highclere castle tours

Welcome To Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle has been transformed from its roots in Anglo Saxon Times to a medieval palace, a Tudor place house, a Georgian house and today this iconic Victorian Castle. It sits within a park designed by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century.

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Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October 2024

Highclere History Festival - WW2 & D-Day

AN EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIGHCLERE - AND DOWNTON ABBEY

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Explore highclere castle.

Discover how long people have lived here, learn about the landscape surrounding the Castle, find out about the works of art, unearth the story of the 5th Earl and the Pharaoh Tutankhamun?

It is both a much-loved real home - Highclere Castle - and a much-loved fictional home, Downtown Abbey.

Egyptian Exhibition

Travel back in time and descend down the old servants’ stairs into the Castle cellars to explore the Egyptian Exhibition. In 1922, Lord Carnarvon, other leading Egyptologists of the day, Egyptian officials and much of the world’s press, gathered outside the unremarkable entrance to the tomb of a minor pharaoh to experience the discovery of the richest Egyptian burial ever found.

Weddings & Corporate Events

In a beautiful and dramatic setting such as Highclere Castle, your wedding day could be a real life experience as glamorous and magical as any depicted on Downton Abbey. Highclere Castle is a perfect setting for the smaller more intimate wedding, whether for just the bridal couple or for a gathering of up to 30 close family and friends.

Estate & Conservation

"Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness" - Whether you visit in Autumn, or another season, Highclere offers spectacular trees and rolling landscapes for every guest, as you arrive through the Park gates.  For further information please click the above link. 

Savvy Travel Advice

Guide to Visiting Highclere Castle: The Real Downton Abbey

Last updated: July 8, 2023 - Written by Jessica Norah 40 Comments

Highclere Castle is best known as the real-life Downton Abbey, as it was where Downton Abbey was filmed. Many people visit to see the fictional home of the Crawley family and their servants.

However, Highclere Castle, the family seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, has a rich history of its own that rivals the fictional stories of the TV series. The current Earl’s family has been living on the estate since 1679. The Carnarvon family has been involved in the founding of Canada, the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, scandalous affairs, and sordid court cases. Royalty, politicians, famous writers, and film stars have stayed at Highclere Castle.

The great thing is that you can visit Highclere Castle to see it for yourself as it is open to the public during certain times of the year. The main three things to do at Highclere Castle are to tour the State Rooms inside the castle, visit the Egyptian Exhibition, and explore the extensive gardens and grounds.

We’ll share some of the fascinating history of this house and its occupants, share our own experience of visiting Highclere Castle, and tell you all you need to know to visit Highclere Castle yourself. If you are a Downton Abbey fan, we’ll also share information about Downton Abbey tours and other Downton Abbey filming locations in the area that you may want to visit.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents:

Planning your Visit to Highclere Castle

First, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details you should know about planning a visit to Highclere Castle. The castle is not open year round so it is especially important to pay attention to the details so that you don’t miss your chance to visit.

Where is Highclere Castle located? 

Address: Highclere Castle, Newbury RG20 9RN

Highclere Castle is located in the county of Hampshire, a county along the southern coast of England. It’s 5 miles outside of the small town of Newbury in Berkshire and very close to the village of Highclere.

Highclere Castle is located about 66 miles from London, 33 miles from Oxford, and 50 miles from Portsmouth.

How to Get to Highclere Castle from London?

The easiest ways to get to Highclere Castle is via car or by taking a day tour, but there are also options for those who want to travel by public transportation.

This information is geared to those traveling from London, but most information is also relevant for those traveling from other locations in the UK. If you have any questions, feel free to just ask us in the Comments section at the end of the article.

Highclere is located near a major motorway (M4), which makes it fairly easy to reach from London and other major cities in southern England. Depending on traffic, it normally takes between 1.5 hours to 2 hours to reach Highclere Castle from London.

Do NOT use your GPS to navigate to the Highclere Castle parking area, it may lead you to the wrong entrance. Instead, follow the brown tourist signs once you get close.

There is a designated car park near the Visitor Reception Center. Parking is free for visitors of the castle. It is a short walk from the parking area to the ticket area and entrance.

Note that the car park is closed to non-visitors and is only open during public opening dates.

By Public Transit

No public transportation options go directly to Highclere castle; however, you can take a train or public bus to a nearby station and then take a local taxi to the castle. See below options.

The closest train station to Highclere Castle is Newbury Railway Station. There is a direct train service from London Paddington to Newbury. From there you can take a 15 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle (or a long 2.5 hour walk!). Taxis can often be found waiting outside the station.

Alternatively, you can take the train from London Waterloo to Whitchurch station or to Andover station in Hampshire. From Whitchurch station, it is a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle. From Andover station, it is about a 25 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle.

You can book tickets and check for further train connections via Trainline here .

We recommend that you prebook your taxi (or call once you arrive), as they are not always readily available at the stations. You will need to arrange your taxi from the Castle back to the station as there is no taxi stand at the castle. You can check directly with local cab companies or check prices and book online via minicabit .

If you are planning to do a lot of traveling around the UK by train (and don’t live in the UK), you might want to compare the cost of booking individual train tickets to the price of a BritRail Pass . These passes can save visitors who plan to do a lot of train trips money and they also come with additional benefits.

By Bus / Coach

There is normally a National Express coach service from London Victoria station to Newbury. It takes about 2 hours. From Newbury, you can then take a taxi to the castle; it is about a 15 minute taxi ride.

Since the pandemic, National Express has been operating fewer routes and has a reduced schedule. The London to Newbury route is only running in the evenings as of last check in July 2023, so only useful if planning to stay the night in Newbury and visit Highclere Castle the next day.

You can check for other public coach service options here .

By Day Tour

There are a number of day tours to Highclere Castle from London. The majority of tour prices include your admission fee to Highclere Castle, but always be sure to check to see what is included before booking.

Many of the tours also stop at other locations such as Bampton (often used as the fictional Downton village in the TV show) and other Downton Abbey filming locations, Oxford, and/or villages in the Cotswolds.

There are also a few Highclere Castle tours in the UK that leave from other locations in England, including Oxford and Southhampton.

Tours from London to Highclere Castle

There are several tours you can take to Highclere Castle from central London.

• This small group tour includes a visit to Highclere Castle and the village of Bampton. Tours are limited to 16 persons.
• This is another popular small group tour that includes a visit to Highclere Castle, Bampton, and Cogges Manor Farm.
• This 9 hour tour includes a visit to Highclere Castle and a guided tour of the village of Bampton. This is one of the least expensive Downton Abbey tours from London.
• This full day guided tour includes visits to Oxford, Bampton, and Highclere Castle.
• If you are looking for a private tour, this full-day private black cab tour from London includes a private driver-guide, hotel pick-up, visit to Bampton, and a visit to Highclere Castle. Since it is a private tour, the itinerary is somewhat flexible.

Tours from Cities Other than London to Highclere Castle

• This private tour from Southampton (for up to 8 persons) includes driver, pick-up, and transportation to and from Highclere Castle. Tour itinerary also includes stops at Bampton and Cogges Manor Farm. Good potential option for those on a cruise that stops at Southampton.

If you are planning to travel via public transit, you will need to take a taxi (or be prepared for a very long walk) from the bus or train station to reach Highclere Castle. There are currently no rideshare options to and from Highclere Castle of which we are aware.

You can book a taxi in advance (recommended if you know your arrival time) or call for a cab once you arrive. Sometimes there are taxis waiting at the stations (particularly Newbury), but I would not depend on this. You can check directly with local cab companies or check prices and book online via minicabit .

If you are thinking of taking a taxi directly to Highclere Castle from London, this will be a more expensive transit option. Taxi costs between London and Highclere Castle are over £100 each way.

When is Highclere Castle open to the Public?

Highclere doesn’t operate on a traditional set schedule so you will want to check the opening calendar in advance of your visit. They vary a bit each year. Opening dates and special events are normally announced several months in advance to help you plan your visit.

There are generally two main public opening times, once in April for at least 2 weeks and then again for 2 months in the summer.

In 2023, the main public opening Spring dates are April 8, 2022 to May 30, 2023. There are also several additional dates in April and May that the castle will also be open, including weekends and the May holidays.

The main Highclere Castle Summer public opening dates in 2023 are from July 9th, 2023 to September 4, 2023. The Castle is closed on Fridays and Saturdays of each week during the summer period.

The castle has also recently released dates for special tours and events throughout the year. So even if you are not able to visit during the main public opening dates, you may still be able to visit by booking a ticket to a special event or guided tours offered at the Castle.

Guided tours are generally offered about once per week throughout the year. They also open for certain bank holiday weekends, special tours, and other events.

You can view their most updated public visitor calendar and tour dates on their ticketing website .

Cost of Tickets at Highclere Castle?

The ticket prices for Highclere Castle vary depending on which areas of the estate you wish to visit. Tickets can be purchased either for the castle plus gardens or for the castle, gardens, and Egyptian Exhibitions. or the Egyptian Exhibitions plus gardens. Or you can purchase a ticket that includes entry into all three areas.

Note: Until recently, Highclere offered other ticket options including a Gardens and Ground only Ticket and an Egyptian Exhibition plus gardens ticket. Neither of these appear to be available in 2022 or 2023.

Below are the prices for each of the entry tickets (as of Summer 2023): .

Tickets to tour both the castle and gardens are £22.50 for adults, £14 for children 4-16 years old, and £21 for seniors and students, and £19 for disabled visitors. Alternatively, you can buy a family ticket (which covers two adults and two children) for £63.

Tickets to tour all three sections: the gardens, the castle, and the Egyptian Exhibition are £29 for adults, £16 for children 4-16 years old, and £26.50 for seniors, and students, and  £25.50 for disabled visitors. A family ticket is £79.

Finally, there is also the option to have afternoon tea which needs to be pre-booked. This can be a sit down afternoon tea in the Coach House or an afternoon tea picnic basket with champange. You can sit at a table or on the lawn (bring a blanket or cushion). The picnic afternoon tea serves 2 persons and you can add this option to your ticket for an additional £60. Includes a standard afternoon tea option as well as vegetarian or gluten-free options. Because of the included champagne, children are not allowed to participate.

COVID-19 NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Highclere castle is only offering limited ticket types to control visitor numbers and flow. Currently, only the Castle & Gardens and the Castle, Gardens, and Egyptian Exhibition tickets are being offered and you must choose a morning AM ticket, a midday ticket, or afternoon PM ticket. We definitely recommend booking your tour in advance as many dates are already sold out, and “at the gate tickets” will be very limited.

Specialty guided tours and events like the yearly Easter Egg Roll, book talks, and Christmas Gala all have their own special charges. Check the Highclere website for details.

All tickets purchased online need to be printed out and presented in person on arrival at the castle. Please make sure you have time to print your tickets before your visit or you may not be admitted.

You should also bring the debit card or credit card used to purchase the tickets online as you may be requested to show it.

Are Guided Tours of Highclere Castle Offered?

Most visits to the castle, gardens, and Egyptian Exhibition are self-guided. However, guided tours are possible on certain dates if booked in advance.

Guided tours of the castle and grounds are generally offered about once a week. The itinerary and focus of the tours change on a seasonal basis. This is a great way to explore the castle when it is not as crowded with other tourists during the general public opening periods. They are generally limited to about 50 guests.

Every Spring, the Countess chooses a theme for the guided tours of the castle. For example, in May 2019 it was “Art & Architecture” and in May 2022, it is “Living in a Castle”. These experiences include a lecture, a guided tour of the castle, and a guided visit to the gardens (weather permitting).

In 2023, they are also having a series of special wintertime guided tours of the castle in January and February.

Guided tour tickets generally range from £85 to £150 depending on the tour. These all generally include a talk, a guided tour of the State Rooms of the Castle, and access to the Gardens. They may also include a visit to the Egyptian Museum, a free book, and/or light refreshments, depending on the tour.

Dress code for all tours is smart casual. You’ll want to wear comfortable shoes to explore the gardens and walk around the grounds.

Can I visit Highclere Castle without pre-booking my ticket?

Yes, during the public opening days in the Spring and Summer it is possible to visit the castle without booking a ticket or tour in advance. You can purchase admission tickets at the entrance in the afternoons.

However, it is recommended that you book your time in advance in case the Castle is fully booked for the date of your intended visit. The Castle may refuse entry to visitors without prebooked tickets if the visitor numbers get too large. Or you may have to wait for a later entrance time.

Note: Since the pandemic, it is highly recommended that you book your tickets in advance. In Summer 2023, walk-in tickets were only available from 9:00am to 9:30am.

Note that you can NOT join any of the tours or other special events without a pre-booked ticket and reservation. So be sure to book these in advance.

If you are visiting as part of a guided day tour, it is likely that the company will already have your tickets arranged for you. But do be sure to confirm that admission is included in the tour price.

Do I need a Ticket to Visit the Gardens?

Yes, the Castle gardens and grounds are only accessible for those with an admission ticket. Access to the gardens is included with all castle tickets. The Castle gardens are only open on the dates that the Castle is open to the public.

Note: Until 2021, Highclere Castle offered Gardens only tickets but these are not currently available.

However, there are three public footpaths on and around the estate and some longer countryside walks nearby (only open in the summer months). These don’t allow you entry into the castle gardens, but they do let you see parts of the wider estate. Here is a rundown of all the public walking paths available in and around the estate.

Can I see Highclere Castle without paying?

No, not really. The castle is a private home and can’t be seen from the highway. Although there are a couple of seasonal walking paths where you can get views of the castle from afar. So you can get decent views from afar but not close up.

The best way to see Highclere Castle without paying a lot is to visit during one of the public visiting dates (the castle is only open to the public part of the year) and purchase a Gardens Only ticket. This is the cheapest ticket and allows you full access to visit the private castle gardens and grounds where you can get great views of the exterior of Highclere Castle.

NOTE: The Gardens Only ticket is not currently available in 2021/2022 due to the pandemic in order to reduce visitor numbers.

Accessibility at Highclere Castle?

Many areas, but not all, of the Highclere Estate are accessible to visitors with disabilities and reduced mobility.

Motorized wheelchairs and scooters are allowed on the grounds but not inside the castle, but those with manual wheelchairs may visit. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to borrow for use in the Castle and Egyptian Exhibition. If you will need to borrow a wheelchair, it is advised that you call the Castle Office in advance to pre-book one to ensure one is available during your visit.

The ground floor of Highclere Castle is step-free and accessible for visitors with manual wheelchairs, but there is no elevator access to the upstairs Castle rooms. However, picture albums are available to see photos of the upstairs rooms for those not able to use the stairs.

The Egyptian Exhibition is also accessible for most visitors as are most of the other buildings (gift shop, tea room, etc). There are also disabled toilets on-site.

There are designated disabled parking spots. Most of the parking is on a gravel surface. The Reception area and entrance to the castle are located a short distance from the parking area.

