Latest news with #castle
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
UK castle that costs less than a hotel stay in London with indoor swimming pool, tropical gardens and private beach
IF you need somewhere cheap to stay with all of your mates, it might be more affordable to stay in your own castle. Wyatt Castle in Dorset dates back to 1797, and is now open to the public to stay the night. 6 6 6 According to luxury rental company it will set you back £8,940 a night. But if you manage to find 19 mates to join you, this means it will cost just £149 each a night - less than the average £158 a night in London. The castle -turned-home rental has nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms so you won't be fighting for space. Towels, robes and toiletries are all included so these can be left at home. Most of the rooms have amazing sea views or garden views as well. Guests will be greeted by a huge reception hall, as well as a library, study and drawing room. When the weather improves, there is even a huge sun terrace with sun loungers and a BBQ. As well as its beautiful landscaped outdoor area, there is even an Italian and Japanese tropical gardens. Its from here that there is a hidden path all the way down to a private beach, which goes past a 13th century church. While there is a huge dining space for 60 people, there are some nearby pubs if you fancy eating out including nearest The Cove House Inn. The pretty pink UK castle that is loved by Disney and Britney Spears Want to splash out? You can hire your own private chef at additional cost, or have an on-site massage. For example, private three-course dinner parties cost £75 each, or there is a food "drop off" service for dinner and breakfast with a range of options. The large indoor swimming pool is private for guests but not in the summer. While the hotel doesn't allow stag or hen dos, it does cater to kids with cots and high chairs. 6 6 The nearest train station is Weymouth which is a 25 minute drive. One person said staying at the castle "makes you feel like royalty". There is space for 20 cars, but to arrive in style it has its own helipad. If you want to explore the rest of the coastline, Durdle Door has been compared to both Portugal and California. Here's another fairytale castle that is open to overnight stays, and thought to be the only Tudor castle that is a hotel in the UK. The Sun's Head of Travel Caroline McGuire stayed at Leeds Castle's new lakeside lodges. We've rounded up seven others castles in the UK you can book for less than £90 a night. 6
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Inside incredible panic room hidden behind two bookcases in £3.8 million Scottish castle as it goes on the market
An incredible 19th century castle is on the market for £3.8million - and, alongside an equestrian centre, tennis court and full Scottish pub, comes complete with an ultra-secure 'panic room'. Ormiston Castle in West Lothian is a mere half an hour drive from Edinburgh, making it the perfect location for a luxury commute into the city. Set in 15 acres of prime countryside, the newly renovated six-bedroom property offers the potential buyer the chance to purchase their 'very own Balmoral Castle '. The castle is shown on tonight's episode of Britain's Most Expensive Houses on Channel 4, where viewers are given an inside look at the country's 'super-prime' property market, which is 'the envy of the entire world'. During the episode, real estate guru Mark Coulter gave journalist Kirsty McLuckie and her friend Pam an exclusive look inside the castle. But after gushing over the glamorous renovations and period features, there was one bizarre room that left Kirsty and Pam baffled. During the tour, Mark explained that one of the many bookcases was in fact a cunningly disguised heavy duty door, revealing a secret staircase, which led to another military-grade door. Taking Kirsty and Pam up the stairs, he revealed that the castle has a secret safe haven - or 'panic room' - if ever any trouble arose. 'This is a panic room,' Mark explained. 'This looks like a bookcase, but actually is a door. 'Behind you is an iPad, and you're completely secure. You can phone the police, and control the whole house.' A panic room is a secret room where people can go to protect themselves if there's danger in the building. They are sometimes used by celebrities, or those who require an extra layer of security. However, the two visitors were left baffled and didn't seem completely onboard. Kirsty admitted: 'I was slightly confused by the stairs and the sort of panic room. It's kind of panic stairs, rather than a panic room.' She joked: 'I think I prefer the idea of escaping from boring guests, rather than masked intruders!' They were significantly more impressed when they were taken into the home's 'principle suite' taking up a whole wing of the house and including a living room, dressing room and marble bathroom. For after dinner entertainment, the property also boasts its own bar and cinema room, which an astonished Kirsty dubbed 'bonkers'. No details had been spared, with the 15 acres of grounds recently benefitting from £150,000 worth of new planting and high-spec security cameras. In their rooms, Kirsty and Pam were able to open their wardrobes to see the castle's turrets. The next morning, they spoke to current owner Juliet Bentley, who had purchased the property back in 2020 for £1.65million. She explained that though she'd given herself a £350,000 budget for renovations, she had ended up spending a whopping £3.7million. But, she explained, it was exactly the result she wanted, even installing glass chandeliers from Venice's Murano costing £100,000 apiece. She previously told The Times: 'I'm making no money out of it. I literally spent £3.7million renovating it. But it's mega inside. 