Superbly furnished with antiques and hung with fine paintings

Castle Howard

Visit the Castle Howard website.

Set dramatically between two lakes, Castle Howard is one of England's most beautiful historic house and it has been the home of the Howard family ever since is was built over 300 hundred years ago.

Castle Howard is so much more than just a magnificent 18th Century house with extensive collections and breathtaking parkland and gardens. It is also a diverse 10,000 acre estate, operating a range of business interests including tourism, retail, farming, forestry and property. Welcoming around 200,000 visitors a year, Castle Howard provides a range of activities to suit both groups and individuals.

In the Stable Courtyard, the new Farm Shop, Chocolate Shop and Courtyard Café, along with the popular Plant Centre, Gift and Book Shops remain open throughout the year with free admission and car parking. The Farm Shop stocks regionally sourced produce and houses its own butcher's counter and deli. The Chocolate Shop sells a range of delicious hand-crafted chocolates and the Courtyard Café serves a freshly prepared menu which uses ingredients from the Farm Shop.

Historical interpretations inside the House provide fascinating insights and attractions for visitors. Historical costumed guides, such as the original architect, Sir John Vanbrugh, provide a first person observation on what life was like at Castle Howard in their lifetime.

Outdoor tours look at the House and Estate from different perspectives and subjects include: restoration and renovation; the great fire of 1940, architecture of the House; and the Temple of the Four Winds.

Exhibitions in the House include 'The Filming of Brideshead Revisited' and 'The Women of Castle Howard'.