The paths around the castle are mostly gravel and the paths in the gardens and estate paths are rougher grass paths, which may not be easily accessible for those in wheelchairs.

Carers who are accompanying a registered, paying, disabled visitor are entitled to complimentary admission to Highclere Castle, Gardens, and Egyptian Exhibition. Disabled visitors should book the free Carer ticket when booking their own ticket. Only one complimentary Carer ticket is allowed per disabled visitor.

Those with questions about access are encouraged to call or email the castle staff before visiting.

Parking at Highclere Castle?

There is a designated car park near the Visitor Reception Center that is open to visitors of the castle during the castle’s opening hours. It is free to park here for visitors.

Note that if you are planning to access the nearby public footpaths or summer walking paths, they are not accessible from the Highclere Castle visitor parking area. Those planning to walk along the public footpaths should park off the estate for access to these paths. See walking map here as it lists parking areas as well.

Eating at Highclere Castle?

During public opening dates, the tea rooms are generally open from 9:30 AM onwards and offer coffee and tea, hot light lunches from 12:00 to 2:00, and light refreshments throughout the day. A cocktail bar also makes gin cocktails.

Normally, a full afternoon tea experience at the Coach House may also be booked in advance but in 2021/2022 the castle is offering afternoon tea basket picnics instead. These can be booked along with your entry ticket.

Near Highclere Castle, there are several pubs and restaurants within a short drive. Two of the closest places to eat nearby are The Red House in Highclere and The Carnarvon Arms in Whitway.

How do I book afternoon tea at Highclere Castle?

Afternoon tea at Highclere must be booked ahead of time on the Highclere castle website as part of a combination ticket to visit Highclere Castle.

Normally, the full afternoon tea experience is a sit-down experience at the Coach House. However, starting in 2021, due to COVID-19, it is now a picnic afternoon tea experience instead.

The afternoon tea picnic boxes include a selection of sandwiches, scones, cakes, and a half bottle of champagne as well as a choice of a cup of tea or coffee. There is a standard afternoon tea, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Due to the inclusion of Champagne, children are not allowed to participate. The cost is £60 and each box includes food for 2 persons.

With the picnic afternoon teas, there are tables and seating available or you can enjoy the afternoon tea picnic on the lawn. Just remember to bring along a blanket or cushions if you want to sit on the lawn.

If you are visiting with children (or are looking for another tea option), you can still enjoy a cream tea (tea plus scone with clotted cream and jam) at the Tea Room without a reservation. The Tea Room also serves sandwiches, baked goods, and snacks.

How much time do I need to visit Highclere Castle?

We would recommend allowing for at least 3 hours to visit Highclere Castle, but you could probably do a quick tour to see the highlights in 2 hours. If you only have 2 hours, we’d recommend about 1 hour to tour the Castle itself, 30 minutes for the Egyptian Exhibition, and 30 minutes to explore a bit of the gardens.

You’ll want to add extra time if you want to shop in the gift shop, have coffee or lunch in the tea room, or walk around the entire gardens area.

Those who have a strong interest in the history of Highclere Castle, an interest in Egyptology, or exploring the estate grounds will likely need much more time to explore at a leisurely pace. Some people spend several hours here.

How to Avoid the Crowds at Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle is a very busy attraction, largely due to the popularity of it being the main filming location of Downton Abbey . If you visit during the public opening dates, do expect it to be busy, especially inside the house. The number of people who are permitted into the house at one time is limited, so sometimes there can be short queues to enter the house.

There are some things you can do to avoid the crowds at Highclere Castle. During the public opening dates, we recommend pre-booking your ticket and going in the morning so that you are one of the first to tour the house. When planning your visit, I’d do the house tour first and the Egyptian Exhibition second as these are the areas that get the most crowded.

You can also avoid the large crowds by booking a visit outside the public opening dates. You can join a guided tour or attend a special event at Highclere Castle that is scheduled outside of the public opening dates. Although more pricey, tickets to these events are much more limited in number.

If you are not that interested in visiting the inside of the Castle, you may just want to consider a Gardens Only ticket. You may find yourself relatively alone in certain areas of the garden and you can find a bench and enjoy a nice view or read a book.

The estate paths are also worth exploring before or after visiting Highclere Castle and can be relatively quiet. When we have done estate walks up to Beacon Hill and to Heaven’s Gate we only passed a couple of other people. Waterproof hiking shoes are recommended for estate walks as paths can be muddy.

Special Events at Highclere Castle?

Highclere has a variety of special events throughout the year, including an Easter Egg Hunt, Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea, and various Christmas events. These events sell out quickly, and they must be pre-booked online .

Are dogs allowed at Highclere Castle?

Dogs are not allowed in the Castle, the castle gardens, or private castle grounds. The only exception is for accredited guide dogs.

Dogs are allowed on the area public footpaths and should be kept on a short lead. Dog owners should keep dogs well away from grazing livestock and ground nesting birds.

NOTE: Since only guide dogs are allowed, if you see someone with dogs, especially more than one dog, you have likely spotted the Earl and Countess’s dogs. They have several dogs and on our last visit we saw the couple with one of their Labrador Retrievers.

Is Photography Allowed at Highclere Castle?

You are permitted to bring cameras to the Castle, but photography is not permitted inside the Castle or the Egyptian Exhibition. Personal photography and videography are only allowed outside and in the gardens.

The use of drones is not allowed anywhere on the Highclere Estate.

Those wishing to take photos or videos for commercial or event purposes on the Estate should call or email the Castle Office for rates and to arrange permission.

What Items are Not Allowed at Highclere Castle?

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the estate with the exception of trained guide dogs. Drones are also not allowed on Highclere Estate.

Strollers and pushchairs are allowed on the estate, but are not allowed inside the Castle or Exhibition, but can be left in the front hall of the castle (space permitting).

Smoking is not permitted on the premises inside or near any of the buildings.

Can I stay overnight at Highclere Castle?

It is not possible to stay overnight inside the castle (unless you are invited!), but there are two guest lodges owned by the Carnarvon family on the estate. Both are small historical buildings (follies) on the estate that have been remodeled as self-catering guest cottages and fitted with modern furnishings.

The Grotto Lodge is a circular stone cottage that was built nearly 200 years ago. The 2-floor cottage has two double bedrooms, modern furnishings, and bespoke wooden furniture. There is a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a washing machine on site. There’s central heating and a wood-burning fireplace, as well as a private outdoor garden.

The London Lodge was built in 1793 by the first Earl of Carnarvon. The stone archway marks the original carriage entrance to the grounds, and is flanked on either side by a small cottage which have been turned into guest accommodation. One side has a cozy sitting room and full kitchen, and the other has a double bedroom and bathroom. You have to walk outside to go between the two parts of the lodge.

Note that priority for booking at the estate cottages is given to those who are looking for longer stays.

Accommodation near Highclere Castle?

In addition to the two on-site cottages, there are several options for staying nearby. There are a couple of places you could stay that are within a longer walk to the Castle entrance (30 to 60 minutes), but there are many options that are within a relatively short drive. Options range from campsites to simple B&Bs to 5-star luxury hotels.

The below accommodation options are listed based on their driving distance from the Castle car park, starting with the closest options:

• The Carnarvon Arms in Whitway – This 18-room historical country inn is the closest option to the Castle. Offers comfortable en-suite rooms and a pub and bar. A 4 minute drive to the Castle car park or 30 minute walk to the Castle entrance. If you want to walk to the Castle, this would be our recommendation.
• The Carpenters Arms in Burghclere – This country inn offers an on-site restaurant, free private parking, a bar, and a garden. It is located a 5-minute drive or 40 minute walk from the Castle.
• The Pheasant in Highclere – The Pheasant (formerly The Yew Tree) is a traditional 17th-century country inn that has been turned into a pub and an award-winning restaurant with rooms. The inn offers 8 cozy and modern rooms. An 8 minute drive to the Highclere Castle car park or a long walk.
• Bel and the Dragon in Kingclere – A renovated 15th century inn upscale country inn that offers a sunny outdoor patio and an on-site restaurant. All rooms are en-suite with flat screen TVs. A 12-minute drive from the Castle.
• The White Hart in Whitchurch – Another historic inn that has been converted into a cozy B&B. Offers an on-site bar and restaurant. A 15 minute drive from the Castle.
• The Vineyard in Stockcross – This 5-star hotel offers luxurious guest rooms featuring marble baths and private art, a sauna, spa, fitness room, gardens, and on-site gourmet dining restaurant. This is one of England’s top wine hotels, with a focus on California wines, and the hotel also does wine tastings and courses. A 15 minute drive from the Castle.
• Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa in Donnington – This 4-star countryside hotel offers well-appointed rooms, an on-site restaurant, health club, and spa. The hotel overlooks an 18-hole golf course so makes for a perfect place to stay for golfers. A 17-minute drive from the castle.
• DoubleTree by Hilton in Newbury – This 4-star chain hotel offers comfortable rooms, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant. A 17 minute drive from the Castle.
• Regency Park Hotel in Thatcham – This 4-star hotel is a bit further away but features contemporary decor, pool, spa, health club, bar, and fine dining restaurant. A 25 minute drive from Highclere Castle.
• Four Seasons Hampshire in Dogmersfield – If you want to stay in 5-star luxury in an elegant Georgian manor house, this is the hotel for you. The hotel has an on-site spa, swimming pool, tennis court, bar and restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, and free parking. Guest activities that can be booked here include horse riding, canal boating, and clay pigeon shooting. It is about a 40 minute drive from Highclere Castle.
• Swan Inn in Swinbrook – This 16th country inn is much further from the castle, but we’ve included it on the list because it was used as a Downton Abbey filming location. In Season 2, the inn was depicted as the place where Lady Sybil and Tom Branson try to stay overnight with plans of eloping. Lady Mary, Edith, and Anna find them at the inn to stop the elopement. It is about a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from the Castle but may be convenient for those also planning to visit the Cotswolds, Oxford, Blenheim Palace, and/or Bath.
• Check nearby Vrbo listings here if you are looking for a private flat, apartment, home, or country cottage in the area. There are a number of options in the Newbury area and within a 20 mile drive of the castle.
• Camping? If you are looking for campsites for a tent, campervan, or motorhome, there are several campsites near Highclere Castle. Some also offer glamping options and rustic cabins for rent. You can see a list of them here .

Other Nearby Places to Visit with a Connection to Highclere Castle?

Highclere village is the local village outside the castle and is strongly associated with Highclere Castle and the Carnarvons. It is just a few minute drive from the castle.

The Highclere village church, Church of Saint Michaels and All Angels, was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Carnarvon and designed by architect Sir Gilbert Scott. It was built between 1869 and 1870.

Also nearby on the Highclere Estate is Beacon Hill, which includes a memorial to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon (the Earl who funded the discovery of King Tut’s tomb) as he is buried at the top of the hill. It can be reached via one of the public walking trails on the Highclere estate.

Other Downton Abbey Filming Locations Nearby?

The primary real-world filming location for Downton Abbey was Highclere Castle and the surrounding gardens and grounds. However, there are a few other places in the area that were major filming locations in the series as well as numerous minor locations.

Here are several Downton Abbey filming locations located within a 1 hour driving distance of Highclere Castle that you can visit:

• Bampton – This small Cotswolds village often doubled as the village of Downton in the TV series and was also used in the Downton Abbey film. It was primarily used for exterior shots, and a walk around the village (particularly along Church View street) will reveal the buildings used for Isobel Crawley’s house (Churchgate House), St. Mary’s village church and churchyard (St. Michael’s and All Angels), Grantham Arms pub (Church View street), the village green, and the Cottage Hospital (old Grammar school building).
• The Portal Hall in Burghclere was used for the village school (exterior and interior) for a number of scenes. It was built in 1890 on land that was donated by the Earl of Carnarvon. The building is used as part of the village primary school and rented out for events so you can’t visit the interior, but you can see the exterior from the road.
• Cogges Farm Manor – This family farm in Witney was the setting for Yew Tree Farm in the TV series. It is where the Drewe family live and where Edith’s daughter Marigold is raised briefly by the Drewes. After the Drewe’s leave, the Mason’s become tenants here. Open to the public during visiting hours.
• Basildon Park – The interior of this National Trust house near Reading was used to film a number of scenes that take place at Grantham House, the Crawley’s London house, in the series. Open to the public during visitor hours.

If you don’t have a car, these locations are not going to be easy to combine with a day visit to Highclere Castle via public transit, so we recommend joining a guided tour that includes a visit to Highclere Castle as well as additional filming locations of interest such as this tour from London .

There are many more filming locations of the TV series and 2019 film that you can visit in England and Scotland. We have visited most of the filming locations, and if you have any questions in planning a visit, just ask us in the Comments section at the end of the article.

It should be noted that the TV series is primarily set on a fictional estate in Yorkshire, which is a northern region of England. However, the actual filming of the show took place almost entirely in southern England, mostly in and around Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire.

However, if you do head to Yorkshire, there are a few filming locations up there. We would strongly recommend a visit to Wentworth Woodhouse (a filming location for the 2019 film). The size of Wentworth Woodhouse and the wealth of the owners in its heyday would have greatly eclipsed that of the fictional Crawley family and Downton Abbey. The royal visit depicted in the Downton Abbey movie was inspired by the real-life visit of the King and Queen to Wentworth Woodhouse.

How to Find out more Information about Highclere Castle? 

The Highclere Castle official website is a great, comprehensive resource about how to visit the castle and current visitor offerings and events. Countess Carnarvon also has a personal blog , where she writes about life at Highclere, history, and news related to Downton Abbey.

The 8th Countess of Carnarvon (the current countess) has written several books about the castle and its most famous inhabitants. It was actually this book about Almina , the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, that got me initially interested in Highclere Castle and watching Downton Abbey. She has since written more books about the real-life people of Highclere Castle as well as guides to entertaining, gardening, and celebrating holidays at the castle. You can see a list of the books she has written here .

If you are interested in Egyptology and the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter and the 5th Earl Carnarvon, there are a lot of books and films about the famous discovery. Although the Earl died shortly after the opening of the tomb, Howard Carter wrote a 3-volume set of books about the discovery and the contents of King Tutankhamun’s tomb if you want to read a first-hand account.

If you want to learn more about the creation and filming of the Downton Abbey TV series and film, you can check out the series of books written by Jessica Fellowes, the niece of Julian Fellowes. These include The Official Series Companion Book and  The World of Downton Abbey . You can find more books written by Jessica Fellowes here .

If you are looking for photo prints or canvases of Highclere Castle, you can check out the photos taken by Laurence during our visits. If you see a photo in this post you like, but don’t see it in the photo gallery, just let us know and we can add it for you.

A Brief History of Highclere Castle & the Carnarvons

Highclere Castle and the Carnarvon family have a long and fascinating history. The current Earl’s family have been living on the estate since 1679 and the house and family have gone through a number of ups and downs over the years.

