Heirbnb! How you can live like a King in rental properties on royal estates including Sandringham, Balmoral and Queen Victoria's seaside escape

Deciding where to stay on holiday is no mean feat, especially if you're looking for royal-worthy treatment.

But thankfully, the properties below really are fit for a king - and not just any monarch either, some of the homes are actually owned by King Charles himself, while others have housed Prince William and his family during their own vacation.

Far from a humble Travelodge or Premier Inn, these beautiful heritage houses offer a portal to a time gone by, with uninterrupted views and charming interiors. 

There are properties perfect for a romantic couples retreat as well as larger homes that can sleep up to ten guests. 

So, from a restored water tower in Norfolk, to a cottage on the Isle of Wight, there's never been more opportunities to live like a monarch (at least for a week or two)...

The Water Tower, Sandringham Estate, Norfolk

Designed by James Mansergh, the 150-year-old water tower promises amazing views of the surrounding countryside

The water tower originally supplied water to Sandringham House and the surrounding Estate 

The Norfolk water tower costs £574 per night and sleeps up to two guests

With views overlooking the Norfolk countryside, this remarkable Victorian landmark offers couples one of the UK’s most unusual stays, and it has just been made open to the public.

The neo-Byzantine tower was originally built in 1877 to provide fresh water to the Royal residence, and it is one of the most distinctive buildings on the estate. 

It has now been restored with elegant furnishings to complement the decorative brickwork of the tower, complete with historic pictures and photographs depicting the Royal Family.

‘Its striking circular form, decorative brickwork and elevated position have made it a recognisable feature of the Norfolk landscape for almost 150 years,’ explains the Sandringham Estate website.

‘Originally crowned by a vast 32,000-gallon cast-iron tank supplying water to Sandringham House and the surrounding Estate, the Tower now offers guests the rare opportunity to stay within a genuine piece of Royal history.’

Gardens House, Sandringham Estate, Norfolk

The Edwardian, red brick property sleeps up to eight guests

The Gardens House offers guests a view onto the Sandringham Estate

Dogs are welcome at this heritage home in Norfolk

This charming house was once home to the estate’s head gardener, and is the closest estate property to Sandringham House itself.

Each room is thoughtfully furnished from the Royal Collection, meaning all the furniture and pictures were once housed in a royal residence.

The property accommodates eight guests, and you can even bring your canine companion who can run around the expansive garden and amble through to the Royal Parkland.

The minimum stay is three nights, which will set you back £2800.

The official Sandringham website also describes Gardens House as being 'perfect for a family holiday' in a property with 'elegant heritage' set 'in the peaceful stillness of the estate woodland' with dogs 'warmly welcomed'.

It adds: 'This light and airy red brick Edwardian property accommodates up to eight guests, with each room thoughtfully furnished with a blend of rustic pieces, modern comforts, and botanical prints.

'Canine companions are warmly welcomed, and the house features an expansive rear garden for dogs to roam. From the front doorstep, winding paths stretch into the Royal Parkland, offering numerous spots for the perfect picnic or a moment of quiet contemplation.

'Whether for a family gathering or a peaceful rural escape, a stay at Gardens House offers guests a rare glimpse into the wider estate, as well as a sense of its living history.'

The description says the property includes 'everything you need for a comfortable, independent break', including WiFi, private gated parking, and 'a fully equipped kitchen featuring a dishwasher, microwave, and coffee machine, laundry facilities, and a hairdryer'.

Guests are offered a service where provisions can be booked to be at the house before arrival, with breakfast delivered each morning, or with all meals provided by the estate's 'private catering service'.

The Folly, Sandringham Estate 

This 19th century building has served various purposes including as a hunting lodge

The Folly kept many of its original features including stone hearths and arched entryways

The Folly can sleep up to six guests

Holidaymakers can stay in the heart of King Charles' Sandringham estate after a three-bedroom Victorian house was transformed into a retreat.

The Folly, nestled in the sprawling Norfolk estate, was once used by King Edward VII - 'Bertie' - to entertain his mistress, the British actress and socialite Lillie Langtry.

He visited the lavish, turreted house regularly between 1877 and 1880, after he was given Sandringham as a country home for him and his wife Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

Tourists ready to splash the cash can now follow in the footsteps of royalty and stay at the renovated 18th century retreat.

The Folly boasts gorgeous original features and 'royal artefacts' in a number of rooms, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the royal history of the estate.      

Oliver's Travels, which is marketing the house, said the grounds have been 'sensitively refurbished to the highest standard, blending timeless heritage with refined contemporary comfort'.

'This is a rare opportunity to enjoy a private escape on regal grounds.'

The house, which is in private woodland on the Sandringham estate, sleeps up to six guests in three bedrooms which are arranged across two upstairs wings and a turret. 

