Highclere Castle at Christmas with carols GOLD

Highclere Castle dressed for Christmas with carol singing, near Newbury

With travel by luxury GOLD coach

 

Your entry tickets includes the house and gardens, Egyptian Exhibition AND a signed copy of Lady Carnarvons book "Christmas at Highclere".

 

Christmas at Highclere: Castle Tours & Carols - Friday 5th December 2025 - arriving for the 11am entry timeslot.

 

Step into the festive spirit! We are delighted to welcome visitors for self-guided tours of the Castle State Rooms and Gallery Bedrooms, with an opportunity to view our Christmas decorations. We hope you will enjoy listening to traditional carols and music as you explore.

 

Your ticket includes:

•    Entry to the Castle and Egyptian Exhibition, plus time to admire the Christmas decorations; from the spectacular 24-foot-high Christmas tree in the Saloon to the gorgeous garlands winding down the staircases and more.

•    Enjoy Christmas carols which will be sung in various locations throughout the event.

•    A signed copy of Lady Carnarvon’s book, “Christmas at Highclere”.

Plus:

•    The opportunity to browse Highclere’s Gift Shop.

•    All visitors are welcome to enjoy the Gardens and Grounds, weather permitting.

•    The Tea Rooms will be open all day. You will also be able to purchase warming coffees and croissants in the morning and a traditional selection of foods for lunch from our Tea Rooms, including delicious homemade soup made in the Castle kitchens, sandwiches, scones and cakes.

 

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. Bishop William of Wykeham built a beautiful medieval palace and gardens in the park. 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  and in the Second World War, became a 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.

 

The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and 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.

 

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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