Spot the fakes: copycat buildings around the world

Iconic homes... but not as you know them

Copycat buildings that mimic famous real-life or fictional homes are rare, but these remarkable residences are a fitting homage to the originals. From the White House of Dallas to an incredible 3D replica of Charles Xavier's mansion from X-Men'97, we have found some amazing imitation abodes you will hardly believe.

Read on to see if you can spot the difference between the real and the fakes...

Barbie's Dreamhouse

In the summer of 2023, Barbie fever spread across the globe, thanks to the hit movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. In the film, Barbie lives in a pink-tastic property, with a lack of windows and walls, but some pretty cool extras – including a huge slide, fuchsia-coloured furnishings and a swimming pool with its very own inflatable flamingo.

For many, the Barbie takeover amounted to watching the movie several times, wearing more pink than normal and quoting America Ferrera's powerful monologue. Others, however, set about creating their very own Barbie pink properties and for us, one truly stands out...

Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse: California, USA

This bold and playful Airbnb listing was created in celebration of the movie's release in the United States.

The Malibu Dreamhouse was curated as a one-off experience for a handful of very lucky fans as Barbie handed over the keys to her rather jealous boyfriend Ken, who, just like in the movie, put his own spin on Barbie's once ultra-feminine home. Let's head inside...

Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse: California, USA

The host of the home, who is listed simply as 'Ken', thought of every little detail from the movie. Or, as the listing put it, they added some "much-needed Kennergy".

Not only was there a slide, providing access from the first floor to the pool in the backyard, but Ken's love for horses also seeped into the décor, in the form of cowboy hats, faux cowhide rugs and even life-size horse statues, dotted around the home and garden.

Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse: California, USA

Ken also invited the guests to take to the disco dance floor, overlooking the ocean. The retro-inspired space came complete with light-up floor tiles, a disco ball, glittery curtains and a massive stereo system. The experience also came with access to a pair of Ken’s rollerblades.

Sadly, the doors to the replica DreamHouse were only open in July 2023, so there's no chance we'll ever get to go. But we can stare longingly at these incredible photos, as much as we like.

Buckingham Palace

Possibly the most famous home address in the world, Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British monarch. The enormous building houses a total of 775 rooms, including 19 staterooms where the monarch conducts official business, 52 royal and guest bedrooms (plus 188 staff bedrooms) and 78 bathrooms.

Filled with priceless works of art by the likes of Vermeer, Rembrandt and Rubens, as well as the finest antique furniture and gold and crystal chandeliers, it's probably the most luxurious home in the world.

'Buck House': Strathmore House, Poundbury, UK

King Charles lll, who has always been passionate about architecture, developed a model town called Poundbury in Dorset on his own land. The village includes a replicate of the royal palace, Strathmore House.

From its earliest conception in the 1980s, Poundbury was to be built according to the principles laid out in the King's book 'A Vision of Britain', which champions traditional architecture, closer communities and sustainability.

It also celebrates many aspects of the royal family and its history, including the grand façade of Strathmore House, which has been nicknamed 'Buck House', thanks to its likeness to the London original.

'Buck House': Strathmore House, Poundbury, UK

The replica contains eight luxury private residences and two retail units. The flats were snapped up almost immediately when they became available in 2016, reported the BBC, and have rarely come up for sale since.

'Buck House': Strathmore House, Poundbury, UK

You’re more likely to find a similar property next door at The Royal Pavilion, pictured here, which was designed by celebrated architect Ben Pentreath and features well-proportioned rooms and high ceilings.

The Royal Pavilion, which was named after one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s racehorses, and possibly borrows from its namesake in Brighton too, has become an important landmark in Poundbury.

Designed for contemporary living, all 20 apartments feature well-appointed, spacious rooms, luxury fittings and underfloor heating, along with beautiful terraces overlooking the model town.

Elsa's Ice Palace: Kingdom of Arendelle

In Disney's 2013 hit animation Frozen, Queen Elsa first learns to harness her powers by conjuring a magnificent palace, complete with soaring turrets, a huge atrium, a sweeping staircase and walls, floors and columns all made from glistening ice.

