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

The Gardens and Skelf Island Adventure Playground are open daily. The House is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings and Saturdays. 

We politely ask all visitors (including Friends of Castle Howard) to pre-book their visit here. Tickets are bookable until the end of September, we are reviewing tickets on a month by month basis so check back soon for October bookings and onwards.

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

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

"One of the top 10 buildings you must visit in your lifetime" The Telegraph, 2018

Discover More

News
Yorkshire Cancer Research helps 'give cancer the boot' with stunning welly themed art installation at Castle Howard
Yorkshire Cancer Research has launched a new art installation at Castle Howard, to help raise awareness of its mission to save lives in Yorkshire.
View full story
Blog
The Atlas Fountain
By Dr Chris Ridgway  //  Sat 27th 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...
View full story
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...
View full story
Blog
Castle Howard Celebrates 75 Years of Brideshead Revisited
By Dr Chris Ridgway  //  Fri 29th 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...
View full story
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.
View full story
Blog
Arriving at Castle Howard
By Dr Chris Ridgway  //  Fri 15th 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 ...
View full story
Blog
Remembering VE Day: The 75th Anniversary
By Dr Chris Ridgway  //  Thu 7th 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 ...
View full story
Blog
National Gardening Week
By Alastair Gunn  //  Wed 29th 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...
View full story
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...
View full story
News
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.
View full story