Pining for a palace? These castles for sale should satisfy your coronation fever

Guide price: £4,500,000

If you’re searching for a five-bedroom rural royal palace with three reception rooms, more than an acre of land and a wealth of original features, then head to Stowe Castle. Rather aptly, it’s located near Buckingham – although we’re talking the town close to Milton Keynes, rather than Buckingham Palace.

On the market with Knight Frank and featuring 60ft (18.2m) castellated walls with open countryside beyond, the property also boasts paddocks, a helipad and en-suites galore. And if that’s not enough, there’s potential to extend into the attic.

Decorated throughout with references to castles and their royal associations, touches such as tartan fabrics, canopy beds and antlers combine to create a residence fit for a king or queen.

But if all this traditional opulence leaves you yearning for a touch of the contemporary, a spacious barn at the front of the property has been converted into further accommodation. More modern in design, the barn has two reception rooms, a pool room, kitchen, WC and bedroom with en-suite shower room.

In addition to acting as a personal bolthole or extra guest accommodation, it would make the perfect Airbnb space to generate some additional income – even when you’re in residence.

Offers over: £3,000,000

Famous for being Queen Elizabeth II’s summer residence, Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, has long been associated with royalty. But it’s not the only castle in the area. In fact, it’s claimed that there have been as many as 3,000 in Scotland, although the number standing today is far less. One that does remain is Brechin Castle, currently being sold through Savills.

Sited on land that extends to 70 acres in total, the castle has eight reception rooms, 16 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and an additional five estate cottages.

According to the agent, “Brechin Castle stands proud on a massive bluff of rocks above the banks of the River South Esk… on the site of a much older fortress belonging to the Scottish Kings”. With some parts dating back to the 13^th century, the historical value of this property should not be underestimated.

The agent also notes that “despite its size, the castle lends itself well to being both a family home and hosting large gatherings in grand style”.

If jaw-dropping entrances are your thing, Brechin offers two, one featuring original panelled walls, statuesque columns and a ceiling that is believed to date back to 1797. A sweeping staircase with an ornate ironwork balustrade installed in 1659 takes you to the principal reception rooms and onwards to some of the spacious bedrooms.

Historical décor and intricate craftsmanship abound throughout the residence, with the drawing room a stunning example. The agent’s particulars state that the 14^th Countess of Dalhousie was responsible for commissioning the work, which includes a detailed wooden fire surround displaying the crests of the two families associated with the castle – the Maules and the Ramsays.

If your royal affiliations include a love of gardening like King Charles, you’ll find ample opportunity to apply your green fingers, with the castle’s greenhouses and walled garden.

Located in Angus, on the east coast of Scotland, the county neighbours the more well-known Perthshire. Accessible by road, rail and air, Brechin Castle is close to local amenities and lies between Dundee and Aberdeen.

If you’re on the hunt for an historical home and have a cool £3 million to spare, you’ll struggle to find one more steeped in Scottish history than Brechin Castle.

Guide price: £827,100 (subject to exchange rates)

For less than a million, you could extend your search for a castle to France, where you can purchase a property that not only guarantees grandeur, but also sunshine. It’s a far cry from the cold and draughty castles we remember visiting as children.

The stunning Castle Verdun-sur-Garonne is available for sale through Le Figaro Properties and could be the home of your dreams if you are considering relocating overseas or are perhaps on the hunt for an idyllic holiday home.

With five bedrooms, a three-bedroom guest cottage and within walking distance of the local village, this stylish property is in an elevated position just 30 minutes from Toulouse Airport – making it easily accessible all year round.

The spacious bedrooms feature beautiful wallpapers in pastel shades, and ornate fixtures and fittings, plus there are four bathrooms. This means the chateau would also be suitable for a commercial venture, such as a boutique hotel or luxury holiday rental – as long as you don’t mind sharing your chattels with others.

With over 440sq m (4,700sq ft) of accommodation and 9,000sq m (2.2 acres) of land, there’s enough room to install a swimming pool, the agent says. And we can’t say we blame them for suggesting the idea. With terraces and garden views like this, who wouldn’t happily while away the time here?

Whether breakfasting like a king on freshly baked croissants and coffee, or sipping a royal-inspired English Garden Martini, this French chateau ticks all the castle requirements for the Exceptional homes team.

Guide price: POA

Nestled amongst 14 acres of grounds and surrounded by its own nature reserve is Castle Eden, a 35-room palatial residence with 11 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and its own dungeon –  which now house additional rooms rather than prison cells. Although they could be a good place to banish troublesome guests…

On the market with Nest Seekers International, you’re greeted by a full-length orangery at the entrance – the perfect conservatory design for such an ornate home. The show-stopping first impression continues into the main entrance hall, with a sweeping staircase, an impressive cupola dome that floods the first-floor space with light, and golden décor adding a sense of wealth and luxury.

If you’re worried that the plumbing in a castle maybe a little, erm, ‘historic’, you can put your concerns aside. The bathrooms at Castle Eden have received a sympathetic makeover with modern shower cubicles and luxurious roll-top baths. And while the property may not come with a butler or lady-in-waiting, one of the lavish first-floor bedrooms does include a dressing area.

Of course, we couldn’t end our tour of Castle Eden without returning to the dungeon. Spanning the entire footprint of the property, it has been restored and repurposed into several different rooms with portcullis-style doors and exposed brickwork reminding you of its original use.

Guide price: £1,850,000

Fans of Grand Designs may recognise the Grade II-listed Kemeys Folly from the 10th series of the programme.

Located near Newport in South Wales, although it’s not officially a castle, the castellated tower is very much royal in style, and it’s about to be relisted for sale with Fine & Country.

Restored in 2009 with the addition of a contemporary glass and rendered extension, the property includes the original folly tower, which is home to a master bedroom with ensuite and dressing area, two additional en-suite guest bedrooms on the top floor, and a cinema and library on the ground floor.

The folly was built in the 17^th century as a hunting lodge by George Kemeys, and the library includes an original ornate hunting frieze and decorated ceiling that formed part of the restoration work.

The extension houses a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a smaller reception room, rear entrance lobby with utility room and two further bedrooms with en-suites.

Once outside, you truly understand why someone decided to build here. There are stunning views in every direction.

In sight of seven counties, views from the front of the property and folly bedrooms sweep across the Bristol Channel, while to the rear, a tiled patio provides space to sit and soak up the surrounding countryside of plunging valleys and mountain ranges.

Horse riders will benefit from the property’s stables, paddocks and a menage, while keen walkers can ramble through the 23 acres of protected woodland that fall within the curtilage. An outbuilding is also ripe for conversion into a luxurious pool, sauna and games room.

If you need to commute, then the M4 is just 10 minutes away. It’s a castle-like country residence with city proximity.