Lowther Castle & Gardens
The spectacular shell of one of England's grandest Gothic mansions.
Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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EV charging options
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Facilities for children
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
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Shop
Lowther Castle has enjoyed a rich and varied history. One of the finest Gothic buildings of the north west, the castle was completed in 1812.
For a century or more Lowther played host to the great and the good of the United Kingdom.
But in 1936, the turmoil of the 20th century took over. The castle was abandoned, then occupied by the army and finally in 1957 partly demolished.
Today Lowther Castle is once again in the pink. Rescued from wilderness, the castle ruins have been planted and the gardens house ventures old and new. Ancient borders jostle with new designs.
Ancient woodlands house one of the UK’s largest adventure playgrounds. In the courtyard, there is a fabulous café and shop. For young and old alike, Lowther Castle is a wonderful place to visit.
There is a remarkable story here and it is set in one of England’s most dramatic landscapes.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
General Opening Times
Castle Ruins & Gardens, the Story of Lowther Exhibition, and the Lost Castle Adventure Playground are all open daily throughout the year, except on Christmas Day.
- Summer hours: 10:00am–5:00pm
- Winter hours: 10:00am–4:00pm
- Last entry: One hour before closing
Cycle Hire is available during all site opening hours.
Family Activities
Littlies of Lowther runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during school term time.
Guided Tours
Tours of Old Lowther take place from 11:00–11:30am on the following dates in 2026:
- 27th April
- 5th May
- 17th May
- 8th June
- 22nd June
- 5th July
- 20th July
- 10th August
- 23rd August
- 6th September
- 21st September
- 4th October
- 19th October
Café Talks
Café Talks begin at 10:00am (for 10:15am start):
- 21st April 2026: The Paintings of Lowther with Rory Johnson (Café in the Courtyard)
- 19th May 2026: Penrith to Kendal Landscape Recovery with Lee Schofield (Sculpture Gallery)
- 16th June 2026: England's Last Golden Eagle with Bill Kenmir (Sculpture Gallery)
- 22nd September 2026: Beekeeping & Bees with Josh Frazer (Sculpture Gallery)
Garden Talks
Garden Talks run from 2:00–2:30pm:
- 18th June 2026: Wildflowers & More with Rachel Borrows (Meeting point: Mosaic Floor)
- 2nd July 2026: Talking Roses with members of the Garden Team (Meeting point: Fountain, Rose Garden)
- 17th September 2026: Mighty Perennial Parterre Stars with Kate Harrison (Meeting point: Central walk, Parterre)
- 15th October 2026: Everything Benjes with Andrew Sagar (Meeting point: Heronry)
Historic Houses members visit the gardens for free.
Adult – £15
Child – £10
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children, or 1 adult up to 4 children) – £45
Car parking – £2
Getting here
Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH
From M6 junction 39 (going north) or junction 40 (coming south), take the A6. Lowther Castle is signposted in both directions.
The closest train station is Penrith which is on the main west coast line between London Euston & Glasgow. By train, 1hr 30 min from Edinburgh, 3 hours from London.
Lowther Castle is approximately 6 miles from the train station by taxi.
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