Hatley Castle is a magnificent 40-room replica of a 15th century Edwardian castle. It was built in 1908 for James Dunsmuir, a coal and rail baron who also served as Premier and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. From 1941 until 1943 when the Grant Block was completed, the Castle served as dormitory and mess hall for cadets and staff officers at Royal Roads Military College. It is now the administrative centre of Royal Roads University.

Photo Credit: Bill Plank
The Castle has been declared a level one heritage resource, providing it with permanent protection for both its interior and exterior attributes. In 1995, when the site was decommissioned by the Department of National Defence and Royal Roads University set up their campus operations at Hatley Park, Hatley Castle immediately became the home of the President and senior executives of the university.
 
Hatley Castle in the movies

• Hatley Castle is known to Smallville fans as Luthor Mansion, the estate belonging to Lex Luthor.
• The castle is also known to fans of the X-Men film series as the setting for Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
• It was also used in the 1997 movie, Masterminds as Shady Glen School, a posh private elementary school in California.
• The castle was also used in MacGyver. In the second episode of season 5, "The Legend of the Holy Rose, part 2", it is used as a hideout for the episode villain.
• In the TV series Seven Days, episode 9 of season 2,"Love and Other Disasters", the castle is used as a home for royal family and a place for royal wedding.