anyway? Not too many we’d wager – but Dinton can. This characterful stone folly is small but perfectly formed, making a beloved familiar sight on its serene Buckinghamshire hillside for the last 250 years. But if you’re not local, you might instead be familiar with the castle from its showing on Grand Designs in 2021 – or even the second flurry of interest generated from a lucky TikTok video in 2023. A five-year restoration has transformed this castle from crumbling ruin to magical escape for two, with fairytale features including a turreted living space, bedroom overlooking a glorious acre of grounds and the odd suit of armour for good measure. Ask host John for a rundown of the history – there’s plenty to dig into – and much more nearby with all of Oxford to explore just a short drive away. Previous guests have felt suitably captivated – it’s quiet and peaceful, with the thick stone walls blocking out any nearby road traffic, and 360-degree views over peaceful stretches of farmland. The comfy beds and quality amenities are an extra sweetener. Charley Ward
Sleeps: Four
Price: From around £819 per night
Richard Downer PhotographyTamar Castle, Cornwall
Named after the river Tamar, the banks upon which this glorious castle perches, Tamar Castle is a Downton Abbey-worthy hideaway just a stone's throw from Cornwall’s lively Saltash town. Inside, it’s all country chic interiors dressed up most elegantly. Flop in a chair in the smart drawing room with a roaring fireplace after an amble in the grounds, then head to the grand dining room for suppers with the whole crew. There’s also a large family kitchen perfectly equipped for preparing leisurely full English breakfasts on a Sunday.
Nine of the 11 bedrooms have en-suites, and on the ground floor, one has been designed with accessibility needs in mind. It’s a fairytale experience for those lucky enough to stay in the top two bedrooms, who’ll be spirited up and away into the tower’s castellated turrets.
In the summer, the garden space comes alive. Spend an afternoon strolling through the 55 acres of woodlands grounds, then grab your book and set up poolside – it’s solar heated for extra eco credentials. At dinner time, you can pick from multiple terraces with outdoor seating, each as lovely as the last.
Sleeps: 22
Price: From around £4,485 per night
Middleton Castle, Norfolk
Middleton Castle was built in 1455 but has remained closed to the public for much of its 600-year history until now. As it turns out, what lies behind the drawbridge has been worth the wait. The opulent foyer sets an appropriately regal tone for your stay, with a couple of chandeliers, sweeping vaulted ceilings and plenty of smart seating – a tufted pouffe and some comfy sofas complementing all the deep mahogany that surrounds. Keep going and more period details reveal themselves. The hallway, with its intricate floor and vast staircase, whisks you through to the rest of the rooms, of which there are many – this place is ripe for explorers.
Keep pottering, and you’ll discover four different reception spaces, including a lavishly decorated oak-panelled dining room for group suppers fit for a king and a games room for late-night rounds of billiards and Monopoly. There are 10 bathrooms and 15 bedrooms, all meticulously furnished, but none more impressive than the grand master with its king-size bed, private reception space and marble bathroom. Additional bedrooms offer a good range of sleeping arrangements to suit all needs. Outside is equally lovely, with sprawling Alice in Wonderland-esque lawns replete with a croquet set, plenty of seating and a moat, natch, across which swans leisurely paddle.
Sleeps: 30
Price: From around £8,170 per night
Dorset Castle, Isle of Portland, Dorset
Dorset Castle has an easy elegance, with a lighter, prettier feel upon entering than your average. Period features and opulent touches are balanced with home comforts, and showstopping views over hills and ocean await beyond each window. All nine bedrooms have en-suites – several decked out atmospherically with deep rolltop bathtubs against a marble fireplace backdrop – and charming, sweet, but not cloying interiors.
The grounds journey through classical English blooms to Italian, Japanese and tropical gardens; then you’ll reach the terraces where you can sit for a barbecue lunch. Kids will love the selection of outdoor games, but the best part is the large indoor pool that looks out onto rolling ocean views – perfect for peaceful morning laps before the crowds begin to stir.
The Isle of Portland is a blustery smudge on Dorset’s tip, just four miles long by two miles wide, marking the southernmost point on the Jurassic coast. But there’s still plenty to see and do – take a trip around Portland and Rufus Castles, or swing around to the Portland Bill Lighthouse. Leaving? Beloved family beach spot Weymouth is 20 minutes by car, while the cheerful market town of Lyme Regis is an hours’ drive away.
