Gothic Revival castle sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere with turrets, towers and informal grounds
Best explored on foot or by bike, Windermere west shore is the place to go for lakeside strolls, great views and picnics by the water. Here’s a handy guide to our car parks along Windermere west shore to help you plan your day.
180 years ago a surgeon and an heiress from Liverpool began building a castle that would only ever have to defend itself from the Cumbrian weather.
With all the furniture and artwork long gone and the last family moving out in the 1920s, the castle has had mixed uses and only opened to visitors in 2011.
The castle has church-like interiors and panoramic Lake District views. It is still a work in progress and we’re continually learning about its past.
Discover more of the castle’s colourful history by joining one of the daily talks or tours. Families can explore the activity rooms, where there’s plenty of space for creative play inspired by the story of Wray Castle.
Note: long, uphill walk from jetty if arriving by boat. Limited car parking. During school holidays we recommend parking at Brockhole or Ambleside and catching a ferry over to Wray Castle.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
The ground floor of Wray Castle will open some days during school holidays; please check website before visiting.
