"One of the top 10 buildings you must visit in your lifetime" The Telegraph, 2018 Open to the public since 1952, Castle Howard is a diverse working rural estate and visitor attraction just outside York. Built over 300 years ago for the Howard family it remains a family home and today is also an award winning Yorkshire visitor attraction welcoming almost 250,000 people a year to the house and gardens. A changing programme of events, two gift shops, a farm shop, garden centre and four cafés make up the visitor attraction. Wider estate businesses include farming, forestry, let property and a holiday park. It is also available for private hire for weddings and corporate functions.