Castle Howard Photos
Recommended Reviews - Castle Howard
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What a wonderful day trip! We headed here from Doncaster, South Yorkshire for a day trip and hoped we'd find something to do. Well, we had a wonderful time! Castle Howard is a grand estate consisting of numerous buildings. We were there on a beautiful, sunny March day. The grounds were almost empty save a few visitors. We spent a little time in the first courtyard at the glass sculpture shop and then headed into the Castle area. The stately home is gorgeous. We took a self guided tour of the home and then walked outside to view the gardens and grounds. We were lucky to have beautiful weather (take a look at my posted photos). There were yellow daffodils everywhere! We walked up to the temple of the four winds and got an amazing view of a distant mausoleum. We had lunch in the cafe at the bottom of the home. The food was surprisingly good. I was a little worried at the lack of selection, but we liked what we had. There is a fair amount of walking, so bring your trainers. The very nice staff got a wheelchair for my elderly mother-in-law to use throughout the home and the grounds (at no charge). Everyone was very courteous and helpful. We asked questions of the volunteers throughout the home and they did they absolute best to our my questions. On our way out, we visited the farm house store. There is an absolutely lovely selection of sweets and other kitchen items. We purchased an oil, vinegar, and sea salt mixture for my father. He says it is delicious and uses it all the time. There was a small shop selling chocolates on the way out and we bought some very cute Easter candies for a friend in the states. I would highly recommend this as a day trip from anywhere in Great Britain. It certainly is worth your time. It seems much easier to get to if you have a car. This place does everything 5 star!
15 miles east of York on the A64. Lovely house and grounds, worth the trip. Most of grounds and gardens are open to the public. The Temple of the Four Winds is haunting. Lots of artwork, they allow photos without flash. Vendors in courtyard with food and souvenirs. Love the Atlas Fountain, South Front, and Great Hall. The family is in residence.
Construction of Castle Howard began circa 1699 and it took more than one hundred years to complete. Best known as the setting for the late-1970s television miniseries and the 2008 film "Brideshead Revisited," it attracts only 200,000 visitors per year, probably due to its somewhat remote location. From London you can take British Rail to Malton and then either a cab (£10 one way) or the Castle Howard Shuttle Service, which departs from the bus depot opposite the railway station. Purchase of a House and Gardens ticket for £11.00 gives you access to the main building, four exhibitions, outdoor guided tours, a boat trip on the lake, a children's playground, six shops, and three cafés. Alternatively, from York you can take a full-day tour that includes a four-hour stop at Castle Howard offered by the York Pullman Bus Company (see http://www.yorkpullmanbus.co.uk/TourDescription.aspx?ID=1&WebItem=2 for details). The house and 1000 acres of landscaped gardens are magnificent, and there are extensive collections of artwork, porcelain, and sculpture to be seen. You really need several hours to do everything justice. If it's a warm sunny day, I recommend you have either lunch or traditional tea on the patio of the Courtyard Café, which specializes in seasonal ingredients and features favorites like beef and ale pie, sausages with onion mash, Yorkshire pudding with gravy, and sticky toffee pudding. If you have a sweet tooth be sure to visit the chocolate shop, where you can buy mouthwatering locally handmade candy. Locals might want to take advantage of the Farm Shop, which has butcher, seafood, and deli counters selling local meat, fish, and regional cheeses, plus freshly baked breads and cakes, preserves, seasonal fruit and vegetables, speciality teas and coffees, and wine and beer. There's also a shop selling books covering a wide variety of interests, including local history, gardening, travel, cooking, and crafts. Personally, I feel Castle Howard is worth a trek from London and a definite must-see if you already are in North Yorkshire.
This is a really wonderful house to spend a day out There are vast gardens with some wonderful flowers there are woods and many sculptures we took a tour of the grounds to learn more The house has many wonderful rooms open to the public full of fantastic paintings My fav is the wonderful chapel You can take a carriage ride up to one of the places where they used to take tea There is a lovely b & b nearby for early morning access There is a book shop. farm shop, garden shop shop chocolate shop and a gift shop so plenty to choose from There are also several places to eat
Stunning mansion, a great day out to be had at Castle Howard. Of the many British castles/mansions I've visited to far, Castle Howard is the most beautiful. You can enjoy a great day out there: Not just in the house, but also in the vast park area surrounding the main building, with pleasant lakes to stroll along. The inside of Castle Howard is very well preserved and definitely worth the modest asking price (You can even take photos). The Howard family, who are *not* members of the royalty, still live there. But to make ends meet, they allow visitors for 10 out of 12 months of the year. The mansion is located in the middle of nowhere in Yorkshire, so you need to get there either by car or by bus (from Leeds e.g. it's a 1-hour bus ride, no changes - but only 3 times a day!). The area is vast, you can take a walk for hours. Once you're done with the inside you can while away the waiting period for the next bus at the nice little café and have a scone. What Wikipedia says about Castle Howard: "Building of Castle Howard began in 1699 and took over 100 years to complete to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. The site was that of the ruined Henderskelfe Castle, which had come into the Howard family in 1566 through the marriage to Lord Dacre's widow of Thomas, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The house is surrounded by a large estate which, at the time of the 7th Earl of Carlisle, covered over 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) and included the villages of Welburn, Bulmer, Slingsby, Terrington and Coneysthorpe. The estate was served by its own railway station, Castle Howard, from 1845 to the 1950s. After the death of the 9th Earl in 1911, Castle Howard was inherited by his younger son Geoffrey, with later earls having Naworth Castle as their northern country house. In 1952, the house was opened to the public by the then owner, George Howard, Baron Howard of Henderskelfe. It is currently owned by his son, the Honourable Simon Howard, who grew up at the castle. In 2003, the grounds were excavated over three days by Channel 4's Time Team, searching for evidence of a local village lost to allow for the landscaping of the estate." See my photos.
