Castle Howard, Yorkshire, England- Filming location

Castle Howard, Yorkshire, England

The period drama which springs instantly to mind when Castle Howard is mentioned is Brideshead Revisited. Both the longer 1981 miniseries with Jeremy Irons and the 2008 film version with Emma Thompson were filmed here. I was fortunate enough to visit in 2009 and I must say it is breathtaking.

Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews as Charles and Sebastian in Brideshead Revisited

Yes, you can imagine Sebastian with his teddy bear Aloysius lounging by the fountain as you walk the grounds. The Temple of the Four Winds is just as impressive as in the films, but alas, there is no sumptuous picnic inside and you must bring your own wine.

Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard

There is a ha-ha just past the Temple of the Four Winds, which does it's job in keeping the cows and the sheep on the lower level and away from the Temple itself.

Haley Atwell in Brideshead Revisited - Castle Howard

Both the interior of the house and the exterior lend themselves perfectly to locations for period drama. Interestingly, there haven't been many filmed here other than the two Bridesheads and The Buccaneers (I don't count Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties!) Perhaps this is because the house is so recognizable.

The Chapel at Castle Howard

The Chapel at Castle Howard was important to the Brideshead Revisited story, as the family's Catholicism was central to the story, however the Howard family and the exquisite chapel are Anglican. The Squire and I were fortunate enough to hear an organ concert in the chapel on the Sunday we were visiting.

Castle Howard aerial view

So if you are in North Yorkshire and you're able to visit, it's worth the better part of a day to go through the house and leisurely prowl the grounds. Even a spot of Yorkshire rain didn't dampen our wonderful day at Castle Howard.