A place of pure fairytale and unharnessed imagination... or so you might think!

Hôtel de Glace, Quebec, Canada

What if we told you such a place – almost – exists? With its majestic snow vaults, ice sculptures and stunning rooms carved from huge sheets of compacted ice, Hôtel de Glace has to be seen to be believed.

The iconic property in Quebec, Canada, was designed to provide guests with a truly magical and unforgettable winter experience. Although the exterior of the hotel is far simpler and more compact, when compared to the soaring angles of Elsa's castle, it was nonetheless the muse for the team at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Hôtel de Glace, Quebec, Canada

That's right, Elsa's iconic Ice Palace in the popular Disney movie, Frozen, was, in part, inspired by the striking interior spaces found in Hôtel de Glace. Just look at that awe-inspiring chandelier that hangs in the Grand Hall!

The Ice Hotel opened on New Year's Day in 2001 and ever since has been mesmerising guests with its incredible icy interiors. According to Quebec Cité, it's constructed from 2,400 blocks of ice and 35,000 tonnes of snow, which we imagine took a little longer to build than Elsa's enchanted creation.

Hôtel de Glace, Quebec, Canada

To honour the movie in return, Hôtel de Glace created an amazing Frozen-themed guest suite. Created entirely out of sculpted ice and snow, the room is modelled after Anna and Elsa’s bedrooms in the film.

The room boasts an ornate, back-lit ice-carved bed, as well as an ice armchair and bench. Don't worry, though, the rooms are kept to around -5°C (23°F), which is a touch warmer than Quebec's average outside temperature of -30°C (-22°F). How's that for cool?

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is perched high in the hills of south-west Bavaria, Germany, and was designed as the ultimate royal palace by 'Mad' King Ludwig II, as he was known.

The former king was said to be obsessed with myths and legends, particularly those used as inspiration by his favourite composer, Richard Wagner. In the 1800s, he set about creating a fantasy palace in the clouds.

Sleeping Beauty Castle: Disneyland Park, California, USA

In 1953, Walt Disney sat down with artist Herb Ryman to sketch his vision for an amusement park in Anaheim, California. Walt gave his chief designer just two days to create a visual concept and had many ideas. Yet he was most insistent about one specific feature – the park had to have a “very, very conspicuous castle”, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum.

The inspiration for this imposing palace was to be none other than Neuschwanstein Castle.

Sleeping Beauty Castle: Disneyland Park, California, USA

​Disney wanted his castle to have blue roofs – similar to the blue-grey of Neuschwanstein – so that it would blend in with the sky and elongate its form. Shades of sky blue have been used on the roofing and turrets of every Disney castle since. Like the Bavarian landmark, which stands at an elevation of 2,620 square feet (800m), Walt also wanted his castle to be tall enough to be seen from all areas of the park, to "keep people-oriented".

Sleeping Beauty Castle: Disneyland Park, California, USA

Disneyland Park opened in Anaheim in 1955 and the Sleeping Beauty castle instantly became iconic. In fact, the property is now instantly recognisable as the logo of The Walt Disney Company. Today, you'll find another Neuschwanstein Castle-inspired palace at Disneyland Paris (pictured here) and even Hong Kong.

Although the castles are not exact replicas – the Californian attraction stands at a more modest 77 feet (23.5m) – they still feature the soaring turrets, blue roofs and elaborate, fairytale details of the German original.

Bilbo Baggins' hobbit house

Located near Matamata in New Zealand, this hobbit hole was built as a film set for The Lord of the Rings movie franchise, including The Hobbit.  

It now forms part of the Hobbiton movie set tour, where you can experience the magic of the shire and, if you're really lucky, bump into Bilbo Baggins.

A homage to Hobbiton: Chester County, USA

Inspired by the movies, this replica of the house in Chester County, Pennsylvania, was commissioned by an avid Lord of the Rings fan who wanted to create his own cosy hobbit home, complete with all the detail you'd expect from the real thing.

A homage to Hobbiton: Chester County, USA

The house, which was designed by Archer & Buchanan Architecture, spans just 600 square feet (56sqm) and features its own hobbit hole-style door, made from Spanish cedar and a handmade clay-tile roof.

