CASTLE Howard has launched its 2018 festive offering, promising a visual feast around the theme The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Theatrical designers, Charlotte Lloyd-Weber and Bretta Gerecke have created this year's ambitious displays at the historic home which will be open for 42 days up to New Year’s Eve.

The whole house has been transformed into a festive celebration, themed around the famous song, as well as the traditions linked to the 12 days of Christmas.

Head of marketing, Abbigail Ollive said: “All of the public rooms in the house have been dressed, with different colour schemes and decorations as you move through the song, culminating in the Long Gallery, which brings together all of the elements of the Twelve Days of Christmas in a breath-taking scene with evocative lighting and stunning details suspended overhead.

“Charlotte and Bretta have created a stunning scheme where you are drawn from room to room, and visitors young and old will love, with the familiar elements of the song woven into the colourful and sparkly displays.”

In keeping with the ‘feasting’ theme, the rooms of the High South have been transformed into a Victorian kitchen and dining room, with table set for an opulent feast – and a chance to see behind the scenes at what the team of servants would have done to make sure every last detail was perfect.

On arrival, visitors can download a free app which enables them to interact with their surroundings with a smartphone or tablet. Created by York-based New Moon Studios, the app reveals Santa flying over Castle Howard’s rooftop, gives young visitors the chance to decorate a virtual Christmas tree, and even indulge in a little elf boxing, which can be filmed or photographed to share.

The Twelve Days of Christmas runs from today, Saturday 17 November to Monday 31 December (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day).