Highclere Castle Tours and Tickets

Q: How long does it take to tour Highclere Castle?

Plan an hour to tour Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle and another hour to browse the Egyptian Exhibition and gardens. If you spend a half-day, your visit will feel less rushed and allow time for café dining or afternoon tea (adults only) and relaxing on the grounds.

Q: What do you see on a tour of Highclere Castle?

Tours start with the state rooms of the castle, where many scenes from Downton Abbey were filmed. After exploring “upstairs,” the tours lead down the stairs to the Egyptian Exhibition. The tours include access to the gardens and grounds, where highlights like the rose arbor awaits.

Q: Is it free to walk around Highclere Castle?

No, the grounds are not free. You must buy Highclere Castle tickets to enter the building, gardens, and grounds. However, you can view the castle from a distance via the public footpaths that cut through the wider Highclere estate. The Highclere Park and Beacon Hill public walks offer stately views.

Q: Do you have to book to visit Highclere Castle?

Booking ahead is recommended. While you don’t have to book to visit, Highclere Castle has limited public opening dates; and it’s quite popular, given its Downton Abbey fame. In summer, entry can’t be guaranteed without a prebooked admission ticket. For tours and special events, tickets must be bought in advance.

Q: What month is Highclere Castle open?

Highclere Castle is a private estate with limited public open dates, usually between July and early September. There are special events such as Christmas tours with Champagne and canapés and film set tours that take place in the fall. Advance booking is essential.

Q: Can you take pictures inside Highclere Castle?

No, the castle is a private family home so photography is not allowed inside or in the Egyptian Exhibition. You can take outdoor snaps—as long as they are for personal use only—drones are not permitted anywhere on the Highclere estate.

23 results

Best Seller

Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

Visit Oxford and top 'Downton Abbey' filming locations on this day trip from London. Start with a walking tour of Oxford and its famous university buildings, then continue to the Cotswolds’ village of Bampton, known as Downton Village in the award-winning British TV series. End with a visit to Highclere Castle, the real-life setting of Downton Abbey, featured in Downton Abbey 3: The Grand Finale.

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4.6

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Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

10 hoursFree Cancellation

from $200

Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London

4.7

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Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London

9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $255

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Private Guided Full Day Downton Abbey Tour

Highclere Castle—the real-world filming location for "Downton Abbey"—sits in the Hampshire countryside, and reaching it alongside the nearby Cotswold villages without private transport takes considerable planning from London. This private guided tour includes hotel pickup and covers the castle's grounds and gardens, the interior rooms used during filming, and the surrounding Cotswold countryside and villages, at a pace suited to your private group.

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5.0

(18)

Private Guided Full Day Downton Abbey Tour

10 hoursFree Cancellation

from $1,275

Per group

Shared Group Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

Discover "Downton Abbey" filming locations on a full-day guided tour of the Cotswolds from London. Let someone else do the driving as you travel through the scenic Oxfordshire countryside and visit the charming village of Cogges and Bampton, the setting of the show's quintessentially English town. See recognizable sights such as the Grantham Arms pub, then explore Highclere Castle's opulent chambers on a guided tour.

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4.8

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Shared Group Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

11 hours

from $281

Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour from London with Highclere

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Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour from London with Highclere

9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $221

Private Round Trip Transfer : Heathrow or London to Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is known for being the filming location of the award-winning television series 'Downton Abbey', and this private transfer service is your shortcut to getting there with ease. Avoid the crowds on public transport, and instead, get a hassle-free round-trip transfer from London to Highclere Castle. Take your time and explore the grounds independently, then get a return transfer back to London.

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4.9

(19)

Private Round Trip Transfer : Heathrow or London to Highclere Castle

1 to 10 hoursFree Cancellation

from $793

Per group

Likely to Sell Out

London to Southampton with a Stop at Highclere Castle

5 hours

from $484

Price varies by group size

Likely to Sell Out

Southampton to London with a Stop at Highclere Castle

When your cruise concludes in the port of Southampton, you have a great opportunity to visit Highclere Castle on this pre-Southampton from Southampton on this self-guided private vehicle service. Discover the mystery surrounding Highclere Castle, and then travel directly to London or a hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned private vehicle with tons of space for your luggage. Direct pick-up service from the Port of Southampton. One-way pre-cruise excursion from Southampton to London accommodation with a stop at Highclere Castle. Designed for travelers wanting to combine convenience with flexibility. Before booking the service, please make sure you pre-book your admission tickets to Highclere Castle. This service does not include admission tickets, and these cannot be purchased on the day of the visit.

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Southampton to London with a Stop at Highclere Castle

5 hours

from $484

Price varies by group size

Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

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Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

10 hours

from $253

Private sightseeing from Southampton choose your destintion

As you prepare for your stay in Southampton, we are delighted to invite you to discover some of England’s most iconic and historic landmarks, including Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Jane Austen's House, Our private sightseeing tours offer a comfortable, exclusive, and stress-free way to explore these remarkable destinations, allowing you to enjoy every moment without the inconvenience of public transportation or fixed schedules. You will travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle and enjoy complimentary bottled water throughout your journey. Our professional, courteous drivers will ensure a smooth and relaxing experience, while also providing local knowledge and attentive service. Whether you are interested in royal history, ancient wonders, or breathtaking architecture, our tailored tours are designed to make your visit truly memorable.

