Day Trip to Highclere Castle from London (Downton Abbey)

Highclere Castle is a beautiful estate that was made famous from the popular show Downton Abbey. Any Downton Abbey fans must visit Highclere Castle on their next trip to London.

It’s a bit out of the way for London visitors, so if you’re trying to plan a day trip to Highclere Castle from London, I’ve got a complete guide to help you go without the hassle.

The author in front of Highclere Castle — Highclere Castle

Table of Contents Show

Why Visit Highclere Castle?

You love Downton Abbey. Highclere Castle is the real name of the house made famous in Downton Abbey. Most people who visit Highclere Castle are fans of the show. This was the case for us as well. Downton Abbey ran for six seasons and two movies (so far) and was incredibly popular all around the world. The castle exterior, gardens, and several rooms were used in filming Downton Abbey. It is a real treat to see it in person after admiring it on TV for so many seasons!

You like touring historical castles. The oldest written record of the estate dates to AD 749. It was first a medieval palace, then it was rebuilt in 1679 as Highclere Place House before being rebuilt again in 1842 to its present day iteration. Artifacts and remnants of the Iron Age and Bronze Age have even been uncovered on the estate.

You like visiting beautiful gardens. Highclere Castle sits on 5,000 acres of parkland, woodlands, and more. There are several themed gardens you can explore, including the rose arbour, the secret garden, the wildflower meadow, and the herb garden.

Quick Facts about Visiting Highclere Castle

Spring 2024 Opening Dates: March – May — All SOLD OUT
Summer 2024 Opening Dates: Sunday, July 7 – Thursday, September 5
Days Closed: Closed on Fridays and Saturdays
Special Events: The castle is open for special events and guided tours on select dates throughout the rest of the year.
Ticket Prices: £22.50 – £29 per adult
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission to the house is 3:45 p.m. Park gates close at 5:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets.

Things to Do at Highclere Castle

Tour the Castle

You’ll need to line up outside the house when it’s your entry time. Enjoy every moment because it goes much too fast. Note that if you arrive before your house entry time, you can still explore the gardens outside the house until it’s your turn.

When we toured the house, we were grouped according to our place in line, and each group was brought in every few minutes to create distance.

Here’s what you will be able to see:

The library
The study
Lady Grantham’s bedroom
Lady Sybil’s bedroom
Mr. Pamuk’s guest bedroom
A few other bedrooms not used in filming
The main stairway
The saloon (where the Christmas tree goes)

There are some signs to explain more about the rooms and if/how they were used in filming. There are also several employees around the house able to answer any questions.

Visit the Egyptian Exhibit

There is an optional Egyptian exhibit in the basement, which you must pay extra to see. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon traveled to Egypt numerous times, fascinated with the country’s history and culture, and amassed an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian relics.

There are two types of tickets you can buy — one including the Egyptian exhibit and one excluding it.

When we bought our tickets, the only ones left were including the exhibit, so we had to purchase it.

The exhibit is not something that I think you need to see unless you also have a fascination with ancient Egypt. I would have been fine to skip it and save the money. But you may have to see it if you wait too long to get your tickets like we did.

Explore the Gardens

Highclere Castle sits on 5,000 acres of parkland, woodlands, and more. There are several themed gardens you can explore, including:

Rose arbour
Secret garden
Monk’s garden
Walled garden
Wildflower meadow
Herb garden

We loved wandering around the gardens and seeing Highclere Castle from all sorts of different angles.

Be sure to look out for Lady Mary’s Bench and the Dowager’s Bench. Characters from Downton Abbey famously sat on these benches during key scenes in the show.

Have a Cup of Tea in the Tea Room

There is a tea room and cafe at Highclere Castle in the former stables, which serves tea, coffee, scones, pastries, sandwiches, and other light lunch fare. We ordered a scone and Victoria sponge cake along with tea after touring the house, and we thought it was lovely.

Purchase a Picnic Afternoon Tea Box

You can order a picnic afternoon tea box for 2 for £75 at the time you purchase your tickets.

Aside from the picnic boxes you order from Highclere Castle, you cannot picnic on the grounds of the estate. If you do bring your own food, you’ll have to eat it in your car or in the parking lot. Be sure to pack out all litter.

Browse the Gift Shop

Don’t forget to browse the gift shop before you go to purchase your Highclere Castle magnet or other Downton Abbey-themed souvenir.

A field of wildflowers with Highclere Castle in the background — The wildflower meadow at Highclere Castle

Differences Between Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey

The lamps. Almost everything inside Highclere Castle was kept the same for filming, including all the artwork and furniture. The only thing that was changed were the lamps. It really does feel like you’re stepping into the show!

The kitchen. The kitchen in Downton Abbey, where most of the servants’ scenes were filmed, was a studio set. This is because the kitchen in Highclere Castle is too modern. You also can’t see the actual kitchen on the tour of Highclere Castle, unfortunately. I think because it’s off limits or in use (or both). A lot of people were disappointed about that, so it’s good to keep in mind.

Tips for Visiting Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is privately owned and is NOT open year-round. It’s usually only open during the spring and summer and on special occasions in other seasons. It’s not just a tourist destination but a family home. And the family only has it open for visitors certain times during the year.

Photography is not allowed inside the house. It’s a bit unfortunate, but, in the end, I thought this enhanced our tour as we were able to be more present and really soak in everything we were seeing. You will, however, be able to take as many pictures as you’d like outside of the house!

Buy your tickets ASAP. I’d suggest purchasing your tickets as soon as possible as dates sell out fast! There are limited tickets available, so don’t wait once you know the time/date you’d like to visit Highclere Castle.

Keep your house entry time in mind. There are three timed entries — morning, midday, and afternoon — and you’ll be able to enter the house within the range given when you reserve your tickets.

