Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Christmas Experience
Running until the 4th January, this much-loved Christmas experience sees the stately home reimagined as the magical land of Oz, complete with immersive installations, atmospheric soundscapes and cinematic projections.
Created by the award-winning team at CLW Event Design and Imitating the Dog, known for previous hits including Alice’s Christmas Wonderland and Christmas in Neverland, it’s set to be one of the most enchanting festive days out in the country..
Step inside to follow Dorothy’s path through the series of beautifully dressed rooms. Expect bold storytelling, theatrical detail and plenty of surprises along the way. Accessibility has been carefully considered, with inclusive routes, tactile areas, and a BSL-signed session available on 13th December.
This display is stunning, right from the grand staircase, the upturned house & Toto’s Poodle Parlour the attention to detail is wonderful. This is THE place to visit if you need a kick-start into that Christmas feeling!
Christmas Afternoon Tea
Christmas Afternoon Tea, served in the elegant Grecian Hall beside a roaring fire, features delicate sandwiches, handcrafted miniature desserts and festive scones created by UK Pastry Champion Florian Poirot. With classic, plant-based, wheat-free and children’s menus available, it makes for a decadent seasonal indulgence. The plant-based option mirrors the classic with plant-based replicas, and the cakes are a work of art, a super chocolatey sponge with chocolate orange mousse, a vanilla cake with cherry jelly, and my favourite the carrot cake with custard cream – stunning!
Families can enjoy a heartwarming festive show featuring Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and the ever-popular WonderPhil, followed by a personal moment with Father Christmas and a gift to take home. This indoor experience also includes entry to the Wizard of Oz installation, making it a full-day festive adventure.
Santa’s Grotto in the Boathouse provides a fully accessible cosy and theatrical experience created by Story Craft Theatre, with Santa on hand to meet children and share gifts.
For extra Christmas magic the Oz Twilight Tour, offered on selected dates in late November and December, gives visitors the rare chance to explore the House after dark on an intimate guided tour led by Castle Howard’s Christmas Design Director. With only 25 places per evening and a sparkling wine reception to begin, it will be a wonderfully atmospheric way to see the installation.
Other Ways to Enjoy
There are options to simply soak up the atmosphere outdoors, just opt for Christmas Gardens Tickets, giving access to Castle Howard’s lakes, woodland, temples, statues, Skelf Island Adventure Playground and the estate’s cafés and shops. Dogs on leads are warmly welcomed AND they can even meet Santa Paws in the Garden Centre on selected dates for a festive photo and a treat.
No trip would be complete without a visit to the Bettys pop-up shop in the Stable Courtyard. I was 100% there for the fat rascals as a treat for my husband, but alongside the classics, Christmas treats and luxurious hampers, you’ll find exclusive Wizard of Oz-themed goodies including a special edition chocolate Toto and limited-edition fondant fancies. There’s even Wizard of Oz themed IPA on sale in the farm shop!
If you want to know how the team put together such a huge display, Channel 4 has also been filming behind the scenes of the Christmas setup, with the festive feature airing in December, I’m really looking forward to seeing how the whole display was put together.
All in all, from magical storytelling to festive indulgence, Castle Howard delivers another unforgettable Christmas season, it’s a spellbinding celebration suitable for all ages.
By Sally Bendall
Image credits Sally Bendall
