If you are a Yorkshire-based Friend of the HHA, and you joined on the expectation of gaining unlimited free access to Castle Howard, then the HHA will refund your membership (pro rata, depending on your renewal date). Please call the HHA’s membership department on 01462 896688 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) for details. HHA Friends can receive a special discount on our new Castle Howard Friends scheme – call us on 01653 648621 to find out more.

Castle Howard has been a member of the Historic Houses Association (HHA) for many years; the HHA advises, promotes and represents many of the UKs independently owned historic houses, castle and gardens helping to preserve and promote an irreplaceable part of our heritage.

Individuals with HHA Friends membership are able to enjoy free visits to a wide range of historic houses, castles and gardens, with over 300 properties throughout the country.

Over the years we have welcomed many HHA Friends and have become by far the most popular HHA property to visit in Britain – with many Friends visiting multiple times a year. However it was never the intention of the scheme that multiple visits be made to the same property and Castle Howard and the HHA have been aware for some time of the pressure this places upon us, particularly at busy times.

As a result of this it has been necessary for us to review our arrangement with the HHA and from 1 May 2017 access to Castle Howard for HHA Friends will change.

Castle Howard will remain a member of the HHA and has agreed the following access for HHA Friends:

• With effect from 1 May 2017, HHA Friends will be able to visit Castle Howard free of charge once per calendar year, excluding during Castle Howard’s Flower Festival and Christmas opening.

These changes coincide with the launch of Castle Howard’s own new Friends scheme for which HHA Friends will be entitled to a special discounted rate.

For more information about changes to HHA access, visit their website.

For more information about Castle Howard’s new Friend scheme, visit the membership page

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ARCHIVE PAGE AND INFORMATION MAY NOT BE UP TO DATE.  If you are a member of the HHA scheme, please visit their website for the latest information.