Living in a home steeped in heritage and history is a little bit special.
And castle homes come with secrets you wouldn't find anywhere else. Like smugglers' tunnels, secret cupboards and bedrooms in rounded towers.
We've found some fabulous castles for sale on the market today.
Fancy living in professional golfer Nick Faldo's old keep? Or a palace designed for the Earl and Countess of Sussex? How about a stronghold kept under seige by famous smugglers?
Let's take a look.
1. Two-bed detached castle for sale, near Bewdley, Worcestershire, £425,000
This beautiful home offers a rare chance to buy a little slice of history.
Built in 1842, it’s not quite a castle but a folly tower, designed to be a landmark ornament within the estate of a landowning member of the gentry.
Today, it has been stylishly renovated to provide a chic home spread over two floors, with its own private terrace and balcony.
The decor is bang on trend with exposed bricks, beautiful stonework and black pewter sockets, all finessed with solid oak doors to compliment the white brick walls.
It’s a home you’d be proud to show off to your pals.
Available from: Hayden Estates
2. Two-bed castle apartment for sale in Wales, Abertawe, Swansea, £495,000
Originally built in 1791, Clyne Castle isn’t just a stunning home, it also has the best views.
Set in an outstandingly picturesque location, it’s built on the hills of Blackpill, an area of The Mumbles nestled along the coastal areas of Swansea Bay.
Today, the castle has been converted into 17 apartments - and you don’t get fabulous windows like these in every home.
Flooded with natural light, with beautiful bays and dual aspects, this immaculate home boasts spacious rooms and both double bedrooms are ensuite.
Available from: John Francis - Mumbles
3. Two-bed castle for sale in England, Broadstairs, Kent, £500,000
This fabulous duplex apartment was once owned by professional golfer Nick Faldo.
Set in the Grade II listed Kingsgate Castle, it has all the views, perched high on the clifftop overlooking Kingsgate and Joss Bays.
And this is a home that comes with secrets.
See if you can spot the concealed cupboard in the wooden panelling in the hallway... Or the smugglers tunnel within the grounds.
(Turns out that in the Georgian era, this was a very popular area for such clandestine activities.)
We're loving the lush oak pannelling in the lounge and kitchen/diner - and the beautiful round bedrooms in the towers.
The new owners will also enjoy vast communal and beautifully manicured lawns, perfect for a regal stroll after supper.
Available from: Fine & Country - Canterbury
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4. Two-bed castle apartment for sale, Penzance, Cornwall, £500,000
Fancy owning a whole castle wing?
Acton Castle dates back to 1775 and was built by the famous marine botanist John Stackhouse so he could study the cove below.
An outstanding example of skilled stone masonry, the castle was converted into a small number of luxury apartments in the 1990s.
The famous smuggler John Carter, known as The King of Prussia, once lived here, enjoying its proximity to the Prussia Cove, where copious amounts of contraband once came ashore.
Local legend says that tunnels from the castle led to the cove below.
Soak up the stunning sea and coastal views from the huge open plan living room/kitchen diner through the grand stone mullioned windows.
Or take a stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens, which offer direct access to the coastal footpath leading to nearby Marazion and Perranuthnoe.
Available from: Fletcher Homes & Land
5. Two-bed castle apartment, Broadstairs, Kent, £550,000
Also available in Kingsgate Castle in Kent is this immaculate ground-floor apartment, which comes chain-free and ready to move into.
Split over three levels, the home has a separate lounge and kitchen on the ground floor, alongside the main bathroom.
Head upstairs and you'll discover two rounded tower bedrooms set on separate levels. The second the second comes own its own secret mezzanine on top.
Available from: Wards - Broadstairs
6. One-bed apartment, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, £895,000
Not quite a castle but a fabulous stately home befitting any king or queen, this is Charlton Park House, which dates back to the 17th century.
Originally built for the Countess of Suffolk and the first Earl of Suffolk, their son Thomas, the first Earl of Berkshire, and his descendants lived here until the mid-18th Century.
In 1975 the property was converted into 18 rather splendid apartments finessed with panache.
This home was originally two separate apartments but they have been cleverly combined to form one majestic property offering 2,600 square feet of living space.
Check out the sweeping staircase in the entrance hall, which leads up to a vast living room with high ceilings and huge bay windows.
Downstairs there’s an open plan kitchen, dining and living area, a separate office worthy of any dignitary, a shower room and a huge double bedroom, complete with its own fireplace and en suite bathroom.
Available from: Savills - Cirencester
7. Five-bed detached castle for sale, Alnwick, Northumberland, £995,000
We’re in love with this Grade II listed mediaeval tower, which today has become a fabulous family home.
Not far from the castle of Alnwick, which formed the set for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies, it’s a real rare find.
Check out the awesome barrel vaulted games room, definitely a winner for Friday night fun.
Believed to date back to the late 13th or early 14th century, alterations were made to it in 1603 and again in 1845, when it was converted into alms-houses at the instruction of Lady Ravenscroft.
Today, this contemporary home oozes style. The vast lounge, featuring dual aspect windows and solid wood floors, has a wood burning stove set within the ancient stone fireplace.
The fresh, contemporary kitchen, with its light, white cabinetry, features flagstone flooring, stone worktops and integrated appliances.
Upstairs the three bedrooms, the master with its own dressing room and en suite, have all the views, while the luxury bathroom has a freestanding tub.
The adjoining self-contained cottage features a sitting room with a wood-burning stove, a kitchen/breakfast room, two bedrooms and a bathroom with a walk-in shower.
Available from: Strutt & Parker - Morpeth
8. Six bed detached castle for sale in Scotland, East Lothian, Scotland, £1.7m
Fa’side Castle is an outstanding historic 14th century castle with panoramic views over the Lothians and the Forth Estuary.
With its curved ceilings, mighty thick walls and fabulous stone fireplaces, it’s a mediaeval dwelling that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of Game of Thrones.
Today it’s a fabulously unique family home, spread over five floors of accommodation.
There’s a vast kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor and a large lounge and dining room on the first floor.
Upstairs on the second floor there’s a guest hall and library, while the third floor has a further two guest suites (one with its own lounge and bathroom).
On level four there are three more bedrooms and up on the fifth floor lives bedroom number five.
There are also two self-contained, two-bedroom cottages on site.
Available from: Savills - Edinburgh Country Houses
9. Eight-bed home in castle grounds, Amberley, West Sussex, £3m
If we won the lottery, we’d buy this.
Not quite a converted castle, but set within the grounds of 1,000-year-old Amberley castle, is this gorgeous Grade II listed barn conversion.
Dating back to the 17th century, the Great Barn was part of the castle estate until it was sold in 1982 and then converted in 2004/5.
The kitchen/breakfast room is stunning, with room for sofas to chill. There’s also a separate dining hall and a beautiful big living area.
Six of the bedrooms in the main house are en suite, while a further two can be found in separate accommodation on site, each with their own living areas and bathrooms.
This fabulous French-style home comes with two offices, two garages and a separate utility room.
It’s nestled at the foot of the South Downs National Park, with far-reaching views over the Amberley Wildbrooks nature reserve, where you can regularly see deer strolling by.
Available from: Hamptons - Chichester Sales