Beautiful beams give the place an authentic look and complement the wrought iron lanterns on either side of a stone fireplace. We can just imagine Bilbo roaming these rooms.

A homage to Hobbiton: Chester County, USA

The perfect place for hiding out, the hobbit retreat is also a sanctuary for its owner, who has filled the home with their LOTR collections, including a treasure trove of Tolkein-related books, manuscripts and artefacts.

But be warned, the home is hobbit-height, meaning it isn't tall enough for fully-grown humans. Visitors will have to be prepared to stoop to make their way around.

Mount Vernon

This is Mount Vernon, the Palladian-style Virginia plantation house of George Washington, the first president of the United States. The land had been in the Washington family since 1674 and the mansion was built by George’s father in around 1734. Washington expanded the house twice and it remained his home for his entire life.

As a plantation and farm of 8,000 acres (3,237ha), the estate was also home to hundreds of enslaved people, who worked the land and served in the house under Washington's control.

Mount Vernon 'The Orchard': Suffolk County, New York

More than 160 years later, Wall Street stockbroker, James L. Breese, commissioned a prominent firm of architects to build a house in the style of Mount Vernon between 1897 and 1906.

With European design elements running through it, 'The Orchard' echoed the original residence and included classic columns and porticoes, plus two dormer windows on the roof, which is grey instead of the brick red of the Washington house.

Mount Vernon 'The Orchard': Suffolk County, New York

The portico and columns are especially reminiscent of Washington’s property, although inside it is perhaps even grander than the original.

This house eventually comprised 32 rooms, including a 72-foot-long (22m) music room with an ornate Italian ceiling. The rest of the mansion was also designed in the European style.

Mount Vernon 'The Orchard': Suffolk County, New York

Breese commissioned his architect friend, Stanford White, to design the replica and they continued to make additions and alterations until White's passing.

The property was used as a summer house and featured stunning gardens to the rear, with brick paths through the flower garden, leading to the back of the house. 'The Orchard' is in Southampton Village Historic District and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Up house

Film lovers will no doubt recognise Carl Frekricksen and his unmistakable home, from the animated Disney movie, Up.

A real-life version of the colourful house was built by Bangerter Homes in a Salt Lake City suburb in 2011 and sold later that year to Disney fans Clinton and Lynette Hamblin, for £304,500 ($400k). Let's take a look...

A Disney-approved 'Up' home: Salt Lake City, USA

The whimsical, sherbet-hued home is a full-scale replica of Carl and Ellie's house, just without any balloons...

Getting the all-clear from the Walt Disney Company to build the reproduction was no mean feat, but Bangerter Homes did just that in 2010, on the proviso that just a single copy of the house would be built.

A Disney-approved 'Up' home: Salt Lake City, USA

The interior of the four-bedroom home is just as faithful to the movie house as the exterior. Everything from the mantelpiece to the light switches and wallpaper mimics fixtures and fittings in the Pixar Animation Studios home.

You'll even see Carl and Ellie's chairs in the living room, with a picture of the latter on the mantel. Ellie's artwork in the nursery is also a wonderfully accurate replica of the bittersweet opening scenes of the movie.

A Disney-approved 'Up' home: Salt Lake City, USA

Rocking a cool 1950s vibe, the kooky kitchen is decked out in true retro style and comes complete with an antique range cooker and old-fashioned refrigerator, for added nostalgia.

You can visit the home for a pre-arranged photo shoot, to create your very own bit of Disney magic.

The White House

When it comes to famous buildings, the US president's residence is one of the most imitated. Here's the original and you can always take a closer look at its fascinating evolution in our dedicated White House feature.

There are a few copies or inspired-by homes based on the original, but we are particularly fond of this one in Dallas...

The Dallas White House: Dallas, Texas, USA

Impressive right? And as pricey as it is beautiful, this Texan beauty was last on the market in September 2024 for £30 million ($40m).

Known as the Dallas White House, the six-bedroom mansion, which sits on just over three acres (1.2ha) of manicured grounds, boasts 17,679 square feet (1,642sqm) of living space and nods to the real thing, with its whitewashed façade and columned portico.

