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 makes for a perfect day trip alongside the stunning Cotswolds or Oxford, and the tour ‘Oxford, Bampton & Highclere Castle’ offers just that. It’s a wonderful outing where you can not only visit Highclere Castle but also take some time to wander through the lovely village of Bampton in the Cotswolds, known as ‘Downton Village’, and the delightful city of Oxford.
If you’re looking for a different experience than the tours to Highclere Castle, consider visiting Blenheim Palace, the charming Downton Abbey Village, & the Cotswolds. This tour includes a stop at Bampton, known as ‘Downton Abbey Village’, as well as the beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water and the beloved Blenheim Palace.
Highclere Castle opening, tours and tickets
Downton Abbey opening dates in 2025
Despite its popularity Highclere Castle has a limited visitor season.
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.
To visit Highclere on a day trip from London, you can’t just pick and choose your tour; you need to grab the available tour for your dates before it sells out!
Based on previous years Highclere Castle is likely to be open in the spring, 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.
There are also special event days happening from time to time during the year. We make sure to update our page whenever new dates are announced. For those visitors in the UK when Highclere is closed, we offer an alternative tour that provides the best ‘Downton’ experience available.
It’s a pity that you can’t see Highclere Castle when it’s closed, even for a quick photo. The castle is not visible from any public roads and is quite a distance away. However, there are some local footpaths where you can catch a distant view.
Highclere Castle by public transport
Highclere Castle doesn’t have any public transport options directly available. However, there is a bus service that operates from Newbury to the nearby village of Burghclere, running three or four times a day, excluding Sundays. It’s about a 30-minute walk from Burghclere to the castle. Be aware, the bus schedule may not be ideal for planning 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 – Visit Highclere Castle as seen in the Downton Abbey TV series and film
Tour highlights:
- Visit Highclere Castle where they filmed the Downton Abbey TV series.
- Visit to Bampton Village setting many of the outdoor scenes from the TV series.
- A copy of Lady Carnarvon’s autobiography
- Walking tour of Oxford and independent time for Lunch.
- Services of a professional tour guide throughout the day.
Itinerary
Oxford
Leaving London we head for the University town of 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.
Join us for a guided walking tour of Oxford, followed by some leisure time to enjoy a meal. Consider indulging in a pub lunch at one of Oxford’s renowned inns!
Bampton (Downton Village)
Next stop is the beautiful village of Bampton in Oxfordshire; 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 transform 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 (by a local artists) as well as books of the filming.
Leaving Bampton we now head for Highclere Castle made famous by the Downton Abbey TV series. Built by Sir Charles Berry who also built the houses of Parliament, this is the countryseat 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.
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 tranquillity 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!
Departing Highclere Castle we head back to London and arrive back at approximately 7pm.
Prices and tour reservations
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. After you make your reservation, you’ll receive a confirmation email that includes your booking reference. Just provide the booking reference and the name of the person who made the reservation when you join the tour—there’s no need for paper tickets.
Dates available for 2025
| Available Dates | Oxford, Bampton and Highclere Castle Tour |
| April | 12, 14, 16, 21, 23 |
| May | 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 27, 28, 29 |
| July | 06, 08, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31 |
| Aug | 03, 05, 07, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 |
Departs from Victoria Coach Station, Gate 19- 20 at 08.15am (Check-in starts at 08:00am).
Note: 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.
Adult from £194
- Visit to Highclere Castle
- Copy of Lady Carnarvon’s book
- Visit to ‘Downton Village’ (Bampton)
- Walking tour of Oxford
Tour 2: Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey Village & the Cotswolds
Tour highlights
- Professional, expert standard, friendly tour guide
- 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
Please be aware that this tour won’t take you to Highclere Castle. Instead, it focuses on the charming nearby villages featured in the show and includes a visit to Blenheim Palace. Plus, it offers more frequent availability all year round!
Itinerary
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.
Explore 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 café.
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.
Blenheim Palace, Cotswolds and Downton Abbey film locations guided day tour from London
Adult without Blenheim Palace entry from £69
Adult with Blenheim Palace entry from £87
- 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