Castle Howard and Helmsley at Christmas: Tour from York

Visit: Grand Yorkshire, 76 Horsfield Way, York YO19 5RH England

Discover Yorkshire’s finest stately home – Castle Howard – on this fantastic 5 1/2 tour departing from York. Explore the incredible 18th century house, admire the beauty of the impeccable gardens and walk through the extensive grounds to uncover treasures located throughout the 9,000-acre estate. Take advantage of the discounted entrance tickets for Castle Howard available from your guide when you book this tour, or use your York Pass for entry to Castle Howard.
On this incredibly popular half-day tour you’ll travel from York city centre, across the North Yorkshire countryside to the magnificent Castle Howard estate – former seat of the Earls of Carlisle and possession of the Howard family since the house was designed in 1699. You’ll see the fabulous rural setting of Yorkshire’s finest and most famous stately home, before arriving at the Courtyard entrance, where the magnificence of the estate begins to reveal itself.
At Castle Howard you’ll be introduced to the grounds and estate by your local guide, before enjoying approximately 2 ½ hours at leisure to discover the house, grounds and gardens at your own pace. You can walk past the south lake and along the terrace to visit the stunning Temple of the Four Winds, or follow one of the marked trails through ancient Ray Wood.
Once you enter the main house at Castle Howard, the estate’s very own expert guides will take you on a journey back in time as they reveal the history of each room and tell you about the fascinating past of the Howard family, the story of Castle Howard and the many challenges to have confronted the Howards and their amazing household staff over the past 300 years. Impressively decorated for Christmas, with roaring log fires and an amazing Gingerbread recreation of the house itself, Castle Howard is a superb place to visit during the festive period.
From Castle Howard you'll follow a route through the countryside to the truly charming market town of Helmsley. One of the real hidden gems of North Yorkshire, Helmsley is a quaint, quintessentially English market town, with some wonderful independent shops and stores, as well as imposing castle ruins and a beautiful church. You'll have some time to explore Helmsley, to treat yourself to some shopping or to have lunch in a local tearoom or cafe.
Finally, you’ll travel back to York city centre to conclude a wonderful afternoon at Castle Howard and Helmsley this Christmas.