Spend a fantastically festive day at Castle Howard soaking up the festive atmosphere at Yorkshire’s iconic stately home.
A Christmas like no other awaits, from Oz-tastic installations, special moments with Father Christmas, late-night tours, Christmas shopping, and delectable afternoon tea.
Book now
If you are a Castle Howard Member, visit our Christmas Members page for information tailored to you.
Christmas Members page
13th November – 4th January
The House is transformed into the magical world of Oz. Experience our festive take on L. Frank Baum's much-loved story, told through installations, soundscapes and projections, created by CLW Event Design and Imitating the Dog – the same creative team that brought you Alice’s Christmas Wonderland and Christmas in Neverland.
28th November, 5th December, 12th December, 19th December
An exclusive, after-dark guided tour of the House led by our Christmas Design Director. Discover Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz after-hours in a small group, complete with a Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine reception (plus non-alcoholic options).
22nd November – 24th December
Our beloved experience for families. Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and WonderPhil pay us a special visit from the North Pole, with a joyous show full of heart and Christmas spirit followed by an individual moment with Father Christmas for each group. Each child with a ticket receives a special gift to take home. Regrettably this event is not wheelchair accessible – Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse is wheelchair accessible.
Child tickets are £60 for Members and £65 for non-Members.
29th November – 24th December
The warm and wonderful Story Craft Theatre return to Castle Howard with a fabulous festive show in Santa’s cosy Boathouse Grotto. Santa himself will join the fun, with a gift for each child with a ticket.
Thursdays and Fridays, 20th November – 5th December
A practical two-hour session making a Christmas wreath using natural materials. All materials are provided, and tea and coffee are included. Add a glass of Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine for extra Christmas sparkle if you are joining us for an evening session. For age 16+. Only 10 tickets available per session!
15th November – 31st December
Dainty finger sandwiches, home baked sweet and savoury scones, and delectable miniature cakes created locally by UK Pastry Champion chef Florian Poirot. Refresh your tea and sandwich plate if you have room for more. Served in the grand Grecian Hall complete with roaring fire, or intimate Chinese Dining Room, a lovely cosy space. Choose your location as you book.
Dates available in November: Daily Dates available in December: Daily, excluding 24th, 25th and 26th
6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd December, 10am – 3pm
Dogs can meet Santa Paws in the Garden Centre. Snap a festive photo, grab a treat for your pooch and enjoy a lovely meet-and-greet experience – free with no booking required.
Dates and online prices, subject to a booking fee.
Calm Session: Fewer people, reduced sound effects and fewer lighting effects. Relaxed Performance: Fewer people, relaxed attitude to noise and moving around the space, fewer sound effects. BSL Interpreted: A British Sign Language interpreter will interpret the performance or experience.
Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Calm SessionsBookable online in advance Saturday 15th November, 9.30am – 10.30am Tuesday 25th November, 2.30pm – 3.30pm Friday 19th December, 5.30pm – 6.30pm Thursday 1st January, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Father Christmas in the CastleBookable online in advance Relaxed Performance - Friday 19th December, 6.30pm
Santa’s Grotto in the BoathouseBookable online in advance Relaxed Performance - Saturday 6th December, 4.40pm BSL Interpreted Performance, Saturday 13th December, 10am
Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz BSL TourBook your Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz tickets, and meet at the House entrance at these times to take part in the BSL tour. Saturday 13th December, 11am, 3pm
Touch BoxesAvailable to everyone on the day of their visit.Touch boxes will be available in select rooms as part of the Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz experience. Touch boxes are sensory objects creatively designed to tell the story of the space, and are available for anyone who would like to use them as part of their experience.
Find out more about accessibility
Our Farm Shop has everything you need to create a delicious, locally sourced Christmas dinner, including locally-reared turkey and Castle Howard Estate beef. Order forms available soon.
Find the Farm Shop in the Stable Courtyard.
Christmas trees, gifts and accessories available from mid-November.
Find the Garden Centre nearby the Stable Courtyard.
We’ve launched the Bog Hall Habitat Bank, an ambitious programme for landscape-scale nature restoration. Work is underway to turn this 440-acre area of marginal farmland to grassland, scrubland wetland and woodland, and we are excitedly preparing to receive a family of beavers in early 2026. On the edge of the project area lies Bog Hall barns, a small farmyard which has fallen into disrepair. Donations will directly support the stone barn restoration and conversion into a dedicated education and event space where people can see the changes across the Bog Hall Habitat Bank, learn more about nature restoration and conservation approaches and be inspired to make changes themselves. You can support the Bog Hall barn restoration when you purchase your tickets.