While most visitors are primarily interested in its connection to the fictional Downton Abbey, the history of the house and the people connected to it are just as interesting (if not more so!).

The Early History of Highclere Castle

The location of Highclere Castle has been inhabited for a long time and Iron Age and Bronze Age remains have been found here. The first recorded inhabitation of the land dates back to 749 when the land was granted to the Bishops of Winchester. Bishop William of Wykeham built a medieval palace and gardens here.

By the 16th century, a red brick Tudor manor was built here. In the late 17th century, the palace would be rebuilt and named Highclere Place House by Sir Robert Sawyer , the Attorney General of England and Wales.

Sawyer’s descendant (his grandson’s nephew), Henry Herbert , would later inherit the house and become the first Earl of Carnarvon. The 1st Earl would have the parkland designed by the famous landscape gardener Lancelot “Capability” Brown.

Victorian and Edwardian Eras at Highclere Castle

In 1838, the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon hired the famous English architect Sir Charles Barry , the architect who remodeled the Palace of Westminster, to redesign the home into a grander and more impressive mansion. In the late 18th and early 19th century, the Square Tudor manor house would be converted to a classical Georgian mansion in the Jacobethan (Jacobean Revival) style and faced in Bath stone.

It would be during the tenure of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon that most of the interiors of the house would be completed. The house today looks very much like it did in the mid-19th century.

In the late 1860’s, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, the 4th Earl would be involved in drawing up the Constitution of Canada and setting the foundation for present-day Canada.

During this era, the castle was considered a glamorous center of culture, politics, and parties. For example, in 1895, the 5th Earl welcomed the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to Highclere Castle.

However, not all was well and the 5th Earl had a large number of debts. It was his marriage to Almina Wombwell in 1895 that allowed him to pay off his debts, pay for the upkeep of Highclere Castle, and live an extravagant lifestyle. Almina was the illegitimate daughter of Alfred de Rothschild and her father left her a fortune.

If you are looking for a period of time at Highclere Castle that closely mirrors that of the fictional Downton Abbey, I’d recommend reading about the lives of the 5th Earl and his wife. There is plenty of drama, scandal, romance, death, royal connections, and family-infighting to rival anything on Downton. Two books about Almina include this one by the current Countess and this one by researcher William Cross; the two books represent different viewpoints on her life.

In 1901, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who loved fast cars and car racing, would have a car accident in Germany which would leave him disabled and in poor health for the rest of his life. In 1903, because of his injuries, he began spending the winters in Egypt and eventually became interested in Egyptian history and artifacts. in 1907, he began financing archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter to excavate tombs in Egypt.

The 5th Earl also loved fast horses and in 1902, he established Highclere Stud to breed thoroughbred racehorses. In 1905, he was appointed one of the Stewards at the Newbury Racecourse.

In 1909 and 1910, aviation pioneer Geoffrey de Havilland made his first test flights from the Highclere Estate.

The World Wars

The World Wars were a time of upheaval and change at Highclere Castle. During the first World War, Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, converted part of Highclere Castle into a hospital for wounded soldiers to convalesce. She became a skilled nurse and nursed many patients herself. In 1922, it was converted back to a private home.

During World War II, Highclere Castle was briefly used as a shelter for children who had to be evacuated from London. Over the six years of the Second World War, it is believed that a total of eight Allied military planes, including those with American, British, Canadian, and New Zealand crews, crashed on the Highclere Estate. The crashes were due to adverse weather conditions and the surrounding hills.

The Discovery of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb in Egypt

Although George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon had begun funding Howard Carter’s expeditions in 1907, little had been found by 1922. Although a concession to dig in the Valley of Kings had been granted in 1914, work had stopped during World War I and didn’t resume until the end of 1917.

However, in November 1922, Howard Carter would make an important discovery. In February 1923, the pair entered King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The discovery was a worldwide sensation, creating a renewed public interest in Egyptology and providing scientists and historians with more information about the ancient Egyptians.

Carnarvon would not live long to enjoy the fame, dying just 3 weeks later of pneumonia and an infected mosquito bite. Or perhaps his death was caused by the Pharaoh’s Curse if you believe in that!

Howard Carter would spend about 10 years recovering, documenting, and preserving over 5,000 artifacts from King Tut’s tomb. Carnarvon’s wife continued to fund Carter’s work for many years. A large number of these objects can be seen today at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

Over the years the 5th Earl and his wife acquired an extraordinary collection of Egyptian artifacts. Although most of this collection would be sold to the Metropolitan Museum of New York to pay Lord Carnarvon’s death duties in 1926, a small amount of these objects are now on display in the castle’s Egyptian Exhibition.

Decline of Highclere Castle

Following the World Wars, like many stately houses in Britain, Highclere Castle and the fortunes of the Carnarvons began to decline. High taxes, shortages of staff, and high maintenance fees made it impossible to keep the house running as it had before WWI. Despite the large fortune Almina had inherited from her wealthy father, the Carnarvons spent extravagantly and managed their money poorly. Almina died estranged from her son, the 6th Earl, with almost no money.

During the stewardship of the 6th and 7th Earls Carnarvon, the castle fell victim to neglect and disrepair. Large sections of the castle were closed up and became disused. The Carnarvon family began living in the cottages on the estate rather than in the castle itself.

The 5th Earl’s love for horse racing continued through the generations. His grandson, Henry George Reginald Molyneux Herbert, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, would become Queen Elizabeth II’s racing manager in 1969. He would become a close friend to the Queen and after his death his son-in-law, John Warren, became the Queen’s new racing manager.

In 1987, the 7th Earl and the butler rediscovered a small collection of Egyptian items that had been stored away in cabinets in the house. These were items that had been collected by the 5th Earl.

In 1988, Highclere Castle was opened to the public for the first time. The highlight, in addition to seeing the State Rooms, was the recently “rediscovered” Egyptian items. The house was opened to try to generate money for the house’s upkeep. It was open for about 60 days per year.

Highclere Castle was largely unused as home through 2009 as water damage had caused at least 50 rooms to become uninhabitable. The 8th Earl (the current Earl) and his family were mostly living in a cottage on the grounds, instead of in the actual castle. It was unclear at this point if the house would be saved and you can read about the poor state of the castle in this 2009 article .

The house was opened for weddings and corporate events to help bring in some income to help pay the large repair bills.

Downton Abbey & The Restoration of the Castle

The fortunes of the Carnarvons and Highclere Castle would change dramatically in the 2010’s with the fame of the TV series Downton Abbey .

The interior and exterior of the castle had been used for filming of a variety of television shows and movies prior to the Downton Abbey TV series, including The Secret Garden (1987), the 1990’s British TV series Jeeves and Wooster and Inspector Morse , Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999). It also appeared in a John Legend music video.

The use of Highclere Castle as a filming location brought in extra money which could be used to help repair the castle. The erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut , starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, in particular, came with a large budget. It may be hard to imagine the grand rooms of Highclere Castle being used for orgy scenes if you are a fan of Downton Abbey!

However, none of these had close to the impact of Downton Abbey . The television series began filming at Highclere Castle in 2010. Highclere Castle is used to depict Downton Abbey, the stately home of the Crawley family in the series that is set in the early 20th century. Both the exterior and parts of the interior are used in the series.

Highclere Castle was used as the primary filming location for the TV show from 2010 to 2015. In 2018, the film crews returned to film the Downton Abbey movie that was released in theaters in 2019.

In 2021 a second Downton Abbey film was announced and filming began in April 2021. It is expected to be released in March 2022.

The worldwide fame of the TV series has caused a large increase in visitor interest in Highclere Castle. The dramatic increase in paying visitors has made it possible to finance major restorations of the interior, the turrets of the castle, and other areas of the estate. The Earl and Countess and their family now split their time between living in the Castle and living nearby during the open visitor season.

The current Earl of Carnarvon is George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon. The current Countess of Carnarvon is Fiona Aitken, the second wife of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon. The heir presumptive of the Highclere Estate is the current Earl’s elder son George Kenneth Oliver Molyneux Herbert, born in 1992.

The 8th Countess of Carnarvon is very involved in planning tours, lectures, and other activities for visitors to the castle, and raising awareness about the history of the building. She’s written multiple books on the history of the castle and the Carnarvon family.

Highclere Castle & Downton Abbey

Julian Fellowes, a friend of the Carnarvons, chose Highclere Castle as the setting for the fictional Yorkshire estate Downton Abbey . The British show is an Edwardian era drama about the fictional aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. The show’s events take place between 1912 and 1926.

It first aired in September 2010 on ITV in UK (and on PBS in the USA) and ran for six seasons. A feature film, a follow-up film set in 1927, was shot here in 2018 and was released in 2019.

In 2021, the second Downton Abbey film began filming at Highclere Castle in April 2021. It is expected to be released over Christmas 2021.

Highclere Castle was used for external shots and most of the internal filming. However, the servants’ quarters, kitchens, and some of the bedrooms were shot on a sound stage at Ealing Studios in London.

The exterior of Highclere Castle is used extensively in the series and is included in the opening sequence of the show. The grounds and certain areas of the estate often regularly are featured in the show.

Inside, the main rooms at Highclere Castle used for filming were the entrance hall, Saloon, the Dining Room, the Drawing Room, and the Library. Some of the upstairs bedrooms at Highclere were also used for filming, including those for Lady Sybil and Lord and Lady Grantham.

The series was immediately a huge hit, particularly in the United States, and has resulted in a huge influx of interest and tourism to Highclere Castle. This has been a boon to the castle, which was able to put the new money towards renovations, and they have really leaned into their status as the real-life location of Downton Abbey.

What to See at Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is huge with “between 200 and 300 rooms” according to the current Countess. Of course, many of these are not open to the public, but you can visit all the main rooms on the ground floor as well as several bedrooms on the first floor. The downstairs area of the stately home houses the Egyptian Exhibition.

Highclere Castle is surrounded by about 1,000 acres of parkland. There are gardens, follies, and estate paths to explore if you wish. The total Highclere Estate includes over 5,000 acres of parkland, farmland, and woodland although not all of this is open to the public. You can learn more about the working estate here .

Depending on the amount of time you have for your visit to Highclere Castle (and the time of year), you will need to prioritize your visit as you could easily spend most of a day here. However, it is easy to see most of the highlights in 2 to 3 hours.

Highclere Castle State Rooms

Highclere’s State Rooms have been lovingly restored, and most of these have been used to film scenes in Downton Abbey .

Important rooms include:

• Entrance Hall -The hall includes a Gothic arch and a marble bust of the 2nd Earl of Carnarvon by Italian sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini.
• The Saloon – This spectacular Gothic-style central room features 17th century Spanish leather wall coverings.
• The Library – This large 2-room area holds over 5,000 books. Here you’ll find the 18th century Carlton House desk (often used in the Downton Abbey TV series as Lord Grantham’s desk) and a desk and chair set previously owned by Napoleon.
• The Music Room – This small well-lit room offers a nice view over the lawn. It features a Baroque painted ceiling and tapestries.
• Drawing Room – Decorated in the Rococo Revival style, this elegant room is decorated with 19th-century mint green French silk wall coverings and family portraits. It is often used as a place for family gatherings before and after meals (both in real life and on Downton Abbey). Narrow cupboards located between the double doors from the Drawing Room to the Smoking Room is where the “forgotten” Egyptian antiquities were discovered in 1987.
• The Smoking Room – This cozy room features lots of rugs and carpets and a number of Dutch paintings.
• Dining Room – This room is dominated by the formal dining table and large number of paintings. One of the most significant paintings is the large painting of Charles I by Anthony van Dyck.

Visitors are also able to go upstairs to visit about 12 bedrooms on the first floor. A couple of these recreate Highclere’s time as a hospital during World War 1.

None of the rooms located on the second and third floors are currently open to the public. Some of these are still being restored and others are in use by the family, used as guest rooms, or used as offices.

There is no real “downstairs” part of the tour. The kitchen and servants’ quarters have been modernized and are not included as part of the tour. Much of the downstairs area is now used to house the Egyptian Exhibition.

Egyptian Exhibition

The 5th Earl of Carnarvon made frequent trips to Egypt because of his health and became an amateur Egyptologist, purchasing and discovering a large collection of Egyptian artifacts. He also financed the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun with Howard Carter.

Lord Carnarvon had assembled a wonderful collection of Egyptian artifacts over the years. However, after his death in 1923, the collection was sold by his wife Almina to the Metropolitan Museum of New York in order to pay death duties. However, a number of smaller objects that were not sent to New York were rediscovered in cupboards at the Castle in 1987.

The Egyptian Exhibition contains the objects discovered in those cabinets, as well as other objects that had previously been lent by the Carnarvon family to museums in the UK. It also covers the story of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb and includes replicas of some of the main objects that were discovered.

To visit the Egyptian Exhibition, you need to enter through a separate entrance (it is located in the downstairs part of the house) and it is ticketed separately from the State Rooms.

Gardens & Grounds

As a visitor to Highclere Castle, you will have access to the private lawns, gardens, and grounds surrounding the house.

There are expansive lawns around the castle, and guests are welcome to enjoy these. There are picnic tables located near the Visitor Reception area and the tearoom.

If you are interested in seeing the gardens, I’d recommend planning your visit for early to mid summer. The gardens are normally at their best in the late Spring and summer months.

It is recommended that visitors leave at least 30 to 45 minutes of time to enjoy the gardens. It takes about 45 minutes for someone to walk around all the garden paths at a leisurely pace. Leave longer if you plan to stop and relax.

Here are some of the more notable gardens and things to see on your visit:

• Monk’s Garden & Walled Garden  – A decorative garden that includes climbing roses, geraniums, lavender, and fruit trees. There is also a glass house and a border garden planted with white flowers.
• The Secret Garden – Just off the walled garden is a gate that leads to the smaller “secret garden”, which is also full of flowers. The name is likely a reference to the fact that the exterior of the house and grounds were used in the filming of the 1987 Hallmark film The Secret Garden starring Colin Firth and Maggie Smith.
• Wildflower Meadow – An area full of wildflowers that is at its best in July and August.
• The Wood of Goodwill – A recently planted woodland area with 38 types of British trees. You may also find some woodland flowers here, depending on the time of year.
• Rose Arbour – A recently planted rose garden and arched walkway created by Lady Carnarvon in memory of her parents.
• The Follies – A total of 12 follies were built on the estate in the 18th century, and today 6 of those remain in decent condition. A couple of these you can explore within the gardens and a couple of others you may see in the distance or along the estate roads. The two you will find near the house are Jackdaw’s Castle (a rectangular pillared classical temple on a mound built with pillars from Devonshire House) and the Etruscan Temple (a small pillared temple near the woodlands). If you visit the Etruscan Temple, you can look for the dog memorials (along the sides) and the remains of the former ice house nearby.
• Ruins – You can see traces of former buildings and follies around the estate. Two that are signposted that you may spot are the former ice house (near the Etruscan Temple) and Sir Robert Sawyer’s parish church (near the gift shop and toilets area). Sir Robert Sawyer purchased the estate in 1679 and built a church next to the then Elizabethan “Highclere Place House”. The foundations of the church are still visible.
• Statues – Keep an eye out for statues and installations in the garden. Our two favorites are the bust of Capability Brown and The Airmen. The Airman is a carved wooden memorial for the airmen who lost their lives in military plane crashes on the estate during World War II. During WW2, a total of eight planes crashed on the estate due to bad weather and poor visibility.
• Cedars of Lebanon – The most impressive trees on the estate are probably the Cedars of Lebanon which were planted on the estate in the mid 18th century. These towering giants provide some welcome shade on hot days and are often seen in the TV shows and movies filmed on the estate.
• Lady Mary’s Bench – A bench next to one of the large cedar trees where a number of the characters, but particularly Lady Mary sat in various episodes, is called Lady Mary’s bench. There is another near the Secret Garden called the Dowager’s Bench.
• Herb Garden – A small herb garden is located near the tearoom and cafe area. It is designed as a peaceful place to rest and sit.