Lovely house and gardens, need a good few hours to see both. Obviously famous for being 'Brideshead' but even if you've never heard of it then take time out for a visit. Lovely food available and it's no more expensive than any other cafe, great adventure playground for the kids, gift shops and nature trails.the place is huge!!! There are tours and a train that you can hop on to take you to various parts of the estate. The family live in part of the house and the twins were playing out in the gardens on our visit. An annual ticket is available which we're considering as they have many events over the year.it's a lovely place with a really homely feel.
3 years ago
Came here to enjoy the gardens and the grounds. This time around we didn't visit the Castles rooms, but surely will next time we have a chance to. Although building work began in 1699, the construction of Castle Howard took over 100 years to complete. On the morning of 9th November 1940, fire broke out at Castle Howard. There was a lot of rebuild to be done, as time and money permit, the gradual task of restoring the fire-damaged section continues, and in 1994-5 the Central Block was re-roofed. The estate, gardens and grounds are massive. As is the castle itself. Impressive to see. The gardens and walled garden are really enjoyable, so many plants and flowers. We spent a lot of time in there. It's peaceful, quiet, beautiful. The atlas fountain is a sight to behold. Amazing. We did picnic in the woodland area, with a nice view of both the castle and the fountain. It was nice just to sit there and to take in the scenery. Later on we enjoyed a stroll around the South Lake. A nice little walk. Enjoyed the lakeviews there and just sat down to enjoy the moment. There are countless sights and trails. You can spend easily a day here. Even more if you plan to go inside the castle. There's so much to see, to learn, to enjoy. Staff is very nice and helpful. Even though there are quite some visitors, it never feels crowded. It felt relaxed and quiet outside on the grounds. In the gardens as well. There's a really nice shop at the entrance with lots of wonderful farmer products. Sweets, cakes, cheese, meat. And a lot more. Dogs are allowed as well in the outside areas. Our Bulldog had a great time. A really wonderful visit. And definitely a place to come back to the next time we're in the UK. Loved it. read more
7 years ago
What a beautiful estate! We first started with a drink at the cafe and then headed to the Gardens. Beautiful hedges and a lovely walk meandering throughout the gardens. Beautiful flowers, plants, and even vegetables with statues, a fountain. and the gardener's house. The Atlas Fountain and grounds are extraordinary. The Interior of the house is fascinating and there are people stationed throughout to help answer any questions and shed a little light on what you are seeing. It was quite an enjoyable afternoon. We stopped for lunch and had the famous sausage roll which was yummy as were the quiches and sweets. There's a few gift shops and a market. read more
17 years ago
What a wonderful day trip! We headed here from Doncaster, South Yorkshire for a day trip and hoped we'd find something to do. Well, we had a wonderful time! Castle Howard is a grand estate consisting of numerous buildings. We were there on a beautiful, sunny March day. The grounds were almost empty save a few visitors. We spent a little time in the first courtyard at the glass sculpture shop and then headed into the Castle area. The stately home is gorgeous. We took a self guided tour of the home and then walked outside to view the gardens and grounds. We were lucky to have beautiful weather (take a look at my posted photos). There were yellow daffodils everywhere! We walked up to the temple of the four winds and got an amazing view of a distant mausoleum. We had lunch in the cafe at the bottom of the home. The food was surprisingly good. I was a little worried at the lack of selection, but we liked what we had. There is a fair amount of walking, so bring your trainers. The very nice staff got a wheelchair for my elderly mother-in-law to use throughout the home and the grounds (at no charge). Everyone was very courteous and helpful. We asked questions of the volunteers throughout the home and they did they absolute best to our my questions. On our way out, we visited the farm house store. There is an absolutely lovely selection of sweets and other kitchen items. We purchased an oil, vinegar, and sea salt mixture for my father. He says it is delicious and uses it all the time. There was a small shop selling chocolates on the way out and we bought some very cute Easter candies for a friend in the states. I would highly recommend this as a day trip from anywhere in Great Britain. It certainly is worth your time. It seems much easier to get to if you have a car. This place does everything 5 star! read more
15 miles east of York on the A64. Lovely house and grounds, worth the trip. Most of grounds and gardens are open to the public. The Temple of the Four Winds is haunting. Lots of artwork, they allow photos without flash. Vendors in courtyard with food and souvenirs. Love the Atlas Fountain, South Front, and Great Hall. The family is in residence. read more
4 years ago
17 years ago
