Tourism Breaking News
Great Britain, one of the GCC’s most popular holiday destinations, invites visitors to experience the royal treatment ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III, taking place on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. From estates owned by members of the royal family; to palaces, castles and hotels with royal connections; Britain has a GREAT collection of regal experiences that are fit for a king.
Castles, Palaces & Estates
Sandringham Garden House – located in the Norfolk Coast of England, the country retreat is used by the Monarch and the royal family for their holidays. The garden house on the estate, listed by Norfolk Hideaways, was the former home of the queen’s head gardener and is available for rent for your clients.
Hampton Court Palace Georgian House – built in 1719 at Hampton Court Palace, the Georgian House has been converted into a five-bedroom accommodation stay. Most palace visitors are typically required to leave the palace grounds at closing, but those staying at the property can continue to explore the spectacular courtyards and gardens. Fun Fact: King Henry VIII was the most famous resident of Hampton Court Palace, along with each of his six wives.
Balmoral Castle & Estate – located north of Edinburgh in Cairngorms National Park, the Scottish castle is privately owned by the Royal Family and has been a popular summer retreat for them through the years. When the royal family is not staying at the castle, visitors can rent one of six self-catering cottages on the royal grounds.
Palace of Holyroodhouse – the King’s official residence in Edinburgh and home of Scottish royal history, the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and is open year-round for tours. Explore the Historic Apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, enjoy the magnificent Great Gallery, and explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey. Although you can’t stay in the palace, the Cheval Abbey Strand Apartments at Holyrood, crafted from a courtier’s house with 500 years of history is located at the foot of the famous Royal Mile and offers a boutique living experience as close as you can get to the royal residence.
Windsor Castle – is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and is open to visitors throughout the year. Royal fans can stay at the nearby Balmoral Gardens and enjoy views of the castle, pop in for a tour, visit the grounds and see the resident herd of deer along ‘The Long Walk’.
The Duchy of Cornwall Holiday Cottages – the Isles of Scilly, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, are partly owned by royalty as part of the Duchy of Cornwall. The royal family owns nearly a third of the residential buildings on the islands, including four that are available to rent. Stay and you may even find yourself holidaying with the royals themselves!
The Bowling Green Apartment at Carisbrooke Castle – located in the heart of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, The Bowling Green Apartment has views across the tower and high castle walls, with direct access to the grounds of King Charles I’s bowling green and the tranquil Princess Beatrice Garden.
Hotels with Royal Connections
Raffles at the OWO – The first Raffles opening in London will see a 120-room and suite flagship hotel launching in the iconic, Grade II-listed Old War Office building on Whitehall. The hotel looks out onto where the coronation Parade will take place right in Westminster.
The Goring, London – the only hotel which has received a Royal Warrant for its hospitality services in 2013, The Goring is well loved by the royals being only five minutes away from Buckingham Palace itself. The hotel also played a part in Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, as royals from across the world stayed at the hotel, giving way to its nickname of the ‘annexe to Buckingham Palace’.
Claridge’s, London – the five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair is a royal favourite including Queen Victoria and continues to be one of the leading destinations for royals visiting from all over the world. Its blue and gold Royal Suite was inspired by the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Thornbury Castle near Bristol – now a luxury hotel, visitors can sleep in the same chamber where Henry VIII had stayed with Anne Boleyn, and look out of the same windows as Henry’s daughter, Princess Mary (later known as ‘Bloody Mary’), who spent some of her childhood at the castle. Thornbury had become the property of the Crown after Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed but Mary later returned it to the Duke’s son.
The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath – The Royal Crescent is a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a sweeping crescent. It was built between 1767 and 1774 and is one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in Great Britain. King George III’s second eldest son, Frederick Augustus was one of the famous residents of what is now The Royal Crescent Hotel. The hotel occupies houses 15 and 16 of the famous Royal Crescent.
For more inspiration on how your clients can holiday like a royal, go to visitbritain.com where you can also see VisitBritain’s new campaign ‘Spilling the tea on GB’.
Image credit : VisitBritain/Aurélie Four
