Downton Abbey is the classical masterpiece written by Julian Fellowes and produced by ITV. A global phenomenon now in its sixth season, Downton’s halcyon look to yesteryear depicts the life and times of the fictitious Crawley aristocratic family, their domestic servants and life in post-Edwardian England.
Airing on TV channels globally and with two films produced, the story twists and turns through life at Downton in the period between 1912 and 1926 which is bears a remarkable resemblance to the real-life Carnarvon family.
Each private tour is conducted in our premium Mercedes minivans, ensuring your comfort as we venture along the narrow cobbled streets of Edinburgh.
Your knowledgable kilt-wearing private tour guide will tell you the stories and show you the sights on this tour. We offer flexibility and your time inside and outside the vehicle is up to you.
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Tour duration
Long day (Approx 9am – 7pm)
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We’ll collect & return you from your central London hotel, cruise port or airport
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Inclusions:
- All-inclusive private tour
- Door to door service
- Dedicated private tour guide and driver
- All travel costs
- Luxury Mercedes tour van
Exclusions:
- Lunch (we can recommend a place)
- Entrance into attractions & sites
- Gratuities (optional)
KEY SIGHTS ON THIS TOUR…
On this tour we visit Bampton Village and Highclere Castle that is Downton Abbey. This tour is a fantastic Downton Abbey day tour from London for Downton fans.
Booking in advance is advised as Highclere is only open for between 60 and 70 days each year. You can check opening dates on the official Highclere Castle website.
Highclere Castle
The grand stately home of Highclere Castle needs no introduction. It has a rich history in itself as the seat of the Earl of Carnarvon but has become globally famous as the home of the Crawley family in Downton Abbey. The house serves as the backdrop to Downton and is as important a feature in the production as the characters portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery to name just a few of the cast.
The first records of the estate date back to 749. Bishop William of Wykeham built a medieval palace and gardens in the park. His palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Earl of Carnarvon in 1679. By 1842 Highclere House was transformed into Highclere Castle by Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament.
There are some 300 rooms in the Castle and during our visit we’ll explore the main state rooms so familiar from Downton Abbey. You will see some of the bedrooms after which you will follow the stairs down to the cellars and old staff quarters. There is also an extensive Egyptian Exhibition, celebrating the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Bampton Village
Situated within the beautiful Cotswolds area of Oxfordshire the market town of Bampton-in-the-Bush was a major Anglo-Saxon centre, royal manor and site of a minster church. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Bampton was a recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086AD. The town enjoyed prosperity in the early Middle ages from its wool trade, textile mill and leather works.
Bampton is used for several outdoor locations in the fictional village of Downton. The Old Rectory (Churchgate House), the public library, the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, and houses in Church View (pubs) are all used in Downton Abbey and we’ll explore the village at a leisurely pace.
Bampton has an interesting history outside Downton having an old Motte Castle (now incorporated into Ham Hall) and we’ll explore some of these spots as we continue our journey.
SUGGESTED TOUR ROUTE…
Each tour we operate is unique and designed to your requirements. Here is an example of this tours route…
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 174 miles
- Time 4 h 12 min
- Speed 41 mph
- Min altitude 0 ft
- Peak 0 ft
- Climb 0 ft
- Descent 0 ft
ALL OF OUR TOURS COME COMPLETE WITH…
LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
We are passionate, professional and full of personality. Let us share our knowledge of England
HOTEL / AIRPORT / CRUISE PICK UP
We’ll collect & return you at the start and end of the tour
BOTTLED WATER
Premium still and sparkling water is provided in glass bottles
PREMIUM MERCEDES MINIVAN
Our minivans offer luxury interiors and excellent legroom for up to 7 people and their bags
ONBOARD WIFI
Stay connected to friends and family on tour with unlimited super-fast wifi
RECENT CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Thomas W
Guide picked us up and dropped us off on time (very important since we were coming from a cruise ship) and was very friendly and knowledgeable. Drove us to all the key points of interest, and the van was very clean and comfortable. Communication from [...]
T Miller
From the moment Sandy picked us up, we knew we were in for a wonderful day trip experience around Edinburgh. His historical knowledge of the city and surrounding area is top notch! He tailored our day to take in some hidden gems and provided us [...]
Annemarie D
We had so much fun with Andy! He was a pleasure to spend an afternoon with. We visited Rosslyn Chapel and some other places that were in keeping with our interests, like the oldest pub in Scotland (I know, many make the claim, but I'm [...]
Mary Carol S
Fantastic day with Michael! Great views of Loch Lamond. A nice hike and lunch there as well. Michael was really informative about Sterling Castle and all of Glasgow. I would highly recommend this tour and Michael.