Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, England, holds the remarkable distinction of being the oldest continuously family-occupied castle in the country. The Berkeley family has lived in and owned the castle for over 870 years, dating back to the mid-12th century when it was granted to Robert Fitzharding by King Henry II. It is the third-oldest continuously occupied castle in England, following the royal residences of Windsor and the Tower of London, but unlike those, it has remained in the same private family line. The castle is famous for its "shell keep" architecture and its dark history; it is the site where King Edward II was allegedly murdered in 1327. Remarkably, the family still resides in a private wing of the castle today. Another notable example is Alnwick Castle, which has been the seat of the Percy family (the Dukes of Northumberland) for over 700 years. In 2026, these "living" castles provide a unique link to the medieval past, as they are not just museums but actual homes where history continues to be written by the descendants of the original builders.