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 – General Entry
Open daily all year round, except Christmas Day. Summer hours are 10:00am–5:00pm, and winter hours are 10:00am–4:00pm. Last entry is one hour before closing.
Cycle Hire
Available during site opening hours.
Western Range of the Castle
This section of the castle re-opened in Spring and is available during normal site opening hours.
Mythical Creature Crafts
Located in the Rose Garden Summerhouse, these crafts are available during site opening hours.
Guided Tours
Tours of Old Lowther – Guided Volunteer Tours
Guided volunteer tours are available at 11:00am–11:30am on selected dates throughout the year. 2026 tour dates are: 8th June, 22nd June, 5th July, 20th July, 10th August, 23rd August, 6th September, 21st September, 4th October, and 19th October.
Special Events & Talks
Garden Talks Series
- Mighty Perennial Parterre Stars with Kate Harrison – 17th September 2026, 2:00pm–2:30pm. Meeting point: Central walk, Parterre.
- Everything Benjes with Andrew Sagar – 15th October 2026, 2:00pm–2:30pm. Meeting point: Heronry.
Café Talks Series
- Beekeeping & Bees with Josh Frazer – 22nd September 2026, 10:00am for 10:15am start. Location: Sculpture Gallery.
Apples, Orchards & Haystacks
24th September 2026, from 2:00pm. Visitors may arrive earlier to visit the castle and gardens.
Lights of Lowther – Winter Light Trail
14th November to 30th December 2026. Open from 4:00pm until 9:00pm each evening.
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 for 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.
