A Private Christmas Tour From York
A Very Yorkshire Christmas
A full private Christmas day from York, built around Castle Howard's spectacular 2026 event, A Dickens of a Christmas. Add festive food in Malton — Yorkshire's food capital — winter market towns, the edge of the North York Moors, chocolates in the car and a Christmas soundtrack for the road. Available 12 November 2026 – 3 January 2027.
From £100.70 per person
Based on 4 guests sharing
£402.80 total for your private group of up to 4 · FareHarbor booking fee included
7 Hours
Up to 4 guests
Private tour
FareHarbor fee included
York pickup
A Dickens of a Christmas
Castle Howard's 2026 Victorian extravaganza
Malton
Festive food in Yorkshire's food capital
Christmas Soundtrack
Festive music while we travel
A Little Christmas Welcome
Chocolates waiting when you climb aboard
Christmas Without The Crush
The Christmas extravaganza. Just without the maddening crowds.
Christmas in York is wonderful. It is also busy. Very busy.
So this year, we're taking Christmas beyond the city walls.
Your private Yorkshire Christmas starts with chocolates waiting in
the car and a festive soundtrack for the road ahead. The centrepiece
is not simply a glimpse of Castle Howard: it is a properly timed visit
to A Dickens of a Christmas, the House transformed
into a theatrical Victorian Christmas world. From there, the day
continues through Malton, Helmsley and winter North Yorkshire.
No coach. No giant group following an umbrella. No fighting your
way through the city-centre crowds. Just your group, your
driver-guide and one very Yorkshire Christmas.
The Highwayman Christmas
Big Christmas fun. Yorkshire style.
This is not simply transport to Castle Howard. Castle Howard is the grand centrepiece, but the Christmas experience starts at your York pickup and continues until we bring you home.
We'll have Christmas music for the drive, chocolates waiting when you arrive, two unhurried hours at Castle Howard, time for festive food in Malton and a winter journey through North Yorkshire as the afternoon light begins to fade.
And because the tour is completely private, there's none of the rushing that comes with a big group. If everyone wants another ten minutes to look around a shop, finish a drink or take a photograph, that's absolutely fine.
The Grand Centrepiece
A Dickens of a Christmas
Castle Howard's award-winning Christmas House experience returns for 2026 as a full Victorian extravaganza.
This is the moment the whole day builds towards: Castle Howard transformed for Christmas, with the scale, theatre and detail that make it one of Yorkshire's great festive events.
For 2026, Charles Dickens' stories are brought into the grand rooms of the House through richly dressed sets, lighting, projections, sound and theatrical surprises. The route is designed as an immersive journey rather than an ordinary tour of a stately home, with familiar Dickensian characters and a roaring-fire Victorian atmosphere running through the experience.
Dickens brought to life
Themed rooms and storytelling inspired by his best-known novels.
A theatrical House
Sets, costumes, lighting, soundscapes and projections.
Victorian Christmas
Grand rooms, rich decorations, nostalgia and a roaring-fire mood.
Time to enjoy it
Two hours at Castle Howard, without a coach timetable rushing you on.
The House experience itself is usually enjoyed in around 40 minutes. Your two-hour stop leaves room for the Stable Courtyard, Christmas shopping, a warming drink and, if the weather suits, some of the winter grounds as well.
Castle Howard admission is booked separately.
We coordinate the correct timed House entry with your tour date
before you buy tickets, so the transport, arrival and admission
all work together.
How Your Christmas Day Works
One relaxed festive journey through Yorkshire.
The timings below are what the tour is designed around, including the important 11:00 Castle Howard entry.
10:15
Christmas starts at your door
We'll collect you from your York accommodation. Climb aboard, find a little chocolate Christmas welcome waiting for you, get comfortable and let the Christmas soundtrack begin.
Private York pickup
11:00–13:00
A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard
Enter Castle Howard's grand 2026 Victorian Christmas world. Dickensian stories unfold through decorated rooms, theatrical sets, projections, lighting and sound. You have two full hours here: time for the immersive House experience and room to enjoy the Courtyard, shops, a warming drink or part of the winter grounds without being hurried back to the car.
A full two hours
Around 13:15
Malton — Yorkshire's food capital
From Castle Howard it's a short journey to Malton. This is our food stop, with time for a relaxed lunch in the town known as Yorkshire's food capital. Depending on your date and preferences, that might mean festive fayre, a traditional pub lunch, local produce or something lighter.
