Lowther Castle and Gardens
![Lovely place woodland walks gardens and the castle plenty of good photo opportunities.
#instone
https://www.lowthercastle.org/
History
In the late 17th century John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lonsdale rebuilt the family home, then known as Lowther Hall, on a grand scale. The current building is a castellated mansion which was built by Robert Smirke for William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale between 1806 and 1814, and it was only at that time that Lowther was designated a "castle". The family fortune was undermined by the extravagance of the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, a famous socialite, and the castle was closed in 1937. During the Second World War, it was used by a tank regiment. Its contents were removed in the late 1940s and the roof was removed in 1957. The shell is still owned by the Lowther Estate Trust.
George Macartney, when visiting the summer retreat of the Chinese emperor in Chengde in 1793, could compare the magnificence of what he saw only with Lowther Hall: If any place in England can be said in any respect to have similar features to the western park, which I have seen this day, it is Lowther Hall in Westmoreland, which (when I knew it many years ago) from the extent of prospect, the grand surrounding objects, the noble situation, the diversity of surface, the extensive woods, and command of water, I thought might be rendered by a man of sense, spirit, and taste, the finest scene in the British dominions.[1]
In the 19th century, an East India Company ship, HCS Lowther Castle, was named after the estate.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6229550/e59927b5-77f1-4045-9fcf-cd47142d5282.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)
Lodging Near Lowther Castle and Gardens
Queen's Head Askham
Askham Penrith England
The price is NZ$264 per night from 12 Feb to 13 Feb
NZ$264
12 Feb - 13 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this inn in Penrith. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Popular attractions Ullswater and Lowther Castle and Gardens are located ...
Lovely hotel / inn with huge stylish bedrooms and fantastic bar with open fire. Food (fresh pizza) was amazing - some really interesting flavours. Breakfast fresh and very hearty. Highly recommended! Can’t remember the last time I went to a hotel this good.
Reviewed on 27 Oct 2025
Punch Bowl Inn
Askham Penrith England
The price is NZ$361 per night from 12 Feb to 13 Feb
NZ$361
12 Feb - 13 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this inn in Penrith. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge) and Wi-Fi (surcharge). Popular attractions Ullswater and Lowther Castle and Gardens are ...
Clean and spacious room, sitting by the fire in the bar is lovely. Breakfast was delicious, however the room was freezing, the amazing staff member serving breakfast did turn on the heating but it didn't help much.
Reviewed on 4 Jan 2026
North Lakes Hotel And Spa
Ullswater Road Penrith England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$250 per night from 19 Feb to 20 Feb
NZ$250
19 Feb - 20 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Penrith. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
Great hotel rooms food and staff BUT extensive and noisy building work until 5/6 pm. No advance notice of disruption or inconvenience but boards saying ‘please bear with US’ while refurbishment going on.
Reviewed on 7 Feb 2026
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