Find out more about the Bog Hall Habitat Bank
This Christmas, Castle Howard is being transformed into the Wonderful World of Oz, where slippers sparkle, lions find courage, and dreams really do come true. We are looking for volunteers to help bring this enchanting story to life for thousands of visitors. Whether you're welcoming guests to the Emerald City, helping families make their way through a world of twisters and tin men, or supporting our events team behind the curtain—you’ll be part of the magic that makes it all happen. Why volunteer with us? Be part of a world-famous Christmas experience with a spellbinding twist Join a warm, welcoming team Gain new skills, festive perks, and behind-the-scenes access Help create joyful memories for families and visitors of all ages No experience is needed—just bring your courage, heart, and a little Christmas spirit
Register your interest today
We strongly recommend booking tickets in advance. Walk-up tickets are subject to availability, and at busy times we cannot guarantee entry. The Ticket Office will remain open until the last Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz entry.
We recommend you arrive at Castle Howard at least 15 minutes before the House entry slot, and 30 minutes before your Father Christmas or Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse showing, because latecomers will not be admitted.
This year the timeslots for Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the House are 30 minutes long. For example, if you book a 10.30am – 11am timeslot, you are welcome to enter the House at any time during that window. If you are running very late you do not need to contact us, unless the House will be closed after your arrival, after which we will refuse your entry.
Some of the experiences have specific limits, e.g. a maximum of two adults per booking for our Father Christmas and Santa’s Grotto experiences.
If there aren’t enough tickets left in the slot you want, usually that’s because the remaining tickets are already sold. We recommend choosing a different slot.
Admission for the following schemes is subject to availability and can be redeemed at the Ticket Office by presenting a valid membership card or proof of entitlement:
Max Card
Yorkshire's Great Houses, Castles & Gardens, Art Pass and York Pass schemes, and free tickets for campers at the Lakeside Holiday Park schemes are suspended at Christmas.
Yes.
£7, subject to a booking fee. Members (up to one car per booking), and Blue Badge holders don’t pay for parking.
We charge for car parking at Christmas to help support our additional infrastructure, including Car Park Attendants, lighting, and trackway, and help us improve our car parking facilities for everyone’s safety and comfort in the future. We have previously used funds from car parking charges to create more disabled car parking spaces, and to support the resurfacing of part of the car park.
Pushchairs, prams, and large rucksack-style baby carriers are not allowed in the House for Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz or Father Christmas in the Castle. Please leave your pushchair, carrier or pram in the dedicated covered space in the Christmas Marquee.
Pushchairs, carriers, and prams are not permitted in Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse. You can leave your pushchair, carrier, or pram outside the space.
Small baby carriers and hip seats are available to borrow from the House entrance. Please return it when you collect your pushchair or pram. No food or drink is allowed in the House. Breast feeding is welcome anywhere on site, but if you’d prefer a private place, please ask a staff member. There is a dedicated quiet room, for breastfeeding, prayer, or for some quiet space, at the House entrance.
We have dedicated blue badge car parking spaces at the front of the visitor car park. Please display your badge in your window. There are limited blue badge parking spaces so please arrive early if you would like to secure one. Our Blue Badge car parking spaces are closest to the ticket office. They are 2.4m wide by 4.8m long with hatching to one side and rear of 1200mm.
If you struggle with mobility but don’t have a blue badge, you can drop-off at the Courtyard before parking elsewhere. Blue badge holders do not need to pay for car parking. We kindly ask you to choose Blue Badge Parking when you book your tickets online, which helps us plan ahead. Please note, booking a Blue Badge space online does not guarantee a space on the day. It is our ambition to increase the amount of Blue Badge spaces in the car park.
Level access to Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is via the Christmas Marquee. The North Marquee entrance is equipped with an automatic door. The South Marquee entrance is equipped with two sets of double doors – please note that these doors are not automatic and open outwards. We recommend using the North Marquee entrance.
To access the House entrance, please ask a member of staff in the Gift Shop (immediately on the left as you enter the Marquee via the North entrance) for level access assistance through to the visitor route.
Staff can help wheelchair users (under 225kg) use the House stair lift which takes visitors to the main floor of the House. Electric wheelchair or scooter users will need to self-transfer into a manual wheelchair to use the House stair lift, and we have plenty of manual wheelchairs which can be borrowed if required. We regret that access to the Chapel is restricted.
Our Christmas Marquee is a temporary structure with ramped entry. The ramps are fitted to conform with regulatory standards, but there are some awkward thresholds in the design. Please see our Christmas access guide for full details, available from October 2025.
If you require a carer or companion, they can visit for free. You can choose Essential Carer tickets when you book online. They must be booked with other paid tickets. We ask all carers to bring with you evidence of carer status (an Essential Carers card, a blue badge, carers allowance, personal independence payment) which we will check in the Ticket Office.
If you, or someone you care for, requires two-to-one support, please contact the Tickets Office who can help you book your tickets (sales@castlehoward.co.uk / 01653 648333). This is to help us understand more about how we can make your day as smooth as possible.
Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed to use in the Gardens and the House. They can be collected from the Ticket Office or at the House entrance. There is no need to pre-book a wheelchair, we have plenty available. Please note that electric wheelchairs are not allowed in the House, and you must transfer into a manual wheelchair if you intend to visit the House.
Off-road trampers available to hire from the Ticket Office. Visitors can borrow an off-road tramper to help them access a wider area of the Grounds and Gardens. The off-road tramper can handle hills and uneven terrain compared to manual wheelchairs. Hiring a tramper is free, but subject to availability and cannot be pre-booked. We will provide you with a map (please note the winter route for trampers is reduced from the summer route due to ground conditions, and trampers aren’t available after dusk).
Key: Calm Session: Fewer people, reduced sound effects and fewer lighting effects. Relaxed Performance: Fewer people, relaxed attitude to noise and moving around the space, fewer sound effects. BSL Interpreted: A British Sign Language interpreter will interpret the performance or experience.
Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Calm SessionsBookable online in advance
Father Christmas in the CastleBookable online in advance
Santa’s Grotto in the BoathouseBookable online in advance
Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz BSL TourBook your Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz tickets, and meet at the House entrance at these times to take part in the BSL tour.
Touch BoxesAvailable to everyone on the day of their visit.
Touch boxes will be available in select rooms as part of the Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz experience. Touch boxes are sensory objects creatively designed to tell the story of the space, and are available for anyone who would like to use them as part of their experience.
Entry to the House for Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is timed in 30-minute slots. We do this to manage the number of visitors in the House, stagger entry throughout the day, and to prevent queues. Sometimes queues do occur, due to a higher number of walk-up visitors, a late coach party, and more. We kindly ask for your patience if you do encounter a queue. The queue into the House is outdoors, so we recommend dressing warmly. There will be a covered area with some seating by the House entrance.
There is limited seating available, and there isn’t seating in every room. There are some places where visitors can temporarily rest, but we can’t guarantee this at our busiest times.
Portable stools can be borrowed from the House entrance - please ask a member of staff. Please note these are camping-style stools with no arms or back. Please return the stools to the Gift Shop or House entrance. Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow from the Ticket Office of House Entrance – please ask a member of staff.
Father Christmas in the Castle is inside the House and is a 25-minute performance, followed with a one-to-one moment with Father Christmas and Mrs Claus. The whole experience can last 35 - 55 minutes, depending on the number of groups, and at which point you have your moment with Father Christmas and Mrs Claus. Tickets to Father Christmas in the Castle include entry to Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Santa’s Grotto is in the Boathouse and includes a 20-minute experience, with the first 10 minutes performed by Story Craft Theatre’s jolly Christmas friends, with Santa joining the performance for the remaining time. The whole experience can be up to 20 minutes, depending on the number of groups, and at which point you have your moment with Santa.
Tickets to Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse do not include tickets to Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz – you can add Grotto tickets to your House or Gardens tickets.
Father Christmas in the Castle is sadly inaccessible for wheelchair users; the show location is up two flights of stairs. We understand that this is disappointing, and it’s our ambition to make adjustments in the future. We invite wheelchair users to enjoy Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse and Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
We want to make your visit special and memorable and help where we can. You can contact us directly about your booking to discuss the particulars of access required, and if any solutions or arrangements can be made. Please email sales@castlehoward.co.uk.
You will not need to queue in the House entrance queue if you are on your way to the Father Christmas in the Castle. The meeting point for Father Christmas in the Castle can be accessed via the Christmas Marquee. Please follow the signs and you will be greeted by a Castle Howard member of staff.
When you are ready to visit Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, make your way to the regular House entrance.
All Santa’s Grotto bookings require a paying child ticket to make the booking. If you have a babe in arms as well as a paying child ticket, you will be able to add the babe in arms to the booking. Gifts are available for paid tickets only. For example, if you bring a babe in arms and one child, one gift will be given.
Babe in arms tickets are valid for children under 12 months. Older children must have a Child ticket.
Members tickets can be used for Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, or Father Christmas in the Castle which includes a visit to the House as part of the experience (charges apply for children, reduced from non-Member pricing), subject to availability.
Member tickets are available on Yellow, Green and Blue Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz timeslots. Member tickets are not available on Orange (£38) timeslots. The only date where Member tickets are not valid for any timeslot is 24th December. Member tickets are available for all other timeslots on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to availability.
Please check the following:
Email sales@castlehoward.co.uk