Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle
4
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsCastles
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Designed by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, this is considered to be one of the finest Victorian homes still in existence, which houses fine furniture and works of art. Today, the Castle is the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and is known around the world as the real home of 'Downton Abbey'.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Sarah A
    11 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Disappointing
    We enjoyed the visit to the castle and the grounds but just felt the trip missed the mark a few times. Inside the house we didn't feel the guides were very forthcoming and while we asked if we had any questions by one, we felt it would have been better for her to tell us something of interest. We were disappointed that the dining room was not set with grand table arrangements as you often see at other stately homes. We were also disappointed that we couldn't take any photos or see any of the "below stairs". Aside from Downton Abbey which we knew was most likely filmed in a studio, there must have been some sort of kitchen and servents quarters somewhere. We were also in a queue to exit via the Egyptian exhibition unaware that it was additional to the tickets purchased online back in January and when the guide checked our ticket, marched us put past all the waiting guests loudly stating these people haven't paid! The gift shop was odd, lots packed in but not a lot relevant. We were hoping for a nice cup of tea and scone, which we did have, but again, disappointed that it was served in paper take away cups and plates and not in China with proper cutlery etc. If you want to learn about the castle and the Carnarveon family then there's not much there to help, equally the Downton link doesn't have a lot either save for a few large stills of the filming. It was OK, just lacked attention to detail and under whelming.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Swanny8765
    Lowestoft, United Kingdom78 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great day out
    Beautiful house in great surroundings. Only the weather was a disappointment. The house tour is a delight, whether or not you are a Downton Abbey fan. While entry is not the cheapest the food, drink and gift shop are all reasonably priced. Helpful, polite, informative staff. Loads of parking. Follow the brown TI signs not your sat nav when travelling by car.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 April 2023
  • Graham W
    14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A very memorable and informative visit.
    Great experience, Beautiful House and interesting history. The Egyptian exhibition is very informative and presented in a very clear and understandable way. Really knowledgeable guides in most rooms who didn’t lecture but explained the history and layout of the building. Didn’t get to see much of the grounds due to rainy and blustery weather. Do visit the outdoor sculpture dedicated to the WW2 Airmen who tragically crashed into the hillside during bad visibility. The various Cafes are pretty good, bit pricey with a captive market. One Cafe was like a wind tunnel with doors wedged open and the wind howling through. A few brave souls were sat inside, we wisely moved on. The Downton Abbey theme is dealt with very professionally and discreetly, filming in that environment must have been quite a feat. A memorable day out.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 April 2023
  • Jane G
    Sheffield, United Kingdom259 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved it.
    Great time at Highclere castle. So interesting walking round the rooms where Downton Abbey was filmed. Everywhere nice and clean and you didnt want to walk on the carpet!!! Lovely to see family photos about. Good Egyptian exhibition, very interesting. A decent price in the coffee shops. Brilliant gift shop with plenty of variety and good prices. The grounds are superb and on a sunny day you can sit outside with a drink.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 13 April 2023
  • Aussiecop
    Newport, United Kingdom79 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pilgrimage to Downtown Abbey
    My partner and I who are avid followers of Downton Abbey fame and made a pilgrimage to Hyclere Castle to tick off a ‘must do’ on our “bucket list”. The road signage, access road and parking was adequate and we didn’t have to wait too long to gain access to Hyclere Castle. We did feel that there was a distinct impression of drabness and laziness in the way it was presented and disappointed that visitors weren’t allowed to take photographs. This was probably to encourage visitors to purchase a guide book. There was very little or no information in each room about paintings, furniture etc and while some guides were very helpful, engaging and knowledgeable others were a little less so. The walk through was interesting but we did feel somewhat pressured to move along swiftly through the rooms but otherwise everything was nice and clean. We were surprised that the main dining room wasn’t laid up, some sofas were very scruffy, no music, costume dress etc and while we enjoyed the photographs of the Caernarvon family and of our late Queen Elizabeth numerous books were placed around about which seemed unconnected with Hyclere Castle and its history. It lacked focus on the filming of Downton Abbey and its history and it really needs to employ the services of an established PR and advertising company to reinvent the whole experience of a visit to Downton Abbey. The gift shop could have been much bigger with a more diverse sale of goods, the tea room was poor and needed upgrading with the view to getting rid of the paper cups and wooden forks. We didn’t have a lot of time to look around the gardens but they didn’t appear to be so grandeur of similar establishments that we have visited in the past. Overall the visit was good but we wouldn’t rush back to see it again and would be hesitant to recommend it to family and friends.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 April 2023
  • Travellerclass
    Farnham, United Kingdom1,176 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A real must for a visit. We loved it.
