Castle Howard - Days Out Leaflets

Discover the House
Castle Howard, one of England’s finest historic houses,
is nestled in the breathtaking Howardian Hills, an Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The magnificent 18th
century House was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for
the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. Today, The Hon. Simon and
Mrs Howard and their children Merlin and Octavia call
Castle Howard home.
Experience the grandeur of this beautiful country
house and discover world-renowned collections
including frescos, furniture and paintings. Friendly
guides will share enchanting stories as you journey
through the dramatic interiors of Castle Howard.
Admission Charges
Visit www.castlehoward.co.uk to see a full list of admission charges to
the House & Grounds. Discounts are available for families and groups.
There is no charge to visit the Courtyard Gift Shops, Farm Shop, Garden
Centre and Cafés.
Opening Dates & Times
Grounds, Shops and Cafés: open daily all year from 10am to 5pm (last
admission to the grounds 4.30pm, dusk in winter).
House: open daily from 11am until 4pm (last admission) between
24 March and 4 November, and from 24 November to 16 December 2012.*
*Last entry to the house may occasionally be earlier than the published time as we
prepare for a wedding ceremony. In addition, the House will be closed on 16 June
2012 for a private function. Please note admission to the Grounds, Shops and Cafés
will remain unaffected. Visit our website for the latest opening information.
Access for All
Castle Howard is accessible for wheelchair users – visit our website
for details.
Group Visits
Pre-book a group visit and enjoy discounted admission (minimum group
size 12). Visit our website for details of group benefits, private dining,
tours and lectures.
Annual Pass
As an Annual Pass holder you can enjoy unlimited access to Castle
Howard when open to the public; discounts in our shops and cafes; free
admission to most daytime events; a seasonal newsletter, plus exclusive
tours and talks. Visit our website for details.
Weddings & Banqueting
Castle Howard is a stunning venue for a wedding ceremony and reception,
as well as a grand location for private and corporate entertaining. To find
out more visit our website.
Getting to Castle Howard
Find us 15 miles north-east of York, just off the A64. Visit our website
for details of height restrictions at the Gate House and public transport
information.
Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
Visitor Information 01653 648333
Email house@castlehoward.co.uk
Visit www.castlehoward.co.uk
Dogs on leads
welcome
It’s a beautiful day
The Howard Family
The Antique Passage
‘ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP TEN GREATEST
MANSIONS AND GRAND HOUSES’
Lonely Planet’s 1,000 Ultimate Sights
The Turquoise Drawing Room The Picture Collection
www.castlehoward.co.uk
The Great Hall
The Turquoise Drawing Room
The Picture Collection

Exhibitions,
Tours & Talks
Discover more about Castle Howard with our programme
of special exhibitions, private views, talks and tours.
great fire of 1940 and subsequent restoration, and how
Evelyn Waugh’s famous novel came to be filmed not
once – but twice – at Castle Howard.
Maids & Mistresses: The Women of Castle Howard
Celebrating the lives and accomplishments of the
women who have lived and worked at Castle Howard,
this exhibition shows the vital role that women played
in the history of this great Estate.
The Building of Castle Howard
Early in 1699 Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle,
decided to make his mark on Yorkshire’s landscape
with a majestic country home. He chose his friend,
the playwright Sir John Vanbrugh as architect, a brave
decision as Vanbrugh had never built a house before.
The gamble paid off and this exhibition highlights
Vanbrugh’s remarkable achievement.
Explore the Grounds
From sweeping lawns and woodland walks to ancient
temples and awe-inspiring lakes, you can easily
spend a day exploring the beauty and history of this
magnificent landscape. You can join the free guided
tours to uncover the secrets of the Grounds or you can
simply wander at leisure.
Seasonal flowers add explosions of colour from
traditional favourites such as daffodils, rhododendrons
and delphiniums to the abundance of roses which
decorate the famous Rose Garden. The 18th-century
walled garden is also home to a pretty Ornamental
Vegetable Garden and some of the vegetables grown
here can be found in our Farm Shop.
Castle Howard Revealed Separate Ticket applies
Join us for a private view, tour or talk and discover
the treasures that make Castle Howard such a magical
place. This special series is led by our Curator who will
uncover the secrets of this spectacular family home.
Places are limited and must be pre-booked.
Additional tickets are required and some events
take place in the evening. Please see our website for
more details.
Felix Kelly, A Steam Fair with Kelly Cars at Castle Howard (1967)
Capturing the Castle: 300 years of Castle Howard
represented in paintings, photographs and the
decorative arts
Some of the most revered artists and writers in the
world have left their mark on Castle Howard’s history
by capturing the beauty of the House and Grounds
in their work. This new exhibition highlights Castle
Howard’s representation throughout history and
includes the famous 18th-century architectural
engravings that first publicised Vanbrugh’s magnificent
building to the world.
Brideshead Restored: The Story of Restoration at
Castle Howard and Brideshead Revisited
Witness the extraordinary transformation of the High
South from derelict space to film set, for the Miramax
production of Brideshead Revisited. In this exhibition
props and painted scenery help tell the story of the
Maids & Mistresses
The High South
The Temple of the Four Winds The Walled Garden Ray Wood

