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.
Opening Times
Castle Ruins & Gardens – General Admission
The castle ruins and gardens are open daily all year round, except on Christmas Day. Summer hours (April to October) are 10:00am–5:00pm, while winter hours (November to March) are 10:00am–4:00pm. Please note that last entry is one hour before closing time.
Cycle Hire
Cycle hire is available during site opening hours, seven days a week.
Guided Tours
Tours of Old Lowther – Guided Volunteer Tours
Guided volunteer tours of Old Lowther are available on selected dates throughout the year. All tours run from 11:00–11:30am. Tour dates in 2026 are:
- 8th June
- 22nd June
- 5th July
- 20th July
- 10th August
- 23rd August
- 6th September
- 21st September
- 4th October
- 19th October
Garden Talks Series
A series of garden talks runs throughout the year, led by experts and garden team members. All talks are 2:00–2:30pm unless otherwise stated.
- 21st May – Garden Talk (time and speaker to be confirmed)
- 18th June – Wildflowers & More with Rachel Borrows. Meeting point: Mosaic Floor
- 2nd July – Talking Roses with Garden Team. Meeting point: Fountain, Rose Garden
- 17th September – Mighty Perennial Parterre Stars with Kate Harrison. Meeting point: Central walk, Parterre
- 15th October – Everything Benjes with Andrew Sagar. Meeting point: Heronry
Café Talks Series
A series of café talks is held in the Sculpture Gallery. All talks begin at 10:00am for 10:15am.
- 16th June 2026 – England's Last Golden Eagle with Bill Kenmir
- 22nd September 2026 – Beekeeping & Bees with Josh Frazer
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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