While Buckingham Palace is seen as the traditional home of the British monarchy, it's been reported that King Charles III doesn't actually spend very much of his time living there.
Instead, he chooses to split his time between a number of his other homes. And there are some interesting additions to his property portfolio – including some that you can stay in yourself.
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Buckingham Palace, London, England
If there was such a thing as the king of royal residences then Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837, surely takes the crown. Vast, imposing and iconic, it is synonymous with Royal celebrations in the capital and a major draw for the thousands of tourists who make the journey down The Mall to take a tour or watch the Changing of the Guard.
Originally built as Buckingham House in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, it was then acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte. The palace was later expanded by John Nash and Edward Blore, transforming it into the grand palace we see today.
With 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, Buckingham Palace is a working property. It hosts state banquets, receptions and investitures, and serves as the venue for weekly audiences with the Prime Minister. The balcony, famous for royal appearances, has provided the backdrop for jubilees, weddings and national celebrations.
The gardens, spanning 39 acres, are the largest private gardens in London, with over 1,000 trees, including 98 plane trees and 85 species of oak. Stand out features include its herbaceous border, wildflower meadow and rose garden.
The palace’s State Rooms are open to visitors each summer and on selected dates in winter and spring.
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Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England
The grand old dame of the Royal Collection, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, steeped in 1,000 years of royal history. It is also the most visited residence in the royal estate, attracting around 1.5 million visitors (almost three times as many as Buckingham Palace) annually.
Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has been home to 40 monarchs since, with countless historic decisions made within its walls. The castle’s grand architecture, with its three wards and iconic Round Tower, reflects centuries of royal expansion and refinement.
The State Apartments, which were extravagantly remodelled by George IV, feature lavish furnishings and priceless artworks. The castle’s iconic Round Tower is home to the Royal Archives – a collection of 12 million documents relating to the history of the British Monarchy over 300 years.
One of Windsor’s most significant landmarks is St George’s Chapel, a masterpiece of Perpendicular Gothic architecture. It has hosted royal weddings, including those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and is the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and other monarchs.
The castle estate includes Windsor Great Park, where visitors can explore ancient woodlands, photograph its herds of deer and follow scenic trails. The Long Walk, a tree-lined avenue, provides spectacular views of the castle.
Windsor Castle is open to visitors all year-round.
Highgrove House, Gloucestershire, England
King Charles III’s Cotswolds retreat has been a much-loved family home ever since it was purchased by the Duchy of Cornwall in 1980 from Maurice Macmillan, son of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Charles then oversaw a major restoration of the property in 1987, adding neo-classical elements to the original 18th Century Georgian house. Highgrove was also where he chose to live with Camilla when he was the Prince of Wales.
Today, it is best known for its spectacular gardens, which were transformed from neglected farmland into a biodiversity haven. Designed with input from visionary gardeners Rosemary Verey and Miriam Rothschild, the gardens encompass wildflower meadows, heritage orchards and a variety of specimen trees – many of which Charles was gifted. The Stumpery, a woodland garden, features ferns and sculpted tree roots, while the Thyme Walk is home to 20 varieties of thyme, interspersed with golden marjoram and primroses.
Surrounded by beautiful rolling Cotswolds countryside, it’s easy to see why the King has chosen to spend so much time here, shaping the interlinked gardens to, in his own words, “please the eye and sit in harmony with nature.” The estate is also home to Duchy Home Farm, which operates under organic farming principles, reflecting the King’s commitment to sustainability.
The gardens are open for guided tours from April to October and welcome over 30,000 visitors annually.
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Balmoral estate, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
With its sweeping views of the wild Scottish Highlands, it’s hardly surprising Balmoral has been a favourite of generations of the Royal Family. The castle first came under royal ownership in 1852, when Prince Albert purchased the estate for Queen Victoria. The original house was deemed too small, leading to the construction of the current castle, completed in 1856 by William Smith. Designed in the Scottish Baronial style, Balmoral remains a private royal residence, distinct from the Crown Estate.
Spanning over 50,000 acres, the Balmoral estate encompasses forests, farmland and grouse moors, and is home to an array of endemic wildlife, including red deer, red squirrels and golden eagles. The formal gardens, originally designed by Prince Albert and shaped by successive members of the Royal Family, feature seasonal floral displays and ornate fountains. Also within the grounds of the estate is King Charles III’s personal, much-loved retreat, Birkhall.
Balmoral has long been a summer sanctuary for the royal family, with Queen Elizabeth II spending her final days here in 2022. King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue the tradition of seasonal stays, ensuring the estate remains central to royal life.
The gardens and exhibitions are open to visitors from April to August, with tours of the castle introduced in 2024.
Sandringham House, Norfolk, England
In a prime spot in the Norfolk Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sandringham House has served as the private retreat of five generations of British monarchs since 1862.
Originally built in 1771, the estate was purchased by Queen Victoria for her son, Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII), who extensively rebuilt the house between 1870 and 1892 in Jacobethan style, with designs by A.J. Humbert and Robert William Edis. King George V was so smitten with the place, he once wrote, “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world.”
Spanning 20,000 acres, Sandringham is a working estate, incorporating farmland, woodlands and a sawmill. The 60-acre formal gardens, originally designed by Edward VII and then shaped by successive monarchs, feature topiary, seasonal floral displays and ornamental lakes, while the Royal Parkland offers waymarked trails and picnic spots.
Sandringham has long been associated with royal Christmas traditions, with Queen Elizabeth II spending her final Christmas here in 2021. King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue to use the estate as a country retreat, maintaining its historic significance.
The house and gardens are open to visitors from April to October, with guided tours of the ground-floor rooms.