    We had booked up in advance to action the Castle, Exhibition & Gardens Tour. We had stayed locally so that we could maximise our day at this amazing place. Our visit was Monday 17th April and our Castle Entry time was 12:30 to 14:30. We actually arrived just after 10am and were told as it was not to busy we could just go and visit the Castle straightaway. We have both enjoyed watching all the episodes of Downton Abbey and to see all the areas used was a real thrill for us both. The Castle/House is just superb and is so beautiful that everyone should find the time to visit and enjoy. During our self guided tour one of the staff informed us that the actual Castle at one point required Millions of pounds of reinnervations. The saving grace for the stunning Castle when when the place was selected to be used in the Downton Abbey series. We had also opted to see the Egyptian Exhibition which we felt was really worth viewing and we are so glad we added it to our ticket. The gardens we saw were excellent but will be even better a little later in the year when all the leaves and flowers etc are out on display. Mid afternoon we sat in the grounds and had some food we had bought in the small café on site. Prices are all quite realistic and the quality and service is amazing. Parking here is in the fields opposite the Castle and I would imagine on a wet day they could be a challenge for some. We really had an excellent, informative and enjoyable day and would highly recommend a visit. Info Only, our sat nav sent us to a road which had a sign on saying no entrance to Highclere Castle. The detour we had to take to find the correct entrance took us 2-3 miles further around by the time we had negotiated all the turns etc. So just be careful and check your sat nav setting and have a brilliant visit.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 April 2023
  • Phil
    Powys, United Kingdom66 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mmmmm it was ok
    The house and drive up are stunning. The house is warm and friendly clearly lived in and loved. I loved the fact you have time slots in the house so you didn't feel rushed or pushed. However the rooms lacked knowledge of the history, artefacts and paintings. There were references to Downton throughout. We loved the Egyptian exhibition. Disappointed there was no refetence to the servants quarters or kitchens. The cafe was awful, over priced and sold in plastic containers. The que was huge, 6 staff behind the counter all serving 1 customer, it was painful to watch, clearly staff were not trained. No hot food till midday just cake, who wants cake for breakfast? Hot sandwiches/paninis should be available all day. Coffee was tasteless and the cafe too expensive. The gift shop was too small, not really relevant gifts, a little tacky and over priced that's when you could actually find a price. The shop needs to be remerchandised. I didn't buy anything which is an indication it was not great. The gardens allbeit were lovely were not regal or stately, just a normal everyday garden. I was expecting some lovely statues, ponds, fountains, rose gardens etc. Maybe the time of year didn't show its full glory. The trees in the estate were magnificent. Overall enjoyed it but wouldn't go again or recommend.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 April 2023
  • jogom
    Texas374 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome and Amazing
    Highclere Castle exceeded my expectations in every way. It’s a gorgeous estate with beautiful gardens and the interior of the house looks like you walked directly into Downton Abbey. The beautiful picnic box tea was a treat too. The Egyptian connection between the owners of the home/Carnavon family and King Tut was interesting to learn about as well. Tip: pick one of the early entry times - way less people and easier to park.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 April 2023
  • veigapaula
    Lisbon, Portugal241 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must for all interested in the house and the Canarvon history
    The real thing is different from the fantasy ideas given by the TV and movie screens. Everything is superbly well taken care of, and the house is magnificent. A note about the volunteers, which are excellent in their dedication, and knowledge about the house and family. Did enjoy the visit very much. Only saw the house as walking in the gardens is out of the question for me, coming from a sunny country and knowing it was going to rain anytime. It did, when we got into the car on our way from the grounds. Being an Egyptologist, the visit to the underground section was a plus.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 26 April 2023
  • aleeebeee
    Fleet, United Kingdom162 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great visit
    So thrilled to finally visit the castle. Beautiful building, amazing interior and stunning grounds. The staff were superb and organised a wheelchair at short notice due to a foot injury. We had a cream tea in the garden café which was lovely.
    Visited May 2023
    Written 2 May 2023
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4.0
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Jwkile
Columbia, SC16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Felt so fortunate to be in the area and get to see this castle! And very glad I bought my ticket early enough, as they sell out. For the large majority of us that were/are Downton Abbey fans, we felt as if most of the rooms we toured felt like home :) Our guide knew all but one of us were fans, so geared her information toward that, but also gave enough info on the history of the house and furnishings for general knowledge. It was evident to me that she could give a wonderful tour for those who didn't watch the show or movies. The interior is exquisite and I was amazed that we got to see as much of the house that we did. The Egyptian Tutankhamen in the basement/kitchens area was also fascinating (and and added bonus for me). The whole was followed up by a LARGE,delicious, filling afternoon tea and time in the gift shop (wish I had purchased an interior photos book). I would have loved to have made time before our afternoon tour if we would have had lovely weather to stroll around and take in the vistas, but I was there in cold, wet late February. I would highly recommend (even at the semi-steep ticket price).
Written 14 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marlen S
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
We booked a tour and expected a very special visit with lots of requisites and equipment as seen in the series.
All we got was a normal tour of a house that had almost nothing to do with the film. There were only a few photographs of some scenes in some rooms. Nothing was recreated or the (film) history of Downton Abbey was discussed. We heard a lot of the owners family and saw a lot of pictures of them - but that was not the reason we came for.

