Highclere Castle & Downton Abbey Tour - 1 Day
Our Highclere Castle & Downton Abbey tour departing from Central London takes you to the real-life locations used in the filming of the TV show. Spend the morning visiting Cogges Farm and Bampton, two important locations that featured extensively in Downton Abbey. Your passionate guide will point out key scenes that took place at these sites, as well as sharing lots of stories from the making of Downton Abbey. In the afternoon, soak up the elegance and grandeur of Highclere Castle. This is the real-life Downton Abbey, where you’ll be able to view the magnificent aristocratic rooms and beautiful gardens that make up the estate.
Our Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey tour is led by an experienced tour guide, and is available from London on selected dates throughout the year. This is a small group tour with a maximum of 18 passengers per group.
Highclere Castle & Downton ABbey Highlights:
Cogges Farm, used in the making of Downton Abbey
Cogges Farm
Our Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey tour begins with pickup from three convenient locations in London. Hop onboard our 18-seater minibus and meet your friendly tour guide as we drive out of London and into the English countryside.
Our first stop is to Cogges, better known as Yew Tree Farm where the Grantham Family live. This is a period farm that was one of the most authentic locations used in the making of Downton Abbey. Nothing much has changed here over the years, and it really feels like stepping back into a farm from the 19th Century. You’ll get to see the manor house kitchen and farm buildings that featured in the storyline. We will also walk through the orchard and see the farm animals.
Following your guided tour, you will have some free time to explore as well as watch a short movie where the Downton Abbey producers talk about their time filming at Cogges.
English Countryside
The charming village of Shilton
From Cogges we continue our Downton Abbey tour with a drive into the heart of the English Countryside. This region is known as the Cotswolds, a protected landscape and area of outstanding natural beauty. Our small minibuses are perfect for driving along the narrow and twisty country lanes, taking you to places that larger coaches cannot get to!
We will make a short stop at Shilton, a beautiful village which featured briefly in series two. It’s here that Mr Bates went to work after he left Downton Abbey. We will also pass the village of Swinbrook, where Lady Sybil and Tom Branson spent the night on their aborted elopement.
Bampton
The church in Bampton
Our next stop is Bampton, better known as Downton Village. We’ll do some Downton Abbey “sightseeing”, with your guide taking you to the key filming sites. Highlights include the church, graveyard, village green, Mrs Crawley’s House, Cottage Hospital and post office. You will then have some free time to explore this unspoilt and picturesque English village. There is a charming little tea shop where you can have a cup of tea, or enjoy some scones or homemade cupcakes. Nearby lies an antique shop, village library and you can even enter inside the church.
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey
The afternoon is spent at Highclere Castle, the highlight of our Downton Abbey tour! The castle is home to George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon. We’ll spend the afternoon exploring the castle, Egyptian exhibition and gardens. Downton Abbey fans love seeing the locations where favourite characters made their star appearances, from Robert Crawley and Lady Mary to Edith and Matthew. Highlights include the State Rooms, dining room, and grand staircase, as well as walking through the spectacular gardens! There are also several tea rooms on the estate serving delicious food and drink.
Itinerary:
- 07:15: Pickup from outside the British Museum (Great Russell Street)
- 07:30: Pickup from Marble Arch (outside the Hard Rock Hotel)
- 07:45: Pickup from outside Holiday Inn Kensington Forum (97 Cromwell Road)
- 09:30: Visit Cogges Farm, the location of Yew Tree Farm in the Downton Abbey Series
- 10:30: Pass Shilton and Swinbrook, two delightful villages that feature in the show
- 11:30: Head to Bampton, the location of Downton Village in the TV series
- 12:00: Drive through the English countryside to Highclere Castle
- 13:00: Arrive at Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey!
- 16:00: Leave Highclere Castle, arriving back in London at approximately 18:30
Living in a Castle Tour: 10-16 May 2020
From 10-16 May 2020, our tour also includes tickets to a special event at Highclere called Living in a Castle. Lady Carnarvon, wife of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, will share her experiences on living at Highclere Castle. The exclusive talk takes place in the Saloon and is followed by a guided tour of the State Rooms and Galleried Bedrooms.
Please note that the itinerary will be reversed for this special event. The day begins with a visit to Highclere Castle, followed by visiting the Downton Abbey filming locations in the afternoon.
More info:
- The tour includes entrance fees, transportation and a tour guide
- This is a small group tour, with a maximum of 18 people per group
- The tour does not include any food or drink
- The tour ends at London Victoria Train station
- If you cannot find tickets available on your travel date, please have a look at our other Highclere Castle Tours
