When your home really is your castle! The Traitors-style country piles owned by celebrities - but which are the most impressive, and whose turrets could do with an upgrade?

While growing up in a centuries-old castle sounds like the ultimate fairytale, keeping one standing is a different story altogether, as seen in some of the breathtaking abodes inherited and purchased by celebrities. Just ask Kit Harington, 39, and his wife Rose Leslie, 39, who tied the knot in June 2018 at Wardhill Castle in Aberdeenshire - a sprawling 801-acre estate that has been in Rose's family for more than 500 years.The Game of Thrones stars, who met while filming the hit HBO fantasy series, have found themselves battling to save Rose's family home after the estate was plunged into financial trouble this year, with the company behind the property ordered into liquidation.Now, documents filed at Companies House reveal that Kit has stepped in with funding intended to help the business pay its creditors and seek a 'sist' - essentially a pause - in the liquidation, with Rose's sister-in-law noting the sheer expense that goes into maintaining the home.As the couple fight to keep the castle, we take a look at other household names who have snapped up fortresses of their own, as well as those who have been passed down historic properties that have remained in their family for generations. With the help of two property experts, we also examine which ones really are fit for royalty and which could prove to be more trouble than they're worth.Construction commentator Clive Holland of Fix Radio said: 'Would I want to own one? Absolutely. Would I want the maintenance bill? That’s a different question. 'The brilliant thing about these buildings is that you aren’t really starting with a blank canvas. If you get that balance right, you’re not just renovating a very large house. You’re effectively taking your turn looking after a piece of history before it passes to somebody else.' We take a look at the celebrities (like Alan Carr, pictured, right) who have snapped up their own castles - and which are truly fit for royalty Kit Harington and Rose Leslie - Wardhill Castle, AberdeenshireKit Harington and Rose Leslie's castle story is a particularly personal one, with Wardhill Castle having been in Rose's family for more than 500 years. The sprawling Aberdeenshire estate covers around 801 acres and today operates as a wedding and luxury holiday venue, so it is very much a family home and a business rolled into one. The castle itself has all the grandeur you would expect, surrounded by sweeping grounds and plenty of space for guests, with eight individually decorated bedrooms and en-suites, butler services and proximity to more than 50 golf courses. But keeping a property of this size in good shape doesn't come cheap, with Rose's sister-in-law Sarah previously admitting: 'It's a very expensive property to maintain.' This year, things became particularly difficult when the company behind the estate was ordered into liquidation, with Companies House documents showing Kit has since stepped in with funding to help pay creditors and seek a ‘sist’ - essentially a pause in the liquidation. Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is fighting to save his wife, Rose Leslie's family castle in Aberdeenshire where they got married in 2018 The sprawling 801-acre Wardhill Castle has been in Rose’s family for more than 500 yearsHis intervention could give the family some breathing space as they fight to keep Rose's family home in their hands.Karl McArdle, Co-founder of The Property Buying Company, said: 'Wardhill has the sort of history you cannot recreate in a new build, a property fit for Jon Snow. 'That makes its character worth protecting, but a castle and its grounds need constant attention. 'It's unlikely to need much renovation, as the castle hosts weddings and private stays, which gives a property like this a practical use that can help support its upkeep.' Dominic West and Catherine Fitzgerald - Glin Castle, County Limerick, Ireland For Dominic West and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, Glin Castle is a family home with a seriously impressive history, having been in Catherine’s family for around 700 years Inside, it is every bit as romantic as it is historic, with period furniture and paintings, decorative plasterwork and grand rooms that have been given a more relaxed, lived-in feelFor Dominic West and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, Glin Castle is a family home with a seriously impressive history, having been in Catherine’s family for around 700 years. According to its website, the 18-bedroom Georgian castle sits on a huge estate beside the River Shannon and is surrounded by gardens, parkland and farmland. Inside, it is every bit as romantic as it is historic, with period furniture and paintings, decorative plasterwork and grand rooms that have been given a more relaxed, lived-in feel. Outside lies the Enchanting Gardens, home to two gothic temples, exotic plants, ancient oaks and a walled kitchen garden.The property has also been used as a wedding and holiday venue, helping the family meet the huge costs that come with looking after such an old and sizeable estate. At one point, the castle was put on the market for around €6.5 million, partly because of the expense of keeping it going, although it ultimately stayed in the family. The Wests continue to live there today while the castle is available for private stays and events.Karl said: 'This Georgian castle has huge grand rooms, historic details, and extensive gardens, which are its greatest assets. The sheer size of Glin Castle also makes it a substantial property to maintain. 