Very Picturesque - There seemed to be a lot of conflicting information online about the best way to get to Castle Howard without a car, so I was concerned about the bus option. It turned out to be very easy as the 81 runs from York Station (I got on along Micklegate) and only took around 50 minutes. It drops off (and picks up) right by the entrance, so I was there ready for opening. This is very unique for a country house due to their rural locations. Had a lovely day wandering the vast grounds. The house tour was short and sweet with lots of very knowledgeable staff. There are so many beautiful paintings to see, and it is very interesting if you are a fan of the Arts and Crafts movement, especially the beautiful Chapel.

Lovely grounds - We only had access to the gardens and grounds but unfortunately didn't make it to the walled garden which looks lovely on the photos. Personally I'm not a fan of sculptures and statues which were quite grand but that didn't make the grounds and less likable for us. We spent the day walking around the house and in the kids play area mainly. It was brilliant! I wish all outdoor play areas were like this. My youngest is not quite 2 and needed a lot of supervision but my confident 3 year old was off! He loves climbing and this place is perfect for that. I would highly recommend the kids area. We also sat down in the lakeside cafe to have a picnic which was lovely. It was a very quiet day(as in not many other visitors) I'm guessing due to the cold weather, but we like it quiet. We bought some scotch eggs from the shop that u must say didn't reflect the grandeur or quality of everything else we experienced but oh well, must have just been a fatty batch of meat. The train driver was friendly towards us and my assistance dog, he was pleased as pet dogs aren't allowed on the train. He must have radiod his excitement to the team as then the operations manager even came out to meet us(mainly the dog 😅), and I wish I would have asked for a tour of the house but oh well. All the staff seemed friendly 👍

Enjoyable time - Castle Howard was a very nice day out and they were very helpful idea to people with disabilities. And there is a land train to the house and gardens are stunning . A couple of nice places to eat . Also the staff go the extra mile amazing place to visit

Well worth a visit - We had a lovely slow stroll around the remarkable grounds taking in the beautiful scenery and stopping to take many photos. There were a couple of places stop and have a bite to eat and a drink within the grounds which was ideal for me so I could have a little rest then continue. There is also the courtyard which is free to visit and has a fabulous farm shop, tea shop, bakery and not forgetting the garden centre. We didn’t go into the house as it’s not dog friendly which is understandable, we just enjoyed the gardens. We stopped at the Castle Howard lakeside campsite which is just down the road which was perfect for our stay , the staff were so welcoming and accommodating and the 2 4 1 offer when visiting Castle Howard House and Gardens was an added bonus. Looking forward to our next visit already 😊

Fantastic Castle Howard - Excellent visit. We visited Castle Howard today, the day was beautiful with lots of sunshine, but a very cold wind. The house was closed, but the grounds are beautiful, so much to see. The grounds are very well maintained and have lots of interesting buildings and art. The cafe served beautiful food, and the staff were great, even though they were short staffed. Well done to all at Castle Howard.

Superb day at Castel Howard - Very pleasant calm day rest and fresh air immersion in another era.. stained glass windows of the chapel a +++++ very kind staff.. in the castle.. a little less in the castle café..

disappointing - What a magnificent place - cannot fail to be impressed by the actual building and vast grounds. It was a really chilly day so, pleased to say that, inside it was warm and the staff manning the rooms were all very welcoming. We were surprised at how costly it was to enter - we're pensioners,and are usually offered a small concession. However, we understand that it must cost an arm and a leg to sustain the upkeep of such a place. We were disappointed to find so few rooms open to the public, and so little about the people who have lived or worked there. Some of the rooms had information boards and it was suggested that we use a QR code to access an audio guide - unfortunately, I'm hearing impaired and would need the volume too loud for this to have been condusive to a shared space. We visited the cafe before leaving and although it was expensive, the coffee and scones were delicious. The gift shop smelled lovely - but again it was too expensive. I looked for little gift as a memento - found a beautiful Christmas decoration. It was £18.95!! Obviously, I couldn't buy it. We cannot say that this trip was good value for money or feel we could insist our friends and should include it as part of their holiday itinerary.

Not Value For Money - We visited Castle Howard on my 50th Birthday. I was extremely disappointed and shocked at the cost of the entry ticket £27.50 per person when only a small number of rooms where open to visitors. Our tour took no more than 45 minutes. Looking at the size of the castle I was expecting to be there for at least half a day and enjoy a magical experience. The staff were very helpful but it was not value for money and anyone visiting needs to be aware of this.