Tourists to Enter Queen Elizabeth II's Favorite Castle for the First Time
Balmoral Castle, the British royal family's summer refuge for more than 170 years, has been zealously guarded from the public eye until now.
This summer, Balmoral Castle will open its gates for a few days: the estate located in Aberdeenshire on the Scottish Highlands will be accessible to visitors from July 1st to August 4th, reports TRAVEL + LEISURE.
Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852 for his wife, Queen Victoria, the secluded estate features the 167-room Balmoral Castle completed in 1855, surrounded by a magnificent 50,000-acre park, and ranks as the royal family's favorite summer residence.
The late Queen Elizabeth II considered the house her personal sanctuary, where she would retreat during the summer, and where she passed away in September 2022.
For members of the Windsor family, Balmoral Castle holds significant importance; Princess Diana and Prince Charles concluded their honeymoon there, Prince William and Prince Harry reportedly learned of their mother's tragic death while at Balmoral, and Charles and his current wife, Camilla, stayed there during the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the estate has been open to visitors from April to August in the past, the castle's interior rooms have never been accessible to the public before.
This year's summer tours are quite exclusive, limiting participation to only 10 visitors per session, with a price of 100 pounds sterling (approximately 45,000 forints) or 150 pounds (around 68,000 forints) with afternoon tea included. Several rooms within the castle will be open for these private events.
Slots for the guided tours filled up practically immediately, however, tickets are still available for Land Rover expedition tours showcasing the surrounding parks and wildlife, and are notably affordable at only 18 pounds (about 8,000 forints).
Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852 for his wife, Queen Victoria, the secluded estate features the 167-room Balmoral Castle completed in 1855, surrounded by a magnificent 50,000-acre park, and ranks as the royal family's favorite summer residence.
The late Queen Elizabeth II considered the house her personal sanctuary, where she would retreat during the summer, and where she passed away in September 2022.
For members of the Windsor family, Balmoral Castle holds significant importance; Princess Diana and Prince Charles concluded their honeymoon there, Prince William and Prince Harry reportedly learned of their mother's tragic death while at Balmoral, and Charles and his current wife, Camilla, stayed there during the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the estate has been open to visitors from April to August in the past, the castle's interior rooms have never been accessible to the public before.
This year's summer tours are quite exclusive, limiting participation to only 10 visitors per session, with a price of 100 pounds sterling (approximately 45,000 forints) or 150 pounds (around 68,000 forints) with afternoon tea included. Several rooms within the castle will be open for these private events.
Slots for the guided tours filled up practically immediately, however, tickets are still available for Land Rover expedition tours showcasing the surrounding parks and wildlife, and are notably affordable at only 18 pounds (about 8,000 forints).
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