£900
Tour Details
What’s included
Not included
Our service
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 one of our private tours is conducted in our premium Mercedes minivans, ensuring your comfort as we venture along the grand avenues of London and narrow back roads of the English Countryside.
Your knowledgable private driver / 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.
RECOMMENDED 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.
- Distance Instructions
Tour Gallery
Places this tour visits
No two private tours are the same, but these are popular places to see on this Visit Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle Private Tour from London
Recent Customer Testimonials
Emma R
I came to Edinburgh with my mom, dad, aunt and three sisters to visit Edinburgh which is the historic home of our family, before my ancestors moved to Baltimore. We had an awesome time on this tour. Forbes showed us multiple hidden gems that we would not have found on [...]
Geoff B
What can I say! Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Eilean Donan, the ferry to Skye, Portree. An amazing and action-packed couple of days in Scotland as part of our family trip to the UK. As they say in Scotland, Slante !!!
Toni W
Our Guide was Hazel, she was amazing. We did so much more than expected. With a stop above Melrose. Where were able to see the view of the valley. Then off to Sir Walter Scott’s home. My personal favorite. Great tour. Then off to a pub lunch at Traquair hotel [...]
Michelle 8882017
This tour exceeded our expectations! Sandy was an exceptional tour guide. He was knowledgeable, charismatic, and most pleasant to spend the day with! The day was fluid and filled with surprises and highlights of the areas we visited. Thank you for a most memorable tour! We would recommend this tour [...]
Related tours
If our Visit Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle Private Tour from London isn't quite right, may we suggest one of these alternatives...
Tour Highlights:
- Visit the home of The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England
- Walk in the footsteps of Thomas Becket, immortalised in The Miracle Windows
- Explore Leeds Castle, known as 'the loveliest castle in the world'
£700
Tour Highlights:
- The tour is a fantastic overview of London for first-time visitors
- See many of the city landmarks from the comfort of your tour van
- Catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (am tour)
£400
Tour Highlights:
- Experience famous London sights that feature in the Harry Potter films
- Visit Dragon Alley and imagine Harry walking through those winding alleyways
- Travel to Kings Cross Station and run through the wall on Platform 9 3/4
£350