The Dallas White House: Dallas, Texas, USA

The imitation presidential pad, which was photographed by Jason Anderson of JA2 Photo, more than justifies the multimillion-dollar price tag, thanks to its high-end interiors and luxury facilities.

The rooms are decorated in opulent style and feature French parquet flooring and grand chandeliers, plus unique and vintage furniture.

The Dallas White House: Dallas, Texas, USA

There's even a 24-seat cinema, seen here, an enormous wine cellar and a ridiculously swanky, no-expense-spared bathroom with twin marble hot tubs and gold-plated taps. We're sure the President would approve!

The Munster Mansion

Built on an external set in Universal Studios in 1950, this Victorian-style mansion had a starring role in the television show The Munsters in the 1960s.

The building was originally constructed for a romantic movie called So Goes My Love, but is best known as the ghoulish backdrop for the popular sitcom in fictional Mockingbird Heights. It also features in Desperate Housewives, after undergoing a Wisteria Lane makeover, of course!

A Munster mock-up: Waxahachie, Texas, USA

This replica of the house in Waxahachie, Texas, is the brainchild of Sandra and Charles McKee. The couple, who clearly can't get enough of the monster sitcom, built their dream home in 2002.

They combed through hours of footage of the show to recreate the spooky-looking structure accurately.

A Munster mock-up: Waxahachie, Texas, USA

Each room in the copycat Munster Mansion has been decked out to look uncannily like the real thing. The dining room, for example, is covered in creepy cobwebs and features a life-size model of Lily Munster.

Sandra and Charles say the house is "...a living work, as each year more detail is added and more items collected to make this as exact as it can be". They try to collect items used on the show, or exact replicas, for the ultimate authenticity.

A Munster mock-up: Waxahachie, Texas, USA

While the Munster Mansion isn't open to the public 24/7, the McKees organise occasional events and themed dinners in their ghoulish home. You can also book a private tour of the house via the Munster Mansion website.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is perhaps India's most famous building. It's visually stunning. From the Persian meaning 'palace of the crown', the impressive mausoleum was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, as the tomb for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who sadly passed away during childbirth.

It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic art and architecture.

The Royal Pavilion: Brighton, UK

This former royal home in Brighton, England, is a dead ringer for the Taj Mahal. Known as the Royal Pavilion, it was constructed as the seaside pleasure palace of King George lV in the mid-1780s.

Originally a relatively modest structure, George hired architect Henry Holland to transform his Brighton residence into a villa, known then as the Marine Pavilion.

The Royal Pavilion: Brighton, UK

The domes and minarets of the current pavilion are the work of Welsh architect and designer, John Nash, who was commissioned in 1815 to extend and redesign the property into the magnificent oriental palace we see today.

No expense was spared on its eye-catching exterior, nor its opulent rooms and galleries, which were richly furnished and decorated.

The Royal Pavilion: Brighton, UK

Though rather less busy than the building it resembles (the Taj Mahal welcomes around eight million visitors each year), the whimsical property is no longer a royal residence.

Queen Victoria wasn't a fan of the building and sold it to Brighton in 1850. It is now open to the public and often used as a wedding and events venue.

Hagrid’s Hut

Harry Potter and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, often dropped by Hagrid’s cottage in the iconic, magical movies. Tucked away in the grounds of Hogwarts School, the simple dwelling was a safe haven for the young wizards, where they could confide in the loveable ground keeper.

Hagrid’s Hut is one of the structures featured at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, and has also inspired a few other buildings around the world...

Hagrid’s Holiday Hut: Ground Keeper’s Cottage, North Shire, Yorkshire, UK

One of them is this quaint stone cottage in North Shire, a fantastical holiday park near Saltburn, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park in England.

Comprised of three interlocking circular rooms, with squat medieval-style turrets and mismatched stained-glass windows, owner Carol Cavendish built the holiday home in honour of the magical franchise, after reading JK Rowling’s series in her early twenties.

