Castle Howard

This stunning stately home in North Yorkshire, designed in the 18th century by architect John Vanbrugh, is renowned for its impressive architecture and beautiful gardens. Construction of Castle Howard began in 1701 but spanned over a century, ending with the completion of the Long Gallery in 1811. The 70-foot-high dome, added in 1706, was tragically destroyed in a fire of 1940 but rebuilt between 1960 and 1962, including a replica of Antonio Pellegrini’s ceiling decoration the “Fall of Phaeton.” Owned by the Howard family for centuries, the estate first opened to the public in 1952, offering visitors a glimpse into its opulent interiors, which features classical antique statuary, portraits by eminent artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds, a remarkable collection of objets d’art and exquisite furnishings. The estate’s chapel is a prized highlight, adorned with richly coloured stained-glass windows in the pre-Raphaelite style by Edward Burne-Jones. A cultural and architectural landmark, the house and its gardens became increasingly well-known after featuring in the popular 1981 television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

_{Photos: Nick Howard; Simon Broadhead}