When you arrive at the castle ticket booth, you’ll be given or shown a map of the estate and the areas you are able to visit. This can be very helpful in finding specific locations and mapping out your visit route.

Other Things to Do & See at Highclere Castle

There is a gift shop and tea room located in the former stables. Highclere has a gift shop where you can purchase home goods, clothing, and books.

The Castle’s tea rooms are normally open from 9:30 onwards during public opening times only. You can have a morning coffee or tea or a light lunch afternoon. A more formal afternoon tea experience is also available, but must be booked in advance.

Other Things You Can See on Highclere Estate

Highclere Castle is set on about 1,000 acres of parkland and there is a large amount of parkland and gardens that you can explore. The estate also has lakes, follies, farm buildings, and other landmarks. Although parts of the estate are not publicly accessible, some parts can be seen along various public paths and estate paths.

Although some of the public paths are open year-round, many of the estate paths are only open in the late Spring and Summer months (normally from Easter to the end of August). So if you wish to explore the estate on foot, it is best to visit during this period. You can see a full list of the walks here .

Note that you can’t park at the castle or access these paths from the Castle gardens. You will need to park elsewhere in public parking areas to do these hikes. Some have limited parking very close to the trailhead (e.g., Beacon Hill) whereas others will require parking somewhere nearby and walking to the trailheads.

Here are a few landmarks you can see along these paths:

• Beacon Hill – This walk includes seeing the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and the  memorial to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon (the Earl who funded the discovery of King Tut’s tomb) who is buried at the top of the hill.
• More Estate Follies – If you decide to do some of the estate walks, you may also encounter the Temple of Diana (a circular temple with rotunda) or Heaven’s Gate (a red brick arch). Grotto Lodge and London Lodge are the two follies that have been turned into a self-catering holiday cottages.
• Highclere Chapel – There is a small Gothic-style chapel and cemetery on the grounds near the house which was built for Henrietta, the 3 rd Countess of Carnarvon, after her husband’s death as a memorial to her husband. A private service is held here each August.
• Milford Lake – Milford Lake was first created by the 2nd Earl of Carnarvon and then developed more by landscape gardener Jim Russell under the direction of the 7th Earl. Pretty flowers, such as rhododendrons and azaleas, grow around the lake. The walk here can be overgrown and muddy. Part of Dunsmere lake can also be seen on this walk.

Our Experience Visiting Highclere Castle

We first visited Highclere Castle several years ago in late August during the regular summer public opening dates. We also visited a second time more recently (in April 2021 during an event day) but will focus on writing primarily about our first visit since most people visit during the public opening dates.

The public opening dates are almost always busy times at the Castle so do be prepared for it to be a bit crowded. However, they do limit the number of people allowed to be touring the house and the Egyptian Exhibition at any one time.

When we arrived in the morning, it was raining (hence the umbrella and gray skies in some of our photos) so there were less people than normal as I think the rain put some people off from visiting. However, because of the rain, everyone that was visting that morning were crammed into the House and other indoor areas. If you visit during bad weather, expect that people will stay in the house longer and spend little time in the garden and wandering around the estate.

Highclere Castle is a very impressive building and if you are a Downton Abbey fan, you might feel as if you are walking onto a film set. It is one of the few buildings built in the Jacobethan (Jacobean Revival) style on this scale. If it reminds you a bit of the Palace of Westminster (a.ka. Houses of Parliament) in London, it is because the two were remodeled by the same architect.

We did the House tour first which is self-guided so we just explored at our own pace and there was a fixed route to keep people moving in the same direction. The rooms that are open to the public are very well decorated and each room has a bit of information about the family, history, and/or furnishings. The Saloon, Library, and Drawing Room, in particular, are really beautiful rooms. The upstairs rooms are a bit less impressive but still worth seeing.

Many of the rooms, especially the ground floor State Rooms, will be familiar to Downton Abbey fans. There is some information about the TV show and film within the rooms, but most of the displays relate more to the real-life history, the Carnarvons, and the furnishings in each room. There are guides stations throughout the house that can answer any questions you may have.

As noted, the House tour can be a bit crowded, especially upstairs as many of these rooms you just look into from the hall. So just have some patience as you go through the house and you’ll get your chance to see everything.

After exiting the House tour, we then headed downstairs to the Egyptian Exhibition. Although I am a fan of Downton Abbey, because my initial interest in Highclere Castle came first from reading about the lives of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and the Countess Almina Herbert (in this book ), I was probably more excited to visit the Exhibition than the house.

The Egyptian Exhibition is fairly small, but it does a good job at providing information on the Earl’s interest in Egyptology, Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, and the initial exploration of the tomb by the Earl, his daughter, and Howard Carter. The collection of Egyptian artifacts isn’t huge but it is well displayed and there are also replicas of some of the objects that were found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Luckily, by the time we finished the House tour and Egyptian Exhibition tour, the skies cleared and we were able to wander around the gardens and grounds. The gardens were nice but since it was the end of summer, they were not at their peak.

The estate is huge and if you are here in summer, there are several trails that you can explore. We wandered around a bit once the sun came out. Then we sat outside and had a cream tea at the Tea Room.

Then we decided to drive over to do the Beacon Hill hike. It isn’t a long hike, but it is uphill and can be muddy. At the top is the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and the burial site of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. There is also a very nice view from here over the estate.

So is a visit to Highclere Castle worth it? For us, we enjoyed our visit, despite the initial bad weather, and we felt it was worth it to visit. There are essentially three attractions here: the House, the Egyptian Exhibition, and the gardens.

If you are looking for a less expensive way to visit and are OK with not going inside the House, we’d recommend purchasing the Gardens only ticket (if available, not selling them for the 2021/2022 seasons). The ticket allows you to enjoy the views of the house and grounds for a reasonable price. You can then enjoy either a snack at the Tea Room or bring your own picnic to have in the picnic area to get more from your visit.

Now, if you are not a Downton Abbey fan and not particularly interested in the history of Highclere Castle, there are grander houses, nicer gardens, and better museums of Egyptology out there that you can visit. England is filled with grand stately homes and country houses that you can tour and the crowds here because of it being a filming location for Downton Abbey can put off some visitors. So we would definitely not recommend it for everyone!

We really enjoyed our first visit, but our second visit we booked for a more limited event, a champagne afternoon tea picnic. There were just 70 people visiting and it was nice to enjoy the grounds with so few people around. A great way to return and spend more time enjoying the gardens here. We have also done a couple more of the public and estate walks and visited nearby villages.

Tips for Visiting Highclere Castle

We hope you are excited about your visit to Highclere Castle. Below we highlight some of the advice given earlier as well as provide some further tips for visiting Highclere Castle and getting the most out of your visit:

• Plan Around Open Days – The castle is only open to visitors at certain times of the year. Make sure your planned visit corresponds with the Castle’s opening dates.
• Figure out How to Get There – Highclere Castle is located in a rural part of England and you will want to figure out how to get there before your visit. As described earlier in the article, you can drive, take a train or bus to a local station (and then a taxi to the Castle), or book a guided tour. If you book a guided tour , the tour price should already include reserved entrance tickets to the Castle (and other filming locations).
• Book Ahead – If you are booking your own tickets, we recommend booking in advance. While walkup tickets are often available on public opening days, it’s wise to book your tickets online ahead of time so you will be guaranteed entry. If you want to do a guided Castle tour or attend a special event, you must book in advance.
• Know What you Want to See – The gardens, the castle staterooms, and the Egyptian Exhibition have separate costs. Make sure you purchase the appropriate ticket based on what you plan to see at Highclere.
• Print out your Ticket – If you are pre-booking your ticket, you need to bring your printed ticket. You may also be asked to show your ID and debit or credit card used to make the booking.
• Know the Photography Rules – Photography is not allowed inside the Castle or Egyptian Exhibitions but is permitted on the grounds and gardens.
• Dress Appropriately – Check the weather forecast before you set out for your visit, and it is always wise to be prepared for rain. If you plan to spend some time walking or hiking around the estate, we recommend bringing shoes that would be OK getting some mud on them, rain protection (rain jacket, poncho, or umbrella), and sun protection (hat and/or sunscreen).
• Plan Your Lunch – If you will be at Highclere during lunchtime make sure you have a plan for lunch. The only food generally available at the estate is at the Tea Rooms (which usually serves a “light lunch” between 12-2). You can also book a more formal afternoon tea experience (book in advance) which is currently a picnic afternoon tea. You can bring your own food, but the castle now asks guests who bring their own picnics to enjoy these by your car in the parking area and to take away all litter with you.
• Leave Time to Explore the Gardens and Grounds – The gardens of Highclere are wonderful to explore, especially when in bloom, and you don’t want to miss out on them. If you have more time, we’d recommend seeing the follies and doing some of the estate walks.

Well, that is our guide to visiting Highclere Castle! We hope that this guide has helped you plan your own visit to Highclere Castle and perhaps to other Downton Abbey filming sites in the area.

If you are wanting to visit other stately homes in England , you can see a guide to some of our favorites here .

If you are planning a trip to Highclere Castle in the future, PIN this post on Pinterest so you can find it again to read later:

Have you been to Highclere Castle? If so, let us know what the experience was like for you. Any tips we missed or advice you’d give based on your own visit?

If you are planning a visit to Highclere Castle and have any questions about visiting Highclere Castle or the local area, just ask us in the Comments section below and we’ll get back to you. We love hearing from you!

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Heather Preston Post author

October 13, 2023 at 12:32 pm

Hello! Your blog was great! So much information and helpful tips. And your photos are lovely! Thank you for posting. My daughter and I are visiting London next Easter (2024) and we have our tickets booked for a day during their spring opening. I would love to walk to Heaven’s Gate, but we don’t have transportation outside of taxis and trains. Can we reach Heaven’s Gate through paths from the gardens or do we have to use the public paths? Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated!

Warmest, Heather

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

October 13, 2023 at 1:26 pm

Hi Heather,

That is great that you have already booked your Springtime ticket as they normally sell out well in advance these days. So the path to Heaven’s Gate is only open to the public seasonally, usually from Easter holiday weekend to August bank holiday so you will want to double check to make sure it is open on the specific date you are there as it will be just around that time that it normally opens.

So none of the paths are accessible from the gardens at Highclere Castle. If you want to see Heaven’s Gate, you need to go back down to the road and access it via Wayfarer’s Walk which is accessible within the Highclere Estate but not from the castle gardens. So I would take a taxi to a starting point or you will waste a lot of time walking along the road to find a point to access the path.

To get to Heaven’s Gate, you need to follow the Wayfarer’s Walk until it branches off to the Heaven’s Gate Summer Walk path. There is no simple way to walk there from Highclere Castle itself, so best to perhaps do it before or after and have a taxi drop you off at on side of the Wayfarer’s Walk. It depends on where you start and end in determining how far the walk and how long it will take but I think in any direction I’d allow at least 2 hours. Here is a description of a nice circular walk that takes about 2.5 hours (2 hours without Heaven’s Gate) that includes Heaven’s Gate: https://whitchurch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Wayfarers-Walk-and-Crux-Easton.pdf . If you have the extra time, it is a lovely walk as are many of the other walk in and around the estate. Be sure to wear good walking or hiking shoes as path can be muddy in places.

If the Heaven’s Gate is closed during your visit or you want something easier or shorter, the Beacon Hill (short but uphill, parking area right below path), Whitway Walk, and Wayfarer’s Walks are three that are open year-round.

Hope that helps! Jessica

Deborah Post author

July 8, 2023 at 5:18 am

Hi Jessica – This is a great and helpful guide to visiting Downton Abbey – Highclere Castle. Sadly, though, I had a very disappointing experience recently when trying to visit there and wanted to share as maybe it will help others. We tried to book tickets online but there was no available for any dates in June or July left, so we figured we’d just go in the morning and get whatever walk-up tickets were left as we would have been happy to just see gardens and outside with a hope of visiting castle as well. My sister, daughter, and nephew hired a car and London and made the drive out to Newbury with the hopes of visiting Highclere Castle and then having a nice lunch at a local pub. Well, when we arrived, around 10:30, we were told there were no tickets available and we could not visit. This was very disappointing. It was also too early to have a local pub lunch, so we ended up driving to Bath instead and spending the rest of the day there. It was nice but it was not the day we had all been looking forward to as Downton Abbey fans. So I guess the moral of our story is to BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE or probably don’t bother visiting. Hope we get another chance some day to visit.

July 8, 2023 at 6:51 am

Hi Deborah,

So sorry to hear that you had a disappointing experience trying to visit Highclere Castle without tickets. Yes, since 2021, it has become increasingly difficult to visit Highclere Castle without a pre-booked ticket. They are limiting visitors more since the pandemic and now have more specific time slot designations of the morning, midday, and afternoon time slot. So it is now highly recommended that you pre-book tickets to visit Highclere Castle. Be sure to book and print out the tickets before you visit.

Outside of the Spring and Summer Open Days, it is required that you have a ticket or tour booked. You can’t buy walk-up tickets for any of the events, tours, etc.

Now for those reading this article and they are fully booked on the date(s) you want to visit, you can try to come early and get a ticket. Currently the ticket desk is only open from 9:00-9:30am so you need to be there early and a ticket is not guaranteed. Note that previously they only sold walk-up tickets in the afternoon, now it appears only in the morning for a 30-minutes period. This information has changed a lot in the past few years, so do check the latest time for possible same day walk-up tickets.

But a more guaranteed way would be to book a guided tour, either one offered by Highclere Castle if one is happening during the dates you can visit, or to join a guided group or private tour. Tours are available from London, Oxford, and Southhampton and these include your transportation. Just be sure to make sure the tour includes your entry ticket to visit Highclere Castle. Many of the tours also include visits to other Downton Abbey related filming sites or other places in the area like Oxford and/or pretty Cotswold villages. You can see current tour options here .

