Castle Howard Gardens

About Castle Howard Gardens

Castle Howard was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle in the early 18th century, and has been home to the Howard family for more than 300 years. The gardens and grounds were made to complement the house, and 2026 marks Vanbrugh 300, a year celebrating his legacy.

The landscape is one of lakes, temples, follies, woodland and statues spread across the Howardian Hills. Vanbrugh's Temple of the Four Winds was unfinished at his death in 1726, and Nicholas Hawksmoor's Mausoleum, begun in 1729, stands about a mile from the house. The 3rd Earl bought the lead statues in the 18th century; they were restored in 1995.

What to see

• The Temple of the Four Winds, at the end of Temple Terrace, with wide views; it currently hosts an installation by Es Devlin.
• The Mausoleum, rising 90 feet with a colonnade of 20 columns, viewed from the waterfall at Temple Basin.
• Eighteen lead statues, among them Apollo and The Shepherd Boy below the South Lake cascade.
• The Great Lake, the woodland garden and the seasonal Walled Garden.
• The Yorkshire Arboretum, 120 acres with more than 7,000 trees, which has its own ticket.

Planning your visit

Castle Howard is about 15 miles north-east of York, off the A64; gateways on the approach are narrow, so coaches should use the routes via Malton. Parking is free, with a separate Blue Badge car park. There are several cafés, a farm shop, a garden centre and the Skelf Island adventure playground.

The grounds are open daily, but the Walled Garden is seasonal and the house is transformed for Christmas in winter.