Top royal residences to visit in the UK - updated Dec 2026
10 June 2016|5 minute read
Current Environment: Staging
10 June 2016|5 minute read
Few things capture the imagination like a royal residence. Since King Charles III came to the throne in 2022, the royal calendar has moved on, but the palaces and castles that make up the monarchy's homes remain some of the most rewarding places to visit in the UK.
The King celebrates his birthday on 14 November, and like monarchs before him he also has an "official" birthday, marked in June with Trooping the Colour. It's a tradition that dates back to 1748 and George II, who was born in November and felt the weather was far too cold for a birthday parade. Some things never change: the British weather is still deciding royal plans.
If you'd like to see where the monarchy lives, works and holidays, here is our updated guide to the royal residences you can visit, with a few tips on when to go.
Buckingham Palace is the monarch's official London residence and a working palace, used for State ceremonies and official entertaining. The King's private London home is Clarence House nearby.
The 19 State Rooms open to the public for only a few weeks each summer. In 2026 the Summer Opening ran from 9 July to 27 September, and tickets are best booked well in advance. Dates for next summer are announced through the Royal Collection Trust, so check before you plan a trip. For a royal day out outside the summer window, the Royal Mews is open through spring and summer (5 March to 1 November in 2026) and is home to the Gold State Coach, used at the 2023 coronation.
Where to stay? Chelsea - Draycott Place Apartments
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and an official residence of the King. More than 1,000 years of history and 40 monarchs have shaped it, and visitors can explore the State Apartments and St George's Chapel, where Henry VIII and Charles I are buried.
The castle is open Monday and Thursday to Sunday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). From March to October the hours are 10am to 5.15pm, with last admission at 4pm; from November to February it closes at 4.15pm, with last admission at 3pm. It will be closed from 24 to 26 December 2026. As a working royal palace, it can close at short notice for State occasions, so check before you travel.
Where to stay? Nearby Staines has direct trainlinks to Windsor - Staines City Centre Apartments
The official residence of the monarch in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse sits at the end of the Royal Mile, with Arthur's Seat as its backdrop. Highlights include the historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Great Gallery and the ruins of the 12th-century Holyrood Abbey. Next door, The King's Gallery hosts changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
In 2026 the Palace was open daily from 21 May to 7 September and Thursday to Monday for the rest of the year, with shorter hours from November. It also closes for official use, including from 26 June to 3 July and on 25 and 26 December 2026, so it's worth checking dates before you book.
Where to stay? The Spires Edinburgh
Balmoral is the private estate of the King, inherited from Queen Elizabeth II, and the traditional summer retreat of the royal family. Its remote Aberdeenshire setting gives the family welcome privacy, but the estate opens to visitors for set seasons each year. In 2026 the grounds were open from late March to 9 August, with a shorter window earlier in the year, and guided castle tours were available at an extra cost.
Where to stay? Nearby Aberdeen gives easy acces to the highlands - The Spires Aberdeen
Sandringham is the private country retreat of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the Norfolk coast, and it is best known as the place where the royal family spends Christmas, a tradition since 1988. If you're in the area around 25 December, the family traditionally walks to Christmas Day service at the nearby church of St Mary Magdalene, and well-wishers gather along the route.
The house and gardens are open seasonally, from spring to autumn, while the royal parkland is open year-round. Check the estate's website for this year's dates before you go, as closures for events do happen.
Where to stay? Cambridge Church Street Apartments or Vesta Apartments in Cambridge, a good base for exploring East Anglia
Whether you want to see the State Rooms, wander palace gardens or just soak up the history, we almost certainly know the perfect apartment to make your royal trip feel like home.
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