Things to Do
Castle Howard: a visitor guide
By Jon Cosson · Updated 26 October 2026
Checked 26 October 2026. Prices vary by date, so confirm on the Castle Howard website before you travel.
Castle Howard sits just outside the North York Moors National Park, off the A64 between York and Malton, about 15 miles north-east of York. Vanbrugh's great house, its gardens and the Arboretum across the road make one of the biggest days out within reach of the moors; here are the opening times, the ticket options, the parking and how to get there.
Castle Howard is one of several great houses and abbeys within reach of the moors; this photograph shows an abbey ruin, not the house.
The house and its history
Castle Howard was designed by John Vanbrugh from 1699 for Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, with Nicholas Hawksmoor. Building took over 100 years; the Long Gallery was finished in 1811. The house is still the Howard family home, and it is owned by Castle Howard Estate Limited. In the grounds stand Hawksmoor's Mausoleum and Vanbrugh's Temple of the Four Winds.
Fire on 9 November 1940 brought the dome down into the Great Hall; the dome was rebuilt in 1960 to 1962.
On screen
The house is familiar from television and film: Brideshead Revisited (the Granada television series of 1981 and the 2008 film), Bridgerton (Netflix, 2020), Lady L (1965), The Buccaneers (1995) and Victoria (ITV, 2016).
Opening times and tickets
In the main season, House and Gardens tickets are valid from 20 March to 31 October. The house is open 10am to 4pm (last entry 3pm), the gardens 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm), the Courtyard 9.30am to 5pm, and the Farm Shop and Garden Centre 10am to 5pm. Members get early entry from 9am to 10am.
Book online, where tickets are cheaper than at the ticket office; prices vary by date, so check the Castle Howard website. Max Card and Universal Credit tickets are £4 per person online. An Art Fund pass gives 50 per cent off, and the Yorkshire's Great Houses, Castles and Gardens pass goes free. There is no over-60s or Blue Light discount, and Historic Houses membership is not accepted. Essential carers go free with proof.
Castle Howard at a glance
- Address
- Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
- Where
- Just outside the National Park, off the A64 between York and Malton
- Main season
- House and Gardens tickets valid 20 March to 31 October
- House
- 10am to 4pm (last entry 3pm)
- Gardens
- 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm)
- Parking
- Free, with a separate Blue Badge car park; some events charge
- Dogs
- On leads in the gardens and Arboretum; 11-acre off-lead area in the Arboretum
- Visitor services
- 01653 648621
The grounds, Skelf Island and the Arboretum
The Skelf Island adventure playground is included with a gardens ticket, there is a Boathouse cafe, and a land train runs in the main season. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and the Arboretum, which has an 11-acre off-lead area. Bikes are not allowed in the grounds, except small scooters or balance bikes for under-5s, and barbecues are not allowed.
The Arboretum sits across the road from the house: 120 acres with over 7,000 trees, open from 2 March to the end of November, on a separate ticket.
Christmas at Castle Howard
The Christmas show this year is A Dickens of a Christmas, from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: Dickens' novels staged through the house with projection and sound. House tickets run from £24 plus a non-refundable booking fee, and popular dates sell out. Our Christmas guide has the full detail, and the Christmas markets guide sets it among the season's other dates.
Getting there
Vehicles over 3.43m high or 2.60m wide must avoid the archways on the eastern A64 approach and come via Malton and Castle Howard Road. The nearest station is Malton, with York the alternative, and taxis run from both. Bus 81 from York is listed on the Castle Howard site; check the timetable before you travel. A Mountain Goat minibus runs from York on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 20 March to 31 October, leaving York at 9am. The finding-us page has the full directions.
Staying nearby
The Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park sits between the Great Lake and Coneysthorpe, taking tents and touring caravans, and dogs are welcome. Malton is the nearest town for other accommodation, and our camping and caravanning guide covers the wider area.
Castle Howard: your questions answered
Where is Castle Howard?
Just outside the North York Moors National Park, off the A64 between York and Malton, about 15 miles north-east of York. The address is Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA.
How far is Castle Howard from York?
About 15 miles north-east of York, off the A64 towards Malton. The nearest station is Malton, with York the alternative, and taxis run from both.
Is parking free at Castle Howard?
Yes, parking is free and there is a separate Blue Badge car park. Some events charge for parking, so check when booking an event ticket.
Are dogs allowed at Castle Howard?
Yes, dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and the Arboretum, and the Arboretum has an 11-acre off-lead area.
Was Bridgerton filmed at Castle Howard?
Yes, the Netflix series from 2020 used Castle Howard. The house has a long screen history: Brideshead Revisited (Granada TV 1981 and the 2008 film), Lady L (1965), The Buccaneers (1995) and Victoria (ITV, 2016).
Was Brideshead Revisited filmed at Castle Howard?
Yes, both the Granada television series of 1981 and the 2008 film used Castle Howard as Brideshead.
Who owns Castle Howard?
It is still the Howard family home, and it is owned by Castle Howard Estate Limited.
Is Castle Howard open in winter?
The main season runs from 20 March to 31 October. The Christmas show, A Dickens of a Christmas, runs separately from 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 as a ticketed event.
Is the Arboretum included in the Castle Howard ticket?
No, the Arboretum is a separate ticket. It sits across the road from the house, covers 120 acres with over 7,000 trees, and is open from 2 March to the end of November.
Sources: Castle Howard, the house and its history; opening times and prices; finding us.
Staying near Castle Howard
Malton is the nearest town, fifteen minutes away, and the Castle Howard Lakeside Holiday Park takes tents and touring caravans between the Great Lake and Coneysthorpe.
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