Castle Howard near York is one of Britain's grandest Baroque mansions and was designed for Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1699.

The house is set in over 1000 acres of parkland, lawns, woodland gardens, lakes, fountains and magnificent rose gardens, and took more than 100 years to complete. Visitors can wander around the house and gardens at their own pace.

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More than three centuries after it was built the house is still home to the Howard family, although it was abandoned for several years after a huge fire in 1940 destroyed the dome, nearly twenty rooms, and numerous treasures.

Castle Howard, York

For a few years after the fire, many of Castle Howard's once splendid rooms were exposed to the weather. George Howard was determined that the house should be lived in once more, and made a major decision to recover the architectural masterpiece.

More than half a century after George Howard's restoration programme, the Howard family continue restoration work right across the estate, from large projects on masonry, lead roofing, gardens and lakes, to smaller projects like statues, furniture, porcelain, paintings and books.

For admission information, visit the Castle Howard website
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