'It's like a brand new house but with all original features, and it operates really smart. 'My bills are actually less than my friend's house down the road because we made it so energy efficient.' The property was previously listed in November 2023, and came on the market once more in April 2025. Last week, viewers were taken inside a London penthouse dubbed one of Britain's most expensive properties, on sale for eye-watering £80million. The five-bedroom apartment is nestled in the heart of Knightsbridge, often described as 'the playground for the rich', and is a stone's throw away from the luxurious department store, Harrods. The almost 9,500 sq foot property boasts a sauna with a television, two reception rooms, a roof terrace with undisrupted views of Hyde Park and a 10m pool. Estate agent Josh Marks has been involved in selling multi-million pound properties before, but to date, this is the highest priced property in his work portfolio - and he has six months to find a buyer. Speaking on the show, Josh said: 'Everyone around the world wants to own a piece of London and the first postcode they come to is Knightsbridge. You've got some of the most expensive properties in the world.' The complex, called Knightsbridge Apartments, was built 20 years ago by Hong Kong billionaire Samuel Tak Lee who saw the value in London real estate. But despite all these elegant features and the hefty price, an international buying agent admitted that it is likely this will sit empty most of the time, as a billionaire's second home.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Gorgeous mansion that looks like a castle hit the market for $4,999,000 and has the ultimate entertainment den
A stone-clad mansion in Illinois built to evoke the grandeur of a medieval castle is back on the market, complete with turrets, vaulted ceilings and a basement level entertainment wing fit for a king. Located in the opulent Oak Brook neighborhood, the 12,000-square-foot castle-like home was originally listed in 2010 but no buyer snapped it up. Now, relisted at $4,999,000, the five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half bath residence is making another bid to capture a royal buyer. From the outside, the sprawling mansion is a spectacle. Built in 2009, the home's architectural style draws heavily from European Gothic influences set with one-of-a-kind limestone accents, conical turret roofs, wrought iron balconies and arched windows and doorways. The sprawling home sits on just under an acre of land in the wealthy Illinois suburb, nestled roughly 20 miles from downtown Chicago. But, the mansion's castle motif doesn't stop at the front door, inside, the house boasts ornate woodwork, stone columns, grand twin staircases and oversized chandeliers hanging from soaring ceilings. The Oak Brook home's central foyer is 'crowned' by a domed ceiling and sweeping double staircase - a fitting entryway to the castle-like mansion's unique interior. The main level also includes a formal living room and dining room. The mansion's extravagant kitchen is built for both daily use and lavish entertaining, outfitted with a sprawling island, commercial-grade appliances and custommade cabinetry. Adjacent to the luxury kitchen sits a quaint breakfast nook, adding to the home's storybook feel. Upstairs, the primary suite includes a large sitting room with a fireplace, a breath-taking marble-lined bathroom fit with a soaking tub and a walk-in closet 'fit for a king.' As for the other four bedrooms, each is equipped with its own en-suite bathrooms and generous walk-in closet space. But, its the home's lower level that truly sets it apart from the high-priced neigborhood's most luxurious estates. The beautiful basement spans more than 4,000-square-feet and includes 56-by-30 foot recreation room that functions as a full-blown entertainment complex. Inside, the house boasts ornate woodwork and curved stone columns The jaw-dropping recreation space is outfitted with a full wet-bar, a stage-style seating area for a home theater, multiple lounging spaces and access to a temperature-controlled wine cellar. There is also a fully equipped gym as well as direct elevator access to the upper floors. Meanwhile, outside, a stone terrace overlooks the pristinely-kept backyard which features a built-in grill station, stunning pool and a hot tub, for an unparalleled mix of medieval ambiance and modern conveience. The home, situated in the highly-acclaimed Hinsdale Central School District, also includes a heated four-car garage. According to public records, property taxes on the castle-like mansion top out around $50,000 annually. Down roughly $700,000 from the $5.7 million listing in 2010, the home remains on the market with the seller, Paul Iwanski, president of Iwanski Masonry - a development company specializing in education and public buildings such as fire stations - said he 'can wait' as he doesn't expect the home to sell anytime soon. Meanwhile, outside, a stone terrace overlooks the pristinely-kept backyard which features a built-in grill station, stunning pool and a hot tub Iwanski told that he envisioned using the castle as a bed and breakfast until it was sold. Homes in the affluent Oak Brook neighborhood often attract deep-pocketed buyers, according to the Chicago-based outlet, which complimented the area's abundant space and privacy while still being within commuting distance of the major metropolitan. 'Nestled in the vibrant heart of Oak Brook, this property is perfect for buyers seeking to personalize their unique residence,' a Redfin listing reads. 'This extraordinary castle promises a refined lifestyle for those who truly appreciate exceptional homes.'