Deborah, I hope you get a chance to visit Highclere Castle in the future. And for others reading this, I hope Deborah’s experience and the tips above are helpful to you in planning a trip to Highclere Castle and avoiding disappointment.

Best, Jessica

Gwyneth Gill Post author

July 6, 2023 at 8:44 am

Bit of a long way to go to The Carnarvon in Whitby in the end of ‘Eating at Highclere Castle’ section. Assume it actually means the Carnarvon at Whitway (don’t you hate this auto correct at times) but otherwise I found this a great common sense overview of what to expect and how to allocate timing. Great article.

July 8, 2023 at 3:54 am

Hi Gwyneth,

Glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for pointing out the typo–I have corrected it. Yes, The Carnarvon Arms is indeed in Whitway. We had it correct under lodging but then accidently typed Whitby under the Eating section (it is a pub, restaurant, and hotel). The Carnarvon Arms in Whitway is just about a 1 or 2 minute drive from the castle or about a 25 minute walk, so very close.

Susan Post author

December 30, 2022 at 11:16 am

Hi. Thank you so much for sharing your experience of visiting Highclere Castle. This is extremely interesting and very useful. I would like your advice please on the entry time. We have the option through online booking direct with Highclere to book either the 10am to 12.30pm slot or the 12.30pm to 2.30pm slot, and I am not sure which would be the preferable time. We will be arriving by car. We will have a picnic with us and understand the rules regarding eating by our vehicle and we are happy to do this. We will be booking to visit the House, The Eqyptian Exhibition and The Gardens. I’m just not sure which is the best time slot. We will perhaps aim to arrive around 11am. Can we enter the car park then on the 10.00 am ticket. Or can you enter the Car Park at any time? if you have pre-purchased entrance ticket – therefore is the timed entrance ticket purely the timed entry to visit The House. If so we probably would be better to book the 12.30 to 2.30pm visit. We intend to arrive at approx. 11am, park up, have a snack lunch until say 12am. Then visit the House. We will probably be in the House until say 1.00 – 1.30 pm and then visit the Eqyptian Exhibition. Will we still be able to do this on the 10.00 am ticket? or do we need to have entered the Eqyptian Exhibition before 12.30pm. We understand that we can then probably walk around the grounds during the afternoon at our leisure and are not restricted by a timed exit – but can you confirm this. So sorry when I read this back it does seem confusing, but primarily we wish to arrive around 11.00 am, have a quick snack lunch by the car, enter the House (taking around an 60 mins to 90 mins around the House), then onto the Egyptian Exhibition say 60 mins, perhaps have a tea/coffee at the onsite cafe, and then walk around the grounds. Would really appreciate your advice therefore on which timed tickets we require. Your confirmation or not that the time tickets do not affect the time of entry to the car park but purely the entry to the House. That the timed tickets once entered into the House do not affect your time of entry to the Eqyptian Exhibition. Many thanks for your kind attention and your awaited reply.

December 30, 2022 at 2:58 pm

I am happy to hear that you have found our article helpful in visiting Highclere Castle. Happy to try to answer your questions.

So the ticket entry time for the public tickets is the timed entry for you to visit the Castle specifically (the house entry time), so you would need to do your self-guided tour of the Castle within that time frame. I beleive this timed ticket is also for your Egyptian Exhibition visit (also located in the house but different entry door) but there is not usually a line for it. I would not expect that you would need more than 60 minutes for either visit.

Regardless of your ticket timing, you are welcome to visit the gardens, tearooms and gift shop throughout the day. Last admission to the Castle is 4:00pm. The gardens, tearooms and gift shop all close at 5pm and the park gates at 5:30pm.

So yes, you are able to drive up and park at the Castle during its public opening hours. You just need a ticket to get inside the gate once you leave the parking lot and enter the actual castle grounds. So yes, you can enter the gardens a little early if you want to explore or get tea etc. but you won’t be able to enter the house or exhibition until your ticket time. Or you can also stay later in the ground until closing time.

And yes, as you noted, it looks like Highclere Castle is not allowing people to bring in picnics (except those purchased on site) to the gardens again in 2023. But they do allow people to eat in the car park with no problem as long as they pack away any rubbish. Within the grounds, there is also the tea room and a cafe where you can of course get drinks and food.

So based on wanting to arrive by car around 11am or so, then the 12:30pm to 2:30pm timed tickets are probably best. You could arrive around 11am into the car park and eat your lunch (or eat elsewhere before you arrive), show your ticket to get onto gardens, spent an hour or so in the gardens, and then go visit the House and the Egyptian Exhibition between 12:30 and 2:30. Then you can have you tea and spend any further time you want in the gardens or gift shop.

Crowds here tend to wax and wane with the Castle entry being the place where it can get a bit crowded, especially at the beginning of the entry time periods. So if you find a lot of people wanting to enter the castle at 12:30, you might try starting at the Egyptian Exhibition instead and then return to visit the Castle second. Or just take yoru time and go slowly and let people spread out. They do control the number of people per entry period, but many tend to try to enter near the start time. Fewer people visit the Egyptian Exhibition so it tends to not be as crowded.

Anyway, hope that all helps you make a decision about which ticket time might work best. But really either could work for you as the car park entry time is not dependent on your ticket time. And as long as you have a ticket, you can enter the gardens anytime. The ticket just affects when you can visit the House and Exhibition.

Wishing you a lovely visit!

Floris Post author

September 21, 2022 at 6:19 am

Hello, Thank you for your valuable information. I booked a ticket to visit the castle. I have booked my hotel. Carpenter Arm, for 2 nights. Now I try to organize walks around the castle. I don’t plan to rent a car. I had in mind to take a taxi. for example to take me to Beacon Hill (I was thinking of walking back). I was also thinking of going from Highclere village by taxi and joining the entrance to Highclere castle by the public walk. Should we book the taxi in advance? Thanks a lot for your help. lucia

September 21, 2022 at 8:22 am

You are very welcome, and glad you are finding our information helpful in planning your visit to Highclere Castle. So it sounds like you have the main thing done in that you have your Castle tickets already booked and also have your accommodation arranged.

Yes, I think that not having a car can be nice if you want to enjoy the paths as it can be difficult to find parking at Beacon Hill and some areas along the paths as there is limited parking. And yes, for the taxi, the staff at your hotel should be able to help you arrange a taxi if you give them a little bit of notice or you can book it yourself in advance.

For the walk from Highclere village to the castle, depending on your route, it is probably about a 40-45 minute walk, but I’d allow at least an hour or so to make stops and to allow for any detours and such so you have plenty of time to get to the castle for your entrance time. Remember you need to make your way to the castle’s visitor entrance/parking lot area as there is only one visitor entrance.

If you take a taxi to Beacon Hill, is about a 15 minute hike from the starting point of Beacon Hill to the top (30 minutes round trip). And probably about a 1 hour walk back to your hotel in Burghclere from there if you decide to walk back (depending on specific route of course!).

Just be sure to check the weather before you set out and dress appropriately (always be prepared for a bit of rain!) and the paths can be muddy in places (depending on the weather) so a comfortable and practical shoe is recommended.

Also be sure to check the Highclere Castle estate website for the path information and opening dates (for any which are seasonal) to ensure the ones you plan to take are open to the public during the dates of your visit.

Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful stay and visit to Highclere Castle!

September 23, 2022 at 2:25 am

Hello Jessica, Thank you very much for this very useful information. When you are a foreigner you have no view of the whole. For my walks, I will think again, because I do not want to arrive late at the castle. I’m also a bit afraid of getting lost. I have another question. I will be walking alone. Are the paths +/- safe? Thank you very much. lucia

September 23, 2022 at 5:02 am

Yes, so for the day of your castle reservation, you may want to just have the taxi drop you off at the entrance to Highclere Castle first, and then after your visit you can walk to Highclere village. That way you will not be worried about time. You can also ask staff at the castle if you need any directions. But once you are on the paths, they are typically pretty easy to follow. The only issue is that the path is seperate from the castle visitor area so you have to walk around to start the walk.

The path up to Beacon Hill is just one path up the hill so very easy to follow and you can’t really get lost on that one.

Yes, I think the paths and the villages there are considered safe places to walk and we never had any concerns. You of course, as always, want to take normal safety precautions but many people go out for solo walks in the area.

Lucia Floris Post author

September 23, 2022 at 5:45 am

Thanks a lot you are vert kind. Lucia

September 28, 2022 at 6:04 am

Dear Jessica, I have another request. This time it’s about taxi transportation. Do you have a company to recommend to me? After Downtow, I would like to go to Witney by taxi. Thanks a lot Lucia

Laurence Post author

September 28, 2022 at 6:01 pm

I don’t have a taxi company recommendation, but if you call or ask at your hotel I am sure they can recommend one and give you the phone number of a local company (or be able to help you book it).

You can also check online on minicabit for the specific journey as it allows you to book UK taxis in advance but it doesn’t have all companies on it. I don’t think rideshare like Uber operate there but I am not sure. It would probably be best to book in advance for that journey since you are wanting a company to pick you up from Highclere.

But I’d probably recommend starting calling or asking at your hotel first as they would probably know best.

STANLEY SYMONS Post author

July 27, 2022 at 1:23 pm

Will be visiting in late April and early May. Look for to tips on London. Our last 3 days will be spent there after dropping by Highclere

July 28, 2022 at 2:47 am

Hi Stanley,

Spring is a nice time to visit Highclere Castle. Just note as I am sure as you know already from reading our article, that Highclere Castle is only open to the public on certain days each year. In the Spring, it is usually open for 2 weeeks in Spring as well as some special opening days and weekends. You need to check the calendar once the dates are out (I don’t think 2023 dates are out yet but probably will be out in the next few months) and just make sure you can visit during one of those dates. Tickets need to be booked in advance. Or you can join a tour (from London or Oxford) which includes your tickets and transport.

If this is your first visit to London, this suggested 3-day London itinerary may be helpful. We also have one for 6 days in London as well which might give you more ideas. Our suggested itineraries pack a lot in so if you want a more relaxed pace, I’d just pick a couple of attractions each day.

If you plan to see a lot of things in London, we recommend taking a look at the London Pass as it can save you money if you plan to visit several included places.

SNK Post author

June 3, 2022 at 4:06 am

Your Highclere Castle article and tips you have shared here is very awesome. I really like and appreciate your work. Thanks for sharing this information.

June 3, 2022 at 5:10 am

Thanks, glad it was helpful. If you have any questions as you plan your visit to Highclere Castle, just ask!

Maura Post author

May 25, 2022 at 10:43 am

Thank you for providing such a comprehensive guide for visiting Highclere castle. We (my husband and two teenage daughters) plan to visit in mid August. We will be in London for eight days and this will definitely be one of our day trips. (And yes, I am consulting your London and Oxford itineraries as well.)

We’ve decided that the best travel option for our family is via train from London to Newbury & then hiring a taxi to Highclere. The only castle & gardens tickets available on the days we are in London are for the 2:30pm entrance. Do you recommend allotting time to explore Newbury? Are there any restaurants or pubs you recommend for lunch?

If the tickets are for 2:30pm, are we permitted to arrive early and explore the gardens? Or go to the gift shop?

Thank you, Maura

May 25, 2022 at 11:52 am

So glad to hear that our Highclere Castle guide has been helpful, and that you were able to secure tickets during your visit. A lot of people are disappointed in that the castle is not open during their visiting dates or they have sold out tickets.

I am not sure there are any must-see attractions in Newbury but it is a nice little market town with lots of history. You can certainly stop there for lunch and a stroll before getting a taxi to Highclere. There are several restaurants, tea rooms, pubs, and fast food places in Newbury that you could stop for lunch – I can’t personally recommend any but there are a number of options within a 10 minute walk of the train station. Other things you might do if you have extra time is check out the historic market square, visit the West Berkshire Museum (local history museum, entry by donation), walk along the canal, and cross the river to stroll through Victoria Park. You can check out the Newbury tourism website for more info on restaurants and attractions to plan your time there.

Highclere also sells sandwiches, snacks, drinks, etc. at its cafe and tea room but it might be a bit late in the day to eat here. They stopped allowing people to bring their own picnics into the gardens in 2020 as they now sell their own afternoon tea picnic boxes.

I believe with the timed Highclere admission tickets, you need to arrive at the stated time or after–I don’t think they will allow you in the gardens beforehand as they are using the timed admissions to control visitor numbers. For that particular ticket it says it allows admission between 2:30pm and 4:00pm. So I’d recommend planning your arrival for 2:30pm to get the most of your time. I’d probably head to the house first to do the tour. The castle you will need to enter by 4pm and I believe the grounds close at 5pm. That will give you 2.5 hours which should allow ample time to visit the Castle, Egyptian Exhibition (if booked), and have time to explore the gardens and stop at the gift shop.

If you decide to go via taxi, I’d arrange with your taxi driver to pick you at 5:00pm so you don’t have to worry about arranging a taxi once there.

Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have any further questions about visiting Highclere Castle or planning your time in London or Oxford.

Maura Marquez Post author

May 25, 2022 at 2:10 pm

Thank you for all your help!

Claudia Post author

January 15, 2022 at 1:44 pm

My daughter and I are vising the week of March 21-28 and hoping to tour the Highclere grounds and castle. I checked their website and am a little confused. If it’s showing only 2 available open dates as sold out does that mean there aren’t any other options to visit on those days?

Thanks in advance for your help.

January 17, 2022 at 9:03 am

Hi Claudia,

Glad that you found our article on Highclere Castle. Unfortunately, you are visiting before the Spring public opening season at the castle (which starts April 8, 2022), which means that the castle is only open to the public on very limited dates and generally only for special ticketed events (special guided tours, holiday events, etc.). If it is showing as sold out on those dates on the website, it probably does unfortunately mean that they are sold out for that period. But you can always call Highclere Castle and check to make sure there are no other options on those dates.

Outside of public opening days, you can only visit with a ticket and only for the event as advertised. They limit the number of visitors a lot more on those days.

Hope that helps. I hope you do get a chance to visit, either on this visit or a future visit!

Best, Laurence & Jessica

Tom Post author

January 5, 2022 at 5:05 am

Wow, after reading this, I feel I have already visited!! Great guide and history here, so much I didn’t know. I am planning a surprise visit with my wife (huge Downton fan) on one of the Spring opening dates. I think we will just join a small group guided tour from London that includes Highclere and some of the other Downton Abbey filming sites as well.

I am wondering about food – can we just have a picnic lunch on the lawns or is that just for those who book the picnic baskets? Not wanting to pay that much for lunch and I don’t think we’ll have a load of extra time for that after doing the tour and visiting everything since we’ll be part of a tour.

January 5, 2022 at 6:11 am

So glad you enjoyed our Highclere Castle guide and I think that your wife will love the Highclere Castle day trip. Unless you are renting a car, a guided day trip is the best way to visit some of the other local Downton Abbey sites in the same day. The village of Bampton is the main place I’d recommend (it is what was mainly used for most of the Downton village buildings). Cogges Manor Farm is also a nice place to visit if included on your tour.

