Balmoral Castle’s history was best written from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth II.
It was the Queen’s favorite place and once you visit, you’ll see why. This Scottish estate built in the 1800s acted as the favorite summer vacation destination for the royal family.
No need to feel left out if you’re not part of the monarch’s long lineage; Balmoral Castle is open for visitors and is only a few hours from Edinburgh.
Image Credit and Location: Balmoral Castle, Ballater, Scotland
Fall for Queen Elizabeth’s beloved Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle, Scotland: An estate so grand even a Queen was left captivated.
Where is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite home?
Queen Elizabeth’s favorite home was Balmoral Castle, which was the royal family’s summer vacation house. It is still one of the royal properties of the British monarch, though no royals live there.
What is Balmoral Castle?
Balmoral Castle is a British royal residence in Scotland. This large estate house was purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1853 and became the royal family’s summer vacation home. Today, it remains a royal estate but is also open for visitors to tour and offers limited public accommodations.
Where is Balmoral Castle?
Balmoral Castle is located in Scottish Highlands on the River Dee. Inverness, Dundee, and Aberdeen create a triangle around Balmoral Castle, making it a relatively simple destination to get to from Scotland’s larger cities.
When was Balmoral Castle built?
Balmoral Castle as you can visit it now was built between 1853 and 1856. The original property on the estate is said to have been built as far back as the 1300s, but when Prince Albert reflected on his purchase of the property, he deemed it too small for the royal family. The new (current) castle was built, and the old building was demolished. All that’s left of the original building is a commemorative stone near the front lawn.
Although the castle was built for Queen Victoria, Balmoral Castle is best remembered as Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite home. After Queen Victoria’s death, the castle was passed down to each successor to the throne.
Why was Balmoral the Queen’s favorite place?
Balmoral was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite place for many of the same reasons you keep a special spot in your heart: it was a cherished part of her childhood. The Queen is said to have spent summer vacations at Balmoral Castle; she loved everything from the building itself to the grounds and the surrounding Scottish countryside.
Can you visit Balmoral Castle?
Not only can you visit the castle of Queen Elizabeth’s childhood, but you can spend the night nearby. There are cottages close to the property that are available for rent, and let us tell you, they’ll make you fall in love with Balmoral Castle like the Queen did. The Tigh Na Garaidh Cottage is in the Castle Gardens while the Karim Cottage is nearest the Castle’s Estates Office.
Image Credit and Location: Balmoral Castle, Ballater, Scotland
How to get to Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Getting to the castle of Queen Elizabeth’s heart is not as easy as taking the train to other castles in Europe. Edinburgh is a common starting point, as it’s the capital of the country and an easy destination to get to from London if you’re planning a UK castle-hopping trip. We’d recommend:
🚆 Edinburgh Waverley to Pitlochry: ~ 2 hours
Or
🚆 Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen: ~ 2.5 hours
From either destination, you can hire a taxi, or you can take a guided tour up to Balmoral Castle from Aberdeen.
Take the train to more castles in the UK
Balmoral Castle may be the crown jewel of castles (at least in Queen Elizabeth’s eyes), but it’s far from the only castle in Great Britain. From day trips from London to Windsor Castle to tours of Edinburgh Castle, use the UK’s regally designed railway system to get around.
Download the Trainline app and we’ll help you get to any castle you wish, whether it be a castle of Europe’s German monarchs or a castle from one of your favorite Disney movies.
Header Image Credit and Location: Balmoral Castle, Ballater, Scotland