Perfect Autumn Touring Cotswolds and Downton Abbey Fictional Highclere Castle
22nd August 2025
Here at Best Value Tours our friendly and knowledgeable agents will be delighted to help you find your perfect tour and best discounts.
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Email us at enquries@bestvaluetours.co.uk
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Best Value Tours we are delighted to offer many of our UK and Ireland, European and World-Wide Multi-day Tours and River Cruises departing in the next four months. And with Autumn approaching this is a great time to tour across Europe, with the temperature more pleasant that the summer highs. Today we feature a lovely small group tour departing London, visiting; Cotswolds, Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle – Small Group Day Tour | Best Value Tours Full details of our feature tour below and other multi-day/day tours we offer. First some fascinating information about Highclere Castle, fictional Downton Abbey.
Highclere Castle (fictional Downton Abbey)
History of Highclere Castle fictional Downton Abbey
Set amidst the rolling hills of Hampshire, England, Highclere Castle stands as one of Britain’s most enduring symbols of architectural and cultural heritage. Built in 1679, this Grade I listed country house crowns a 5,000-acre estate, lying just south of Newbury and north of Andover. The castle is framed by sweeping parkland designed in the 18th century by the renowned landscape architect Capability Brown, and to this day it remains the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, a lineage of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.
In 1679, Sir Robert Sawyer—Attorney General to Kings Charles II and James II—purchased the estate. Under his stewardship, the property was rebuilt into Place House, marking the foundation of the Highclere Castle we know today. Through his daughter Margaret, who married the 8th Earl of Pembroke, the estate passed into the Herbert family. During this period, the gardens expanded, temples rose in the park, and a distinguished portrait collection was assembled. By 1878, the interiors and the west wing—designed for the servants—were completed. The park, landscaped by Capability Brown a century earlier, was further enhanced with majestic Lebanon Cedars, believed to have grown from seeds collected by Edward Pococke.
Highclere was not only a stage for beauty but also for history. Within its walls, the 4th Earl of Carnarvon drafted the British North America Act of 1867, paving the way for the creation of modern Canada. In 2018, this contribution was honoured when the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom planted a maple tree on the castle grounds.
The 20th century brought both upheaval and resilience. During World War I, the castle became a hospital for wounded soldiers; during World War II, it sheltered evacuee children. It also housed a remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities gathered by the 5th Earl, an enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist, who financed the excavation of tombs at Deir el-Bahari in Thebes.
A turning point came in 2010 when Highclere was chosen as the principal filming location for Downton Abbey. The global success of the series brought renewed fame and financial support, enabling further conservation of the castle’s turrets and interiors. Today, the Carnarvon family continues to reside at Highclere part of the year, retreating to their cottage when the castle opens its doors to the public.
Stunning Cotswolds
Cotswolds, Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle – Small Group Day Tour
Embark on an exclusive small-group day trip from London and step directly into the world of Downton Abbey. This immersive tour takes you behind the scenes of one of TV’s most beloved shows. Exploring iconic filming locations across the picturesque Cotswolds and the stately grandeur of Highclere Castle. With an expert guide, you’ll uncover hidden corners that larger tour buses simply can’t reach. Ensuring a truly personalised and unforgettable experience.
Your journey into the Oxfordshire Cotswolds begins at Cogges Manor Farm, beautifully situated by the River Windrush. This charming farm is famously known as Yew Tree Farm in Downton Abbey, where Lady Edith’s daughter, Marigold, was raised. Explore the very kitchens and Mr. Drewe’s living room seen on screen, wander the farmyard where numerous scenes unfolded, and enjoy a special video presentation detailing the farm’s unique role in the series.
After a refreshing coffee break, delve deeper into the Cotswolds’ cinematic landscape. Drive to the delightful village of Shilton, recognizable for its shallow ford and stone bridges, and the spot where Bates worked after leaving Downton. Continue to Swinbrook, where Lady Sybil and Tom Branson famously spent their night during their ill-fated elopement attempt.
Next, you’ll arrive in, the real-life “Downton Village.” Your guided walk through this charming village reveals St Mary’s Church, which, as St. Michael’s in the show, hosted countless weddings, a funeral or two, and even a jilting! See the cottage hospital (Bampton Library), Mrs. Crawley’s house, the quaint village green, the post office, Mrs. Patmore’s bed and breakfast, and The Grantham Arms pub – all instantly familiar to fans.
Stunning Cotswolds
The highlight of your day is the magnificent Highclere Castle, famously known as Downton Abbey itself. Journey south to the stunning chalk downland of Hampshire and approach the grand estate through grounds expertly landscaped by Capability Brown. As you step inside, you’ll recognize countless familiar locations, from the dining room where decadent dialogue was served to Robert Crawley’s library and the grand staircase.
Explore the basement’s special Egyptology exhibition, a nod to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. You’ll spend approximately three hours immersing yourself in Highclere Castle and its beautiful grounds, enjoying lunch at one of its many restaurants, before your small-group adventure concludes with the scenic journey back to London. This tour includes entry to Cogges Manor Farm, Bampton Library, and Highclere Castle.
Our friendly and knowledgeable agents will be delighted to help you find your perfect tour and best discount.
Call or WhatsApp us on:
Email us at enquries@bestvaluetours.co.uk
Or go to our website www.bestvluetours.co.uk where you can live text with us (message service available 24 hours a day, live text during normal working hours)
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