For your question about food, you have a few options. During lunchtime (normally 12-2pm I think), there is a light lunch served at the on-site tea room at Highclere as well as snacks and refreshments throughout the day. You can get something here to enjoy inside or outside. There is also the picnic afternoon tea as you mentioned but not a great option with the tour as you noted, it is fairly pricey (£60 for 2 people), and it most be booked in advance. It can be enjoyed at a table or on the lawn.

It used to be that it was OK to bring your own picnic and enjoy it on the lawns or gardens, but I believe they are discouraging this now since they are selling the picnic afternoon teas. But you can still bring your own food and snacks, but per their website they are asking that visitors enjoy these near their car in the parking area rather than on the castle lawns or in the gardens. There are some picnic tables (at least on our last visit) located near the Visitor Reception area that is near the parking area. They also ask that anything you bring that you take with you or dispose of properly of course.

If you are doing a tour, you may also want to check where else it is stopping and for how long. As you could also have lunch in Bampton (either at a local cafe or restaurant, or a picnic lunch outside) or at Cogges Manor Farm for instance. Cogges Manor Farm has a picnic area and a little cafe (we’ve ordered sandwiches here and sat outside). If it is a full day tour that you do, the tour likely has time scheduled for lunch somewhere along the trip so good to check your itinerary once you book as that may help you plan better.

Hope that helps and wishing you a great visit to Highclere!

Richard Edwards Post author

March 16, 2021 at 2:35 am

Many thanks for a comprehensive guide. Im planning a trip as a 60th Birthday present for my wife and this has been very helpful .

March 16, 2021 at 7:00 am

Hi Richard,

You’re very welcome and I hope that the castle is back open and welcoming guests for your wife’s birthday trip!! Just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip.

Gordon Sims Post author

December 21, 2019 at 7:19 am

You can visit Beacon Hill without having to use any path connected with Downton. There is a public car park just off the nearby motorway which serves a public pathway to the top of Beacon Hill.

December 21, 2019 at 12:39 pm

Yes, that is partially correct. You do not need to visit Highclere Castle to enjoy this public walk and in fact you can’t walk from Highclere Castle to Beacon Hill as you need to use the designated public parking area below the hill.

However, Beacon Hill is still part of the Highclere Estate, but the public parking area and path are currently leased and managed by the local council. It is one of the 3 public footpaths that run through or near the estate. Hope that helps clarify things!

It is a great walk, especially if the weather is good and can be done in any season as the path is open year-round.

Nada adel Post author

December 4, 2019 at 12:24 pm

Loved this post! Thanks for sharing this 🙂

December 6, 2019 at 4:12 am

Hi Nada, You’re very welcome! Best, Jessica

James Post author

November 25, 2019 at 2:27 am

Hi. Just watched your show on House Hunters International and thought I’d look you guys up. Wow, you have a very comprehensive website and a pretty cool life to go with it.

I got the travel bug at 11 years of age when my parents took my sister and I to Egypt in 1977. Still have fond memories of that trip.

Have travelled all over since then, but only short term (apart from a few years in London). With a wife and three kids we try to get away (we live in Sydney) every 18 months or so.

All the best!

November 26, 2019 at 3:14 am

Glad you saw our House Hunters International show – yes we lived in that apartment for about 4 years and just moved actually this month 😉

Sounds like you have had plenty of travel adventures yourself. It can definitely be difficult to travel with young kids, but glad you get to have a nice trip every year or two!

If you want to keep up with our travels, the best way is via our email travel newsletter which we send out just once a month.

Ravin Post author

November 14, 2019 at 2:54 am

thanks for guiding with lots of informative details. I am planing to visit highclere castle in the uk, and your article is really helpful.

November 14, 2019 at 4:24 am

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Wishing you a great visit to Highclere Castle, and just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip to the UK.

Seana Turner Post author

October 25, 2019 at 11:57 am

I am a total Downton fan, so I would love visiting here. It would take a bit of planning for me, so thanks (as always) for providing such helpful details. I would have assumed they had lots of food service on the property, so that is a particularly helpful little tip!

October 25, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Maybe a visit to Highclere Castle is something you can add to your next UK visit 😉

Yes, we visit a lot of National Trust properties and grand country houses in the UK, and most of the country houses have tea rooms or restaurants which serve a greater variety of food options and hot meals throughout the day. For instance Blenheim Palace has a few different dining options. But I think because Highclere Castle is only open for a limited time each year, it would be very difficult to fully staff and equip a full kitchen so they do afternoon tea, snacks, and light lunches. But I think some people visit, like we did, assuming there will be more options. But it is nice there is a picnic area where you can bring some picnic food if you wish, which is a nice option particularly for families who want to make a day out of it.

They do full meals for a few of their special events each year such as their Christmas gala which includes a 5-course dinner and drinks.

Glenn Mendenhall Post author

October 25, 2019 at 6:12 am

Hi Jessica,

This guide is very helpful and comprehensive. I am visiting London in November with my wife (big Downton fan!!!) and I’d love to plan a special day out to visit Highclere Castle. But I understand that the public open times are only in Spring and Summer. So is there any way to visit if there are no events on the specific dates of our visit?

Is is possible to book private tours with guides or anything? Grasping at straws I know, but I know she’d really love to visit after watching the movie. We would not have a car so would be with a tour most likely or could do public transit/taxi if needed.

Thanks in advance for your response! Glenn

October 25, 2019 at 6:42 am

Yes, unfortunately, outside of the public opening season, your chances are not too good. But there are a few things to check before giving up home 😉

There are some autumn and winter events on the events calendar, including some November tours, that you can check to see if they correspond to any of the dates you’ll be in England. If so, you can book your tickets in advance for those although I think most of these are already sold out. If you do an event, you’ll probably need to make your own way here as the group and private bus tours only generally run for the public opening season to visit Highclere Castle, but you could also arrange a private transfer.

I don’t believe that outside guides, even UK Blue Badge guides, are allowed to actually provide guided tours of the castle. Highclere Castle does sometimes allow for private groups to visit the castle during and outside of public opening dates. I am not sure how often they do this or how expensive they are, but you can see more here .

Other options may be just to do a walk on one of the open public walking paths on the estate (you could get a partial view of the castle), or if you have at least 2 nights, you could rent one of the lodges and stay on the Highclere Estate.

If it doesn’t work out on this visit, I hope you get a chance to return and can arrange to visit England during Highclere Castle’s opening season.

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Highclere Castle: Inside the Hampshire estate and how to visit

Explore the stunning stately home and gardens, used as the main location in Downton Abbey

Originally built in 1679, Highclere Castle underwent architectural renovations in the 1840s that resulted in its striking Jacobethan and Italianate style, which draws thousands of visitors each year.

The property, which you can visit on an exclusive tour with Good Housekeeping , sits on an estate that stretches 5,000 acres and comprises farmland, woodland, a park designed by renowned gardener Capability Brown in the 18th century and numerous landscaped gardens.

Where is Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle is located in the village of Highclere in Hampshire, nestled in the rolling North Wessex Downs, a certified Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village is a great starting point for numerous scenic walks despite its proximity to the busy towns of Andover (approximately ten miles south) and Newbury (approximately five miles north, across the border in Berkshire).

Who owns Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle is owned by Lord Carnarvon – George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon – and Lady Fiona Carnarvon (pictured below), who are also full-time residents.

The first written records of the Highclere estate date back to 749 AD, when the Bishops of Winchester were gifted it by an Anglo-Saxon king. It was Bishop William of Wykeham who first built a medieval palace and gardens on the site, before the property was rebuilt as Highclere Place House in 1679, after being purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the ancestor of Lord Carnarvon.

In 1842, architect Sir Charles Barry, who designed the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower (better known as Big Ben), remodelled the house into Highclere Castle as it stands today.

Lord Carnarvon is heavily involved in the estate's farming business, while Lady Carnarvon is author to several books about Highclere and its former residents. Lady Carnarvon also has a podcast and blog based on her magnificent home, its involvement with Downtown Abbey and its behind-the-scenes workings.

What is there to see and do at Highclere Castle?

Visitors can enjoy both guided and self-guided tours inside the castle , taking in some of the main state rooms, bedrooms, the cellars and the old staff quarters, much of which will be recognisable to Downton fans.

The castle is also home to the Egyptian Exhibition, which tells the story of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon (Lord Carnarvon’s great grandfather) discovering King Tutankhamun’s tomb with archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. The exhibition showcases real artefacts dug from the tomb along with some recreations, as well as items excavated by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon elsewhere around the world.

Outside, you can roam the sprawling parkland or explore the picturesque gardens, including a secret garden, wildflower meadow, the Wood of Goodwill, the Rose Arbour, and the aromatic Healing Herb garden.

How to visit Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle and its grounds are accessible mainly in spring and summer months (check their website for exact dates). During these times, it’s advised that entry and tours are pre-booked, however the estate does allow some walk-up visitors daily. They suggest calling ahead to check availability.

Throughout the rest of the year Highclere hosts a selection of ticketed events, from a history festival in autumn to carol evenings at Christmas. Visit Highclere Castle website for details of all upcoming events.

You can also visit Highclere on an exclusive visit with Good Housekeeping this year. You'll enjoy an unforgettable journey aboard the British Pullman, including a three-course brunch and dinner, to Highclere Castle for a talk with Lady Carnarvon and our Editor-in-Chief, Gaby Huddart.

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Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, boasts one of the world’s greatest - and oldest - universities, as well as some of the finest architecture in Europe. The colleges themselves, which make up the university, are amongst the architectural highlights, their ivy-clad stone walls protecting beautiful chapels, halls, and libraries. A walking tour of Oxford with our guide is included before some free time to grab a bite to eat. Why not try out a pub lunch at one of the many famous inns of Oxford?

Next, we head for the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire. Bampton is the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey. Visit The Church; see Matthew Crawley's mother's house, the hospital, (series two) and current people's homes which are transformed into the Post Office, as well as various pubs. In the "hospital," which is the public library, there is also the Vesey room where the Bampton Archive is housed, and various local exhibitions are set out. Downton memorabilia - Beautiful cards, prints and mugs (done by a local artist) as well as books of the filming are all on offer to purchase. Leaving Bampton, we now head for Highclere Castle, made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series.

Highclere Castle - As seen in the Downton Abbey TV Series

Built by Sir Charles Berry who also built the Houses of Parliament, this is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. The tour of the Castle’s public rooms includes the magnificent public main hall, the library and sitting rooms in addition to other rooms featured in Downton Abbey.

Why not spend some time enjoying the parklands created by Lancelot “Capability” Brown who also designed the grounds of Blenheim Palace, or indulge yourself with tea and cake at one of the tea rooms once you have finished touring the Castle?

A Copy of Lady Carnarvon's books

A copy of one of Lady Carnarvon's books will also be given to every customer on the tour. It makes for fascinating reading and is a unique souvenir to remember the day, exclusive to Premium Tours.

Departing Highclere Castle, we head back to London and arrive back at approximately 7pm.

Please note:

• The order of visit may change from time to time.
• The tour departs Victoria Coach Station Gate 19 - 20 at 8.15am (Boarding starts at 8am). Tour will conclude near Victoria train station at approx. 19:00pm.
• Booking conditions: A full refund will be made if Premium Tours is informed at least 10 days before departure.
• The itinerary is subject to change.  The visit to Bampton cannot be guaranteed in case of events taking place in the village. In this case extra time will be spent in Oxford.

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What It's Like to Tour Highclere Castle, the Real-life 'Downton Abbey' Estate

Downton Abbey is a real-life family home. Here’s everything to know about Highclere Castle ahead of the upcoming movie.

Claudia Fisher is a digital editorial director on the Commerce News & Deals team at Dotdash Meredith. She's been writing, editing, and strategizing for women's lifestyle publications in NYC for nearly a decade, with a special interest in beauty and style.

Perhaps as iconic as the name Downton Abbey itself is the beautiful estate house where the show and upcoming movie were predominantly filmed : Highclere Castle. The TV series and the grand Jacobethan house are indelibly linked because of the show’s main imagery, but Highclere Castle itself is a real home west of London — not just a film set or well-preserved antique. With tours offered daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and an evolving events calendar , including a 1920s-themed party and holiday celebrations , Highclere Castle offers visitors a chance not just to indulge their Downton Abbey fandom but also to learn about life at an English estate home both throughout history and today.

Hindsight may be 20/20, and Downton Abbey may seem like an obvious hit drama to you — but, believe it or not, the producers and those involved in season one didn’t know the historical series about the 20th-century aristocratic Crawley family would take off and become the sensation it is today. With six seasons under its belt, the show’s team is releasing the movie "Downton Abbey" this fall, with the United States release slated for Sept. 20, 2019 after a debut abroad on Sept. 13.

So, here’s everything you've ever wondered about the real-life Downton Abbey, including what to know about Highclere Castle tours, events, and more popular sightseeing locations — like the real-life Downton village, Bampton, and Cogges Farm, where pivotal scenes in the show were filmed.

*If you’re not caught up on all six seasons, there are spoilers ahead.*

Where is Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle is approximately a 90-minute drive west of London in a town called Newbury. The home was chosen before a location for Downton Village was selected, so the distances between the most recognizable sites in the show are different from what you’d expect. While several notable Yorkshire Countryside locations central to the show’s storyline appear short drives or mere bike rides away from the family’s estate, that’s not really the case.

Bampton, which is actual name of the village where Isobel Crawley resides, is about an hour away by car from Highclere Castle.

In the village, which now runs its own “Downton Abbey” tours, you’ll also recognize the town’s church, post office, and the outside of The Grantham Inn (which is actually a three-bedroom cottage, not a pub). The Bampton Community Archive is filled with props from the show, including Matthew’s grave stone, and film set memorabilia, like the fake stones used to cover signs of modernity inconsistent with the TV series' time period. The archive's exterior was also used in the show as the outside of the village’s hospital in scenes with characters like Isobel Crawley and Dr. Richard Clarkson.

Another nearby location is the site of a significant romantic turning point in Downton Abbey . When Lady Sybil and Tom Branson decided to elope, they ran away to The Swan Inn for a night.

The Swan Inn is a real-life Cotswolds inn and restaurant, serving traditional English dishes in a quaint, low-ceilinged pub. From Bampton Village, you can reach The Swan Inn in about 20 minutes by car.

If you’re curious about the local farm where Lady Edith’s daughter was sent, the real-life property is very close to Bampton Village, but not to the fictitious family’s home. Despite Edith, who's played by English actress Laura Carmichael, being shown riding a bike from her family’s home to the farm in one episode's opening, the true distance from Highclere Castle to Cogges Manor Farm , where filming took place, would take over an hour to drive.

Another trick of film magic is that the home at Cogges Farm is much larger than the humble farmhouse portrayed in the series. To create the right vision for the period piece, careful camera angles were chosen to truncate the building and make one portion look like the entire house.

