Hire your own private stately home

Bradley House was the historic home of the Seymours after they moved from Wolf Hall

Who hasn’t dreamed of living in a castle or a stately home? Each year, thousands of British homes are listed  on Airbnb, making it affordable to live out your historic home fantasy

The other Wolf Hall

Bradley House, the seat of the Dukes of Somerset, was the home of Jane Seymour’s family after they moved from Wolf Hall (their former house, also in Wiltshire) in the mid-1500s. The land in Wiltshire was given to the family by King Henry VIII in 1547 to honour his third wife and the mother of his male heir, King Edward VI. The three ensuite double bedrooms can be booked together or individually for as little as £150 per room per night.

stately home in Wilts 4
Bradley House in Wiltshire

Another Eden

Another spectacular property on Airbnb’s roster is the stunning stately home Lazonby Hall, which stands in an imposing position with spectacular views over the Eden Valley close to the Lake District and Hadrian’s wall. The perfect property for house parties, the entire house is available to rent for a minimum of four nights at £800 a night. 

Lazonby Hall in the Lake District
Lazonby Hall in the Lake District

To the Manor born

For just £70 a night you can also stay in Manor House in Harston, Cambridgeshire, which dates back to the 16th century and boasts beautiful views over 15 acres of grounds and the River Rhee (or Cam). A light-filled orangery is available for use in spring and summer where you can eat and relax in the sun. There is also an elegant sitting room, with a fireplace and a piano, for times when the sun is not out.

Manor House
Manor House in Harston dates back to the 16th century. Credit: www.robholding.co.uk

Craster Tower

Craster Tower in Alnwick, Northumberland, a superbly preserved country house dating from the 15th century, was built around a 14th-century Pele Tower and has been in the same family for over 800 years. Recently refurbished to the highest standard, the Airbnb apartment occupies the entire top floor and provides elegantly decorated and furnished accommodation, with beautiful views on all sides. From £257 per night for a minimum of three nights.

Craster Tower
Craster Tower in Alnwick, Northumberland, was built around a 14th-century Pele Tower

Butley Priory

Originally a 14th-century monastery, set in eight acres of private parkland in the Suffolk countryside, Butley Priory is available for whole-house lets from £600 a night. Surrounded by forest walks and marshlands, and only a few miles from the nearest beach, the property stands between the coastal town of Aldeburgh and the popular town of Woodbridge. The area boasts a number of cosy pubs, seafood restaurants, castles to visit, wild windswept beaches and antique shops. 

Butley Priory
Butley Priory in Suffolk was originally a 14th-century monastery