However, the groups were so large that you could only take a quick look into the rooms. Aside from that were the next group hard on our heels so the guide almost ran from room to room.

We also booked the refreshments. Unfortunately we were very disappointed here, too. In a very uncomfortable cold room, we were allowed to self-service a plate with a very chilled snack, half a scones as well as (1!) cup of coffee or tea.

We were shocked what we were offered for a lot of money. We have been visiting castles and stately homes in England for many years. We have never been so disappointed. The entrance fees were always between 10.00 and 18.00 pounds. We had to pay £140 per person (!) for this tour which takes 1 1/2 hour.This is a rip off. By the way: Less the price you get a National Trust membership for a full-year!

The house itself is certainly worth seeing - but the price is completely unacceptable. It's not enough to give the tour a name and then charge 10 times the normal entrance fee. That "tour" was way overpriced.
Do yourself a favour and support the National Trust.
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa G
Owosso, MI547 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Highclere Castle. My husband and I are huge fans of Downton Abbey, so we were excited by the prospect of visiting the castle during our trip to England for our anniversary. It wasn't until I started planning the visit to Highclere that I realized our trip was scheduled during the low season and the castle had far fewer available tour slots available. Thankfully, we were able to get a booking before all the dates sold out, and I am so happy that we did! We took the train to Highclere from London, which was super easy starting at Paddington Station. When we arrived at our destination, there were taxis available out front to take us the rest of the way to the castle and even helped us pre-arrange for a ride back to the train station after our tour was ended. We arrived to the castle a little before our scheduled time but the staff was friendly and invited us to walk around the grounds and enjoy the gardens, which we gladly did. There were a larger number of people at the castle than I expected, given the limited availability, but staff separated us into smaller groups and assigned each group their own guide which made it feel far less crowded once we actually got into the castle. Inside the castle was absolutely beautiful. We really enjoyed the history and information provided by our guide. Once we finished with the castle tour, we had afternoon tea arranged in the Coach House tea rooms. The afternoon tea is really where I had to drop the rating from a 5 to a 4. The sandwiches and desserts were good, but they weren't great. The tea had good flavor and was very enjoyable, but we did end up leaving some of the food behind because it just really wasn't as appetizing as we'd hoped. But, that being said, it was still worth trying and some of the snacks were quite good. Kind of a hit or miss, really. In the end, I would still recommend it, though, even if just for the experience.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rickey Y
38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
I cannot say enough amazing things about this experience. I did the Earl and Pharoah private tour and it was wonderful.
There was rail replacement taking place so I had to take a motorcoach FOREVER, but it was so worth it for this tour. The groups are incredibly small. I think we have 10-12 people, at most. The guide was very knowledgeable and the castle is just gorgeous.
You can really feel like it is someone's home as it is cozy and welcoming.

We touched on several Downtown Abbey locations and the history of the house and family and their relationship with the Royal Family, which I had no idea about.

The tour then does a visit to the Tutankhamun exhibition, which is incredibly well done. The artifacts and replicas are awesome and very educational. There is even a little scavenger hunt for children.

Following the tour we had a fantastic tea service set up. There were individual trays preset with sandwiches, scones, desserts and then you are served hot soup and quiche, as well as tea/coffee and bottled water. The food was absolutely wonderful and the staff working in the main room to the left inside the castle were superb. Three gentlemen who were incredibly friendly, made jokes and just wanted to ensure everyone had a memorable time. I am still talking about the entire experience days later.

The gift shop outside was nicely appointed and had quality items, which was nice. To cap off the tour, we received a signed book from Lady Carnarvon.

Of note - you need to pay special mind to transportation getting to and from the castle. Since there was rail replacement, I had to take a coach - that took forever.
Once at the Newbury train station, you must take a taxi to the castle. It is about 24 pound for the drive. Make sure you get a business card as you have to call a cab to bring you back. I called them about 15 minutes before I was ready, made a trip through the shop and then went to the car park and the cab was pulling up as I was walking out. The taxi back to the station charged be surcharges for being international (said he had to charge a higher fee for my card) and also added a gratuity, which was a first for me in the UK. Same company as I arrived in but different charges.
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda, Mullingar
Mullingar, Ireland28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
This was my Christmas present from my husband, I am a huge Downton Abbey fan and I loved every minute of this experience. The tour, the Castle, the history and the afternoon tea experience, all fantastic. Five stars from me.
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen-Southampton-UK
Southampton, UK55 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
We visited for my friend’s special birthday and what an amazing time we had! It happened to be the first small group tour of the year and we felt extremely privileged to be welcomed into this amazing Castle.