What is Highclere Castle used for now?

Highclere Castle is a real family’s home. The estate belongs to Lord Carnarvon and his wife, Lady Carnarvon, who oversees most of the restoration and historical tours of the property. The castle was not always as attentively maintained as it is now, though. Over high tea, Lady C — as she's called by the staff — told Travel + Leisure about her husband's parents, who inherited the estate in their later years and chose to live elsewhere rather than refurbish and modernize the antique dwelling to be livable in modern times.

Lady C had other plans for the stately house when ownership was transferred to her husband, wanting to turn the property into a true home where her five younger sisters could come visit and guests could enjoy parties and meals in the dining room and main hall. She took on the restoration bit by bit, managing smaller-scale projects, like a few ceilings at a time, and went from there. Word of the undertaking attracted Downton Abbey producers to the estate because they wanted a home for the Crawleys that felt lived in, not just a place preserved as a museum.

Today, the family of the house breeds race horses and has found other ways to turn the property into a source of income. Some of the follies (the small ornamental buildings) dotting the landscape in Downton Abbey have been renovated and repurposed into rooms for visitors to stay in , and the family is very focused on farming the 4,000 to 5,000 acres of woodland surrounding the house. They even recently got their own pigs, Thelma and Louise, who gave them 16 piglets and are natural soil turners, preparing the land for planting.

Highclere Castle Tours

In the show Downton Abbey , the rooms have become just as recognizable as the main characters who occupy them. The careful prop styling and set design uses a mix of what was already in the house and items brought in just for filming. The desk in Lord Crawley’s library, for example, is one iconic piece that actually belongs to the Carnarvon family and remains in the room with or without cast and crew present. The mint green sitting room the Crawley women retreat to after dinner also looks almost identical to the show’s portrayal, except Maggie Smith (who plays Violet Crawley AKA Granny) requested different chairs be brought in for her. She found the pastel pink couch too soft, one of the estate’s tour guide shared, so she would sink lower on the cushions than she wanted during filming.

On Highclere Castle tours, you can see the rooms from Downton Abbey and get treated to both behind-the scenes anecdotes and the real-life history of the home along with insight into what life would have been like for an aristocratic family in this house during Downton ’s era.

The tours began in 1988 and have since expanded to include diverse exhibits and themes. Lady C is determined to make the stately home “dynamic,” explaining to T+L , “I’m not flat … we always experiment.”

In addition to showcasing the stately home and educating visitors on the history of both Highclere Castle itself and the time period in which Downton is set, Lady C created The Egyptian Exhibit to honor an ancestor, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian Boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, in 1922 during an archaeological dig.

For the most up-to-date tour schedule, check Highclere Castle’s website . On the estate’s site, you’ll also find information about upcoming events, like talks, afternoon tea get-togethers, and cocktail nights hosted by Lord and Lady Carnarvon. Ahead of the "Downton Abbey" movie’s release, Highclere Castle is offering special TV and film-related tours and celebrations, too.

Beyond these tours and events, you can host private events at the expansive castle for weddings, private dinner parties, and work events. And, of course, there’s a Highclere Castle gift shop with Downton -themed home goods, stationary, kitchenware, and accessories alongside Highclere Castle-branded items in those same categories. In its ever-growing footprint, Highclere Castle is forging beyond Downton fame: the Herberts (when they're not going by Lord and Lady Carnarvon) just released their own gin , another memento you can pick up at the gift shop to remember your historical journey through British aristocracy, grand architectural pursuits, and Downton Abbey insights.

The home and the show will likely be forever linked, especially as both use the country mansion’s striking silhouette as a logo, but at least now you’ll be able to decipher the real home — evolving, lived in, and very much present — from the Downton Abbey frozen-in-time depiction.

Visiting Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) – A complete guide

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: October 30, 2022

All you need to know about visiting Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) including practical tips, best tours and how to plan your visit.

If you’re a fan of the TV series, then visiting Downton Abbey may well be high on your list of places to visit in the UK. This magnificent castle is located in Hampshire, not far from the Berkshire border. It is a Grade I listed building and set among grounds designed by Capability Brown.

With over 200 rooms and a site of more than 1,000 acres, Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey has been owned by the earls of Carnarvon since 1793, when the very first Earl inherited the site. 

In recent years it has been used as a filming location, not only doubling up as Downton but also featuring in the Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut. The Carnarvon family are still in residence and the current Countess even runs a website , blog, podcast and social media pages. 

If you want to take a Downton Abbey tour, this guide will take you through all the options, including organised day trips and how to get there by car or public transport. By the end of this article, you may well have your Downton Abbey castle tour all sorted! Let’s get started. 

Getting to Highclere Castle by train

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Visiting Downton Abbey – How to get to Highclere Castle

• London Paddington to Newbury (40 minutes) + taxi to Highclere (15 minutes)  

It is possible to reach Highclere by train, but you’ll need to use another form of transport as well due to the fact that Newbury, the nearest station, is five miles away. Trains to Newbury depart from London Paddington and the journey takes around 40 minutes. You can then take a 15 minute taxi trip to Highclere. 

• Postcode: RG20 9RN, but follow brown signs when close to castle

You could also take a trip to Downton Abbey by car. If you do, the castle website advises not to use the Sat Nav when you get close, because this will take you to the incorrect entrance. Instead, follow the brown signs which are clearly displayed once you’re nearby. 

Tours visiting Downton Abbey  (Highclere Castle)

The other option for visiting is to pick one of the organised Downton Abbey trips. There are plenty available at affordable prices, and you can hand over how to get there and how to make the most of your day to an expert.

The following Downton Abbey tour packages are highly recommended, and have been handpicked to offer a great range of options. Booking one of these also guarantees you’ll get in, even during high season! 

• Duration: 9 hours
• Destinations: Highclere Castle & Bampton village
• Departure time: Varies
• Departure point: Gloucester Road tube station, London
• What’s included: Transport, local guide, entry fees
• What’s not included: Lunch, hotel pick-up, exhibition entry

This 9 hour Downton Abbey day trip by air-conditioned coach shows you all the key sights. You can even catch up on episodes you may have missed or not seen for some time while travelling. 

The day includes 3 hours at the abbey, plus a guided walking tour of Bampton village. There is a cafe and gift shop at the castle, and full commentary is provided so you can make sense of what you’re seeing throughout. 

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK THIS TOUR

• What’s included: Transport, local guide, castle entry fee

This itinerary is similar to the previous one, but is more personal as you’ll be part of a small group, with a maximum of 15 participants in total. Your guide will thus have more time to spend with you, answering questions or showing the way to what you’d like to see.

As lunch is not included, you can take a picnic to enjoy in the landscaped grounds or eat at the cafe there. Your tour of the village, meanwhile, includes sites such as the village pub, church and Downton Hospital.

• Duration: 10 hours
• Destinations: Oxford, Highclere Castle & Bampton village
• Departure time: 08.00
• Departure point: Victoria Coach Station, London
• What’s included: Luxury transport, local guide, entry fee, signed book
• What’s not included: Lunch, hotel pick-up

If you want to see Oxford as well as ticking off those Downton Abbey places to visit, this tour includes a visit to the historic and world-famous university city. You will also receive a signed copy of Lady Carnarvon’s book, an autobiography covering her life at Highclere.

This tour also includes Bampton village and time at the castle. Here you can see the library, hall, lounges and other interior locations featured in the TV show. 

• Duration: 11 hours
• Destinations: Cotswolds, Cogges Manor Farm, Highclere Castle & Bampton village
• Departure point: British Museum, Great Russell St, London
• What’s included: Luxury transport, local guide, entry fee

For those trying to choose between booking Downton Abbey tour tickets and a trip to the Cotswolds, this itinerary is ideal as you can do both in one day. At 11 hours, it’s a little longer than the average trip, meaning you can visit more locations while someone else does the driving.

In addition to the obligatory Downton castle visit, you can also see the village, plus Cogges Manor Farm that starred as Yew Tree Farm in the series. You will also make a couple of stops in some of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages.

• Duration: 1 day
• Destinations: Cogges Manor Farm, Highclere Castle & Bampton village
• What’s included: Luxury transport, local guide, entry fees

This one day trip is like a Downton Abbey set tour, as you’ll explore the village, the castle and Yew Tree Farm. An exclusive, in-depth tour of the 13th-century farmhouse is included, and if you wish you can purchase refreshments from the Cow Shed Cafe on site.

After touring the village you’ll have plenty of time at the castle to see sights like the dining, music, drawing and smoking rooms, plus perhaps some of the bedrooms. 

If you want to stay away from the crowds, this personal tour by black taxi is suitable for a group of up to four. The day includes visits to Yew Tree Farm, followed by several locations in the Cotswolds used during filming. 

You can then take a guided tour of Bampton village, plus free time to explore independently if you wish. The final stop of the day is at Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey, where you can marvel at the splendour both inside and out. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK THIS TOUR

Visiting Downton Abbey – What to see and do at Highclere Castle

With hundreds of rooms and beautifully landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown, there’s lots to see at Highclere Castle. The venue also hosts themed exhibitions, and if you want to enter these a separate fee may be payable. An Egyptian exhibition, for instance, showcases the fifth earl’s private collection. 

Those who have visited say that the castle seems even more imposing in real life. Apparently Julian Fellowes wrote the first scripts with Highclere in mind, as he was already friends with the Carnarvon family.

Highlights inside Highclere include the grand entrance hall, the Mercia bedroom which retained its real name for the fictional series, the Drawing Room, the Library, the Smoking Room and The Music Room. 

The grounds are also an incredible place to visit. You can see the wildflower, rose and secret gardens, and dotted around the grounds are various flower species including clematis, peonies, hydrangeas and poppies in late spring and summer or snowdrops and daffodils earlier in the year. 

Lots of oak and beech trees also grow within the property’s sizable woodland, while tall cedars provide shady spots during warmer weather.  

Visiting Downton Abbey – Highclere Castle FAQs & info

As a historic building, the entire castle is not accessible by wheelchair as there is no lift. Non-motorised wheelchairs can be used inside. You can also pre-book a manual wheelchair: find out more here . 

A large field in front of the castle provides visitor parking, and you will be directed to an appropriate space by staff. 

If you want to dine while you’re there, you can choose between eating at the on-site cafe and taking a picnic into the grounds of the castle. 

The opening times vary by season and the castle may be closed a couple of days per week. Check current information here . 

Highclere Castle is the real Downton Abbey, and the property is very much open to visitors. You can travel to the castle by car, train and taxi or take a day trip which includes a tour and entry to the building and grounds. 

Whether by guided tour or on your own steam, walking around Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey, is the best way to see the magnificent gardens and interiors featured in the show.  Whenever the castle is open, you’re welcome to explore the grounds. 

London and Grotto Lodges within Highclere Castle grounds are available for rent, so while you cannot sleep within the main building you can stay on site. You can rent these for two nights. More information can be found here . 

For most people, around 3 to 5 hours is the ideal length of time to spend at the castle, including time for lunch such as a picnic in the grounds. 

Here are five of our top tips to make your Downton Abbey castle visit go smoothly.

• Book in advance

Highclere Castle is very popular, so do book early to make sure you don’t miss out!

• Expect to wait in line

Waiting in line – or queueing as it’s known in Britain – is common at Highclere Castle.

• Wear comfortable shoes

You’re likely to do a LOT of walking around the castle and grounds – perhaps more if you take in the village too.

• Don’t carry too much

You can’t take large bags into the castle anyway. Although they can be stored, it’s much easier to do without unnecessary items.

• No indoor photography, filming or drones

No video footage or photographs may be captured inside the Castle or exhibition.

As you can see if you check out the tour itineraries detailed above, there are other Downton Abbey locations near Highclere Castle, including Bampton village and the real ‘Yew Tree Farm’.

Other places to visit while you’re in this part of the UK include Oxford , the Cotswolds , Stonehenge and Salisbury , an attractive and historic city with a magnificent cathedral. 

Whether you visit the castle independently or take one of the best Downton Abbey tours covered in this guide, Highclere Castle is a must for fans of the hit British TV show – as well as those who want to find out more about this ancient country’s history. 

Enjoy your visit!

The best Highclere Castle Tours from London

See the real Downton Abbey, a stunning Jacobean country house also known as Highclere Castle, on these day trips from the British capital.

(Photo: Viator.com)

You might have already seen some of architect Charles Barry’s work while you were in London at Trafalgar Square before, but Highclere Castle is one of his finest works. Along with stunning landscaped gardens, created by the revered Capability Brown, it makes for one of the most remarkable stately homes open to the public in the UK right now. Highclere Castle is a mere 60 miles (97km) from central London, so tours such as these four, often including some extra stops thrown onto the itinerary, are the perfect way to have a hassle free experience.

Downton Abbey and Village Tour from London by Coach

For fans of the Downton Abbey drama, this nine-hour tour is designed to immerse you in the world of the show, through visits to key locations. See the quaint village of Bampton, which was the setting for Downton Village, as well as Downton Abbey itself, the remarkable Highclere Castle, where you’ll be able to spend three hours exploring inside the building, including some of the very rooms used to film the drama series. You’ll also hear lots of behind-the-scenes anecdotes from your guide. From £125 per person.

Book at Viator.com

(Photo: Getyourguide.com)

Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour

As time has passed since the filming of Downton Abbey, themed tours to Highclere Castle are increasingly infrequent. This occasional tour still has one of the best itineraries of all Downton Abbey tours. You’ll visit many sites recognizable from the show Downton Abbey, such as Bampton Village, Shilton, and the Swan Inn at Swinbrook, where many controversial scenes took place. Access to Highclere Castle is also included, with a tour of the gardens and castle. From £189 per person.

Book at Getyourguide.com

Downton Abbey Countryside Black Taxi VIP Tour

A good solution to the infrequency of Downton Abbey tours these days from London is to take a private tour instead. And what quirkier manner than to do so in a black London taxicab? Available on Monday every week, you and your group of up to six people (which also makes this the best value tour per person for groups of five or six) can have your own bespoke tour in your own personal black cab. Your driver will pick you up in central London and take you into Oxfordshire to visit the villages used to film the show. Please note that the entry fee to Highclere Castle is not included. From £699 per group.

Private Round Trip Transfer to Highclere Castle from London

One final option is to book a roundtrip journey from London to Highclere Castle, stopping at nearby villages along the way. Although not officially a tour, there are some perks to this choice. You and four other people can ride for a set fee, making it better value when there are more of you. This option is one of the very few that happens to be available most days of the year. As with the above option, admission tickets to Highclere Castle are not included but can be purchased in advance. From £407 per group.

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Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle) day tours from London 2024

3 guided day tours to highclere castle & downton film locations from london in 2024.

About Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

Visiting Highclere Castle is like walking into history. It is a magnificent example of an English Castle but is now most famous as Downton Abbey in the popular TV series and recent hugely popular film of the same name.

