Highclere Castle and Gardens - Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle, near Newbury

Your entry tickets includes the house and gardens.

 

Please note: entry to the Egyptian Exhibition is not included. 

 

Highclere Castle has been transformed from its roots in Anglo Saxon Times to a medieval palace, a Tudor place house, a Georgian house and today this iconic Victorian Castle. It sits within a park designed by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century. Lord and Lady Carnarvon are both deeply involved with the Castle and the Estate. Lord Carnarvon's passion for the land, the farm and sustainability drives everything he does. Together they have interpreted and reinvented Highclere's role as an estate in the modern world.

 

The first written records of the estate date back to 749 AD when an Anglo-Saxon King granted the estate to the Bishops of Winchester. Bishop William of Wykeham built a beautiful medieval palace and gardens in the park. Later on, in 1679, the palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House when it was purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Earl of Carnarvon. In 1842, Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament, transformed Highclere House into the present day Highclere Castle. During the First World War, Highclere Castle was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers run by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Then, in the Second World War, Highclere Castle was home to children evacuated from London.

 

There are between 250 and 300 rooms in the Castle Saloon and during your tour you will explore the main state rooms so familiar from "Downton Abbey" and you will also see a selection of the bedrooms. When visiting in person, walk down the grand old staircase like Lady Mary did on her wedding day, sit at Jackdaws Castle where Lady Edith so often found herself and take in the state dining room where many of the Dowager Countess' wonderfully acerbic lines were delivered by Dame Maggie Smith.

 

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.

 

Records show the gardens were first developed here during the 13th century. Today you are welcome to explore the original Monk's Garden, the Secret Garden, the White Border, the Wood of Goodwill, the Rose Arbour, the Wild Flower Meadow and, nearer the Castle, the Healing Herb garden. Within the parkland, there are six remaining 18th century follies framing views from which to admire the landscape.

 

The Saloon is physically and socially the heart of the house. It was designed for the 4th Earl by Thomas Allom in a gothic style with rich decoration and completed in the 1860's. The remarkable wall coverings are made of leather and were hung here in 1862. The Dining Room is dominated by Van Dyck's great equestrian portrait of Charles I. Either side are portraits of Carnarvon ancestors who took part in the civil war in England in the 1640’s. The Double Library was in its heyday during the late Victorian period housing over 5,650 books, the earliest dating from the 16th century. It is used a great deal by the family today to gather in before and after lunch or dinner. Plus the Music Room, the Drawing Room, the Smoking Room.

 

Entry to the Egyptian Exhibition will be found down in the cellars and old staff quarters where you will find artefacts celebrating the 5th Earl of Carnarvon's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased on the day at approx £6.50pp and are subject to availability.

 

Whilst Highclere Castle is a historic building there is nevertheless disabled access for most areas. Wheelchairs are welcome. There is no lift but we provide photographic albums of the bedrooms on the first floor. Whilst it is not possible to bring motorised wheelchairs into the Castle, they are welcome on the paths around the lawns.

 

Depart 16.00

 

 

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