With the longer and sunnier days fast approaching, there's no better place to spend your summer than the iconic Castle Howard.
Castle Howard in York is a fantastic day out for all the family.
The fascinating 300-year-old stately home is situated in a beautiful 9,000-acre estate, making it the perfect place to explore in the glorious sunshine this summer.
Whether you're looking to connect with nature, enjoy some delicious food with friends or absorb yourself in art and culture - Castle Howard are putting on a whole host of events for you to take part in.
Keep reading to find out what you can get up to.
Culture, history and art
People We Love
Friday 19 May - Sunday 15 October 2023
Image: Castle Howard
'Experience a special Castle Howard edition of international artwork ‘People We Love’ by KMA. Multiple high-definition screens set in Castle Howard’s beautiful Chapel will show portraits of local residents gazing at a picture of someone they love.'
'This contemplative and thought- provoking art installation, which celebrates the local Ryedale community, is a contemporary contrastto the beautiful, historic portraits on display in the House. A must-see for art lovers, and people interested in seeing Castle Howard’s Chapel brought to life in a new, unique way.'
This exhibition is free however pre-booking is advised, book your spot here.
If Walls Could Talk
Friday 22 September 2023
'Join the Curator of Collections and Archives, Eleanor Brooke-Peat, and travel back in time to the 1880s to discover Castle Howard’s 19th century interiors, including historic textiles and wallpapers comprised from long-lost samples recently rediscovered in the estate.'
'The talk will explore the newly launched Castle Howard Indienne Collection, a bespoke collection of designs developed in partnership with Watts 1874, which was inspired by a vast redecoration project lasting more than twenty years, led by Rosalind Howard, 9th Countess of Carlisle.'
Tickets range from £10 - £47 and can be purchased here.
Guided Tours and Behind The Scenes
Between April - October
Image: Castle Howard
'Discover over 300 years of history with our Guided Tours and behind the scenes events, which invite you beyond the crimson ropes to typically unseen parts of our House, follies and monuments.'
'Choose between four different tours: a guided house tour after hours; go behind. closed doors with our Curators; journey across the Estate to discover famous monuments or visit the spectacular 18th century Mausoleum, described as one of the finest buildings of its kind in northern Europe.'
'Skelf Island, Castle Howard’s legendary Adventure Playground, is named after the historic site Castle Howard sits on, Henderskelfe. Set on an island and reachable by a rope bridge, the Playground is a web of ingenious treetop nests in the woodland canopy connected by slides, nets, and climbing equipment, allowing young visitors to go on an adventure like no other.'
Entry to the playground is free with a Gardens ticket or a House and Gardens ticket.
Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta
Friday 25 - Monday 28 August 2023
Image: Castle Howard
'Yorkshire’s iconic Balloon Fiesta is landing at Castle Howard for the very first time with a family-friendly line-up of music and entertainment, including: Ella Henderson, Sam Ryder, Sister Sledge, Blue, Rak Su, Toploader, Raver Tots, Dick & Dom, Mr Motivator, Symphonic Ibiza, Ministry of Sound Disco and more to be announced, plus hot air balloons in the beautiful Yorkshire sky.'
'Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s big wildlife census is back for the fourth year running! Join us for a whole weekend of wild activities - from mini beasting and storytelling to bird watching and guided walks with wildlife experts - and help us to discover, count and record the creatures that live in our walled garden.'
'Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for this evening experience and take a walk on the wild side as we search for our fascinating, flying friends! Learn more about the brilliant world of bats and how to use bat detectors. As sun sets across the estate from 9pm, we’ll head out and identify different species of bat through their echolocation frequencies.'
Tickets cost £15 for an adult and £10 for a child, get yours here.
Summer events
Castle Howard Multisport Event
Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 July
Image: Castle Howard
'Swim through Castle Howard’s Great Lake, cycle through the Howardian Hills, run through the undulating countryside of the estate before a sprint finish tops everything off in style right in front of the main doors of the house. Throughout the weekend, athletes and spectators will be able to enjoy a fun-packed festival village featuring live music, shopping, food and drink, children’s entertainment, yoga and more.'
'Enjoy a film screening like no other in Castle Howard’s Grounds, with a fantastic line-up of open-air films hosted by Adventure Cinema including Elvis, Matilda the Musical, Grease, TheGreatest Showman Sing-A-Long and Top Gun: Maverick.'
'Castle Howard has partnered with Jolly Allotment, experts in fire-cooking, gut-health and wellness, for a beautiful series of events in June. Eat amazing suppers in the Walled Garden, forage on the Castle Howard Estate, relax with yoga, try out herbal-tea making – and more, all in celebration of wellbeing for people and planet. Meet new people, eat some amazing food, and relax in our beautiful surroundings.'
You’ve spent over three years studying and now it’s time to say celebrate so we’ve rounded up some of the best places in Leeds for you to do so.
