Mike Yardley is in the UK and share his tips on a Royal residence open to the public to slumber in.

The world’s eyes have been fixed on Britain as we farewelled Queen Elizabeth II. The British Monarchy looks destined to remain an enormous catalyst for UK-bound tourism and Visit Britain is projecting a surge in royal-inspired travel. Dripping with royal trappings and a wealth of history, there’s a surprising amount of regal accommodations experiences to be found in the United Kingdom. Best of all, they don’t have to break the bank.

Plenty of hotels pledge to treat you like royalty with their five-star frills. But the fact remains that not even the fanciest of facials or triple digit cotton thread count can match the prospect of bedding down in a real-deal royal residence, like the grand grounds of Balmoral, where Queen Elizabeth II saw out her final days. So not why just go stay there instead? Whether you’re a royalist or a history hound, here’s a handful of royal residences that any commoner can book a stay in. It’s kind of like the royal version of Bookabach.

High up in Sutherland, Scotland, the most northerly castle on the British mainland is the 16th-century Castle of Mey. This old pile’s blood-stained history was given a new lease on life when the Queen Mother bought the castle after the death of her husband, King George VI. After a tip to toe restoration to the building and its expansive 12-hectare of grounds, which took her fifty years to complete, she spent several weeks here every August and October until her death. The castle became the first royal residence opened up to paying guests, who can now stay at the Captain's House cottage, which was the late Queen Mother's favourite spot for an indoor picnic. As you do. It can sleep six people and includes a 20-foot conservatory which overlooks an enclosed garden and offers sweeping sea views. In 2019, the then Prince Charles opened the Granary Lodge for guests, as well. www.castleofmey.org.uk

Henry VIII may well have been the Hugh Hefner of the Tudor period, with Hampton Court Palace being the 16th century equivalent of the Playboy Mansion. A pleasure palace that set the stage for seriously debauched parties. Situated on the banks of the Thames just south-west of London, the infamous king's pad which also boasts pleasure gardens, a tennis court and even a bowling alley, is available for stays. Get your own taste of royal grandeur by renting the on-site 18th century Georgian House, which comes complete with private walled garden and is on the alley leading to Henry VIII’s Real Tennis Court. The Georgian House sleeps up to eight and will cost you around NZ$500 a night. www.landmarktrust.org.uk

Just off the mainland, the Isle of Wight makes for a magnificent island escape. It’s also home to Osbourne House which was beloved by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a family holiday home. The formal entrance to Osborne House, Sovereign's Gate, has welcomed an A to Z of European aristocracy, from Napoleon and Tsar Nicholas II. It was also where Victoria made her final departure in 1901, passing away in her favourite seaside retreat. You can tour the bedroom where she died. Nowadays, the grand entrance has been turned into one of two holiday cottages, housed within this landmark building. www.english-heritage.org.uk

Synonymous with Christmas royal-style, Sandringham in Norfolk was purchased by Queen Victoria as a marital home for her son, Edward VII. Sandringham remains a firm favourite with the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II spent her first Christmas in the property as an eight-month-old, and since then the entire Windsor tribe converge on their Norfolk bolthole every December. But when the Monarch isn't in residence, cottages that house the travelling staff on the 8000-hectare estate, are available to let. So if that invitation to Christmas lunch never seems to arrive in the mail, this is the next best thing. What was formerly the head gardener’s house is available to rent year-round. Called the Garden House, it overlooks the ornamental garden that adjoins the main building. www.norfolkhideaways.co.uk

The grandest of them all? Balmoral Castle. The royal family's hideaway in the Scottish Highlands was one of the Queen's favourite residences. Flanked by more than 20,000 hectares of forests, lochs and glens; it is the summer holiday haven for the Royal Family. Like the cottages in Sandringham, they serve as staff quarters when the Monarch comes to stay. Just prior to her death, The Queen decided to allow all eight cottages to be made available to the public for holiday bookings, after being shut for so long during the pandemic. Colt Cottages are situated in close proximity to the Castle, near the Estates Office and Stables. Bookings run on a Saturday to Saturday basis and can sleep up to five people. It’s available for let between January 7 and March 31, while Rhebreck Cottage is available year-round, aside from when the Royal Family is in residence. The weekly tariff starts from NZ$1000 a week. www.balmoralcastle.com

Finally, when it comes to being "neighbours'' with The Firm, London's The Rubens at the Palace enjoys that unique distinction. Overlooking the rear of Buckingham Palace, the century-old hotel has long been the glorified accommodation wing for palace guests. From the windows you can watch the guardsmen in the Royal Mews, see the rollers being cleaned and the Monarch’s horses in their stables. The aptly named Palace Lounge stages one of London’s most beloved afternoon teas, brimming with royalty-associated fare. From coronation chicken sandwiches (purposefully conceived for the coronation lunch of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, to the Queen's beloved "jam pennies" and bite-sized portions of William and Harry's favourite chocolate sweet treat – every bite comes with a story.

Mike Yardley is our Travel Correspondent on Jack Tame Saturday Morning.

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