Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London
Description
Explore Highclere Castle, the Cotswolds village of Bampton and other sites made famous by the hit British TV series 'Downton Abbey' on this full-day tour from London. With an expert guide, travel to Oxfordshire where much of the show was filmed. Visit Cogges Manor Farm and Bampton, the setting of Downton village. Get up close to the Grantham Arms pub and the church where Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley were wed. Then, tour the state rooms and gardens at Highclere Castle, the grand country estate otherwise known as the Grantham family home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Then, hop inside your comfortable, air-conditioned coach and relax on the journey to Oxfordshire. As you travel, listen to your guide share entertaining tales and trivia about the British period drama TV series, Downton Abbey. Filmed mostly in and around Oxfordshire, the hit show follows the lives, dramas and scandals of the fictional Crawley family and their servants in the days before, during and after World War I. Hear insider gossip about characters such as Lady Edith and Dowager Countess of Grantham, and uncover little-known facts about the filming locations visited on your tour. Your first stop is at Cogges Manor Farm. Sip on a hot drink (own expense) in its rustic cafe before discovering a few of the farm’s shooting locations.
Next, head to the Cotswold village of Bampton, a quintessentially English village that featured as Downton village. On a walking tour, see the church where Lady Mary married Matthew Crawley, and the house that was once used as the Crawley family home. Then, stroll along the main street, passing sights such as the fictional Grantham Arms pub.
Continue on to Highclere Castle, one of the most famous Downton filming locations. With your guide leading the way, explore the grand estate that surrounds the castle including Monk’s Garden, White Border, Secret Garden and the Wood of Goodwill, and learn about Highclere Castle’s role as the Grantham family home. After free time for lunch or a snack in the on-site tea rooms (own expense), make your way into the castle to explore its lavish state rooms with your guide. Follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lady Sybil and Tom Branson as you wander through the dining, smoking and music rooms, and learn all about the Carnarvons, the real-life family who have owned Highclere Castle since the late 17th century. See other impressive filming sites, such as the Red Stairs, saloon, gallery and bedrooms, then return to your coach and relax on the journey back to London. Your day trip then concludes with a drop-off at London Victoria Station, which as excellent transport links to all parts of London and beyond.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note: Once the booking is submitted all sales are final, non-changeable, non-transferable and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- British weather can be variable and so guests are advised to check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. It is recommended to bring some warm clothes with you especially in the winter months and layers are good for adapting to the ever-changing weather conditions. It is a good idea to wear appropriate footwear as there is walking involved on our tours. England is known for its rain so it is advisable to bring a waterproof jacket or umbrella with you.
- Large bags and backpacks are not permitted in the Castle grounds. A small storage area is available at the Visitors Reception. Picnics are not permitted within the gardens.
- Photography and videography is not permitted inside the Castle but can be used on the Castle grounds and lawns for personal use only.
- Pushchairs are not permitted inside of the Castle but can be used around the Castle grounds and lawns.
Reviews(100)
Ginny & Jason were very kind and we are so appreciative of all the history behind each of the sites ! We had a special tea and as an added bonus saw the Egyptian exhibit so wonderfully surprised !
Thank you for taking the time to write about your visit. We're so pleased you enjoyed your time with us on our Small Group Downton Abbey Day Trip, and chose to share it.
Genni was a wonderful guide. She shared her voluminous knowledge of each site we visited as we drove to each—and answered our questions. Upon arrival to each site she oriented us, added more information, and let us investigate on our own. We had adequate time at each site. We visited the castle, the village used for village scenes, the farm used for farm scenes, and a church that served for several other scenes. Genni's knowledge extended from the history of the sites to all things Downton about each site. She gave us "behind the scenes" information we would never have known if we'd visited on our own. All in all, a day well spent!
Ginny was a fantastic guide, fun, precise, and friendly.
Jinni was an awesome tour guide! She was full of information and just a delight. I will say that we were surprised to be attending a talk about the filming, but the speakers were extremely difficult to hear as they had no amplification.
Amber was a fantastic tour guide and had lots of interesting stories and history to share with us. She even had a few jokes! I hope we can take another tour with her when we return next year!
The trip was very well planned, we had enough time at all of our stops. Our guide, Toby, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Downton Abbey sites, with lots of info and stories. The tour of Highclere Castle was excellent as was the wonderful tea they served in the garden afterward!!
We booked a private tour/transfer and little did we know how much better our day would turn out, all thanks to Christian improving our planned day by providing the local knowledge and experience we had hoped by hiring a driver and guide. Christian arrived early to pick us up from our airport hotel to begin our scheduled 10 hour tours visiting the Diddley Squat Farm shop to have an early Lunch, visit the Farmer’s Dog Pub, Bampton Village (Downton Village), and Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey). Along the way Christian pointed out all sorts of local information including the origins of Steeple Chase. Our original itinerary was much more limited, and because we opted for a driver/guide vs a driver our day excursion experience was fantastic and much more expansive than we had ever anticipated. Christian made suggestions and tweaks to the day that made our day a truly wonderful and memorable experience. We truly can’t recommend International Friends and Christian particularly highly enough!
A day out on a Lucury train tour from London that we will certainly remember forever. From the arrival at Victoria station to our return the journey to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and tour was absolutely wonderful. The booking was easy and seamless, all my questions answered fully and in a timely fashion. We were celebrating my wife’s 70th birthday and on the day our carriage (Perseus) was luxury personified. Beautiful marquetry panels and mosaics on the walls and impeccable service from Thomas throughout the day. The transfers from the train to Highclere and the tours were well organised with great attention to detail. A possible improvement could be the meeting area at Victoria station it can be very busy early morning with regular commuters and holiday makers. The train itself was stunningly beautiful with excellent food and service. A truly special day for my wife’s birthday.
We're glad to hear you had a special day visiting Highclere Castle, however this does not appear to be one of our tours! Our tours to Highclere Castle do not go by train.
Our tour guide Amber was absolutely amazing! we were so lucky to be on board with her, Amber has so much knowledge to share of the history of Downton Highclere Castle and many other subjects. Our experience on this tour was A++++ Lord & Countless Carnarvon of Highclere & Team were fantastic also Our highlight of London ... Thankyou Amber ❤ & Driver James. Highly Recommend. Aussie Sisters.
This tour was amazing! We saw so much, and learned so much about the filming of Downton Abbey. Our guide, Amber, was the best! So enthusiastic! And she knew so much about the area, and Downton Abbey filming. She was so entertaining, and I had a great time seeing everything! It was easy to get to, and they picked us up in a luxury motor coach that took us around all day, which made it completely hassle free. I would recommend this tour for everyone who loves Downton Abbey (and even if you don't, you'll enjoy yourself).
