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Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London
Our Downton Abbey tour from London visits Highclere Castle, the village of Bampton and the city of Oxford. Visit Highclere Castle which is the real-life filming location used in the making of the TV series and movie. You’ll get to see all the instantly recognizable rooms where beloved characters like Robert Crawley, Lady Mary and Edith lived. We’ll also visit the village of Bampton, the real-life version of the fictional village of Downton where you can see the church, hospital and Matthew Crawley’s mother’s house. Our Downton Abbey day tour from London also includes a visit to Oxford, a city of dreaming spires and a world-famous university.
Our Downton Abbey tour operates on selected dates in 2023 when Highclere Castle is open to the public. The tour departs from London on a large group coach and includes an experienced tour guide. We also offer a small group Downton Abbey tour, including dates when this large group tour is unavailable.
Please note that this tour is extremely popular, so it is recommended to book early.
Itinerary:
Bodleian Library in Oxford
Oxford:
We begin our Downton Abbey tour from London with a visit to Oxford. This historic city is famous for its world-class university that is one of the oldest in the world. The city has also featured as a filming location in the early Harry Potter movies, and many of the college buildings look like a real-life Hogwarts! Once upon a time, the University of Oxford was a place that was almost exclusively reserved for the upper classes and aristocracy. You can almost imagine families such as the Crawleys studying amongst the ancient walls of the university buildings, having arrived from magnificent homes such as Downton Abbey. Your guide will lead a guided tour through the historic city centre, and you will also have some free time to explore, or perhaps enjoy lunch in one of the local pubs or cafes.
Bampton:
The church in Bampton
We continue our Downton Abbey tour with a visit to Bampton. This small village was used as the filming location of Downton in the TV series. Time has stood still in Bampton, and it really looks like nothing much has changed over the past 100 years. It’s precisely for this reason that the producers of Downton Abbey chose Bampton as the perfect filming location. You’ll get to see the village church, which is where Lady Mary married Matthew Crawley and baby Sibyls christening took place. Nearby lies the house which was used for exterior shots of Isobel Crawley’s house. And the old grammar school building served as the hospital in the TV series. As you walk around Bampton, you’ll get to reimagine some of the most iconic and beloved scenes from Downton Abbey.
Highclere Castle
The Drawing Room at Highclere Castle
In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Highclere Castle, the highlight of our Downton Abbey tour from London. You’ll get to explore the house where it all happened! Walk into the State Dining Room where key meals took place, see the grand oak staircase that Lady Mary slid down on her wedding day and look around some of the 12 bedrooms including Lady Edith’s bedroom. Other highlights include the Library where you can see Lord Grantham’s desk, the Drawing Room which was often used for family gatherings and the magnificent public main hall. Step outside to enjoy the spectacular castle grounds which were created by one of the leading English garden designers. Finish the visit with tea and cake in one of the tea rooms.
At the end of your visit, you’ll receive a copy of one of Lady Carnarvon’s books, a unique souvenir that is exclusive to this tour!
Downton Abbey Tour from London:
- The tour departs from Victoria Coach Station in London at 08:15 am. It arrives back in London at around 7 pm.
- The tour includes entrance tickets to Highclere Castle, transportation and a tour guide
- You’ll also receive a copy of one of Lady Carnarvon’s books included in the tour. You can also choose to receive 2 books at checkout to receive an additional book written by Lady Carnarvon!
- The tour does not include food, drink or gratuities
- Occasionally, the order of the trip is reversed with a visit to Highclere Castle in the morning
- Cancellation policy: Full refund offered provided that cancellation is made at least 10 days prior to the departure
