This Valentine’s season, fall under the spell of Strawberry Hill House — where romance, imagination and Gothic drama have entwined for centuries.
Our Valentine’s programme brings together candlelit evenings, storytelling and creative workshops inspired by the house’s unique atmosphere and literary legacy.
At its heart is a special Strawberry Hill After Dark event with Essie Fox, timed to the publication of her bold new retelling of Wuthering Heights from Catherine Earnshaw’s perspective. Set within Horace Walpole’s fantastical Gothic villa, the evening explores obsession, landscape, ghosts and emotional darkness — themes that link Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto to one of the most powerful novels of the nineteenth century.
On Valentine’s weekend, families can enjoy relaxed, hands-on craft sessions, creating cards and gifts inspired by the romance and Gothic charm of the house.
On Valentine’s evening itself, immerse yourself in intrigue and passion on our Gothic Romance Tour, where candlelight, storytelling and extraordinary histories bring the genre’s emotional intensity vividly to life.
For a Valentine’s treat before or after your visit, our Garden Café — run by Roots & Berries — will be serving their winter afternoon tea, featuring seasonal savouries, freshly baked scones and indulgent cakes, with the option to add a glass of fizz.
Strawberry Hill After Dark: Essie Fox on Wuthering Heights
Friday 27th February 2026 | 6.00pm arrival
Timed to coincide with the publication of her bold new retelling of Wuthering Heights from Catherine Earnshaw’s perspective, novelist Essie Fox joins us for a special Strawberry Hill After Dark event. After exclusive after-hours access to Horace Walpole’s fantastical Gothic villa, guests will gather in the Gallery for an in-conversation talk and audience Q&A exploring obsession, landscape, ghosts and emotional darkness — themes that link Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto to one of the most powerful novels of the nineteenth century.
Tickets: £25 including a glass of fizz.
Valentine’s Day Gothic Romance Tour
Saturday 14th February 2026 | 6.30pm arrival, tour begins 7pm
On Valentine’s Day evening, immerse yourselves in a world where romantic beauty and gothic fantasy combine…
Guided by our resident expert, Mark Lambert, the Strawberry Hill Gothic Romance Tour will reveal how Horace Walpole’s fairytale castle inspired him to write the very first Gothic romance novel, The Castle of Otranto, and take you through the tangled histories of his family as you explore different rooms and parts of this atmospheric house.
Tickets: £25 including a glass of fizz.
Valentine’s Crafts at the Castle
Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 February 2026 | 12pm or 2.30pm
Celebrate Valentine’s weekend with a creative family workshop inside Strawberry Hill House.
Join us for a relaxed, hands-on session making a range of Valentine-themed crafts — from decorative keepsakes and cards to small handmade gifts inspired by the romance and Gothic charm of Horace Walpole’s enchanting castle. Designed for children and their grown-ups to enjoy together, these workshops offer a playful and creative way to mark the season of love!
Tickets: Child £15 | Accompanying Adult £8