You'll also have a little time to look around Malton's independent shops and enjoy the market-town atmosphere.
Food is paid separately, so you choose exactly what you fancy
Around 14:45
Into winter Yorkshire
Back in the car, Christmas music on again, and we head north through the countryside towards the North York Moors. Villages, stone walls, winter fields and the short Yorkshire afternoon become part of the journey.
Around 15:15
Helmsley at Christmas
Our final proper stop is Helmsley, one of North Yorkshire's loveliest market towns. There is time for independent shops, something warm to drink, the market square and the festive atmosphere as daylight begins to disappear.
Later in the Christmas season, the town's lights add another layer to the experience. Earlier dates still enjoy the town as part of a winter North York Moors journey.
Around one hour
16:15 onwards
Christmas lights, music and the road home
Then it's back towards York through the winter countryside. Warm car, Christmas music, dark Yorkshire lanes and the lights of York waiting at the other end.
Expected York return around 17:15–17:30Castle Howard tickets
Please read this bit before buying any tickets.
Castle Howard admission is separate from your tour.
The tour works out at £100.70 per person when four guests share. The full online price is £402.80 for your private group of up to four, including the FareHarbor booking fee. It does not include admission to Castle Howard.
Castle Howard operates its Christmas experience using timed admission. This tour is specifically designed around an 11:00am Castle Howard entry, with two full hours allowed there.
The core event for 2026 is A Dickens of a Christmas, running from 12 November to 3 January. Castle Howard requires all Christmas event tickets to be pre-booked, and prices vary by date and entry time.
When you enquire with Highwayman Tours, we'll first confirm that your preferred tour date is available. We will then discuss the Castle Howard ticket options and the correct 11:00 entry with you.
Once everything lines up, you can purchase the appropriate Castle Howard tickets directly.
Please do not buy Castle Howard tickets before speaking to us.
Your Highwayman Tours date and the Castle Howard timed entry need to match. Contact us first, we'll agree the day and timing, and then you can book the appropriate Castle Howard admission with confidence.
Your Highwayman Tours date and the Castle Howard timed entry need to match. Contact us first, we'll agree the day and timing, and then you can book the appropriate Castle Howard admission with confidence.
A Taste Of Yorkshire
Christmas needs good food.
Malton is Yorkshire's food capital and our relaxed lunch stop. Rather than locking everyone into one compulsory set menu, we'll talk about what you fancy before the tour and choose an appropriate festive or Yorkshire food option.
Want a proper Christmas dinner? We'll look at the options for your date. Prefer a traditional Yorkshire pub meal, something local and seasonal, or just a lighter lunch? That's fine too.
Food and drinks are paid directly by guests, which keeps the day flexible and means nobody is paying for a meal they don't actually want.
Your Malton stop can include
Festive lunch
Christmas-style dining where available on your chosen date.
Yorkshire fayre
Traditional local food and seasonal choices.
Something lighter
Coffee, cake, a light lunch or whatever suits your day.
Independent shops
A little free time to enjoy Malton while you're there.
It's Christmas, After All
The little things are part of the day.
A Christmas tour should feel Christmassy from the moment you get into the car.
Chocolates on arrival
A small Christmas welcome waiting for your group when the day begins.
Christmas music
A festive soundtrack while we travel through Yorkshire. Requests are very welcome.
Winter Yorkshire
Country roads, market towns and the North York Moors instead of spending seven hours in the city crowds.
Completely private
Just your group of up to four guests and your local driver-guide for the day.
Included in your private tour price
Private tour for up to four guests
York accommodation pickup and return
Around seven hours with your local driver-guide
Christmas chocolates on arrival
Christmas music while travelling
Castle Howard, Malton, Helmsley and winter Yorkshire route
Paid separately
Castle Howard Christmas admission
must be arranged for the agreed 11:00 entry.
Lunch, food and drinks in Malton
Shopping and personal purchases
A Very Yorkshire Christmas
Your group. Your Christmas. Your Yorkshire.
Start with chocolates and Christmas music, step into Castle Howard's A Dickens of a Christmas, eat in Yorkshire's food capital and travel home through winter North Yorkshire — all as one private festive day.
£100.70
per person
Based on 4 guests sharing
£402.80 total for your private group of up to 4. Includes the FareHarbor booking fee. Castle Howard admission, food and drinks are not included. After booking, we will help coordinate the required Castle Howard 11:00 timed entry.