Get ready to visit Highclere Castle the “home” of Downton Abbey in lovely Hampshire England!
Do you love Downton Abbey too? It’s been one of my all time favorite period dramas, the perfect antidote to the stresses of our 21th century! The secret to its appeal is that men find it engaging too. Everyone can relate to the Crawley family can’t they? Upstairs or downstairs we love a sneak peek into a life gone by.
The real Highclere had been used as a filming location for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Secret Garden, but the series Downton Abbey turned out to be its savior.
The History of Highclere Castle
The original house was a beautiful medieval palace built in the late 14th century by the Bishop of Winchester.
- In 1679 it was rebuilt by Sir Robert Sawyer who was Attorney General to King Charles II. He bequeathed the house to his daughter who was wife to the 8th Earl of Pembroke.
- During 1842-49, Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, created the design you see today. The square classical mansion evolved to a Jacobean style with Italian Renaissance influence castle.
- The 4th Earl of Pembroke drafted the British North American Act of 1867 at the castle which created the country of Canada
- During World I, a hospital to care for wounded soldiers was opened at the castle, so Downton Abbey was true to life!
Due to ancestors not making much needed repairs, the castle suffered from serious long term maintenance problems.
By 2009 at least 50 of the 300 rooms in Highclere weren’t habitable due to water damage and the current Earl of Carnarvon needed to undertake major repairs. Estimates of up to £12 million were given to repair the entire estate, with almost £2 million to repair the castle.
The current Earl and Countess had to move into a cottage on the grounds whilst repairs were made!
Filming began in 2010 for Downton Abby, just in time to fund repairs.
The success of the series led to a new tradition of inviting visitors such as you and I. Funds from filming and opening the house to the public allowed the family to continue making much needed repairs to the castle.
Remember the episodes where the family reluctantly allowed paying guests? Once again fact inspires fiction!
Visit Highclere Castle for the Day
Judging by the crowds the day I went, the allure of Downton hasn’t faded.
Disappointingly you’re not allowed to take photos inside the house, but I can tell you every room is perfectly decorated to the period yet still feels warm and cozy.
You can walk through the house at your own pace, and there are guides to answer any questions you may have.
Highclere feels much like a well loved family home but with oodles of history, portraits and charm. In fact, you could spend hours looking just at the photos, portraits, landscapes and memorabilia covering the walls and table tops.
Some old houses can be quite dark, but Highclere is sunny and bright with massive windows streaming in sunshine and light. There was a large en suite bathroom tucked into one of the towers and I so wished to jump the ropes to get a peek!
The rooms actually feel smaller than you’d expect due to the camera’s wide angle lens. One of the guides mentioned it was quite a tight fit to get all the camera crew, actors etc tucked into Lady Sybil’s bedroom!
- See the bedroom where Kemal Pamuk met his untimely end.
- The upper hallways are very pretty with curved arches and doorways and open to the gallery below where Matthew and Lady Mary stole their illicit kiss in front of the Christmas tree.
- Let’s not forget the stunning gilded reception room with its signature red couches that Lady Grantham would fold herself into during every family crisis.
- Don’t expect see Mrs. Pattmore’s kitchens below stairs. Those scenes were entirely filmed at Pinewood Studios near London.
What IS below stairs is the Egyptian exhibition which celebrates the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun with Howard Carter in 1922.
The day I went there was quite a queue to get in. It’s a cramped space with very low ceilings, so you may want to give it a miss unless you’re an avid Egyptologist!
Find a place to stay near Highclere
Visit Highclere Castle – What to Know:
Highclere is not open year round, check before you go!
TICKETS:
- The castle is generally open between Summer to early Fall:
- In 2024 open days are July 7 – Sept. 5, 2024 (open for timed admission)
- Open during special events such as Festival Weekend in October, Film Sets Tour in Autumn, Christmas Tours and Wintertime and Guided Tours
- Book tickets for House & Garden, or House & Garden & Egyptian Exhibition
- Check Highclerecastle.co.uk for admission details.
I recommend you pre-book your tickets online to ensure a slot. Tickets are available for a timed 2 hour morning, mid day or afternoon slot.
FOOD: There’s a cafe and tea room for light meals or you can pre-book an Afternoon Tea.
SHOPPING: The Castle gift shop stocks an interesting array of nice quality dressing gowns, nightdresses, Egyptian relic artifacts, pottery and of course Highclere castle souvenirs.
FAQ:
- DOGS? Neither dogs or picnics are permitted with an exception for guide dogs.
- PHOTOGRAPHY? No photography is permitted inside the house
How to Get to Highclere:
BY CAR
- Punch this address into your SatNav/GPS
- Highclere Park, Newbury RG20 9LE
- Then follow the brown Highclere signs to the entrance.
- Parking is about a 5 minute level walk from the house.
BY TRAIN
- Book a train: The closest stations to Highclere are Newbury or Andover.
- From London Paddington a direct train to Newbury takes 40 minutes.
- From London Waterloo a direct train to Andover takes about an hour.
- You’ll need to book a taxi from the station to take you to Highclere.
- Be sure to book your return pickup taxi also. The drive should take about 15 minutes from Newbury station or 20 minutes from Andover.
Stay a night or a few days, Hampshire is a lovely part of England. Why not visit the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery in nearby Whitchurch too?
I know you’ll enjoy visiting Highclere Castle as much as I did! When you’re ready to plan a trip to England, I’ve got you covered. Wondering when’s the best time to visit London or England? I’ve got that covered too!
