March 2024 by Tim Sutton
Highclere Castle is a five mile taxi ride from the Newbury Station. The current house is in a Jacobethan and Italianate style designed by architect Charles Barry and is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. A lot of people know it from the television show Downton Abbey which was filmed here in 2010 to 2015 plus the 2019 and 2022 films. The house, Egyptian exhibition, and gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours during the summer months and at other times during the rest of the year. Photography is not allowed in the house. It was differently worth the trip from London.
March 2024 by broomee c
Nothing overly exciting. Mainly fans of Downton Abbey rather than people looking at the history with the owners making the most of the show (to be expected I guess). To call it a 'Castle' is a bit strange as well, just on old aristocratic house, of which there are much better examples (particularly further up north). Bit expensive as well. Lovely gardens though. Be sure to book tickets well in advance.
March 2024 by Steffi
A must for every Downton Abbey fan. We booked our tickets 4 months in advance. From London it's about an hour's train ride to Newbury. Then another 30 minutes by taxi to the castle. It was truly a wonderful experience to see the castle in real life. We had a very nice tour and were able to look at everything in peace. Photos were not allowed in the castle, but in retrospect that wasn't a bad thing. At the end there was something to eat and a drink for each participant. There is a gift shop at the castle where there is sure to be something for everyone.
March 2024 by graciela arrieta
Beautiful walkNo entrance fee
February 2024 by Derek Jones
My wife and I enjoyed the Downton Abbey series very much. As a Christmas gift I arranged a visit to Highclere Castle in January as a way to beat back those winter blues. A two hour guided tour was expensive but well worth it. A hardcover book and a nice tea (below stairs) were all part of the deal - very nice. There was also an excellent Tutankhamen exhibition. The Highclere website is quite formal but don't be put off by that, staff are friendly and many are great fun! We re- watched the series as a result and enjoyed it even more to know the 'we were there!' ?
February 2024 by P de T
A must-see for fans of the Downtown Abbey series!Pretty furnished castle with a beautiful history?Too bad taking photos is prohibited!
February 2024 by Rohit Kumar
It was a nice day out. We got to see many of the rooms used in filming for Downton Abbey and some rooms that weren't used. The history of the castle was explained and the tour guides were all super friendly.The tour finished with cake and tea as part of the package we bought as well as a venture into a lovely gift shop.
January 2024 by Jonas Pahlberg
The most beautiful place. Well worth a day trip from London. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey you'll find everything exactly as on the big screen (except of course for the downatairs kitchen).The grounds are amazing too
January 2024 by Marlen Stephan
We booked a tour and expected a very special visit with lots of requisites and equipment as seen in the series.All we got was a normal tour of a house that had almost nothing to do with the film. There were only a few photographs of some scenes in the individual rooms. Nothing was recreated or the (film) history of Downton Abbey was discussed. We heard a lot of the owners family and saw a lot of pictures of them - but that was not the reason we came.However, the groups were so large that you could only take a quick look into the rooms. Aside from that were the next groups hard on our heels so the guide almost ran from room to room.We also booked the refreshments. Unfortunately we were very disappointed here, too. In a very uncomfortable cold room, we were allowed to self-service a plate with a very chilled snack, half a scones as well as (1!) cup of coffee or tea.We were shocked, to say the least, at what we were offered for a lot of money. We have been visiting castles and stately homes in England for many years. We have never been so disappointed. The entrance fees were always between 10.00 and 18.00 pounds. We had to pay £140 per person for this tour which takes 1 1/2 hour.This is a rip off. By the way: Less the price you get a National Trust membership for a full-year!The house itself is certainly worth seeing - but the price is completely unacceptable. It's not enough to give the tour a name and then charge 10 times the normal entrance fee. That "tour" was way overpriced.Do yourself a favour and support the National Trust.
January 2024 by Coralie Pattenden
Such a beautiful place and great for fans of Downton Abbey. We were greeted by the Lady Carnarvon and had our photo taken in front of the grand Christmas tree. We were offered tea and coffee followed by a tour of the castle. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and clearly had a good relationship with the family. We got to visit the Egyptian collection and lastly had afternoon tea, which Lady Carnarvon came to join us for. All in all, an absolutely fantastic experience that I can't wait to do again!No photos are allowed inside the castle.
December 2023 by Charlotte Kovacs
We had a wonderful time in Highclere Castle recently. The whole building was magical. Lady Carnarvon welcomed us and did a very nice speech before we started our tour inside the castle. Unfortunately we weren't able to take any pictures inside. Our tour guide Greg, was very entertaining and informative. But all the other staff were very warm and friendly. The afternoon tea was very delicious and we were spoiled by the lovely waiters. The gift shop has plenty of choice and the free books were signed by Lady Carnarvon. The only one thing that was a bit disappointing, that is the ladies lavatory. They definitely need a little bit of improvement. Otherwise we did enjoy every minute of the tour and we will definitely come back. Highly recommended!
December 2023 by T Q
Hard to believe that we are finally here after all those years of Downton Abby. Highclere was decorated for Christmas with a craft sale in a tent on the ground featuring local artisans. The Castle tour itself is excellent and allows you to spend as much time as you wish taking it all in. Coming down the grand staircase was quite the experience after seeing Lady Mary and others come down so many times over the years. In addition to pictures of the Castle and its grounds, we also bought a few mementos, and a fine bottle of Highclere Gin to remember our stay.
October 2023 by Anna Recksiek Conder
The Highclere Castle was amazing to visit. I enjoyed the Egyptian Exhibit and we went during a Festival weekend which had such a variety of engaging activities. This tour was a captivating blend of history and culture. The sprawling estate, known for its Downton Abbey fame, provided an exquisite backdrop for this immersive experience. The exhibit showcased an array of meticulously curated artifacts, offering a vivid glimpse into ancient Egypt's rich heritage. I liked the self guided tour with guides in the rooms to give added depth, providing fascinating insights into each rooms significance. The festival atmosphere was vibrant. However, crowds were significant, making it challenging to fully absorb the intricate details of the exhibit. Overall, the weekend provided a remarkable fusion of history and entertainment, offering a memorable journey through time at this iconic British estate. Also I wish we could take pictures in the castle it is not allowed.
October 2023 by Izzy Creative247
Went for their Egyptian exhibition event to celebrate 100 years since the family discovered Tutankhamen's tomb.The house is stunning and if you're a Downton abbey fan there is a lot to look at (no photos allowed in the house due to insurance).The grounds and gardens are stunning and vast. Lots to walk around in a nice day. They offer a events during the year which are incredible and good fun to dress up.There is a lot of history and interesting things to observe. Would definitely return and watch the show now
September 2023 by Teck Boon
Check their opening hours before heading down! They sometimes close for a day or 2 for maintenance works and they only open for 4-5 months a year. Definitely worth a visit if you?re a Downton Abbey fan, otherwise a pretty average castle with nice gardens and a couple of cafes with average food.
