The Real-Life Royal Residences Where Anyone Can Stay the Night

Today’s repost is from Vogue.com. I could not resist sharing this post with you today because this is one of my bucket list things to do someday.

Written by:  by ELISE TAYLOR

Whether it’s with luxury accommodations or a spa package, plenty of hotels advertise that they will make you feel like royalty. But, the reality is, no fancy facial or thread count can substitute for the grand grounds of Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II’s Scottish castle. So not why just go stay there instead?

Seriously. Anyone—well, as long as your plans don’t interfere with the royal family’s schedule—can summer at the same place as the Queen of England. And at plenty of other real-life palaces, too. Whether you’re a royalist, a history buff, or just looking for a taste of aristocratic life, here’s a handful of royal residences that any commoner can stay in, even if just for the night.

Balmoral, Scotland

Every summer, the Queen and the royal family decamp to Balmoral, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. While the castle is certainly the main attraction, there are roughly 150 buildings on the grounds—a handful of which are cottages available to rent on a weekly basis. One of them, the regal-rustic Rhebreck Lodge, overlooks a scenic valley and has a lounge with a log burner.

All of the properties come with the option to arrange the services of a local chef or home-cooked meals.

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Sandringham, Norfolk

Sandringham is best known as the place where the royal family spends the holidays every year. Although an invitation to Christmas lunch may be hard to come by, what was formerly the head gardener’s house is available to rent year-round.

Called the Garden House, it overlooks the ornamental garden that abuts the main building.

Also on the grounds is Princess Diana’s childhood home of Park House, which was turned into a hotel for travelers with disabilities and their guests.

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Rosersberg Palace, Sweden

Visitors can stay in the Cavalier wing of this lakeside Swedish royal palace, which houses the “palace’s original guest rooms, with antique flooring, tiled stoves, and deep window bays.”

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Llwynywermod, Wales

Sitting on the grounds of Llwynywermod, Prince Charles’s Welsh estate, is the North Range, a converted barn decorated with contemporary and local flair. In line with his environmental commitment, the North Range is almost completely sustainable, with a wood chip boiler and renewable electricity.

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Castle of Mey

Up until her death in 2002, the Castle of Mey was a beloved home of the Queen Mother. Now, the trust that operates it opens it regularly to the public—and turned one of its cottages, the Captain’s House, into a rentable property. It includes a 20-foot conservatory which overlooks an enclosed garden and offers expansive sea views.