Welcome

Generations of the Howard family have welcomed visitors to Castle Howard, one of the great palaces of Europe, for over 300 years and today we extend this warm welcome to you.

"Nobody... had informed me that I should at one view see a palace, a town, a fortified city, temples on high places, woods worthy of being each a metropolis of the Druids, vales connected to hills by other woods, the noblest lawn in the world fenced by half the horizon, and a mausoleum that would tempt one to be buried alive; in short I have seen gigantic places before, but never a sublime one." Horace Walpole 1772

COVID-19 Update

We are delighted that following recent government guidance we have been able to reopen the Castle Howard Gardens. Skelf Island Adventure Playground will reopen on Saturday 4th July. We politely ask all visitors (including Friends of Castle Howard) to pre-book their visit. Find out more and book your visit...

The Farm Shop and Garden Centre are open daily from 10am, and continue to offer ordering services.

The House and indoor seated food outlets remain closed until further notice (takeaway food outlets are open).

To read our full COVID-19 update please click here.

Farm Shop

                    Our Farm Shop is now offering a food ordering service (similar to the well known Click & Collect system) and a delivery service to local villages.
                

Find out more

Garden Centre

                    Our Garden Centre is now offering a ordering service (similar to the well known Click & Collect system) and a delivery service to within a 20 mile radius.
                

Find out more

Castle Howard crowned 'Best Large Attraction' at the Visit York Tourism Awards 2020

Castle Howard Best Large Attraction at the Visit York Tourism Awards 2020

Due the virus outbreak, the Visit York Tourism Awards were broadcast live on Minster FM on the evening of Thursday 23rd April.

The awards celebrate achievements by businesses who contribute towards the great tourism offer in and around the City of York. From restaurants to hotels, campsites to tourist attractions, VisitYork award a series of accolades based on a mystery shop, with finalists then being judged by a panel of local experts!

Castle Howard was shortlisted along with the Jorvik Viking Centre and National Railway Museum for the award of 'Best Large Attraction', and were delighted to have been selected in such a strong category.

Abbi Ollive, Head of Marketing, said "We couldn’t be more delighted to be crowned winners at the VisitYork Awards! What a fantastic way to celebrate York and the wider region’s tourism offer. And what better way to remind people of all the brilliant places to go and enjoy as soon as we are all allowed."

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Blog

The Atlas Fountain

By Dr Chris Ridgway // Sat 27^th June

Gardens, Landscape, History

Following some routine maintenance & cleaning, the Atlas Fountain is back up and running. The South Parterre at Castle Howard has been dominated by this massive piece of Victorian sculpture and engine...

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News

Our Heat Pump Project...

During lockdown we have been busy planning to expand our lake source heat pump system, so look out for some equipment along the North shore of the Dairy Pond as you visit over the next few weeks...

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Blog

Castle Howard Celebrates 75 Years of Brideshead Revisited

By Dr Chris Ridgway // Fri 29^th May

Curatorial, History, Collection, Estate, Brideshead

Seventy-five years ago, in May 1945, just three weeks after VE Day, Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited was published. Little did anyone, including the author, know how it would turn into an end...

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News

Castle Howard Live Concerts Postponed to 2021

Following weeks of careful consideration, Castle Howard & Events Partners LPH Concerts have made the decision to postpone the much anticipated 'Castle Howard Live' concert weekend until 2021.

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Blog

Arriving at Castle Howard

By Dr Chris Ridgway // Fri 15^th May

Curatorial, History, Collection, Estate

In this personal reflection Curator Dr Chris Ridgway ponders the impact and significance of the famous Castle Howard Avenue, and tries to recapture the experience of seeing it for the first time, and ...

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Blog

Remembering VE Day: The 75th Anniversary

By Dr Chris Ridgway // Thu 7^th May

Curatorial, History, Collection, Estate

On VE Day, 8th May 1945, Castle Howard, like countless homes, places emerged from six long years of conflict. During these years the building had been ravaged by fire, the Howards had suffered family ...

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Blog

National Gardening Week

By Alastair Gunn // Wed 29^th April

Gardens, Landscape, History

Today marks the start of National Gardening Week. This video was produced last year for our new audio digital guide, and we thought now might be the perfect time to share it. Our Head of Gardens and...

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News

Café Mambo Ibiza brings Classics to the Castle

Café Mambo Ibiza comes to Castle Howard on Friday 21st August with a unmissable night of Ibiza classics under the stars. Artists announced are Roger Sanchez, Judge Jules, Julie McKnight (Live PA), Rid...

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Spartan Race comes to Castle Howard

Spartan, the world's largest obstacle course race and endurance brand is coming to Yorkshire for the first time, the event will be held on 5th and 6th September at Castle Howard.

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News