Ask the Concierge –

What 2014 tours go to Downton Abbey aka Highclere Castle?

With the opening of Highclere castle to great public aclaime in 2103, it has become the talk of the town

We have been asked all year about out of London tours to Highclere and now one of our most regular requests is; ‘are there any 2014 tours to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

Well the answer is very few – but we did find a great looking small group tour that has an early bird discount and have posted further details below:

About Highclere and Downton Abbey:

Winner of best mini-series at the 2012 Golden Globes, Downton Abbey is the most successful British period drama since Brideshead Revisited, with ratings exceeding 10 million viewers

Longstanding friend of the Carnarvon family, Julian Fellowes had Highclere Castle in mind as he wrote Downton Abbey, and you can visit the stately home in style on the Real Downton Abbey Tour

Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them, whose lives were changed forever during the First World War. The world of Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey were changed irrevocably by the First World War

Highclere Castle is one of England’s most beautiful Victorian Castles set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland

The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and the current Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of the medieval palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester for some 800 years

For further information on Highclere visit their official site

Here is the tour we found:

The Real Downton Abbey Highclere Castle and Cotswolds Villages

Description

Depending London we head out towards the stunning Oxfordshire countryside ready to visit Highclere Castle (famed as ‘Downton Abbey’)

Next enjoy the scenic journey to the stunning ‘stopped in time’ village of Bampton which you will immediately recognise as ‘Downton Village’. From the famous green to streets and shops it is like stepping back in time straight into the world of ‘Downton Abbey’

Downton Abbey

Winner of best mini-series at the 2012 Golden Globes, Downton Abbey is the most successful British period drama since Brideshead Revisited, with ratings exceeding 10 million viewers
Longstanding friend of the Carnarvon family, Julian Fellowes had Highclere Castle in mind as he wrote Downton Abbey, and you can visit the stately home in style on the Real Downton Abbey Tour
Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them, whose lives were changed forever during the First World War. The world of Highclere Castle and Downton Abbey were changed irrevocably by the First World War

Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is one of England’s most beautiful Victorian Castles set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland
The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and the current Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of the medieval palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester for some 800 years
Cotswolds Villages and Lunch

Departing Highclere we head North leaving Oxfordshire into the Cotswolds where we tour ‘picture box’ villages, with time to stop for a lunch break, some shopping and exploring
Downton Village at the real Bampton
Next we head to Bampton, which will be better known to avid Downton Abbey watchers as ‘Downton Village’ the famous film location of the fictional ‘Village’ regularly seen in most episodes
Whilst this makes it all the more interesting a place to visit, it is in addition to its ‘Downton’ fame a wonderful, quaint and unspoiled village where time has stood still
It is one of the oldest villages in England, mentioned in the Doomsday book, and perfectly preserved in all its ancient magnificence A must see rural splendour, a beautiful English Village at its best Whilst there you will see numerous settings which feature in Downton Abbey, from the picturess streets to the village green – other highlights are
Downton Village, Village Green, Bampton Library, Church View
Downton Cottage Hospital seen in Series 2
St Mary’s the Virgin Parish Church
This was the ‘Downton Village Church’ and featured regularly throughout the series
Next Door is Mrs Crawley’s Village Home

We found this and many thanks to them at www.bestvaluetours.co.uk