Castle Howard

The baroque palace of Brideshead Revisited, with a thousand acres of gardens, lakes and temples.

Vanbrugh's great domed house north of York has been the Flyte family home in two versions of Brideshead and it looks the part: painted halls, a long gallery, a chapel and grounds with a Temple of the Four Winds, a mausoleum and the Atlas fountain. A full day, ticketed, and worth the bus or drive; the house closes for part of the winter.

When it works

Partly outdoors: better on a dry day, with shelter if it turns. Best morning, afternoon.

Good for kids, a date and groups.

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Opening hours and prices change; the official site has the current ones. See everything in York ranked for right now.