There is no place like this home: Castle Howard opens their Oz-tastic Christmas extravaganza

The iconic North Yorkshire stately home is transformed into Oz, until 4^th January

Castle Howard has opened their 2025 Christmas event, Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The 300-year-old House becomes an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations, floristry, projections, lighting and sound, set to delight tens of thousands of visitors over a 7-week period.

The showstopping Emerald City High Street in the Long Gallery is a highlight of the experience for 2025, with life size fabricated shop fronts inspired by York Shambles, decorated by a specialist signwriting expert. In addition, Castle Howard’s famous 28-foot Christmas tree sparkles in the Great Hall, installed by a team of 30 using a specialist forklift and winch system. The Great Hall is the crowning masterpiece of architect Sir John Vanbrugh’s design presenting Castle Howard with its unique domed silhouette – completed with suitable theatricality by the grand tree decorated with thousands of emerald-inspired decorations as part of the Wizard of Oz theme.

The Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz creative team, CLW Event Design headed up by Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie, have worked on the project since January with huge set pieces fabricated and built on the Castle Howard Estate before being moved into the House. The installation process in the House takes ten days to complete, with circa 30,000 baubles are on display, and the creative team reusing and recycling products where possible and favouring more sustainable materials like paper and glass.

Northern theatre company imitating the dog have provided the projections and soundscapes. Unique musical compositions accompany each room in the House, alongside soundscapes that bring the narrative from the original book to life.

Castle Howard is hosting a Bettys shop in their historic Stable Courtyard for the duration of their Christmas event. Celebrated internationally, Bettys is known for mouthwatering confectionery, chocolates, teas and coffees. The Bettys shop, alongside Castle Howard’s Farm Shop with Christmas food-to-order service, Courtyard Café with seasonal winter menu, Garden Centre selling British-grown Christmas trees, and marshmallow fire pit, is open for Christmas Shoppers from 13^th November.

A documentary film crew have followed the Christmas creative team, CLW Event Design, as they prepare Castle Howard’s Christmas experience. The documentary is due to broadcast on Channel 4 this winter.

Castle Howard Visitor Attraction Director, Abbigail Ollive, said: ‘We are thrilled to launch Christmas at Castle Howard for 2025. Every year it gets bigger and better, and we can’t wait to share our extravaganza with our visitors who come back each Christmas. The talented creative teams, CLW Event Design and imitating the dog, have done an amazing job bringing the installations to life with the support of the Castle Howard staff and volunteers. We have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming the Channel 4 film cameras back this year, giving them behind-the-scenes access to the creative process, which we hope visitors will enjoy watching.

We are delighted to be able to expand our access offering for 2025, with a larger program of accessible sessions and events made possible by our generous Access Sponsors. We are also excited to offer £5 tickets to those in receipt of Max Cards and Universal Credit so that our festive celebrations are opened to a wider audience.’

Castle Howard has employed an additional 100 Christmas staff from the local area to facilitate their Christmas event, on top of their year-round staff. They are also supported by an invaluable team of 200 volunteers.

Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz runs from 13^th November to 4^th January. Tickets: castlehoward.co.uk  

Christmas at Castle Howard Events

Christmas at Castle Howard events:

• Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz – in the House, 13^th November – 4^th January
• Father Christmas in the Castle – in the House, 22^nd November – 24^th December
• Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse – in the Boathouse, 6th – 24th December
• Oz Twilight Tours – 28^th November, 5^th December, 12^th December, 19^th December
• Wreath Making Workshops – in the Garden Centre, Available selected Thursdays and Fridays, 20th, 21st, 28th November and 11th, 12th December
• Christmas Afternoon Tea – in the House,15^th November – 31^st December

Accessible Events

Castle Howard is offering an expanded series of accessible events to open the experience to even more people, including British Sign Language interpreted shows and Calm Sessions.

Made possible with thanks to our Access Sponsors: Dales, McCormicks Solicitors, LNER, Peter Raymont Design, Rectory Gas Supplies, Rounton Coffee Roasters, SB Construction Compliance, Simpson, Switched Solutions.

Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Calm Sessions

• Saturday 15th November, 9.30am – 10.30am
• Tuesday 25th November, 2.30pm – 3.30pm
• Friday 19th December, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
• Thursday 1st January, 3.30pm – 4.30pm

BSL Interpreted Session: Saturday 13th December, 11am, 3pm

Touch Boxes: available in select rooms as part of the Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz experience. Touch boxes are sensory objects creatively designed to tell the story of the space and are available for anyone who would like to use them as part of their experience. Available to everyone on the day of their visit.

 

Father Christmas in the Castle

Relaxed Performance: Friday 19th December, 6.30pm

 

Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse

Relaxed Performance: Saturday 6th December, 4.40pm

BSL Interpreted Performance: Saturday 13th December, 10am