Top 5 Downton Abbey Tours from London

Downton Abbey, the magnificent Crawley family estate that gives its name to the most watched British television series on the planet(and also to the film!), has led many tourists to the wrong parts of England. One of the best ways to explore the locations is on a full-day excursion from London.

In the series, the lands of the Earl and Countess of Grantham are located in Yorkshire, in the north of the country, but filming actually took place not far from London. Highclere Castle in Berkshire is the real-life Downton Abbey. And Bampton in Oxfordshire is the village of Downton.

Booking a trip to Downton Abbey and the Cotswolds is one of the best things to do on a visit to London. In this famous British city, you can walk through its beautiful streets and take time to photograph the ancient buildings of one of the world's most prestigious universities.

The tour will also take you to Bampton, a village in the Cotswolds and the real-life setting for Downton in the award-winning drama. There you will be amazed to see the sturdy, solid Victorian mansion of Downton Abbey in real life. The most amazing thing is that it is exactly as you have seen it on television!

Afterwards, you will visit Highclere Castle , the castle that was transformed into a hospital in the drama series, which was built in the 19th century according to a design by the architect who designed the Palace of Westminster. Located 110 km from London in Berkshire, it is the home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and is only open to visitors for a few months each year. Check the calendar here.

Details of interest

• Price: around £195.
• Duration: the tour usually lasts around 10 hours.
• Transport: air-conditioned tourist bus.
• Advantages: A professional guide will tell you all the details and secrets of the places and the series, and you can meet other Downton Abbey fans.
• Disadvantages: It is not a cheap option, and if you want to explore Bampton, Oxford, and Highclere Castle in depth, I recommend staying in Oxford for at least one night. Read this post if you want to know how to visit Oxford from London.

With this other excursion to Downton Abbey with a visit to Highclere Castle, you will discover the filming locations associated with Downton Abbey and the Grantham family home in the series. You will get an in-depth look at Highclere Castle, which is still home to the eighth Earl today, and visit the village of Bampton, which any Downton Abbey fan will immediately recognise as Downton Village.

You'll explore St Mary's Church and cemetery, where some of the characters have their final resting place. Oops! We won't give any spoilers in case you haven't seen the series yet, but fans love this experience. Inside the church, you'll see where many of the characters got married, and at least one was left at the altar. You probably know who it was!

I recommend visiting the gift shop where you can buy the best Downton souvenirs.

Details of interest

• Price: from approximately £195.
• Duration: approximately 9 hours.
• Transport: air-conditioned tourist bus.
• Advantages: Very comprehensive, ideal for true fans of the series who don't want to miss a thing and want to see all the locations.
• Disadvantages: It is more expensive than more traditional excursions.

If you dream of feeling like you're part of the world of Downton Abbey, this private tour from London will make it come true in a totally personalised way. Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll visit iconic locations from the series, such as Cogges Farm, the estate that served as the Crawley family home. You'll stroll through its gardens, halls and most iconic corners while immersing yourself in the spirit of the Edwardian era.

The day continues through the charming landscapes of the Cotswolds, a picture-postcard region with stone villages and rolling hills. Along the way, you'll have free time to have lunch in a traditional English pub and discover places full of history and charm.

An ideal option for those looking for an exclusive and detailed experience, with hotel pick-up, private guide and comfortable transport. If you want to discover the most authentic corners of the English countryside and relive your favourite series, this private tour to Downton Abbey and the Cotswolds is the perfect choice.

Details of interest

• Price: The tour costs £147 per person.
• Duration: approximately 9 hours in total.
• Transport: private vehicle with hotel pick-up.
• Advantages: includes admission to Cogges Farm and an exclusive guide for your group only.
• Disadvantages: does not include a visit to Highclere Castle, the main location of the series.

On this tour, you will visit the Cotswolds filming location and Blenheim Palace. Imagine following in the footsteps of the lords and ladies of Downton and walking to the limestone hills of the Cotswolds, where much of the action in the period drama was filmed.

You'll also get to explore the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire, the real location of Downton Village, and the rural inns of Shilton and Swinbrook. Yew Tree Farm and Grays Court in Cogges, which appear as Downton Place, are also included in your itinerary.

You can marvel at the unique beauty of Blenheim Palace and learn about its royal history. As I mentioned, this palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discovering every nook and cranny is an incredible experience.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of the tour starts at approximately £95.
• Duration: the entire tour takes about 10 hours, including travel time.
• Transport: air-conditioned vehicle.
• Advantages: This excursion will give you a comprehensive overview of the locations chosen by the series' creators to shoot the outdoor scenes and the meals outside the castle.
• Disadvantages: The only downside to this tour is its price.

This excursion will take you on a tour of all the most iconic locations from the series that I mentioned earlier, but with the added bonus of being completely private. You can also stop for lunch, explore the village of Bampton and visit Highclere Castle to admire its beautiful interior and relive the most captivating episodes.

Details of interest

• Price: the tour starts at approximately £768.
• Duration: the black London taxi will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at the same place at the end of the tour. The entire tour lasts approximately 9 hours.
• Transport: a private air-conditioned black taxi with an exclusive driver.
• Advantages: This option is relaxed, allowing you to discover absolutely all the places related to Downton Abbey in the comfort of your own car with a driver.

Disadvantages: The cost of the tour is quite high for a single person or family.

If you want to book a tour to Downton Abbey and the Cotswolds, you can easily do so online. Generally, if you cancel the tour more than one day in advance, you will receive a full or partial refund, but it is very important that you read all the terms and conditions before paying.

With regard to the weather, some tours may not be able to take place on days with heavy rain or adverse weather conditions. If this happens, you will be given the option to reschedule the tour or receive a refund.

The Downton Abbey area is very close to the British capital, so after enjoying everything there is to see and do in London, you can book a trip to Downton Abbey.

There are several stops along the way to see the best locations from the series, such as the village of Bampton, Highclere Castle, Downton village church and much more. That's why most tours tend to last around 9-10 hours.

If you want to make the most of your time and see more of England, an ideal option is to combine the Downton Abbey tour with a visit to another place, both on the same day. Popular nearby destinations include the university city of Oxford and Blenheim Palace; both sites resonate with history dating back to the days of Downton and also contain many tourist sites with the real history of English villages and their beautiful nature and architecture.

The famous castle is undoubtedly the most iconic attraction if you book a trip to Downton Abbey with a visit to Highclere Castle, not only because it is the central setting of the series, but also because of the real history enclosed within its walls and beautiful gardens. The ticket allows you to visit the interior of the castle, the gardens and the underground exhibition of Egyptian artefacts. Much of the original décor was used in the series, and those who have seen the episodes will easily recognise the locations:

As a curious fact, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon became an archaeologist and was one of those responsible for discovering the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The great thing about visiting the interiors of Highclere Castle is that several of the rooms portrayed in the series actually exist, and you will see them just as they appeared on the small screen:

• The library where Lord Grantham read the correspondence brought by Mr. Carson.
• The drawing room where Violet Grantham and the other women of the family gathered and conversed.
• The staircase and hall that appeared in some of the most dramatic scenes in the series (such as Mary and Matthew's dance, where they get lost in a kiss and end up getting caught by Lavinia).

The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679. Major reconstruction work was carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in 1838, the third Earl of Carnarvon brought in Sir Charles Barry to transform his home. During World War I, the castle was converted into a hospital, returning to private use in 1922. To this day, the current and eighth Earl of Carnarvon lives partly in the castle and partly nearby.