Castle Howard has reopened after three months of major restoration work – and visitors soon might have the chance to stay at the grand house.
The development could be what’s next for the iconic venue, after the completion of its restoration work of its historic interiors.
The reopening, titled Castle Howard’s 21st Century Renaissance, includes the unveiling of its lost Tapestry Drawing Room, which has been restored to its original 18th-century splendour for the first time since a devastating fire in 1940.
Visitors will also be able to see the renovated Long Gallery and Grand Staircase and a complete rehang and redisplay of Castle Howard’s collection of paintings, sculptures and tapestries.
Castle Howard is Britain’s most famous country house, recognised by millions across the world as the location for Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton.
It is set in 1,000 acres of sweeping parkland filled with statues, temples, lakes and fountains, and is one of the most historically significant houses in Europe.
Castle Howard has been home to nine generations of the Howard family across three hundred years, with each contributing to its creation, evolution, and preservation.
And now, the time could come that members of the public could stay overnight at the house.
“It’s something that we’re looking into,” said Matthew Wood, assistant curator at Castle Howard.
“Houses like this have an enormous upkeep cost attached to them, and we’ve always done weddings for example for which the rooms are useable and the bedrooms can be stayed in, and that’s why we’ve done this big upgrade of the plumbing and things like that so it means the rooms can be used and slept in in a modern way.
“That’s something we want to think about really is overnight hospitality – so if you want to have an amazing event here with bedrooms to suit or if you want to come to North Yorkshire for a week with friends, it’s something that we’re looking in to.”
So if you’ve ever hoped to stay in the same 18th-century rooms as Charles Ryder or Daphne Bridgerton – this could be your chance. Watch this space!
To find out more and to book your visit to Castle Howard’s 21st Century Renaissance, visit the the estate website here.