Construction of Castle Howard began circa 1699 and it took more than one hundred years to complete. Best known as the setting for the late-1970s television miniseries and the 2008 film "Brideshead Revisited," it attracts only 200,000 visitors per year, probably due to its somewhat remote location. From London you can take British Rail to Malton and then either a cab (£10 one way) or the Castle Howard Shuttle Service, which departs from the bus depot opposite the railway station. Purchase of a House and Gardens ticket for £11.00 gives you access to the main building, four exhibitions, outdoor guided tours, a boat trip on the lake, a children's playground, six shops, and three cafés. Alternatively, from York you can take a full-day tour that includes a four-hour stop at Castle Howard offered by the York Pullman Bus Company (see http://www.yorkpullmanbus.co.uk/TourDescription.aspx?ID=1&WebItem=2 for details). The house and 1000 acres of landscaped gardens are magnificent, and there are extensive collections of artwork, porcelain, and sculpture to be seen. You really need several hours to do everything justice. If it's a warm sunny day, I recommend you have either lunch or traditional tea on the patio of the Courtyard Café, which specializes in seasonal ingredients and features favorites like beef and ale pie, sausages with onion mash, Yorkshire pudding with gravy, and sticky toffee pudding. If you have a sweet tooth be sure to visit the chocolate shop, where you can buy mouthwatering locally handmade candy. Locals might want to take advantage of the Farm Shop, which has butcher, seafood, and deli counters selling local meat, fish, and regional cheeses, plus freshly baked breads and cakes, preserves, seasonal fruit and vegetables, speciality teas and coffees, and wine and beer. There's also a shop selling books covering a wide variety of interests, including local history, gardening, travel, cooking, and crafts. Personally, I feel Castle Howard is worth a trek from London and a definite must-see if you already are in North Yorkshire. read more
18 years ago
This is a really wonderful house to spend a day out There are vast gardens with some wonderful flowers there are woods and many sculptures we took a tour of the grounds to learn more The house has many wonderful rooms open to the public full of fantastic paintings My fav is the wonderful chapel You can take a carriage ride up to one of the places where they used to take tea There is a lovely b & b nearby for early morning access There is a book shop. farm shop, garden shop shop chocolate shop and a gift shop so plenty to choose from There are also several places to eat read more
11 years ago
Stunning mansion, a great day out to be had at Castle Howard. Of the many British castles/mansions I've visited to far, Castle Howard is the most beautiful. You can enjoy a great day out there: Not just in the house, but also in the vast park area surrounding the main building, with pleasant lakes to stroll along. The inside of Castle Howard is very well preserved and definitely worth the modest asking price (You can even take photos). The Howard family, who are *not* members of the royalty, still live there. But to make ends meet, they allow visitors for 10 out of 12 months of the year. The mansion is located in the middle of nowhere in Yorkshire, so you need to get there either by car or by bus (from Leeds e.g. it's a 1-hour bus ride, no changes - but only 3 times a day!). The area is vast, you can take a walk for hours. Once you're done with the inside you can while away the waiting period for the next bus at the nice little café and have a scone. What Wikipedia says about Castle Howard: "Building of Castle Howard began in 1699 and took over 100 years to complete to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. The site was that of the ruined Henderskelfe Castle, which had come into the Howard family in 1566 through the marriage to Lord Dacre's widow of Thomas, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The house is surrounded by a large estate which, at the time of the 7th Earl of Carlisle, covered over 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) and included the villages of Welburn, Bulmer, Slingsby, Terrington and Coneysthorpe. The estate was served by its own railway station, Castle Howard, from 1845 to the 1950s. After the death of the 9th Earl in 1911, Castle Howard was inherited by his younger son Geoffrey, with later earls having Naworth Castle as their northern country house. In 1952, the house was opened to the public by the then owner, George Howard, Baron Howard of Henderskelfe. It is currently owned by his son, the Honourable Simon Howard, who grew up at the castle. In 2003, the grounds were excavated over three days by Channel 4's Time Team, searching for evidence of a local village lost to allow for the landscaping of the estate." See my photos. read more
17 years ago
11 years ago
17 years ago
Lovely house and gardens, need a good few hours to see both. Obviously famous for being 'Brideshead' but even if you've never heard of it then take time out for a visit. Lovely food available and it's no more expensive than any other cafe, great adventure playground for the kids, gift shops and nature trails.the place is huge!!! There are tours and a train that you can hop on to take you to various parts of the estate. The family live in part of the house and the twins were playing out in the gardens on our visit. An annual ticket is available which we're considering as they have many events over the year.it's a lovely place with a really homely feel. read more
14 years ago
This is a very beautiful place there`s a big garden drive up to the building and a fantastic fountain in the of the grounds very picturesque there`s also peacocks wandering around and there very friendly its also the place where brideshead revisited was filmed and theres a section upstairs just dedicated to the tv show its a very pretty and interesting place to visit in the sun or rain and is all wheelchair accessable worth a look read more
18 years ago
17 years ago
17 years ago