John, the Estate Manager gave a wonderful greeting and overview before we were introduced to Margaret our Tour Guide who was so informative and super to listen to. Margaret was so kind in supporting guests with individual needs in a discrete, natural way. The pace of the tour was perfect, not at all rushed, with lots of time to ask questions and take in the beautiful surroundings.

The food was delicious and plentiful. Sandwiches, quiche, soup and cakes, we didn’t manage to finish it all!

A beautiful signed book by Lady Carnarvon, Seasons at Highclere, was included and is a fabulous keepsake. Such a lovely hardback book and full delicious recipes,

The whole team at Highclere are so very hospitable. Lovely welcomes from those in the grounds directing us toward parking and the ticket booth gentleman. Luis, the Head Butler is an absolute dream, we so enjoyed chatting with him. He’s entertaining, informative and fun all while maintaining a professional demeanour. He was joined by Tom, another fun and friendly team member. Thank you gents for being the ‘icing on the cake’!
Written 17 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sally D
Melbourne, Australia371 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is not actually a review of a visit. We would have loved to have visited but our cruise company Oceania day trips - June 2024 - booked out very quickly.

I contacted the Highclere office via email, to see if we could organise a separate tour while our ship was in port. Alas, the ‘office’ staff could not have been less interested. There was no name attached to the information I received, but I was informed that they were unaware of reputable couriers/taxis who could take us to the castle. Though they did google a couple of firms for us which were for group bookings.

Perhaps Highclere Castle is doing so well,
it does not need to respond to queries from the Antipodes? It left such a sour taste, I decided we will not bother to make the effort to visit.
Written 13 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SwindonEvs1
Swindon, UK121 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
We joined the winter tour this morning as our first visit , even driving in Mrs Evans directed us to parking was so very friendly as a first impression.

The tour was led by Claire who was so knowledgeable and fun and included so many stories and information about this great home the past the present and some of the future , the incredible story of Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter and the Egyptian exhibits ending with a fantastic refreshments & tea .
Thank you all for a super visit the teamwork and friendliness is great and made our visit special.
Written 31 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane
Cowes, United Kingdom64 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Fantastic and well worth a visit. Good parking area. Easy access and just amazing inside! Ground floor accessible if you have motability issues. Grounds are lovely , sadly we had awful weather but we didn't let that stop us. They do need a bigger shop, we couldn't even get in the door it was heaving and it's only a little shop. They would make more money if the layout / size of the shop was better. Can't wait to go back.
Written 11 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AndyandJackie
Waterlooville, UK175 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
We bought this Christmas tour with lunch, and welcome by Lady Carnarvan, as our Christmas gift to each other. There were approx 60 people in this reduced guest party. There was a 30 minute chat given by Lady Carnarvan at the beginning, which provided good background details of the house and the family. Very interesting indeed.
We are both Downton fans, and obviously had to pay homage to the set. The guests were divided into 3 groups of approx 20 people, to do the tour. This reduced the numbers further so it was easy to see the rooms clearly and to hear the guide share details. We saw many of the rooms and additonal ones the house had, and the amazing 360 degree gallaried staircase, looking down (and up) was just lovely. Diane the guide was great and added stories from the filming of Downton, which added to the atmosphere. Everywhere was decorated for Christmas, and this gave additional warmth and magic to the rooms.
I have been fortunate to have visited the Egyptian museum in Cairo, and have seen the many treasures of Tutankhamun close up, so I was thrilled to see more artifacts in the exhibition at the house. Crazy to think most of that was hidden away in small boxes in the wall there for decades.
The food in the tea room was top notch, (again excellent staff) the gift shop was lovely and the books authored by Lady Carnarvan are just lovely momentos of the day. (Again both staff we saw in the shop, before and after our tour, were just so friendly). Compliments to everyone at Highclere Castle and to Lady Carnarvan for inviting us to her home and for entertaining us all perfectly (just wished we had more time to hear her stories).
We were not disappointed in anyway, shape or form. Every member of staff must have been hand picked, as they all had the same very high customer service attention, politeness, and friendliness. The warmth that Lady Carnarvan gave out was contagious and truly made the castle....a home.
Written 21 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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HIGHCLERE CASTLE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Highclere Castle