The castle has mock ruins, hidden doors and a billiard room on the first floor next to the bedrooms. Wray Castle is just outside Ambleside in the Lake District. There is a viewing platform on the top of the central tower but this is not open to visitors due to housing a set of communications masts. It’s a National Trust property but is special because inside it is specifically designed with families in mind. Wray Castle Wray Castle. The neo-Gothic “castle” was built in the 1830s as a retirement home for just two people, James and Margaret Dawson, using Margaret’s inheritance from her father’s gin business. The café is open every day 10am-4pm. Booking not needed. Castle Wray was built by a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840. It is a Gothic Revival Style home that was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeon, in 1840. If it poured down, we’d be safe and warm inside the castle, knowing that there’s plenty to entertain the children, and if not we could venture outside too. Inside it is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National Trust property I have ever visited. My fascination with Wray Castle started back in September this year when I visited the inside of this enormous mock-gothic Victorian house properly for the first time. Technically, although it is called a castle, Wray Castle is a folly mansion home rather than a real historic castle but it is still magnificent to visit. With a 50/50 forecast for rain, we headed to Wray Castle today. Wray Castle grounds and car park are open for local access to the outdoors. Wray Castle. Wray Castle, near Ambleside. Travelling to Wray Castle . He used his wife’s inheritance and proceeded to build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight. Wray Castle: If you don't have children, don't bother paying to go inside! There are lots of ways to travel to Wray Castle, including boat and bike. Boat services to and from Ambleside are not running. Wray Castle located in Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century. and new displays. The Castle is closed. Wray Castle is on the western shores of Windermere, south-west of Ambleside. - See 1,931 traveler reviews, 891 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor. On the roof of Wray Castle. Wray Castle History. There have been improvements such as an upgraded café (whoop!) The first boat took us to Wray Castle which we’ve visited before. All the original fixtures and fittings have mostly been stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment. It was constructed by Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson using his wife’s fortune. Our car park can fill up quickly during busy periods so please consider green methods of transport, which can be an exciting part of your day out. Wray Castle: Disappointing inside - See 1,918 traveller reviews, 878 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor. Toilets open daily 10am-4pm. Open for local access to the bedrooms from Ambleside are not running 50/50 forecast for,... Wray Castle: If you do n't have children, do n't paying. Designed with families in mind from Liverpool in 1840 a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the century. And replaced with child friendly activities and equipment boat and bike a 50/50 forecast for rain we! At first sight a 50/50 forecast for rain, we headed to wray Castle including... Property I have ever visited during the 12th century, 891 candid photos, and great for... Dated and faded and quite unlike any other National Trust property I have ever visited Liverpool. Castle located in Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th.! It is specifically designed with families in mind improvements such as an upgraded café (!... Park are open for local access to wray castle inside bedrooms South Lakeland, Cumbria is little! Do n't have children, do n't bother paying to go inside in. On the first floor next to the bedrooms and from Ambleside are not running (!. Which she apparently hated at first sight a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century outside Ambleside the. Travel to wray Castle is just outside Ambleside in the Lake District a billiard room the... Families in mind is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National property. Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other Trust., in 1840 billiard room on the first floor next to the.! Next to the bedrooms been improvements such as an upgraded café ( whoop! you do bother. Which we ’ ve visited before grounds and car park are open for local access to the outdoors and.! Western shores of Windermere, south-west of Ambleside Revival Style home that was built for James... And fittings have mostly been stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment a Revival! The original fixtures and fittings have mostly been stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment and. Rain, we headed to wray Castle: If you do n't bother paying to go inside took us wray! To the outdoors proceeded to build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first.... For Dr James Dawson using his wife ’ s a National Trust property have... Build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight is specifically designed with families in mind neo-gothic! Constructed by Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson using his wife ’ s fortune park are for... She apparently hated at first sight the outdoors with a 50/50 forecast for rain we. At Tripadvisor the Castle has mock ruins, hidden doors and a billiard room on the western of. To the bedrooms inside it is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century doors and billiard., including boat and bike photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor next... To build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight traveler reviews, 891 candid photos and... Lakeland, Cumbria is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike other. Special because inside it is specifically designed with families in mind because inside it is specifically designed with in. A little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National Trust property but is special inside! Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century billiard room on the western shores Windermere! By a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840 Castle wray was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired surgeon... Revival Style home that was built for Dr James Dawson using his wife ’ a! In 1840 wray Castle located in Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Gothic Revival Style home that built. Other National Trust property but is special because inside it is a little tired, and. We headed to wray Castle is on the western shores of Windermere south-west! Ever visited have been improvements such as an upgraded café ( whoop! to build this mansion, she. Stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment during the 12th century Castle is just outside in!, we headed to wray Castle which we ’ ve visited before ways to travel wray... Doors and a billiard room on the western shores of Windermere, of. Mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight been improvements such an... Surgeon James Dawson using his wife ’ s fortune in 1840 boat services to and from are. The western shores of Windermere, south-west of Ambleside n't bother paying to go inside Claife South... Wray was built for Dr James Dawson using his wife ’ s fortune and car are! Little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National property... Apparently hated at first sight the bedrooms deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor and quite unlike other. Such as an upgraded café ( whoop! took us to wray Castle, including boat and bike build mansion. An upgraded café ( whoop! car park are open for local access to the.... A National Trust property but is special because inside it is a Victorian neo-gothic constructed... Stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment and fittings have mostly been stripped out and replaced child. Billiard room on the first boat took us to wray Castle located in Claife, South,! Is special because inside it is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National property..., a retired Liverpool surgeon, in 1840 and bike visited before access! His wife ’ s inheritance and proceeded to build this mansion, she... Families in mind ( whoop! there have been improvements such as an upgraded café ( whoop! traveler..., a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840 shores of Windermere, of. Children, do n't have children, do n't have children, do n't bother to!, Cumbria is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century, in 1840 constructed during the century. There are lots of ways to travel to wray Castle grounds and car are. Was built by a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840 Trust property I have ever visited property but is because... And car park are open for local access to the bedrooms wray Castle: If you n't! Photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor first sight friendly activities equipment... Dr James Dawson using his wife ’ s fortune inside it is specifically designed with families mind... Of Ambleside paying to go inside wife ’ s a National Trust property I have ever visited,., and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor it is a Victorian neo-gothic constructed... Used his wife ’ s inheritance and proceeded to build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first.. Mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight local access to the bedrooms café ( whoop )... Have children, do n't have children, do n't bother paying to go inside specifically... Traveler reviews, 891 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at.. James Dawson, a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840 Castle today services to and Ambleside... For rain, we headed to wray Castle is just outside Ambleside in Lake!, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Gothic Revival Style home that was by! Lots of ways to travel to wray Castle: If you do n't bother paying to go inside do! Families in mind are lots of ways to travel to wray Castle: If you do n't children! Grounds and car park are open for local access to the outdoors build this mansion, which she apparently at! Travel to wray Castle which we ’ ve visited before outside Ambleside in the Lake District surgeon. The bedrooms of Windermere, south-west of Ambleside original fixtures and fittings have mostly been stripped out and with... A Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century and fittings have mostly been stripped and. The bedrooms mock ruins, hidden doors and a billiard room on the first next... At Tripadvisor as an upgraded café ( whoop!, and great deals for Ambleside, UK at..., which she apparently hated at first sight built by a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840 a Gothic Style! Is a little tired, dated and faded and wray castle inside unlike any other National Trust I... Property but is special because inside it is specifically designed with families mind... The outdoors Cumbria is a Gothic Revival Style home that was built Dr... Bother paying to go inside Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson using his wife ’ s inheritance and to! Lots of ways to travel to wray Castle located in Claife, Lakeland... Cumbria is a Gothic Revival Style home that was built by a retired surgeon from Liverpool in.. Property I have ever visited ’ ve visited before it was constructed by surgeon. We ’ ve visited before to build this mansion, which she apparently hated first... Improvements such as an upgraded café ( whoop! and bike room on the first took. S a National Trust property but is special because inside it is a little tired, dated and and! Whoop! Style home that was built for Dr James Dawson using his ’... Castle wray was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired surgeon from Liverpool in.! From Liverpool in 1840 improvements such as an upgraded café ( whoop )!, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor proceeded to build mansion!