Castle Howard house and gardens

The history of Castle Howard.

The Howard family are descendants of Thomas Howard the uncle of Anne Boleyn. It is the earl of Carlyle that had occupied and built the house itself. Since then, the honourable Nick Howard and Victoria Howard that have been trying to rebuild after the fire of 1940.

The features of castle Howard

The architect Sir Jhon Vanbaurgh conceived the features of castle Howard. Vanbough was famous for writing plays, and some say that his dramatic flair went into the house and gardens themselves. The Howard family are trying to renew its grandeur for the enjoyment of all who come. The house embodies a baroque style with lots of intricate designs and carved decor. Some designs displayed are neoclassical. Within the courtyard there is a farm shop, cafe and garden centre for you to explore. One unique feature of the house are the pigs living within the woods. There is a lake trip to hop on and beautiful scenery to enjoy. If you are staying within the area, you could look at their holiday cottages or campervan spaces to see if they are available. Prices are clearly displayed upon the website.

The accessibility of Castle Howard

The winner of the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award  and the winner of the largest visitor attraction of the year 2025 was Castle Howard. The house has a stair lift and separate entrance for those using a wheelchair or have poor mobility.

Throughout out the house there are touch boxes filled with artifacts specifically chosen so they can be felt as well as seen. There are only two areas that have steps to enter that is high south and the Chapel. If you need to it is possible to hire a manual wheelchair. There are dog bowls for the dogs but no designated doggy pooping pad.

The staff may not be specifically trained in neurological diversity, but they are committed to trying their best to help all who come. Whilst there are no braille or large print menus Staff are happy to explain what is available. Furthermore, highchairs and babby changing facilities are available within the café. There is an accessible toilet in the café and other places. You are encouraged to email or phone for more details of accessibility on their website.

Website

Castle Howard House and Gardens – A Place Like No Other

email house@castlehoward.co.uk, or call 01653 648333.

If you would like to explore more then look at the Eric Knows website.

Things to do in the North East & North West UK