Travel Through Time Visit Highclere Castle and Explore the Historic Setting of the Hit TV Show
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Highclere Castle is best known as the real-life Downton Abbey, as it was where Downton Abbey was filmed. Many people visit to see the fictional home of the Crawley family and their servants.
However, Highclere Castle, the family seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, has a rich history of its own that rivals the fictional stories of the TV series. The current Earl’s family has been living on the estate since 1679. The Carnarvon family has been involved in the founding of Canada, the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, scandalous affairs, and sordid court cases. Royalty, politicians, famous writers, and film stars have stayed at Highclere Castle.
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The great thing is that you can visit Highclere Castle to see it for yourself as it is open to the public during certain times of the year. The main three things to do at Highclere Castle are to tour the State Rooms inside the castle, visit the Egyptian Exhibition, and explore the extensive gardens and grounds.
We’ll share some of the fascinating history of this house and its occupants, share our own experience of visiting Highclere Castle, and tell you all you need to know to visit Highclere Castle yourself. If you are a Downton Abbey fan, we’ll also share information about Downton Abbey tours and other Downton Abbey filming locations in the area that you may want to visit.
First, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details you should know about planning a visit to Highclere Castle. The castle is not open year round so it is especially important to pay attention to the details so that you don’t miss your chance to visit.
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Highclere Castle is located in the county of Hampshire, a county along the southern coast of England. It’s 5 miles outside of the small town of Newbury in Berkshire and very close to the village of Highclere.
The easiest ways to get to Highclere Castle is via car or by taking a day tour, but there are also options for those who want to travel by public transportation.
This information is geared to those traveling from London, but most information is also relevant for those traveling from other locations in the UK. If you have any questions, feel free to just ask us in the Comments section at the end of the article.
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Highclere is located near a major motorway (M4), which makes it fairly easy to reach from London and other major cities in southern England. Depending on traffic, it normally takes between 1.5 hours to 2 hours to reach Highclere Castle from London.
Do NOT use your GPS to navigate to the Highclere Castle parking area, it may lead you to the wrong entrance. Instead, follow the brown tourist signs once you get close.
There is a designated car park near the Visitor Reception Center. Parking is free for visitors of the castle. It is a short walk from the parking area to the ticket area and entrance.
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No public transportation options go directly to Highclere castle; however, you can take a train or public bus to a nearby station and then take a local taxi to the castle. See below options.
The closest train station to Highclere Castle is Newbury Railway Station. There is a direct train service from London Paddington to Newbury. From there you can take a 15 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle (or a long 2.5 hour walk!). Taxis can often be found waiting outside the station.
Alternatively, you can take the train from London Waterloo to Whitchurch station or to Andover station in Hampshire. From Whitchurch station, it is a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle. From Andover station, it is about a 25 minute taxi ride to Highclere Castle.
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We recommend that you prebook your taxi (or call once you arrive), as they are not always readily available at the stations. You will need to arrange your taxi from the Castle back to the station as there is no taxi stand at the castle. You can check directly with local cab companies or check prices and book online via minicabit.
If you are planning to do a lot of traveling around the UK by train (and don’t live in the UK), you might want to compare the cost of booking individual train tickets to the price of a BritRail Pass. These passes can save visitors who plan to do a lot of train trips money and they also come with additional benefits.
There is normally a National Express coach service from London Victoria station to Newbury. It takes about 2 hours. From Newbury, you can then take a taxi to the castle; it is about a 15 minute taxi ride.
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Since the pandemic, National Express has been operating fewer routes and has a reduced schedule. The London to Newbury route is only running in the evenings as of last check in July 2023, so only useful if planning to stay the night in Newbury and visit Highclere Castle the next day.
There are a number of day tours to Highclere Castle from London. The majority of tour prices include your admission fee to Highclere Castle, but always be sure to check to see what is included before booking.
Many of the tours also stop at other locations such as Bampton (often used as the fictional Downton village in the TV show) and other Downton Abbey filming locations, Oxford, and/or villages in the Cotswolds.
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There are also a few Highclere Castle tours in the UK that leave from other locations in England, including Oxford and Southhampton.
If you are planning to travel via public transit, you will need to take a taxi (or be prepared for a very long walk) from the bus or train station to reach Highclere Castle. There are currently no rideshare options to and from Highclere Castle of which we are aware.
You can book a taxi in advance (recommended if you know your arrival time) or call for a cab once you arrive. Sometimes there are taxis waiting at the stations (particularly Newbury), but I would not depend on this. You can check directly with local cab companies or check prices and book online via minicabit.
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If you are thinking of taking a taxi directly to Highclere Castle from London, this will be a more expensive transit option. Taxi costs between London and Highclere Castle are over £100 each way.
Highclere doesn’t operate on a traditional set schedule so you will want to check the opening calendar in advance of your visit. They vary a bit each year. Opening dates and special events are normally announced several months in advance to help you plan your visit.
There are generally two main public opening times, once in April for at least 2 weeks and then again for 2 months in the summer.
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In 2023, the main public opening Spring dates are April 8, 2022 to May 30, 2023. There are also several additional dates in April and May that the castle will also be open, including weekends and the May holidays.
The main Highclere Castle Summer public opening dates in 2023 are from July 9th, 2023 to September 4, 2023. The Castle is closed on Fridays and Saturdays of each week during the summer period.
The castle has also recently released dates for special tours and events throughout the year. So even if you are not able to visit during the main public opening dates, you may still be able to visit by booking a ticket to a special event or guided tours offered at the Castle.
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Guided tours are generally offered about once per week throughout the year. They also open for certain bank holiday weekends, special tours, and other events.
The ticket prices for Highclere Castle vary depending on which areas of the estate you wish to visit. Tickets can be purchased either for the castle plus gardens or for the castle, gardens, and Egyptian Exhibitions. or the Egyptian Exhibitions plus gardens. Or you can purchase a ticket that includes entry into all three areas.
Note: Until recently, Highclere offered other ticket options including a Gardens and Ground only Ticket and an Egyptian Exhibition plus gardens ticket. Neither of these appear to be available in 2022 or 2023.
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Tickets to tour both the castle and gardens are £22.50 for adults, £14 for children 4-16 years old, and £21 for seniors and students, and £19 for disabled visitors. Alternatively, you can buy a family ticket (which covers two adults and two children) for £63.
Tickets to tour all three sections: the gardens, the castle, and the Egyptian Exhibition are £29 for adults, £16 for children 4-16 years old, and £26.50 for seniors, and students, and £25.50 for disabled visitors. A family ticket is £79.
Finally, there is also the option to have afternoon tea which needs to be pre-booked. This can be a sit down afternoon tea in the Coach House or an afternoon tea picnic basket with champange. You can sit at a table
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