Originally published June 24, 2012, this blog post series is an undergraduate short-term study abroad trip in Oxford, UK in partnership with Salve Regina University and St. Clare’s Oxford. The blog post may have been edited for clarity and updated with relevant travel information and links.
Going to York was a great way to wrap up the England trip—we visited Castle Howard and York Cathedral then had lunch in the city.
Even if we were in the car for a grand total of eight hours, the extravagant elegance of both places was well worth witnessing firsthand.
Before getting to Castle Howard, we made a pit stop on the “motorway.” Judging from the list of restaurants it looked as if we were transported to a more elegant version of a rest stop in New Jersey that had a Starbucks, McDonald’s, KFC, WHSmith, and a Krispy Kreme donut machine.
Getting to Castle Howard
Castle Howard is nearly 4 hours away from downtown Oxford.
Visit the Castle Howard website for directions and additional recommended modes of transportation.
Facts About Castle Howard
Castle Howard is another excellent example of historic preservation in the United Kingdom:
Castle Howard is one of Britain’s finest historic Houses, situated just outside York in the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Marvel at dramatic architecture and interiors.
Built over 300 years ago by Sir John Vanbrugh, today it remains home to the Howard family.
Discover the house at your own pace, admiring its awe-inspiring architecture and interiors, with something to capture everyone’s imagination. Friendly and knowledgeable guides are on hand to share stories of the House, family and collections with visitors of all ages.
Enjoy stunning scenery all year, with almost 1,000 acres of Grade 1 listed parkland and gardens to explore. Spend the day in a monumental landscape studded with statues, temples, lakes and fountains and admire sweeping countryside views. Meander along woodland paths and in the tranquil walled garden.
CASTLE HOWARD, DISCOVER YORKSHIRE COAST
When we went to Castle Howard, we saw the main house, the Atlas fountain, the Temple of the Four Winds, and a view of the mausoleum, which is closed to the public at the time of writing.
Castle Howard serves as the inspiration for the Brideshead estate in Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, one of the books for the Literature of Oxford course.
During our visit, there was a dedicated exhibit focused on the restoration of Castle Howard over the years.
In addition to tours, Castle Howard also has an exciting catalog of events throughout the year.
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| New Jersey-esque rest stop |
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| Making an attempt to read Brideshead Revisited on the way to Castle Howard |
The Entrance of Castle Howard
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| Castle Howard |
The Interiors of Castle Howard
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| Alosyius! |
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| Brideshead Revisited has been adapted to a 1981 mini TV series and a movie in 2008. Because of the filming projects, the parts of the house that were still in disrepair from a fire in November 1940 were lightly restored and used as sets, as well as the rest of Castle Howard. |
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| Library, still used today |
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| Castle Howard depicted in artwork |
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| Interior of the chapel |
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| You know a British tourist site’s gift shop is complete when you see a ton of “Keep Calm…” souvenirs |
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| Noisy Dino Puppets–the most random and unexpected thing to have at a British tourist site gift shop |
The Grounds and Gardens of Castle Howard
The Atlas Fountain
The Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard
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| The Temple of the Four Winds |
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| A view of the mausoleum from the Temple of the Four Winds |
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| We were fortunate that a tour group came by and the guide opened the Temple briefly. Since 2001 when Simon Howard married his wife in the Temple, it is licensed for civil ceremonies and open to public use for weddings for roughly 1,500 pounds. Though, compared to getting married in the Great Hall of Castle Howard, which costs 7,500 pounds. |
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| Driving away from Castle Howard on the way to the city |
Getting Around York, UK
The city of York is a half-hour drive from Castle Howard and its countryside. The spires of the York Catherdral—better known as York Minster—are visible from the motorway and are just as spectacular up close. It is a really big cathedral.
My roommate and I ate at a diner called Wackers for dinner, which is a five-minute walk from the cathedral.
Facts About York, UK
York, UK is reportedly the most haunted city in Europe and the United Kingdom:
The International Ghost Research Foundation declared York the most haunted city in Europe. It has 500+ hauntings, and its bloody, volatile and violent history includes the Civil War, Conquest by the Normans and Viking Invasions.
Ten fun facts about york
The image of Diagon Alley was based on the city of York:
Inspiration for the famous street came from York itself – The Shambles helped JK Rowling to create the image of Diagon Alley in the Harry Patter novels.
10 things you maybe didn’t know about York until now
I wasn’t kidding when I said that York Minster is quite large—it’s actually the “largest Gothic cathedral north of the Alps.”
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| York Cathedral |
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| The Crypt–one of the oldest parts of the cathedral |
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| Chicken Nuggets and Chips at Wackers–America seems to be subconsciously creeping up on me |
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| The World’s largest “softpot” garden, which refers to the special way the plants are potted using fine cheesecloth instead of traditional pots |
New England Parisienne 
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