Lowther Castle & Gardens
The spectacular shell of one of England's grandest Gothic mansions.
Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH
Facilities
-
Accessible loos
-
Accessible parking
-
Bike storage facilities
-
Cafe / restaurant
-
EV charging options
-
Facilities for children
-
Mostly wheelchair accessible
-
Parkland / open spaces
-
Pet friendly
-
Picnic area
-
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 daily all year round, except Christmas Day. Summer hours are 10:00am–5:00pm, and winter hours are 10:00am–4:00pm. Please note that last entry is one hour before closing.
The Story of Lowther Exhibition, Cycle Hire, and Adventure Playground (The Lost Castle) are all available during the site's general opening hours.
Guided Tours
Tours of Old Lowther are offered on selected dates throughout 2026. Each tour runs from 11:00–11:30am and takes place on the following dates:
- 8th June
- 22nd June
- 5th July
- 20th July
- 10th August
- 23rd August
- 6th September
- 21st September
- 4th October
- 19th October
Talks & Events
Throughout 2026, Lowther Castle hosts a series of talks featuring expert speakers and garden specialists.
Café Talks are held in the Sculpture Gallery at 10:00am for a 10:15am start:
- England's Last Golden Eagle with Bill Kenmir – 16th June
- Beekeeping & Bees with Josh Frazer – 22nd September
Garden Talks run from 2:00–2:30pm at various locations throughout the gardens:
- Wildflowers & More with Rachel Borrows – 18th June (Meeting point: Mosaic Floor)
- Talking Roses with Garden Team – 2nd July (Meeting point: Fountain, Rose Garden)
- Mighty Perennial Parterre Stars with Kate Harrison – 17th September (Meeting point: Central walk, Parterre)
- Everything Benjes with Andrew Sagar – 15th October (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.
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £71 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