'Just think about how many groundskeepers you need to upkeep the approximate 12 to 15 acres. Its use for private stays and events is a sensible way to help fund that care, but it still won't be cheap!'Jeremy Irons - Kilcoe Castle, County Cork, Ireland Dating back to the 15th century, Jeremy Irons' Kilcoe Castle sits on a small island in Roaringwater Bay and has thick walls, arrow loops, crenellations and a turret rising around 85ftJeremy Irons bought Kilcoe Castle in West Cork in 1997 for £150,000 - but what he got was much closer to a ruin than a majestic castle ready to be lived in.Dating back to the 15th century, the stone tower sits on a small island in Roaringwater Bay and has thick walls, arrow loops, crenellations and a turret rising around 85ft. The 78-year-old actor took on the mammoth job of restoring it, eventually spending more than £1 million turning the crumbling building into a home while trying to preserve its medieval character. Inside, the castle has a dramatic two-storey solar at its heart, along with a library, chapel, kitchen, dining room and bedrooms, including a master suite with a vaulted wooden roof. The restoration wasn't without its quirks, either, with Irons choosing to give the exterior its notable warm-pink colour rather than leaving the stone grey - something that raised a few eyebrows among locals, as reported by The Telegraph. And being a centuries-old castle on the Irish coast means maintenance work never really stops, with the exposed exterior requiring specialist care to keep the limewash in good condition.Karl said: 'Kilcoe shows exactly what a determined owner can achieve with what essentially was just a historic ruin. Restoring a castle is rarely a quick financial win, and definitely not a flipping opportunity. 'Specialist work and continuing maintenance can be considerable, but seeing as though it was fully restored in the 90s, it's unlikely to need a huge amount of costly work. As far as the Castles in this list go, it's relatively modest.'Alan Carr - Ayton Castle, Scottish Borders Alan Carr, 50, has gone big on his castle dream, paying a reported £3.25 million in early 2026 for Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders The 19th-century property has 17 bedrooms and sits in around 160 acres of gardens and parkland, complete with a turret, several outbuildings and even its own miniature railway Inside, it oozes plenty of Victorian character, including decorative plasterwork, panelled walls, a drawing room, billiard room and libraryAlan Carr, 50, has gone big on his castle dream, paying a reported £3.25 million in early 2026 for Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders. The 19th-century property has 17 bedrooms and sits in around 160 acres of gardens and parkland, complete with a turret, several outbuildings and even its own miniature railway. Inside, it oozes plenty of Victorian character, including decorative plasterwork, panelled walls, a drawing room, billiard room and library. It also comes with a brilliant dash of history: in 1873, American writer Mark Twain visited the castle and liked the dining-room mantlepiece so much that he bought it and had it shipped back to the US. Meanwhile, the presenter has already made plans to breathe new life into the estate, with a Disney+ series set to follow the renovation and proposals to turn a derelict potting shed into a community café and estate shop. Karl added: 'Ayton Castle, Alan Carr's recent purchase, is the sort where the upkeep could be as dramatic as the building. With a mere 17 bedrooms and extensive grounds, heating, roofing and routine repairs will need a serious annual budget. 'It’s Category A listed, so renovation is possible, but changes to the features that give it its historic character need careful planning and may require consent, which is also a time-consuming and expensive process. 'I wouldn't call this particular one particularly cheap for the Laird of Ayton.' Enya - Manderley Castle, County Dublin, Ireland Irish singer Enya, 65, paid €3.8 million (£3.2 million) for her Dublin castle in 1997, reportedly beating Michael Flatley to the propertyIrish singer Enya, 65, paid €3.8 million (£3.2 million) for her Dublin castle in 1997, reportedly beating Michael Flatley to the property before renaming it Manderley after the fictional estate in Rebecca, according to the Irish Star. Originally built in the 1840s as Victoria Castle, the gothic-looking mansion was later known as Ayesha Castle and had already been through a major fire in 1928 before Enya came along. Inside, it has the kind of dramatic details one would expect from a gothic castle, including honey-coloured panelling, a huge spiral staircase and spacious period rooms, as well as a recording studio where the songstress could work from home. Enya also carried out extensive work on the property after buying it, as it reportedly needed a fair amount of attention when she took it on.Security has been another major headache, with the singer strengthening the gates, raising sections of the surrounding stone walls and installing extra railings and a panic room after being targeted by stalkers.Despite the extra fortifications, the property suffered two security breaches in 2005, proving that even a castle with top-tier security isn't necessarily secure.Karl noted: 'Manderley Castle is a vast Victorian-style build. Unlike some of the others on the list, it functions mostly as a private home, and there are very few pictures of it available online, so its condition is relatively unknown. 'That being said, it's likely a rather expensive property to own due to its location: the older coastal property likely needs a lot of attention to its exterior, windows, weatherproofing, and roofing. 