Castle Howard Summary

• Address: York, YO60 7DA (Map)
• Tel: +44 (0)1653 648333
• Fax: +44 (0)1653 648529
• Owner: The Hon Simon Howard
• Administrator: Visitor Services
• E-mail: Click here to contact
• Website: Go to the Castle Howard website

Thus, what was once to be a symmetrical composite of buildings, making a unified whole, now comprises an eccentrically asymmetrical construction, though many would say that this is what gives Castle Howard the unique character it presents today. Others lament it as the devaluation of one of England's only truly Baroque houses.

Tragically further change was to occur in the middle of the 20th century when, on the morning of 9 November 1940, fire broke out in the South-East Wing and swept through the house into the Great Hall, destroying the dome and nearly twenty rooms. For the next few years much of Castle Howard was open to the skies, its once splendid rooms gutted shells. George Howard, who inherited Castle Howard after the death of his two brothers in action during the war, determined that the House should be lived in once more, and made the bold decision to recover Vanbrugh's damaged architectural masterpiece.

It is largely due to his remarkable efforts that Castle Howard is today home to the family, and enjoys such enormous popularity with the public. In 1960-62 the dome was rebuilt and redecorated, and in 1981, in conjunction with Granada Television and the filming of Brideshead Revisited, the Garden Hall was rebuilt. You can view more details about Castle Howard on their extremely comprehensive Website.

The Gardens

While Castle Howard is famous for its 18th century landscape, much of what one sees today bears witness to Victorian intervention, as well as recent restoration and development. As plans were being drawn up for the building of the House, it was decided the surrounding landscape should also be planned. The park, as it stands today, was created from rough grazing land, and many of the trees that can be seen were planted around 1705.

The Grounds and landscape are constantly changing, with spring bulbs, daffodils, roses, herbaceous borders, and rhododendrons providing a spectacular array of colour change throughout the year. The Ray Wood Bank has recently been replanted with over 2 tonnes of daffodil bulbs, which will produce a magnificent blanket of colour in late March/Early April.

In the Boar Garden two and a half tonnes of daffodils and 10,000 small spring bulbs were planted to provide a variety of colour for early March for the first visitors of the season, including crocus, snowdrops and tulips. The grounds are host to a variety of added value events during the summer months including the annual plant fair, outdoor concerts, jazz weekends and children's weekend.

Corporate Events and Filming

There is a long tradition of warm hospitality and lavish entertaining at Castle Howard and this continues in strength today. Flexibility and variety are the keywords and this magnificent House and its breathtaking grounds can offer a variety of individually tailored occasions. Castle Howard is set within acres of glorious parkland and landscaped grounds - plenty of scope for creating the drama of a firework display accompanied by the music and marching of a military band - or for simply enjoying a leisurely visit with a lunch specially arranged for you in The Grecian Hall.

They have so much to offer for special interests - The Gardens, the landscaped Grounds and Architecture the collections of China, Antiques and Paintings, with a range of entertainment to complete any occasion. Castle Howard is an eighteenth-century palace available today for exclusive parties of every kind, formal and informal, large and small. It is a very special place - one to please the eye and mind, and, as a venue for entertaining, not to be missed!

Since the 1960s, Castle Howard has been used as a location for many film and television productions. The house and its interiors and the beautiful grounds outdoors (whatever the season) are all ideal settings for costume dramas, feature films and documentaries.