The turret is accessed by an external stone staircase, which offers magnificent views across the estate and glimpses of the sea.

The downstairs of the property is equally as lavish, with a drawing room opening directly onto a well maintained lawn. The Folly also features a large dining room and a kitchen with a butler sink.

Oliver's Travels says: 'Originally built as a place where ladies retired for tea, this turreted gem with wrap-around balcony has been transformed into a luxurious retreat, inviting guests to experience life at the heart of one of Britain's most iconic royal residences.

'With input from the Sandringham team, The Folly honours its romantic past while embracing modern comfort.

'Period features - stone hearths, arched entryways, hand-finished floors - have been lovingly preserved. 

'Throughout the house, royal artefacts from the private collection add depth and authenticity.'

The Osborne Estate, Isle of Wight

Italian palazzo: Osborne House was Queen Victoria's favourite royal residence. She brought up her nine children on the estate

Queen Victoria's bedroom at Osborne House. Her son Edward VII sealed off her private rooms. But Queen Elizabeth II allowed the rooms to be opened to the public in 1954

The Council Room at Osborne House. Members of the public can now stay in holiday lets on the estate near Cowes on the Isle of Wight

This two-bedroom holiday property sleeps up to four guests. Credit: English Heritage

The Osborne Estate on the Isle of Wight was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's family home, where the Queen chose to raise her nine children. 

They stayed at Osborne for lengthy periods each year, including in the May, July and August for their birthdays.

It was Queen Victoria's favourite royal palace, where she had commissioned an extensive redesign of the estate, which was carried out by leading architect Thomas Cubitt with help from her husband, Prince Albert. 

It was at Osborne, now fashioned into an Italianate Palazzo, that she chose to live whenever possible, bringing up her large family there. 

The sprawling grounds included a private beach, gardens and a full-sized Alpine playhouse for the nine children called Swiss Cottage. Today Osborne features holiday lets, including No 1 Sovereign's Gate and No 2 Sovereign Gate.

Sovereign’s Gate was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as the formal entrance to Osborne. Today, it is two holiday cottages with private gardens, each sleeping up to four guests.

Residents at Sovereign's Gate have access to the beach at all times, even when it is closed to the general public.

Meanwhile, built in the early 1900s for sporty cadets at the Royal Naval College, the Pavilion Cottage on the Osborne Estate overlooks College Field, which used to be the cricket pitch.

Fit with a veranda with outdoor seating, the two-bedroom cottage is off the beaten track to avoid tourists, but a close enough walk to the gardens, statues and Andromeda fountain of Osborne.

Queen Victoria once remarked: ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.'

Her late Majesty's son Edward VII had her private rooms sealed off when she died in 1901.

But in 1954, Victoria's great great granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II opened them to the public, later handing over management of the estate to English Heritage.

Connachat Cottage, Balmoral Estate

The cottage sleeps up to eight guests and comes equipped with log burners for the colder months

The Balmoral Estate is said to have been the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite residence, and it is not hard to see why.

Hidden away in the Cairngorms National Park in Crathie, Aberdeenshire, the 50,000-acre estate was bought by Prince Albert in 1852.

 Guests can enjoy the same Highland wilderness, walking trails, and grounds enjoyed by generations of British royals.

Traditional stone-built Connachat Cottage, one of the original buildings of the estate, is the perfect escape for families and friends. Close to walking trails and outdoor activities, guests can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Scotland.

Also on the Balmoral estate is Karim Cottage, which was built to house Abdul Karim, Queen Victoria's secretary and close friend during the last 14 years of her reign.

The cottage has an interesting history: Queen Victoria and Karim’s intimate relationship stoked jealousy and friction amongst royal courtiers whose families had served the monarchy for generations. When she died in 1901, he was dismissed from Court and sent back to India.

The cottage itself is a renovated bungalow for six people including a lounge with log burner, and an enclosed private garden.

The Captain’s House, Castle of Mey, Caithness

Windswept hideaway: The Castle of Mey near John O'Groats in Caithness, northern Scotland, was owned by Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

The Captain's House on the Castle of Mey estate offers self-catering stays

The Castle of Mey is the most northerly-inhabited castle on the British mainland, with panoramic views looking north across the Pentland Firth, and visitors can enjoy spectacular sunsets and sometimes glimpse the Northern Lights.

In 1952, the Queen Mother, King Charles III’s grandmother, bought what was then Barrogill Castle on the Caithness coast, restoring the 16th-century fortress and renaming it the Castle of Mey.

The late Queen Mother fell for its remote and windswept charm after hearing it was abandoned. 

It became her summer and autumn retreat and a regular stop on Charles’s Scottish holidays. The King inherited his grandmother's love for the castle and makes his own autumn visits. 