'Being susceptible to coastal erosion, damp, mould, and much more, it will really rocket up the maintenance cost.' Christy and Jay Cashman - Kilkea Castle, County Kildare, Ireland Kilkea Castle, now owned by Christy (pictured) and Jay Cashman, has survived centuries of changing fortunes before eventually becoming a luxury hotel and estate The couple reportedly poured around €20 million (£17.1 million) into restoring the castle and golf course, giving the interiors a glamorous makeover while retaining plenty of the original character and historic features Its interior features three restaurants and has been styled to resemble the Gramercy Park Hotel in New YorkBoston-based actress Christy Cashman, 60, and her husband, business mogul Jay, 75, bought Kilkea Castle in County Kildare in 2013 for around €6 million (£5.1 million), taking on a property that dates all the way back to 1180. It was once a medieval stronghold of the Fitz Geralds, Earls of Kildare, and has survived centuries of changing fortunes before eventually becoming a luxury hotel and estate.The couple reportedly poured around €20 million (£17.1 million) into restoring the castle and golf course, giving the interiors a glamorous makeover while retaining plenty of the original character and historic features. The estate now stretches across around 180 acres, with the castle joined by landscaped gardens, woodland, a small beach areas and an 18-hole golf course, while its interior features three restaurants and has been styled to resemble the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York.Restoration came with plenty of challenges, including the discovery of ancient walls that meant parts of the property had to be treated with particular care rather than simply ripped out and replaced, according to information shared on the resort's website.Karl said: 'Kilkea is perhaps the clearest example of a castle renovation with a practical purpose. Its restoration allowed it to reopen as a hotel and golf resort, putting the building to work. 'That brings significant operating costs as well as maintenance, but regular use gives a historic property a stronger case for continued investment.'Michael Flatley - Castlehyde House, County Cork, Ireland Michael Flatley bought Castlehyde House in County Cork in 1999 for around £3 million, after reportedly spotting the estate from a helicopter and falling for it instantly The finished home is seriously over-the-top, with around a dozen bedrooms, a three-storey library, cinema, spa, wine cellars, billiard room and indoor pool, alongside extensive gardens and river frontage But all that grandeur comes with a hefty price tag, and Castlehyde was later put on the market for as much as €20 million (£17.1 million) before the asking price was reduced. It struggled to find a buyer and was eventually withdrawnMichael Flatley bought Castlehyde House in County Cork in 1999 for around £3 million, after reportedly spotting the estate from a helicopter and falling for it instantly. The Georgian mansion sits on around 150 acres beside the River Blackwater and was once the ancestral home of Douglas Hyde, Ireland's first president, but Flatley found it in a state that was less than ideal.There were crumbling walls, a flooded basement and only parts of the house were habitable, so what followed was a huge restoration project that reportedly cost tens of millions, according to The Guardian. The finished home is seriously over-the-top, with around a dozen bedrooms, a three-storey library, cinema, spa, wine cellars, billiard room and indoor pool, alongside extensive gardens and river frontage. But all that grandeur comes with a hefty price tag, and Castlehyde was later put on the market for as much as €20 million (£17.1 million) before the asking price was reduced. It struggled to find a buyer and was eventually withdrawn. Karl noted: 'Castlehyde is a grand historic house rather than a defensive castle, and its scale is the main practical challenge. 'Large homes can absorb enormous sums in repairs and improvements, so even a beautiful renovation needs careful surveys and a realistic long-term budget. 'Some potential costs of maintenance are known, due to a legal dispute, which as an example for a lick of paint and decor came to around £2.2m, and the same again for bespoke plastering work, which should hopefully give you an idea of the scale of costs, after remediation work for a fire in 2016.' What are the biggest maintenance issues when taking on a castle? Construction commentator Clive Holland from Fix Radio said: 'On a castle, water is your enemy. Parapets, copings, chimneys and all those exposed bits of masonry sit right in the firing line for wind, rain and frost. 'A blocked rainwater outlet or a failed bit of leadwork might not look particularly dramatic but leave water getting into historic masonry and it can travel into plaster, timber and adjoining stonework before you realise what’s happening.'How do you make a centuries-old castle comfortable and 'future proofed'? He added: 'The real challenge is taking something that may have been built hundreds of years before electricity, central heating or an indoor bathroom was even a consideration and making it comfortable without fighting against the building. 'Those huge solid walls can actually have enormous thermal mass, so they absorb and hold heat very differently from the walls of a modern house. 'Then you’ve got the practical side. You need somewhere for pipes, cables, heating systems and bathrooms to go, but you can’t necessarily start chasing into historically important masonry every time you want another plug socket. 'Half the skill in a really good restoration is making twenty-first-century technology disappear into a building that was never designed to accommodate it.'Why you can’t renovate a castle like a normal houseClive said: 'With a listed castle, there’s another person effectively sitting at the renovation table with you, and that’s the building’s history. 'You might own it, but that doesn’t mean you can automatically replace an old window, move a wall or rip out an original feature because it doesn’t suit your plans. That’s what makes these jobs fascinating.''You’re often looking at layers of construction from completely different periods, because castles weren’t necessarily built once and left alone. They were altered, extended, repaired and repurposed as the way people lived changed.'