Opening Times - 2012

House:

• 24th March - 4th November: daily, 11 am - 4 pm (last admission)
• 5th - 23rd November: Closed
• 24th November - 16th December: daily, 11 am - 4 pm (last admission)
• 19th December - 23rd March: Closed

Please Note: House Closed on 16th June for private function

Grounds and Adventure Playground:

• 1st January - 23rd March: daily, 10 am - 4 pm (last admission 3.30 pm)
• 24th March - 4th November: daily, 10 am - 5.30 pm (last admission 4.30 pm)
• 5th - 23rd November: daily, 10 am - 4 pm (last admission 3.30 pm)
• 24th November - 16th December: daily, 10 am - 5.30 pm (last admission 4.30 pm)
• 19th December - 23rd March: Closed

Stable Courtyard (Farm Shop, Garden Centre, Courtyard Café, Coffee Shop and Gift Shops - free entry)

• Open all year: 10 am - 5 pm

For more information please contact Castle Howard, Estate Office on 01653 648444

Admission Prices - 2012

House & Garden

• Adult - £13.00
• Child (5-16 years) - £7.50
• Child (under 5 years) - Free
• Concession- £11.00
• Family (2+2 under five's) - £26.00
• Family (2+2 5yrs+) - £33.50

Garden Only:

• Adult - £8.50
• Child (5-16 years) - £6.00
• Child (under 5 years) - Free
• Concessions - £8.00
• Family (2+2 under five's) - £17.00
• Family (2+2 5yrs+) - £23.00

Winter: dates to be confirmed

• Adult - £6.00
• Child (5-16 years) - £3.00
• Child (under 5 years) - Free
• Concessions - £5.00

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.

Further information including opening times and prices

Image Gallery

Your Reviews of Castle Howard

Barbara Ann Steward (21 August 2005)

Spent Saturday Night at The Proms in the Park. Bellissimo, wonderful generous firework display. Spitfire antics that bought many a tear to even many more eyes, very emotive with the Dambusters music playing. Super duper music. OH, wonderful, a fantastic experience.

Red Simon (24 April 2005)

On St George's Day, April 23rd 2005, I spent a fabulous day at Castle Howard. Starting with a walk in front of the house to the great fountain and in amongst all that Ewe hedge, chasing peacocks around the lawns, then into the house proper. The tour of the house does not take long, and maybe there isn't as much to see as perhaps there should be, but it is still worth a peek inside. The most delightful aspect of touring the rooms is the curators in each room. Without much ado these room guardians will launch into a little commentary about their own room and about the history, the furniture, the characters and paintings in the room. They can be asked almost any question and seem to be able to supply an answer. These *live* notes are supplied with knowledge, with humour and CHARACTER. Far more entertaining than any colour printed souvenir guide book could ever be. Buy the book by all means, but do so from the Gift shop as you leave, and use it to remind you of your wonderful tour here. We even bumped into one of these guides whilst strolling through Ray Wood, and she entertained us greatly with a discussion of Monarchy and Carlisles and Howards of many generations. Ray Wood itself was a great treasure. It is almost impenetrable, and defies easy navigation through it because of inadequate labelling and route marking. But fear not, you are bound to find your way out, but don't go out too quickly because you are certain to have missed some remarkable shrub if you do. Our visit discovered an incredible number of flowering Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas of every hue and of every size and shape; 800 Rhodos are claimed, but don't despair as they weren't all in flower on this day, and many more will flower especially for YOUR own visit. Our only disappointment was the catering. The main restaurant offered only two main courses, Chicken Pie and Vegetarian Bake, and both looked rather tired and the worse for languishing long under the warming lights. The Lakeside Cafe offered only rather expensive sandwiches or rather dry, but cheaper, re-warmed slices of Pizza. Maybe as the season gets underway then the catering goes up a couple of notches, but on our day it was a disappointment. You can always bring your own sandwiches, and find hundreds of lovely places to eat them. Above all, get yourself through the gates of Castle Howard and enjoy a wonderful day out.

See more reviews of Castle Howard

Additional Info for Castle Howard

• Parks
• Gardens
• Groups
• Playgrounds
• Dogs allowed
• Weddings
• Disabled Access
• Education
• Refreshments
• Picnics
• Guides
• Meals Available
• Conferences
• Filming
• Gifts
• Nursery
• Live Entertainment
• Shop
• Car Parking

Heritage Groups

• Historic Houses Association

Credit Cards Accepted

• Mastercard
• Visa
• Delta
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