A Highclere Castle tour is now a very popular and fascinating experience for fans of history and of the Downton Abbey TV series and film.

Highclere Castle can be combined easily in a day trip with the beautiful area of the Cotswolds or Oxford, and Tour 1 - Oxford, Bampton & Highclere Castle does just this. A fantastic day out, in addition to entrance to Highclere Castle you have time to explore beautiful Bampton in the Cotswolds, ('Downton Village') and charming Oxford.

An alternative tour to the ones visiting Highclere Castle is Tour 2 - Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey Village and the Cotswolds which visits 'Downton Abbey Village' (Bampton) and in addition a stop at the gorgeous Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds and the much loved Blenheim Palace.

For a more intimate experience Tour 3 - Downton Abbey Filming locations, Cotswolds and Highclere Castle Small Group offers you the chance to visit top filming locations throughout the Cotswolds and Hampshire departing from both London and Oxford, with no more than 17 other people.

Tours & tickets   Oxford, Bampton & Highclere tour   Blenheim Palace & Cotswolds tour   Small group film locations & Castle tour   Highclere Castle tour dates - at a glance  

Highclere Castle opening, tours and tickets 2024

Downton Abbey opening dates in 2024

Despite its popularity Highclere Castle has a limited visitor season. Some of the 2024 dates are live on this page but others are not released yet (see our table Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle tour dates 2024 for the available dates.).

Highclere Castle day tours from London are few and far between, normally opening dates are restricted between July and early September and national holidays at Easter and in May.

If you want to visit Highclere on a day tour from London it is not a matter of picking and choosing your tour, it's just grab the tour when available for your dates before it sells out!

If you are planning for 2024, then based on this year and previous years they are likely to be a spring opening around Easter, the two national holidays in May, and most days (except Fridays and Saturdays) from the second week of July through to early September. In addition, there are occasional special event days throughout the year. We update our page as and when dates are released and highlight these special events once we have details. We include the tour that does not visit Highclere for those visitors that are in the UK when Highclere is not open but want the best 'Downton' experience available.

It is not possible to view Highclere Castle when closed, even for a drop by photo opportunity. Highclere Castle is far from public roads out of view. There are local public footpaths where you can glimpse Highclere Castle from far off.

Highclere Castle by public transport

There is no public transport available to Highclere Castle. A bus service from Newbury runs 3 or 4 times a day except Sundays to the small village of Burghclere about a 30 minute walk from Highclere Castle, but timings are not good for a visit.

From London you can take trains to Newbury from Paddington Station from where it is about a 20 minute taxi ride to Highclere.

Tour 1: Oxford, Bampton and Highclere Castle Tour

DOWNTON ABBEY - HIGHCLERE CASTLE - OXFORD, BAMPTON & HIGHCLERE TOUR

Tour of 'Downton Abbey' (Highclere Castle) with Oxford and Bampton

Adult from £189pp

• Visit to Highclere Castle • Copy of Lady Carnarvon's book • Visit to 'Downton Village' (Bampton) • Walking tour of Oxford

Oxford, Bampton & Highclere Castle tour dates 2024

See table below for Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle tour dates 2024

Tour highlights

Visit Highclere Castle and grounds made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series

Visit Bampton Village used for outdoor scenes from the TV series Downton Abbey

Walking tour of Oxford, home to one of the world's greatest Universities, visit the historic colleges

Copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography.

Tour itinerary

First stop after around 75 minutes is Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, boasts one of the world's greatest - and oldest - universities, as well as some of the finest architecture in Europe.

The colleges themselves, which make up the university, are amongst the architectural highlights, their ivy-clad stone walls protecting beautiful chapels, halls and libraries.

A walking tour of Oxford with our guide is included before some free time to grab a bite to eat. Why not try out a pub lunch at one of the many famous inns of Oxford?

Bampton (Downton Village)

Next stop is the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire Bampton; the setting for exterior village scenes in the ITV series of Downton Abbey.

Visit the church - in real life, St Mary's Church, which played host to a number of memorable weddings funerals and christenings in Downton Abbey.

See Matthew Crawley's mother's house, the hospital, (series two) and current people's homes, which are transformed into the Post Office as well as various pubs.

In the "hospital", which is the public library, there is also the Vesey room where the Bampton Archive is housed and various local exhibitions are set out. Here you can purchase some Downton mementos of your time in Bampton, such as beautiful cards, prints and mugs (done by a local artist) as well as books of the filming.

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

To finish your day you will travel to Highclere, and discover an inspiring Highclere Castle set amidst lawns and gardens of tranquility and beauty. It has been home to the Carnarvon Family since 1679 and the present Earl and Countess still live here.

Long-standing friend of the Carnarvon family, Julian Fellowes had Highclere Castle in mind as he wrote Downton Abbey. He often commented he wanted a house which spectacularly testified to the confidence and soaring optimism of the Edwardian period.

Visitors follow a route through the castle though rooms with guides in each State room happy to share anecdotes and information.

As well as the castle, you will have time to explore the extensive grounds, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown who also designed the grounds of Blenheim Palace. Tea and cake can be taken at one of the tea rooms once you have finished.

A copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography will also be given to every customer on the tour. It makes for fascinating reading and is a unique souvenir to remember the day!

Prices and tour reservations

Prices are displayed on the banner link above. Major credit and debit cards are accepted. You will be emailed a confirmation with a booking reference after reservation. The booking reference and the name of the person ordering is all that you need to quote when joining the tour, there are no paper tickets.

Tour 2 - Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey Village & the Cotswolds

Note: This tour does not visit Highclere Castle but looks at the surrounding villages which were featured in the show plus Blenheim Palace.

This tour covers the resplendent English county of Oxfordshire, an area renowned for its rolling green hills, spectacular stately homes and quintessentially English market towns.

Enjoy the quaint village of Bampton, made famous by the Downton Abbey series, stop at Bourton-on-the-Water ('Venice of the Cotswolds') and enjoy an afternoon tea in a riverside cafe' if you like.

Finally finish at the beautiful Blenheim Palace , where Sir Winston Churchill was born and raised. (Entrance included if paying the higher ticket price - shown below.) Peruse around the stunning State Rooms, brimming with priceless works of art and magnificent tapestries. Enjoy the magnificent gardens set in over 754 hectares of land, with an exquisite water garden.

Entrance to Blenheim Palace (with ticket including entrances, shown below)

Visit charming Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water

Visit the village of Bampton; a film setting for the popular Downton Abbey TV series.

Luxury air conditioned purpose built touring bus

Professional, expert standard, friendly tour guide

COTSWOLDS, BLENHEIM PALACE + DOWNTON ABBEY VILLAGE TOUR FROM LONDON

Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds and Downton Abbey film locations guided day tour from London

• Adult without Blenheim Palace entry from £72 • Adult with Blenheim Palace entry from £100

• Optional entry to Blenheim Palace & Gardens • Walking tour of Bampton • Discover two traditional villages • See filming locations of 'Downton Abbey' • Professional guide • Luxury air-conditioned coach with free Wi-Fi

Tour 3: Downton Abbey filming locations and visit to Highclere Castle (Small Group)

DOWNTON ABBEY - HIGHCLERE CASTLE - YEW TREE FARM, BAMPTON & HIGHCLERE TOUR SMALL GROUP

Downton Abbey filming locations and visit to Highclere Castle (Small Group) - International Friends

Adult from £199pp

• Visit to Highclere Castle • Visit to Yew Tree Farm • Visit to 'Downton Village' (Bampton) • Max 18 people • Explore hidden filming sites that the big coaches cannot get to in the stunning Cotswolds

Tour 3 - Small group Downton Abbey film locations & Highclere Castle

See table below for Downton Abbey/Highclere Castle tour dates

Visit to Yew Tree Farm (Cogges Manor Farm) with private exclusive tour of the house

Visit to Downton Village (Bampton) and Downton Church with entry to the building used for Downton Cottage Hospital

Entry and tour of Highclere Castle and Gardens

Services of a friendly Downton Abbey specialist guide throughout the day on a luxury touring coach.

Yew Tree Farm

Our first stop is a visit to Yew Tree Farm (Cogges Manor Farm), home of the tenant farmer Mr Drewe. The historic farmyard and 13th century manor house sits on the banks of the River Windrush and first appeared in Downton Abbey in series 4.

After a tea/coffee break in the delightfully refurbished rustic cow shed cafe at Cogges, we take a tour and learn of the relationship between the tenant farmers and landowners, showing the sites used in filming.

After the tour we drive to Downton Village, real name Bampton, a beautiful village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. The village of Bampton has been used extensively in all series of Downton Abbey for Downton Village filming.

You will see Downton Cottage Hospital and doctor's surgery (in real life the library), St Mary’s Church (where many wedding and funeral scenes were shot), Churchgate House for exterior shots for the Crawley family home, and the street used for shops, the Post Office and the Grantham Arms.

Highclere Castle

In the early afternoon we make our way to the Grantham family home, Highclere Castle. On arrival at Highclere Castle there will be time to enjoy the beautiful gardens. There will be time for lunch, or a snack in the Tearooms before entering Highclere Castle for an afternoon visit.

DOWNTON ABBEY TOUR DATES 2024 + DOWNTON LOCATIONS TOUR WITH BLENHEIM PALACE

Important: these are the tour dates only and do not represent ticket availability.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Real-Life Downton Abbey

Satisfy those lingering Downton cravings by getting lost in one of England's most beautiful estates, Highclere Castle.

The Highclere Castle app provides a multimedia experience, where you can peek inside the castle's rooms, see its historic artifacts, and get to know the people who live and work there. Better yet: the virtual journey is narrated by Jim Carter who plays Downton 's Carson the Butler.

While the Crawley family is fictional, Lord and Lady Carnarvon, real-life British nobility, actually live at Highclere. George Hebert and his wife, Fiona, are the current Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and the owners of Highclere Castle . The couple are also entrepreneurs, having created their own lines of gin and cigars .

Should you want to further get to know the Earl and Countess, the app includes video interviews with them both. The pair discusses life at Highclere and introduces some of the estate's prized possessions, like paintings, furniture and a desk that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. If you're curious about previous Highclere-dwellers, you can also view their complete family tree—Highclere has been home for the Carnarvon family since 1842.

In addition to the Lord and Lady, the app features chats with Highclere's chef and butler. After watching these videos, you'll know the ins and outs of fashioning a meal at Highclere. Hint: it's not easy.

Finally, be sure not to miss the interesting story about Highclere’s connection with Egypt and Tutankhamun and the jaw-dropping footage of the castle's grounds, especially its gardens. Highclere spans 6,000 acres, so there's certainly no shortage of places to explore.

According to The New York Times , the house costs $1.5 million a year to run. So get the app and pretend to live at Highclere, without the expense or airfare.

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Highclere Castle Opening Dates 2024

Highclere Tours for Spring & Summer

Highclere Small Group Tour - Spring & Summer

Highclere Ticket & Transfer

Highclere Castle, the location for the filming of Downton Abbey, will only be open on limited dates throughout  2024.

Highclere Castle only announces opening dates 5 or 6 months beforehand, so if the opening dates are not available in the month you require, we recommend checking back. They also occasionally add extra dates during the year,

Also, we very strongly recommend booking tickets and tours early because, with limited opening dates and the great popularity of visiting Highclere, tickets sell out very quickly.

The most convenient way to see Highclere in the Spring and Summer, when Highclere has most open days, is with either one of our full-day  Highclere Castle Tours >>> .      

, or with our,

Highclere Castle Ticket with Coach Transfer >>> , with entrance ticket and return transport in a luxury minibus.

All our tours and transfers begin and end in Central London, apart from one, which starts from Southampton Cruise terminal and ends in central London for those ending their cruise.

Highclere Castle is nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside and is, as such, very difficult to reach by public transport.

Quicklinks:

Spring Opening Dates (March, April & May ) >>>

Summer Opening Dates (July, August & September) >>>

Other Opening Dates >>>

Opening Dates

These are the opening dates at Highclere Castle for the spring & summer admissions. We offer group tours from London to Highclere Castle on these dates as well as for some of the special events.

Spring 2024 – March, April & May

Highclere Castle is open on selected dates in March, April and May 2024. Our Highclere Castle tour will take you to the Castle and nearby Downton Abbey sites with admission tickets included.

• March: 30 & 31
• April: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
• May: 4, 5, 6, 7, 26, 27, 28, 29

March, April & May Tour: Book Now >>>

Mid-Summer 2024 – June

• June: 18, 19, 20,  25, 26, 27, 28

Summer 2024 – July, August & September

Our Highclere Tours include an entrance ticket to the Castle and a visit to the nearby Downton Abbey sites with convenient pickup and dropoff locations from and back to Central London. Available during summer 2024 opening dates.

• July 7-31, excluding Fridays & Saturdays
• August 1-29, excluding Fridays and Saturdays
• September 1 – 4

Highclere Castle Tours

Our Highclere Castle tours are the perfect way of getting to the castle from London. We offer several different Highclere Castle tours which are available in 2024 on the dates listed above. These tours are top-rated and get sold out well in advance. We strongly recommend booking once you have confirmed your travel dates.

If our tours are sold out, please read our article for more options.

Our Highclere Castle day trip includes a visit to Highclere Castle and a tour of the nearby Downton Abbey filming locations including the real-life Downton village. This is the perfect tour if you want to see all the most iconic Downton Abbey filming locations in one day.

We offer a large group tour in a luxury 40-seater coach and a small-group tour in an executive 18-seater minibus.

We also offer a direct Highclere Castle coach that includes Highclere Castle tickets with return transport from London on selected dates.

Finally, our private tour to Highclere Castle is ideal if you are looking to travel from London in a private vehicle and spend the day exploring the castle and nearby filming locations. We can offer a private tour on any date when Highclere Castle is open. However, admission tickets unlike our group tours, must be purchased directly from the Highclere Castle website. Since Highclere Castle tickets get sold out well in advance, we recommend booking a private tour as soon as you have confirmed your travel dates.

Special Tours & Events

Highclere Castle hosts a number of special tours and events. These take place on different dates during Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. The special tours are open to a limited number of guests.

Special Events:

We can arrange private Downton Abbey themed tours on these dates with pickup from London, Oxford or Southampton.

Special Wintertime Tours – 2024

• January 9, 14, 15, 25, 31

Earl and The Pharoah Special Event 2024

• February: 3, 4, 22, 23, 24, 25
• March: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16

Easter Egg Trail – 2024

• To be confirmed

Midsummer Castle Guided Tours 

Castle tours magic 2024, real lives & film sets 2024.

• October: 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15,17, 25, 26, 27
• November: 1, 8

To arrange a private Downton Abbey themed tour on these dates, please get in touch. Please note that we can only arrange tours on these dates if there are still tickets available to book on the Highclere Castle website.

Highclere Castle Dates – Christmas 2024

November: TBA

December: TBA

Tours from London are available on December TBA.  You can see further details via the link here

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