Sleeps: 20
Price: From around £7,152 for three nights
- countryside./nSleeps: four<br>\n<strong>Price:</strong> from £677 per night<br>\n<strong>Address:</strong> Kingswear Castle, Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0DX<br>","contentType":"photo","credit":"John Miller","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":480,"width":320,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_320,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":960,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_640,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":960,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_640,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":1920,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_1280,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":1536,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_1024,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":3072,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_2048,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":1920,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_1280,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":1920,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d80db5ca184e70a1f/master/w_1280,c_limit/kingswear-castle-69-july20-pr.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
John Miller3. Kingswear Castle, Dartmouth, Devon
Make for this retreat of childhood revelry on the Devonshire coast where the waves come up close to its medieval walls. Built between 1491 and 1502 to defend Dartmouth harbour, Kingswear surges from rocks that tumble towards the water's edge. A supposedly accidental fire ravaged the structure in the 1600s, only for it to be rescued by a Crown-appointed governor and then bought by a wealthy bachelor of 22 in 1855 as his summer house. It isn’t hard to imagine him and his bon viveur cohort enjoying a sundowner and cigar from the turreted rooftop terrace.
Inside, a conflicting sense of vulnerability and fortitude pervades: the thick walls confront the sea spray on a daily basis; the reflected light from the water dances across the bedroom ceilings; the dizzying views from the tower stretch across the river along pine-clad rocky shores and out to sea. Comfortable mahogany beds, a noble-red colour scheme and historic stone staircase prove that back-in-time boltholes are not solely the preserve of the dense inland countryside.
Sleeps: four
Price: from £677 per night
Address: Kingswear Castle, Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0DX - Monmouthshire’s <a href=https://www.cntraveller.com/"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/d5Zy5wnNZ5Wyh7H3wjKgoicj1itULjYn5Pr4xhc2EL1cThkjCxSsC6UdngzXMgjQSVktiovjZwbzrHkTufirpmdedqFAsULg8BB7D9WAhDoyvWGyYXqbXJTJJPJt2D7Y49uVRGTtCwnkUrpxTgxi7r3ZrM28yvfsJtQLuxvBdKGRwRcS4HJDi6ezuM3EHYckmdP?cid=611be950a954a4e571f6ee56\%22 rel=\"sponsored\" isaffiliatelink=\"true\">Clytha Estate</a> and was rescued from ruin by the Landmark Trust. Overlooking the misty Usk Valley, the building is far from imposing, in fact its sloping structure and intricately symmetrical turrets err on twee – the architectural equivalent of a perfectly tied bow.\nInside, any renovations have played to the castle’s original spirit – spacious, light-filled rooms dominated by arched windows which, in turn, reveal the green exuberance of the surrounding countryside. The Usk Valley Walk is easily conducted from the front door, as are lengthier ambles through the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. Clytha’s hidden gem has to be the local family-run pub, the Clytha Arms, whose Wednesday pizza nights, tapas menu and Sunday lunches of honey-roasted lamb rump, cider-baked ham and hake in beer batter are a 10-minute walk away.\n<strong>Sleeps:</strong> six<br>\n<strong>Price:</strong> from £702 per night<br>\n<strong>Address:</strong> Clytha Castle, Abergavenny NP7 9BW<br>","contentType":"photo","credit":"","segmentedSources":{"sm":[{"height":213,"width":320,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_320,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_640,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"}],"md":[{"height":427,"width":640,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_640,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_1280,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"}],"lg":[{"height":683,"width":1024,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_1024,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"},{"height":1365,"width":2048,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_2048,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"}],"xl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_1280,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"}],"xxl":[{"height":853,"width":1280,"url":"https://media.cntraveller.com/photos/611be94d628f4910ed101d7f/master/w_1280,c_limit/clytha-castle-july20-pr.jpg"}]}}}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
9. Clytha Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales
Completed in 1792 as an ode to judge and MP William Jones’s late wife, and later becoming a gamekeeper’s home, this gothic folly sits within the rolling landscaped gardens of Monmouthshire’s Clytha Estate and was rescued from ruin by the Landmark Trust. Overlooking the misty Usk Valley, the building is far from imposing, in fact its sloping structure and intricately symmetrical turrets err on twee – the architectural equivalent of a perfectly tied bow.
Inside, any renovations have played to the castle’s original spirit – spacious, light-filled rooms dominated by arched windows which, in turn, reveal the green exuberance of the surrounding countryside. The Usk Valley Walk is easily conducted from the front door, as are lengthier ambles through the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. Clytha’s hidden gem has to be the local family-run pub, the Clytha Arms, whose Wednesday pizza nights, tapas menu and Sunday lunches of honey-roasted lamb rump, cider-baked ham and hake in beer batter are a 10-minute walk away.
Sleeps: six
Price: from £702 per night
Address: Clytha Castle, Abergavenny NP7 9BW