Tour the gardens any time on your day of entry. If you arrive early, you CAN tour the gardens before your allotted house entry time (as long as it’s open).

You might be able to snag walk-in tickets. If you didn’t get tickets (they sell out quickly!), there are limited walk-in tickets, available only from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. However, these are extremely limited, so I wouldn’t advise going out of your way to visit Highclere Castle if you do not have pre-booked tickets already. If you have any questions about walk-up tickets, email [email protected].

No picnicking is allowed on the lawn. If you do bring a lunch with you, you’ll have to eat it in your car. Otherwise, you can grab a bite to eat at the cafe in Highclere Castle or a nearby pub or restaurant.

How to Get to Highclere Castle from London

A day trip from London to Highclere Castle is definitely possible if you are staying in London and not interested in spending the night in or around Newbury. We did this during our trip to the United Kingdom, and everything worked out really well.

Step 1: Take the Train from London Paddington to Newbury Station

Taking the train to Highclere Castle is a great option if you don’t have a car. We booked a train from London Paddington Station to Newbury Station, and it took around 45 minutes.

Book your train tickets via the Trainline app and select the open day return option if you’re not sure what time you’ll be done visiting Highclere Castle.

How to Save Money on Train Tickets: used our Two Together Railcard for 33% off. Since we did a lot of train travel on our trip to the UK, this railcard was 100% worth it. I was traveling with my mom so the Two Together Railcard made sense for us (see all other railcards).

Step 2: Take a Taxi from Newbury Station to Highclere Castle

You’ll then need to take about a 15-minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle. Luckily, there are plenty of taxi cabs lined up and ready to go at Newbury Station.

Our taxi driver was so kind and friendly, she offered to book a return cab for us when we were done touring the house. We agreed on a time and our return taxi was there and waiting when we finished.

I can’t remember how much we paid for each taxi ride (there and back from the station), but it wasn’t more than £20.

author's mom in the gardens at Highclere Castle

author's mom in a tunnel of greenery in the gardens at Highclere Castle

Interesting History of Highclere Castle and Its Current Owners

Both Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey were converted into hospitals for wounded soldiers during World War I.
In World War II, Highclere Castle housed evacuated children.
The architect and designer of the Houses of Parliament also transformed and designed Highclere Castle.
There are 300 rooms in Highclere Castle.
The current owners of Highclere Castle are Lord and Lady Carnarvon.

The author and her mom in front of Highclere Castle — Highclere Castle

Other Nearby Downton Abbey Filming Locations You Can Visit

Cogges Manor Farm in Witney, UK (Yew Tree Farm in Downton Abbey)
Village of Bampton in the Cotswolds, UK (Downton village in Downton Abbey)
- Church Close (The Grantham Arms in Downton Abbey)
- Old Grammar School building (Downton hospital in Downton Abbey)
- St. Mary’s Church (The Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Downton Abbey)
- Churchgate House (The Crawley House in Downton Abbey)
- Church View (The Dog & Duck in Downton Abbey)

You can pick up a map of Downton Abbey filming locations in the library in Bampton village. Most locations are centered around St. Mary’s Church in Bampton, so start there for your Downton Abbey journey.

sign that says "the secret garden" in a bunch of flowers

author's mom sitting on a bench in the gardens at Highclere Castle

Frequently Asked Questions about Highclere Castle

How long to spend at Highclere Castle?

You should expect to spend at least 3 hours at Highclere Castle, exploring the inside of the house and the gardens.

We arrived a little before noon as our entry time into Highclere Castle was at 12:30 p.m. and then our taxi cab picked us up at 3 p.m. We could have stayed another hour, walking around and taking pictures. It was a really lovely day.

Is Highclere Castle worth visiting?

For all Downton Abbey fans, heck yes! Highclere Castle is definitely worth visiting.

It didn’t have the best gardens we saw in the U.K. (the gardens at Chatsworth House were much grander), but it was a beautiful estate.

Is Highclere Castle a day trip from London?

Highclere Castle makes a great day trip from London. The travel time to Highclere Castle is about an hour, and you only need about 3 hours at the estate. You can be back in London early with lots of time to spare.

How far is London from Downton Abbey?

Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is about 65 miles from London.

What town is Highclere Castle in?

Highclere Castle is located in the town of Newbury, England.

Can you eat at Highclere Castle?

There is a cafe at Highclere Castle in the former stables, which serves tea, coffee, scones, pastries, sandwiches, and other light lunch fare. We ordered a scone and Victoria sponge cake along with tea after touring the house, and we thought it was lovely.

You can also order a picnic afternoon tea box for 2 for £75 at the time you purchase your tickets.

Can you see Highclere Castle without a ticket?

No, unfortunately, you need a ticket to enter the gates to see Highclere Castle and its gardens. It’s a private house, so best to be respectful and follow the rules.

Are there guided tours of Highclere Castle?

There are special guided tours of Highclere Castle on various days throughout the year, but for regular opening times, tours of Highclere Castle are self guided.

Do I need a ticket to visit the gardens?

Yes, you do need a ticket to visit the gardens at Highclere Castle. You won’t be able to enter the gates without a ticket.

Is Downton Abbey a real place in England and is it open to tourists?

Yes, Downton Abbey is a real place, and yes, it is open for tourists on certain days throughout the year, mainly in the spring and summer.

Why is Downton Abbey called an abbey when it’s not an abbey at all?

This question is never specifically addressed in the show, but it could be the site of a former fictional abbey, so the name remained. Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is called a castle, and not an abbey at all. So that bit about Downton Abbey is purely fictional.

Do estates like Downton Abbey still exist?

Yes, they do still exist. Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is a great example. It must cost a fortune to operate, but it is still going through revenue of filming and tourism.