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. Toilets open daily 10am-4pm. The first boat took us to Wray Castle which we’ve visited before. - See 1,931 traveler reviews, 891 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor. Wray Castle. With a 50/50 forecast for rain, we headed to Wray Castle today. Booking not needed. Wray Castle located in Claife, South Lakeland, Cumbria is a Victorian neo-gothic building constructed during the 12th century. There are lots of ways to travel to Wray Castle, including boat and bike. Wray Castle: If you don't have children, don't bother paying to go inside! All the original fixtures and fittings have mostly been stripped out and replaced with child friendly activities and equipment. Inside it is a little tired, dated and faded and quite unlike any other National Trust property I have ever visited. Castle Wray was built by a retired surgeon from Liverpool in 1840. There have been improvements such as an upgraded café (whoop!) The café is open every day 10am-4pm. 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. Wray Castle, near Ambleside. 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. It was constructed by Liverpudlian surgeon James Dawson using his wife’s fortune. 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. It is a Gothic Revival Style home that was built for Dr James Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeon, in 1840. Wray Castle: Disappointing inside - See 1,918 traveller reviews, 878 candid photos, and great deals for Ambleside, UK, at Tripadvisor. The Castle is closed. On the roof of Wray Castle. It’s a National Trust property but is special because inside it is specifically designed with families in mind. The castle has mock ruins, hidden doors and a billiard room on the first floor next to the bedrooms. Wray Castle is on the western shores of Windermere, south-west of Ambleside. Wray Castle is just outside Ambleside in the Lake District. He used his wife’s inheritance and proceeded to build this mansion, which she apparently hated at first sight. Travelling to Wray Castle . 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. Boat services to and from Ambleside are not running. 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. Wray Castle Wray Castle. Wray Castle History. 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