Yorkshire Moors

Spotlight · Week of 9 November

A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard

By Jon Cosson · Updated 11 October 2026

Castle Howard, in the Howardian Hills to the south of the National Park, opens its Christmas season on 12 November, by its Christmas page. This year's theme is A Dickens of a Christmas, a Victorian show through the house, with the gardens open alongside. Every ticket has to be booked in advance.

The facts

Dates
12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, by the Christmas page. The page's own summary says 13 November to 4 January, so check the day you book.
Show tickets
Adults £24 to £40, children £12 to £20, depending on date and time. Gardens only: from £15 an adult, free for members.
Extras
Father Christmas in the Castle from £60 a child; Christmas afternoon tea from £50, children from £30.
Parking
£7.25 a car, booked with your tickets; free for Blue Badge holders.
Booking
Every ticket must be pre-booked and is non-refundable, with a 5.5 per cent booking fee. Changes up to 48 hours ahead. The site is cashless. Opening hours vary by date.

On the Moors the same season

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Santa Express runs an hour-long return trip from Pickering to Levisham on 28 and 29 November and on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December, leaving at 10.30am, noon, 1.30pm and 3pm. £29.50 a person in November, £34.50 from 5 to 13 December and £39.50 from 19 to 24 December; carers £17.50; a £1.50 booking fee.

Sources: Castle Howard, Christmas at Castle Howard; North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Santa Express. Checked 11 October 2026.

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Where to stay in the North York Moors

Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.

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Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

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Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

What is there to do in the North York Moors in winter?

Stargazing (it's an International Dark Sky Reserve), bracing coastal and moorland walks, cosy country pubs, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's festive steam services. The moors are atmospheric and empty in winter.

What's on →

What are the top things to do in the North York Moors?

Ride the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, walk the heather moors and the Cleveland Way, explore Rievaulx and Whitby abbeys, see the Hole of Horcum and Sutton Bank, visit Goathland and Thornton-le-Dale, and spend a day on the coast at Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay.

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What can you do in the North York Moors when it rains?

Ride the steam railway, visit museums (Beck Isle Museum in Pickering, the Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole, Whitby's museums), explore abbey visitor centres, or browse the shops and tearooms of Helmsley and Whitby.

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What do I need to know about driving in the North York Moors?

Moor roads are scenic but narrow, with blind summits, cattle grids and sheep. Sometimes free-roaming through villages like Goathland, on unfenced roads, so drive slowly and use passing places. High routes such as Blakey Ridge can be bleak or closed in snow.

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Is it free to visit the North York Moors, and what does it cost?

The national park is free to enter, and most walking, moorland and viewpoints cost nothing; you pay only for parking, attractions (abbeys, the railway, museums) and refreshments. Prices vary, so check official sites.

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Can you camp in the North York Moors, and is wild camping allowed?

There are many campsites and caravan parks across the park, but wild camping is not a legal right in England and requires the landowner's permission, so use official sites.

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