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
Standing at the foot of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Originally founded as an Augustinian monastery in 1128 by King David I, the site was transformed into a royal palace in the 16th century, becoming the preferred residence of Scottish kings and queens.
Holyroodhouse is steeped in Scottish history, most notably as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her private apartments, still open to visitors, were the setting for the dramatic murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, by her husband, Lord Darnley, in 1566. The palace also hosted Bonnie Prince Charlie, who held court here during the Jacobite uprising of 1745.
The palace was rebuilt in the 1670s under Sir William Bruce, creating the symmetrical façade and classical quadrangle seen today. The State Apartments, used for official engagements, feature ornate interiors, lavish tapestries and historic portraits. Other highlights include the Great Gallery, with 110 paintings of Scottish monarchs.
The gardens, set against the dramatic backdrop of Arthur’s Seat (one of the UK's long extinct volcanoes), offer uninterrupted views towards Holyrood Park. Highlights include the Jubilee Border, created for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, and a sundial made for Charles I’s Scottish coronation in 1633. King Charles III spends a week in residence every summer, hosting Holyrood Week, celebrating Scottish culture and achievements.
The palace is open year-round. It is largely accessible, with some restrictions in Mary, Queen of Scots' rooms.
Clarence House, London, England
Standing beside St James’s Palace on The Mall in London, Clarence House has been a royal residence for nearly 200 years. It was the home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 until her death in 2002 and briefly housed Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip following their marriage in 1947. It is now the official London home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Built between 1825 and 1827, it was designed by John Nash, the architect behind Buckingham Palace and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Originally commissioned for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence, who later became King William IV, the house was intended as a more modern and comfortable alternative to the Tudor-era St James’s Palace.
Since then, Clarence House has undergone several renovations, particularly after World War II, when it was damaged during the Blitz. Following the Queen Mother’s death, Prince Charles carried out an extensive programme of restoration to modernise the house, while respecting the style and taste of his grandmother. He also redesigned the garden in her memory.
Today, the arrangement of the rooms and their contents remain much as they were during the Queen Mother's time, with collections of art, English porcelain and silver collections on display. The Morning Room, a favourite of the Queen Mother, also remains largely unchanged, preserving its historic charm.
Clarence House is open to visitors for one month every summer, usually in August, with guided tours of the principal rooms.
Hillsborough Castle, County Down, Northern Ireland
This grand Georgian house, just 20 minutes outside Belfast, is Northern Ireland’s only royal residence. Built in the 18th century for wealthy landowners, the Hill family, it later became the home of the Governor of Northern Ireland. Today, it serves as the official home of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and visiting members of the Royal Family.
Despite its name, Hillsborough Castle is not a true castle but rather a grand house, with elegant State Rooms that have hosted royal engagements and diplomatic talks. These included key meetings between the British and Irish governments and the political parties of Northern Ireland in April 1998 that led to the Good Friday Agreement, designed to end the conflict known as ‘the Troubles’. Former Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland who lived here included Marjorie 'Mo' Mowlam, who loved Hillsborough so much her family scattered some of her ashes in the grounds following her death in 2005.
Visitors can explore the castle on guided tours that run from April to September, while its tranquil 100-acre grounds, featuring ornate formal gardens, peaceful woodlands and picturesque glens, are open year-round. Highlights of a guided tour include the opulent Throne Room, where Queen Elizabeth II hosted a ball to celebrate her 1953 coronation, and the Red Room, with works of art by Antony van Dyck, Sir Joshua Reynolds and William Hogarth.
Llwynywermod, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Perhaps one the least well-known and certainly the least majestic of the royal residences on our list, Llwynywermod is a 192-acre estate in rural Carmarthenshire, which was purchased by the Duchy Estate in 2007 for King Charles III when he was the Prince of Wales. It was also the first home he and Camilla bought together.
The estate was originally a model farm, and its restoration was overseen by Charles, who ensured traditional Welsh craftsmanship and sustainable building techniques were used throughout. The original three-bedroom farmhouse was converted into a residence by Craig Hamilton Architects, incorporating locally sourced materials, reclaimed wood and lime plaster, while a wood-chip boiler provides the heating and hot water for the entire estate.
The interiors, designed by Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, reflect a rustic yet elegant aesthetic, blending oak beams, slate floors and handcrafted furnishings. The estate also features two adjoining cottages, which were once available as holiday rentals.
Following King Charles III’s accession to the throne, Llwynywermod was inherited by Prince William, as part of the Duchy of Cornwall, effectively positioning him as his father’s landlord. However, in 2023, it was reported the King would not be renewing his lease for the property with the Duchy, as he was unlikely to use it in the same way.
Llwynywermod is not currently open to the public, but visitors can explore the nearby village of Myddfai, accessible from Llandovery railway station andknown for its heritage crafts and scenic walking trails.
Restormel Manor, Cornwall, England
Part of the Duchy of Cornwall portfolio, King Charles III and Camilla used to stay at the 16th century Restormel Manor when visiting the county for official duties. Prince William and Kate Middleton have stayed at the manor, as well as the Middleton family.
Now, the manor house (as well as other wings and buildings on the estate) can be rented as holiday cottages as part of the Duchy Estate. Restormel means 'king's tower hill' in Cornish and the grounds were once the hub of activity for the first Duke of Cornwall.
Zalán Guesthouse, Transylvania, Romania
Among the rolling forest hills of the Zalán Valley, you'll find an idyllic Romanian guesthouse near the village of Viscri. But this unassuming guesthouse is actually owned by King Charles III – after buying one of the cottages in 2006, he bought the remaining properties in 2010. Let's hope he packed his passport for the trip... or not, as the case might be.
Don't expect TV or WiFi, but you can enjoy walks through beautiful meadows, horse riding and wildlife encounters (including bears, apparently).
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