Castle Howard
If there is one thing you only visit in Yorkshire, let it be this place - Castle Howard.
It has become a yearly tradition for my family and I to visit the Castle Howard house and gardens, and we always go on the same date - December 27th. Why that specific date? No real reason, other than we tend to get cabin fever and look to travel further out and stretch our legs, after a few days of over indulging on Christmas feasts. From our home it’s a bit of a trek, at least a two hour drive, but always worth the early morning rise.
The zany marquee, fitting in with the Alice in Wonderland theme.
We always book our tickets in the early morning time slot. This is because we have our breakfast at the tea room. It’s quiet, no crowds and an abundance of food goodies on display. This year, the marquee was truly decked out, sharing the winter theme -Alice in Wonderland. A beautifully decorated tree stood proudly in the middle and they had elevated the food stands to include even more hot dishes. It’s really lovely to see how each year Castle Howard gets bigger and better with the Christmas festivities.
Is there anything better than freshly baked scones? If you go early there enough, they’ll still be warm.
Ok, so you’ve scoffed down some brekkie, it’s now time to explore the house. The tea room is situated next door so you don’t have to walk too far. The house is decorated every year and this year was Alice in Wonderland, as mentioned. Think Mad Hatter tea parties and a screaming Queen of Hearts, each room was well thought out and the story retold very well. There is plenty to see, but of course, my favourite part is the leading into the Great Hall. A beautiful 70 ft high grand space with a Christmas tree front and centre. A great photo op and the window pane doors offer a gorgeous view of the lake in the far off distance.
Give yourself time to slowly pace through the rooms and when you’re finished, you could always replenish with some gift shop purchases and another cuppa. The estate offers a gift shop and a Christmas shop next to the house and then there are the stableyard amenities. This year, Betty’s tearoom had a pop-up shop for the first time.
For those unfamiliar, Betty’s is a business created in 1919 and first started in Harrogate, York. A very popular tearoom, bakery and other pantry goodies can be bought in multiple shops/cafes across Yorkshire. I was excited to snag some Breakfast blend tea as I haven’t been to Betty’s for ages. I also bought a hand wash/lotion set for my bathroom from their gift shop. I am a huge fan of Noble Isle and it’s a fantastic British brand. My parents particularly love the Whiskey & Water collection, but I prefer The Greenhouse as it’s fresher and more suitable for the Spring season.
We had such beautiful mist float across the skies. It added such moodiness and atmosphere to our walk, exploring the grounds. We always love to head towards the Temple of Winds, a beautiful folly and the statues leading up were held in such drama, as the fog wrapped itself around them and the bare branched trees. It felt cinematic, like we were characters in a period costume drama. Simply beautiful. It added so much to the roaming. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful walk.
Before we bundled back into the car, we made a quick pit stop to the farm shop, and Dad asked about the butchery. We are thinking of ordering our Christmas meats from the Castle Howard estate next year. We typically order goose and venison online, but Dad and I are super keen to find local farms, either in England or Scotland (as we are not too far from the borders). Our search continues but it’s great to know the venison is sourced right there on the Howard lands.
A wonderful day and next year, my friends from America will be joining us for Christmas break, and we can’t wait to share this tradition with them.
The family and I.
Brief History
The 3rd Earl of Carlisle enlisted his friend, dramatist John Vanbrugh, and recruited Nicholas Hawksmoor to help design and build this magnificent house, with construction beginning in 1699. The final construction would take over 100 years to complete, spanning the lifetimes of three Earls.
The Howard family are descended from Lord William Howard, the youngest son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Eight generations of the Howard family have since occupied Castle Howard. Each Howard has looked after this grand house and estate through centuries of challenges and opportunities.
Castle Howard is one of England’s finest stately homes and gardens.
The House
It has been home to the Howard family for more than 300 years. Explore its stunning architecture and beautiful interiors. A spectacular highlight includes the Great Hall, which is about 70 feet in height. The house is generally open to visits from Spring to October, and then it is dressed for Christmas from November until the first week of January. The Great Hall is especially pretty as you wander through the corridors that open up to reveal a magnificent Christmas tree, decorated in alignment to the theme Castle Howard hosts differently each year.
The Gardens
The castle grounds include lakes, follies, woodland, temples and statues - all which bring drama and atmosphere to the place throughout all four seasons. The Gardens are open daily apart from the Walled Garden during winter period, and are dog-friendly.
