After our first visit to see Narnia at Castle Howard we decided to book again but this time take my youngest son and his family with us.

It was a typical winters morning with cold temperatures and a little fog. We arrived in the car park in good time for our visit and headed over to the coffee shop for a coffee and a bite to eat, although the courtyard café is not serving food, we were still able to sit inside and enjoy the warmth of the restaurant before heading for the house. It is just a steady five-minute walk from the courtyard to the house, the illuminated Christmas trees that lined the service road looked lovely as the lights gently glistened in the morning breeze as we walked past them.

We left the pushchair in one of the anti-rooms as we entered the house and made our way up the Grand staircase to the China Landing. The candles flickered casting shadows along the corridor before we entered the grandeur Lady Georgina’s bedroom and Dressing Room, apparently many of the children’s toys on display were the same toys that Nic Howard the current owner of Castle Howard played with as a young child, they certainly had our young grandson transfixed. 

After leaving the Castle Howard Bedroom we walked along the China Landing to the Antique Passage, the lighting, decorations, and sound effects certainly transform you into the frozen spell of Narnia. As we rounded round the corner and into the Great Hall the huge twenty-eight-foot Christmas tree takes your breath away, the Great Hall has also fallen under the spell of the White Witch with the tree also frozen and laden with snow and icicles. Passing the tree on our right we entered the Garden Hall and the home of the White Witch.  Leaving the witch in her frozen sleigh we headed for the music room, the sumptuous decorations over the fire surround glistening from the light from the roaring log fire, in front of the fire a tea party is laid out on the floor where Lucy enjoys tea with Mr Tumnus. After leaving the Music room we enjoy Christmas dinner with Mr Fox in the Crimson Dining Room. I mentioned this before after our first visit, but there is so much to see on the dining table namely all the woodland animals hidden away on the long table, each telling their own story. The Turquoise Drawing room is where the Mermaids sing their siren song to celebrate the crowning of the children as the Kings and Queens of Narnia. After passing through the Museum room we head through the wardrobe and into the Long Gallery where it is Christmas in Narnia. The lighting show is amazing, the White Witch has been defeated, the Northern lights have returned and the children have all been crowned. The highlight though is in the Octagon with a special light and sound show projected into the ceiling. This was the second time I have seen it and it is quite remarkable. After reluctantly leaving we headed down the stairs, passing the chapel on the left before entering the gift shop. After a browse we headed into the tented restaurant for a very pleasant brunch. 

This will be my last post before Christmas, so I will take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas.