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 are open every day of the week. Winter hours are 10am to 4pm, and summer hours are 10am to 5pm. Please note that last entry to the gardens is one hour before closing time.
The Story of Lowther Exhibition, Adventure Playground (The Lost Castle), and Cycle Hire are all available during general site opening hours.
Regular Activities
Littlies of Lowther runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during school term time.
Garden Talks and Café Talks are held throughout the year on selected dates. Please see below for scheduled events.
Scheduled Events & Guided Tours
Tours of Old Lowther are guided tours running from 11:00am to 11:30am on the following dates:
- 8th June
- 22nd June
- 5th July
- 20th July
- 10th August
- 23rd August
- 6th September
- 21st September
- 4th October
- 19th October
Garden Talks are held at 2:00pm–2:30pm on selected dates:
- 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)
- 21st May: Garden Talk at 2pm
Café Talks are also held on selected dates:
- 22nd September 2026: Beekeeping & Bees with Josh Frazer, 10:00am for 10:15am (location: Sculpture Gallery)
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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