Hagrid’s Holiday Hut: Ground Keeper’s Cottage, North Shire, Yorkshire, UK

Near the North Yorkshire coast, and photographed here by Charlotte Graham, the cottage features a stone fireplace and lots of rustic touches that would make Hagrid feel right at home.

A luxurious version of the Hogwarts ground keeper's home, there are two comfy sofas in the living room and a bathroom where the star feature is a huge, freestanding copper bath with green subway tiles, reminiscent of those in the Ministry of Magic.

Hagrid’s Holiday Hut: Ground Keeper’s Cottage, North Shire, Yorkshire, UK

It’s more spacious than Hagrid’s one-room cottage and sleeps up to six, thanks to a handmade wooden bunk bed built into the wall of the master bedroom. A further two people can sleep on the sofa bed in the living room.

The owner has also added 'Hagrid paraphernalia', such as old ropes, baskets, leather bags and lanterns, so guests can step into their favourite storybook and immerse themselves in the world of Harry Potter.

Hogwarts Castle

The centre of the world of Harry Potter, Hogwarts, seen here at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure amusement Park in Orlando, Florida, is an imposing castle with turrets, towers and secret passageways.

Many of the outdoor scenes in the Harry Potter franchise were filmed at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, UK, while Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire was a stand-in for some Hogwarts interiors – the most recognisable location being the cloisters, which were used as the halls of the castle.

'Harry Potter House': Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The mythical location has proved an inspiration for many Potter fans designing their own homes, too. And perhaps this is the closest you'll get to stepping inside Hogwarts' magical halls.

This Gothic mansion in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a showcase of twisty staircases, big stone fireplaces and decorative ironwork that would not look out of place in one of the franchise movies.

'Harry Potter House': Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Musician and restaurateur, Jeff Arundel, the man behind the project, spent seven years transforming the property into a witchy wonderland, which is known locally as 'Harry Potter House'.

It features a distinctive copper tower and a handcrafted metal staircase, old-world light fixtures and exposed wooden beams.

'Harry Potter House': Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

A former blacksmith shop, the 4,547-square-foot (422sqm) home has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a formal dining room and an open-plan living space with a kitchen, as well as a rooftop terrace and interior courtyard, with a tree growing in the middle of it.

Arundel bought the property for £837,300 ($1.1m) in 2002 and it was last on the market in 2018 for £2.3 million ($3m). People also know it as the Wizard House. “I have always gravitated to castles,” Arundel told CBS News.

Xavier Mansion from X-Men '97

Mega Marvel fans will probably already know that the 'X-Men' comics have been turned into an animated television series, for the streaming service Disney+. In X-Men '97, which was released in March 2024, a band of mutants use their amazing powers to protect a world that fears them.

In the show, this huge property (known as Xavier Mansion or X-Mansion) is the luxurious home of scientific genius, Charles Xavier, his X-Men and, of course, Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning.

Xavier's former childhood home lies in Westchester County, New York, and while you might not think anyone would be lucky enough to be able to replicate this remarkable mansion, then you'd be wrong...

X-Mansion: New York, USA

This unbelievable replica property not only perfectly matches the one from the animated series, with its highly symmetrical façade, three white porticos, imposing columns and impressive driveway, but it also lies in Westchester County, New York.

Designed to be the ultimate immersive experience for a handful of lucky guests, the remarkable Airbnb was created in celebration of the TV series and opened its doors in May 2024, for one night only.

X-Mansion: New York, USA

The interior of the mansion is even more impressive than the exterior. Instead of simply replicating the home from the show, Marvel instead designed the rooms in 2D, making every space appear like it has been hand drawn.

With the trademark X-Men logo marked on the floor, the entrance hall is one of the most mesmerising rooms in the house. In all the rooms, everything from the furniture to the artwork and accessories looks like they have been created by a computer.

X-Mansion: New York, USA

The listing was hosted by X-Men, Jubilee, who has the power to shoot fireworks from their hands. So, of course, the lucky guests of the Airbnb were invited to try on the Cerebro helmet and discover their own mutant superpower.

As well as the Beast’s laboratory, the house also came with a Danger Room, where some of the institute's combat professors were on hand to teach the guests how to improve their fighting skills. We're not jealous at all!