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

Your Visit

The House has now reopened to visitors marking the beginning of another incredible season.

The Gardens, Walled Garden and Skelf Island Adventure Playground are open daily, from 10am (9am for Friends of Castle Howard) with last admission to the Gardens at 4pm and site closure at 5:30pm.

Full opening times can be found on the Visit Us section of the website.

Our onsite outlets operate on a cashless basis.

Book Now Outlet Opening Times Further Information

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

The Gift of Friendship
A 12 Month membership at Castle Howard makes the perfect gift for any occasion.
- Unlimited access to the House & Gardens
- Range of additional benefits
- Tree planted for every membership
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Be the first to find out about next year’s Christmas event by signing up to our Christmas mailing list below.
Sign up to be the first to hear about Christmas 2022
Castle Howard Flowers
A new exquisite range of bouquets designed exclusively for Castle Howard, inspired by Castle Howard's renowned private collection of art & sculpture, breathtaking interiors & spectacular landscapes.
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Castle Howard Gin
Spirits are high at Castle Howard as the historic Yorkshire estate launches a new premium quality gin in partnership with local business Sloemotion Distillery. The Castle Howard Gin uses ingredients foraged from across the estate.
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Event Highlights

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Blog
Crown Jewels & Coronets: Royal History at Castle Howard Exhibition
By Curator Blogger   //  Wed 25th May
Curatorial, Platinum Jubilee, Celebrations, Exhibition.
University of York Student, Holly Hammond discusses her experience with supporting the Curatorial Team at Castle Howard in creating this royal exhibtion.
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Blog
10 reasons to race at Castle Howard in July 2022
By Events Blogger  //  Tue 24th May
Race, Series, Events, Charity, Fundraiser
We can't wait for the Castle Race Series to join us in July, where thousands of competitors will race their way across the weekend. Find out why we think you should not miss this weekend...
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Blog
In Conversation with a New Volunteer
By Volunteer Blogger  //  Tue 12th April
Volunteering, House, New Volunteer
In our second volunteering blog, you’ll meet Sue, a new volunteer who is just about to start in the House.
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Blog
Meet Castle Howard’s Head of Operations & Security
By Volunteer Blogger  //  Wed 16th March
Volunteering, Operations, Events.
In this first blog you will be introduced to Anne, Head of Operations & Security who takes care of the volunteers here at Castle Howard, this includes their welfare and enjoyment!
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Blog
Keeping the Castle Clean
By Eleanor Brooke-Peat  //  Wed 16th March
Cleaning, Curatorial, History
Deep cleaning the House after Christmas is a mammoth task for the House team before it reopens on the 2nd April.
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News
The Courtship at Castle Howard
Castle Howard is once again the star of the show in a new television series from NBC.
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News
Closure notice: Friday 18th February 2022
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING FOR FRIDAY 18TH FEBRUARY Due the imminent arrival of storm Eunice, the gardens and playground will be closed to visitors all day on Friday the 18th of February.
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News
Do you have a question for us?
Do you have a question about an upcoming visit to Castle Howard? As we're experiencing an extremely high volume of enquiries, have a read of our FAQ's to see if they can help answer your question!
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News
Important Information - Weather Updates 27th & 28th November
Storm Arwen is forecast to create high winds across the country today. At Castle Howard, having assessed the current weather on site and the updated forecast we have taken the difficult decision to cl...
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News
Christmas Cakes: Have you made yours yet?
As the nights draw in, and the air turns cold, familiar smells in any kitchen begin to linger! It's prime Christmas Cake baking season, have you made yours yet?
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