Living in a British castle might be easier – and cheaper – than you think

History enthusiasts, those who want to sleep where royalty has left, and fans are chasing the connection with hit television shows like “Bridgerton.”

They are some of the types of travelers hoping to attract a new “collection” of historic palaces, manor houses and grand homes in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

storied collection There’s a travel website that lists heritage hotels and homes—including private forts—so tourists who love history can easily find accommodations that suit them.

He said the idea for the site came to Michael Goldin, co-founder of the Storyd Collection, when he was looking for a “beautiful castle” to live in after the easing of Covid travel rules and the reopening of UK borders.

But the process of filtering through online search results was unsatisfactory, he said.

Eventually, they found Fenton Tower, a Scottish castle with 12th-century origins that had been restored and converted into a luxury residence in 2000. Goldin also discovered an ancestral connection to the tower – in the 16th century, it was briefly owned by the 13th. great-grandfather, a man named Sir Alexander Hamilton, she told CNBC by email.

Goldin, who is from the United States, is an acknowledged fan of history, as are many Americans, some of whom wish to trace their family history to other continents.

Spurred by reopened borders and shows like “Bridgerton” and “The Crown”, Americans are flocking back to the United Kingdom, with flights from the US to the UK on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels from February to April this year are on, up 9% from the spring of 2019, according to tourism agency Visit Britain.

Returning from vacation, Goldin calls ex Justin Hawes Airbnb executive and friend. “He…said ‘Hey, I just took this amazing trip with my wife, it was like no other trip I’ve ever taken… I really felt like being taken back in time. I want to explore it,” Hauge told CNBC by phone.

Howes – who left Airbnb in 2021 after more than a decade – reached out to owners and operators of castles in the UK and Ireland who told him their websites were randomly “lumping up” in online search results. They also said they lacked an effective way to tell their story to the passengers they wanted to reach.

It was Hause’s “lightbulb moment”, he said. Howes and Goldin are launching the Storyd collection in 2022 with the help of Rob Paterson, former CEO of Best Western UK.

listing for Fenton Tower – which accommodates up to 13 people – details nine former owners and King James VI as a guest, plus the ruins of a medieval church. It has been described as perfect for golfing holidays with over 100 courses within 30 miles of its location in the East Lothian region of Scotland.

If That’s Too Small, There’s a 31-Bedroom, 17th Century Markree Castle in County Sligo, Ireland, which once played host to country singer Johnny Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash. Surnames of previous owners include Cooper, Bingham, and Synge, according to the Storied Collection.

Haug said Americans’ love for British and Irish historical sites has grown over the years.

“Heritage attractions like this … have been a huge draw for American travelers … over the past few years, with the popularity of shows like ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Bridgerton,’ there has also been a new awareness of such [in] … travelers who want to experience this way of life, and there’s really no other place where they’ll be able to do that,” he said.

one in global survey In a survey of nearly 23,000 people on how Britain is seen by tourists, conducted by Visit Britain, those in the US called the statement “a place where I can explore history and heritage” the country’s own. Ranked as the top notion.

room on Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa In Bath, a Georgian building on a street painted on “Bridgerton” can be booked through the Stored Collection, with vacationers able to pick up 45 rooms and suites decorated by British designer Jane Clayton.

The hotel is one of three residences on the “1,000 Years of History Tour” road-trip itinerary suggested by the Storied Collection, where the properties have a combined age of 1,000 years. Not far from Bath, guests can stay Thornbury Castle, The 16th Century Return of Henry VIII.

The King’s Bedroom, where he stayed with second wife Anne Boleyn in 1535, is also available for sleeping, while recent guests have been Sophia Loren and Laurence Olivier, according to the listing. Rooms start at $344, according to the Stored Collection’s website.

is the third asset on the tour Rubens in the PalaceA hotel that was once part of Buckingham Palace,Field. It features royal themed bedrooms as well as more classic luxury accommodations.

seven nights1,000 years of history travelAccording to the Stored Collection’s website, “Prices start at $1,999.

Hause quoted Gilmerton House, a 17th-century Scottish mansion that can accommodate up to 20 guests, as their favourite. “It’s almost like you’re living in a museum,” he said of the property, which is owned by the 13th generation of the Kinloch family.

Goldin said the Storied Collection hopes to sign more lavish properties. is a recent addition Pentrehobin Hall In North Wales, a Jacobean manor built by Edward Lloyd in 1625 and still owned by the same family.