The estate has two properties available to the public: The Captain's House and the luxurious Granary Lodge.

The Captain's House is a detached holiday cottage that offers self-catering accommodation.

Previously known as Seaview House, it sleeps six people in two double rooms and one twin. Just a couple of minutes’ walk away in the castle grounds is the ten-room Granary Lodge, which opened as a B&B in 2019. 

Today, you can catch glimpses of the Queen Mother’s personality on a tour of the castle, from her powder-blue raincoat hanging in the hallway to her cocktail cabinet.

Charles's farmhouse, Carmarthenshire

King Charles and Queen Camilla used to spend a couple of weeks at the farmhouse each year

The King gave up his farmhouse property in 2023

King Charles and Queen Camilla used to spend a couple of weeks a year at their secluded three-bedroom farmhouse on the Llwynywermod estate in Carmarthenshire.

As Prince of Wales, Charles said it was important to have a home there and spent 40 years finding the right one.

He bought the £1.2 million estate in 2007 with Camilla, now Queen, which included two cottages available to rent.

North Range and West Range, cost between £1,400 to £2,400 a week depending on the time of year.

'Sitting within a courtyard range adjoining the Welsh royal residence of Llwynywermod, North Range is a charming barn conversion available for occasional holiday lets,' explained the Llwynywermod website.

'North Range forms part of a courtyard attached to Llwynywermod Farmhouse and is beautifully furnished to suit the style of the property, with a mixture of period and contemporary furniture including many Welsh pieces and local fabrics.'

Ideal for walkers, the cottages are surrounded by 90-acres of land and a short distance from the Breacon Beacons National Park.

The King gave up the property in 2023, unable to visit as frequently. 

Casa Printului de Wales in Viscri, Transylvania

King Charles bought this Transylvanian estate in the 1990s

King Charles visited the property in June 2023

You don't have to stay within the UK to rent a royal home, either. King Charles also owns property in Transylvania, Romania.

His Majesty bought the estate in the 1990s, and the 400-year-old Casa Printului de Wales cottage has been decorated with traditional antique Transylvanian furniture, and textiles.

This secluded property, close to the Transylvanian village of Viscri, is a nature retreat for those wanting to explore the Zalán Valley and the surrounding mountains. 

There is royal heritage in the region, as King Charles' maternal great-great-great grandmother Klaudia Rhedey was born and brought up in the region.

Hungarian-speaking Klaudia married into German royalty and was styled the Princess of Teck. Queen Mary of Teck, her granddaughter, was wife to George V and Charles's great grandmother. 

The King has visited on numerous occasions, setting up the Prince of Wales Foundation in Romania to support the development of farming, traditional skills and the preservation of historic buildings through training. 

In Casa Printului de Wales in Viscri, there are no televisions or radios in any of the rooms, just books. 

Guests are expected to dine together, and there are outdoor activities including horse riding, walks through a wildflower meadow named after Prince George and trips to the nearby mineral pools.

Dolphin House, Tresco Island, Isles of Scilly

In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Prince William took his family to the island of Tresco for a summer break, where they stayed at his father's home of Dolphin House 

In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Prince William took his family to the island of Tresco for a summer break, where they stayed at his father's home of Dolphin House.

William and Kate were spotted 'enjoying the weather' and stopping to greet their fellow holidaymakers as they cycled across Tresco, Isles of Scilly.

The royals decided to venture to the island near the coast of Cornwall for a 'quick getaway' before their children returned to school, an insider said at the time.

Dolphin House is just yards away from the sea, allowing Kate and William to take their buckets and spades to the beach with George, Charlotte and Louis.

The family went for a bike ride around the car-free island and were seen smiling and chatting to residents.

Back at Dolphin House, they would have been able to enjoy complete privacy behind the former rectory's 10ft-thick granite walls, and perhaps a barbecue in the large garden. 

There's an air of quiet luxury about the house, with its trim hedges and pristine sub-tropical flower borders.

The six bedroom property is located on the Isles of Scilly and sleeps up to ten guests. Its four bathrooms make it ideal for larger parties.

The property has a large walled garden with lawns and terraces, giving guests space to lunch and children to play.  Its beautifully decorated kitchen offers views of the sea and other of Scilly's islands. 

After the Royals departed from Tresco's heliport, a local onlooker said: 'William and Kate were both smiling widely and looked really happy and relaxed. Their bodyguards had big smiles too – it was clear to see that it had been a really good holiday.'

An Isles of Scilly resident told The Mail on Sunday: 'Dolphin House really is an idyllic and modest holiday home for families.

'Kate, William and the children certainly will have made the most of how peaceful it is there, and the island's residents made sure to leave them alone and not disturb their trip.'

A royal source said: 'They decided on a quick getaway before the children return to school. They were keen to support our travel industry.'