Inside Play & Adventure • Restaurants & Cafés • gift shops • Farm shop • Garden Centre • Lakeside Holiday Park • 2012 Events • Site Map
Play & Adventure
Gift Shops
Garden Centre
Castle Howard is ideal for a day of family fun.
Geoffrey the Lion’s illustrated trails will guide your
children through the House and Grounds and our
engaging and friendly guides tell intriguing tales of
Castle Howard’s past.
Families can explore 1,000 acres and hop on the
land-train or let off steam around the adventure
playground. You can cool off with a boat trip on the
Great Lake (in the summer, weather permitting) or
enjoy a walk through the magical woodland paths
which are a haven for wildlife.
Restaurants & Cafés
From a mouth-watering breakfast in the Courtyard Café
to start off your day to delicious lunches in our selfservice
Fitzroy Room restaurant and afternoon teas in
our range of Cafés, you can enjoy tasty food throughout
the day at Castle Howard. Scrumptious food on the go
is served in style in our Coffee Shop and Boathouse Café
where you can treat yourself to cakes and ice creams or
a refreshing hot drink.
Wherever you eat, you will discover good food made
from seasonal ingredients and lovingly created by our
talented chefs. Alternatively you can create a picnic
with tasty produce from our Farm Shop, to enjoy in
the Grounds.
Castle Howard is a shopper’s paradise and the elegant
Gift Shops have some delightful treats on offer.
Nestled amongst the traditional country home ware
ranges in the Carriage House, you will find jewellery,
clothing, toiletries and seasonal gifts for all.
For a reminder of a special day at Castle Howard
you can pick up a souvenir from the House Gift Shop
where the gifts are inspired by the House, Grounds
and collections.
Browse the well-stocked Bookshop and lose yourself in
the range of books covering history, gardening, fiction
and more. The Bookshop also has some lovely gifts
including stationery and games.
Farm Shop
The Farm Shop is as famous for its Yorkshire welcome
as it is for the delicious produce on offer. Convenient
parking means you can pick up groceries on the go
including fresh vegetables, artisan bread, local cheeses,
wine and gifts.
Our butchers are proud to sell a wide range of meat
and game, much of which is sourced within a 15-mile
radius of Castle Howard, including the Estate’s own
Aberdeen Angus beef.
The Farm Shop is open daily with free admission
and parking.
Enjoy a warm welcome when you visit the Garden
Centre which is the ideal place to find quality plants,
trees and shrubs, some of which are Estate-grown.
Discerning gardeners will find everything they need
to keep their green-fingers busy including tools,
equipment and gardening essentials. With a range of
tempting gardening gifts, containers and decorative
plants, the Garden Centre is also a haven for shoppers
looking for that perfect gift.
The Garden Centre is open daily with free admission
and parking.

Events in 2012
Saturday 18 August separate ticket applies
The Proms Spectacular
Lakeside Holiday Park
One day is rarely enough to fully experience Castle
Howard, so why not stay a little longer? We welcome
visitors to enjoy the idyllic Yorkshire countryside with
a peaceful stay at our Lakeside Holiday Park.
You can escape to the tranquillity of the Holiday Park
whenever you wish with one of our holiday homes which
are available to buy. Alternatively you can bring your
touring caravan or tent and enjoy a few days rest and
relaxation as you explore the Estate and beyond. With
picture-perfect villages and the Howardian Hills on your
doorstep, and York and the North York Moors close by,
you’ll want to stay forever.
Call 01653 648316 (touring caravans and camping) or
01653 648576 (holiday home sales), or visit our website
for more details.
The following events are included in the admission
price unless otherwise stated. More details of these and
other events can be found at www.castlehoward.co.uk
Craft and Produce Markets Free Admission
Shop for traditional crafts, delicious foods and
unique gifts at the Castle Howard Craft and Produce
Markets. These take place on the second Tuesday of
each month from April to September, with additional
markets at Bank Holidays and Christmas. Please visit
our website for details.
Friday 6 to Monday 9 April
Bank Holiday Weekend
Traditional Easter Fair – fairground rides, shire
horse and dray rides, egg hunt and facepainting
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May
Geoffrey’s Jamboree Weekend – fun for children
Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June
Bank Holiday Weekend
Animal Antics – dog show, birds of prey, creepy
crawlies, furry friends and more
Sunday 24 June separate ticket applies
The Castle Howard Cup – White Rose polo
Sunday 1 July to 31 August
Garden Sculpture – Roses by Paul Cummins
Saturday 22 July
Castle Howard Triathlon
Thursday 26 and Friday 27 July separate ticket applies
Black Beauty – outdoor evening theatre
Wednesday 1 August Free Admission
Yorkshire Day Food Market – tempting treats and
delicious delicacies grown and produced in Yorkshire
Saturday 4 August
Marie Curie Twilight 10k Walk
Sunday 26 and Monday 27 August
Bank Holiday Weekend
Get Active Family Weekend – cycling, archery,
climbing and lots more for all the family!
Sunday 11 November separate ticket applies
Castle Howard Wedding Fair
Christmas
2012
Friday 9 November separate ticket applies
The NSPCC Christmas Shopping Fair
Saturday 24 November to Sunday 16 December
Christmas at Castle Howard
See Castle Howard in all its festive glory and take in
the magical Christmas atmosphere of the candlelit
House. There will be yuletide entertainment, festive
foods and gifts, plus pre-book a fireside audience
with Father Christmas at weekends.
Sunday 25, Monday 26, Tuesday 27 November
Sunday 2, Monday 3, Tuesday 4 December
Sunday 9, Monday 10 December
Christmas Craft and Produce Markets
in the Courtyard Free Admission
Friday 7 and Friday 14 December
separate ticket applies
Christmas Dinner at Castle Howard
House & Grounds
Please take care when journeying
through the grounds. Surfaces can be
slippery and uneven.
map design: nicholas hawksworth 01223 693 082