Those all-nighters in the library are now a distant memory.
It’s time to celebrate all the hard work you’ve put in over the years and what better way to spend it than eating delicious food and raising a toast to yourself.
Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends or a loved one. We’ve sorted you some of the best deals on offer, from free glasses of beer Prosecco, to 2 for 1 cocktails and discounted set menus.
Tattu
29 E Parade, LS1 5PS
Images: The Manc Group
The ‘Power of Wisdom’ set menus are available for £37.50 for lunch and £45.50 for dinner, with graduates receiving an ‘Elixir of Life cocktail’, or a complimentary glass of Prosecco.
Enjoy three courses with a glass of Prosecco on arrival for £55; you can even upgrade to the proper stuff and pay an extra tenner for Moët & Chandon Champagne for each person.
Fancy Italian? Freshly crowned graduates dining from the special set menu can enjoy a bonus Bellini to toast their success.
Flight Club
1-2 S Parade, LS1 5QL
Image: The Hoot Leeds
As a congratulations to the city’s graduating students, Flight Club has lined up a treat for the class of 2026. Any guest with a valid student ID or graduation certificate can raise a toast to the celebrations with a complimentary bottle of prosecco for the group when they book a game of Social Darts.
CrowdedHouse
Level 5 & 6, Trinity Centre, 70 Boar Ln, LS1 6HW
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Enjoy your celebrations whilst taking in jaw dropping panoramic views of the city at Leeds' newest rooftop hangout. Their set menu offering two courses for £26 or three courses for £30 is not one to be missed.
Book a table at one of Leeds' most celebrated restaurants and enjoy a free glass of prosecco as a cheers to you. Available until Sunday 16 July and you must mention graduation when booking.
Uyare
Victoria Gate 3rd Floor, Rooftop, George St, LS2 7AU
Image: The Hoot Leeds
As a graduate, you can enjoy 15% off your bill when you book with the code 'GRADUATESOF26'. Plus, you'll receive a complimentary glass of prosecco to toast the occasion.
Banksia
2 Lower Briggate, LS1 4AE
Images: The Hoot Leeds
At this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, graduates will eat for free - now that is an offer. Enjoy the special graduate set menu priced at £39 for three courses, with graduates eating for free with two paying customers.
Enjoy Blackhouse Gastrobar's fabulous steaks and seasonal dishes with a free glass of prosecco for every graduate, plus if you're a table of six you'll get an entire bottle on the house. We'll cheers to that.
Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American rock band Kings of Leon are making their way to Leeds for a visit to First Direct Arena as part of their current EU/UK tour.
Formed in 1999 by brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared, plus their cousin Matthew Followill, the rock band has gone on to achieve nine top 40 singles and six UK number one albums.
The rockers have two singles in Spotify’s Billions Club, including their standout hit ‘Sex on Fire’, which has amassed over 2 billion streams and ‘Use Somebody’ with 1.2 billion – two tracks that helped skyrocket them from cult favourites here in Britain to global superstars.
This four-piece’s latest LP, Can We Please Have Fun, dropped mid-2024 and knowing how energetic Northern crowds can be, it’s safe to say we’ve got this covered.
Last time they travelled over the pond, they let the Manchester crowd know the England score in real-time (read our full review).
Gig guide – Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Kings of Leon UK tour dates
Fri 3 July – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park
Sat 4 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 6 July – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Are there any tickets left for Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena?
If you’re wondering where you’ll ‘Find Me’ on Monday 6 July, it is probably watching these four relatives play their two decades’ worth of hits at First Direct Arena.
Don’t ‘Waste a Moment’ as there’s only a limited number of tickets left if you’re after catching a glimpse of Kings of Leon live – get yours HERE.
Kings of Leon are gearing up for their Leeds gig at First Direct this July (Credit: Press shot)
Kings of Leon setlist for 2026 UK tour
These American rockers have been performing all across Europe, switching up a couple of songs at each show; however, the hits below have featured at most of their appearances.
Slow Night, So Long
Waste a Moment
Find Me
On Call
Radioactive
The Bucket
Revelry
Manhattan
Use Somebody
Wait For M
Split Screen
Closer
Molly’s Chambers
Razz
MyParty
Supersoaker
Fans
Back Down South
Seen
Pyro
Black Thumbnail
To Space
Knocked Up
Sex on Fire
What are the stage times for Kings of Leon in Leeds?
Doors for Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena in Leeds are set to open at 6pm with a kick-off time of 7.30pm from a huge indie rock band.
Supporting the US rockers is a band who have received comparisons to Kings of Leon, the loud-and-proud Scottish stars The Snuts, known for their tracks like ‘Glasgow’, ‘Elephants’ and ‘Maybe California'.
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Clementine Hall -
20th June 2023 