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Private sightseeing from Southampton choose your destintion

6 to 9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $262

Price varies by group size

Likely to Sell Out

London: Private Tour to Stonehenge and Highclere Castle

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London: Private Tour to Stonehenge and Highclere Castle

9 hours

from $817

Price varies by group size

Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London with Hotel Pickup

Visit the real-life locations from your favorite TV show during this private “Downtown Abbey” tour from London. Visit more locations in a single day than you possibly could by public transportation, as your personal driver–guide chauffeurs you from site to site. Highlights include manors and cottages of the Cotswolds region, lakeside Cumbria, and stately Highclere Castle (admission own expense).

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4.9

(70)

Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London with Hotel Pickup

9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $1,239

Per group

Likely to Sell Out

London: Downton Abbey Private Tour including entry to Highclere

Discover some of the most important filming locations from “Downton Abbey” during this immersive, private tour that sets off straight from your London accommodation. Follow in the footsteps of the Crawley family as you sightsee, and travel through the English countryside in the comfort of a private vehicle. You’ll visit Highclere Castle (which served as Downton Abbey), Cogges Manor Farm (where the Drews live), the village of Bampton, and much more.

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5.0

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London: Downton Abbey Private Tour including entry to Highclere

9 hours

from $765

Price varies by group size

Luxury Customizable Sightseeing From Heathrow To Southampton

Rather than facing the inconvenience and delays of public buses, we present a refined alternative. We offer a time-efficient tour that allows you to discover iconic English landmarks from the comfort of a private vehicle—an exceptional way to experience the country in just one day, with service availability 24 hours a day, professional meet-and-greet, and generous luggage capacity. Our service is designed to maximise your time on the road. For example, when travelling from the Heathrow Airport to Southampton, we can include sightseeing at selected locations along the way, transforming a routine transfer into a pleasant journey rich in impressions. This private transfer ensures comfort upon arrival in England while offering an exclusive opportunity to visit renowned landmarks. Possible sightseeing combinations: -Salisbury Cathedral & Stonhenge -Windsor Castle -Highclere Castle -The Roman Baths -Winchester Cathedral -Jane Austen's House

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Luxury Customizable Sightseeing From Heathrow To Southampton

4 to 19 hoursFree Cancellation

from $277

Price varies by group size

Luxury Customizable Sightseeing from Southampton to Heathrow

Rather than facing the inconvenience and delays of public buses, we present a refined alternative. We offer a time-efficient tour that allows you to discover iconic English landmarks from the comfort of a private vehicle—an exceptional way to experience the country in just one day, with service availability 24 hours a day, professional meet-and-greet, and generous luggage capacity. Our service is designed to maximise your time on the road. For example, when travelling from Southampton to Heathrow Airport, we can include sightseeing at selected locations along the way, transforming a routine transfer into a pleasant journey rich in impressions. This private transfer ensures comfort upon arrival in England while offering an exclusive opportunity to visit renowned landmarks. Possible sightseeing combinations: -Salisbury Cathedral -Stonhenge -Windsor Castle -Highclere Castle -The Roman Baths -Winchester Cathedral -Jane Austen's House

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Luxury Customizable Sightseeing from Southampton to Heathrow

4 to 18 hoursFree Cancellation

from $269

Price varies by group size

Private Southampton Shore excursion Windsor-Bath-Stonehenge-Wilton-Highclere-LDN

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Private Southampton Shore excursion Windsor-Bath-Stonehenge-Wilton-Highclere-LDN

1 to 9 hoursFree Cancellation

from $724

Per group

London to Southampton Private Luxury Transfer

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London to Southampton Private Luxury Transfer

1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutesFree Cancellation

from $269

Price varies by group size

Downton Abbey Black Taxi Tour from London with Highclere Castle

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Downton Abbey Black Taxi Tour from London with Highclere Castle

10 hours

from $703

Price varies by group size

Likely to Sell Out

Oxford Private Downton Abbey Tour Including Highclere Castle

This tour is perfect for any fan of Downton Abbey as it takes in more of the filming locations than most other day tours. With entry to Cogges Manor Farm and Highclere Castle's house, grounds and Egypt exhibit included in the cost of the tour, as well as Bampton, Swinbrook, and Shilton this is the ultimate one-day Downton Abbey experience. Starting and finishing, Oxford the tour makes it easy for you to explore the world of Downton Abbey as well as the history, and filming experiences of the locations that you will visit. With an expert guide with years of experience in delivering Downton Abbey tours who is also incredibly passionate about the series, all of your questions will be answered by the time you return to your accomodation. While on the tour, you will also learn some behind-the-scenes secrets of how the series was filmed and, if you are lucky, meet some of the people who live in the places Downton Abbey also calls home.

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252

Oxford Private Downton Abbey Tour Including Highclere Castle

7 hours

from $827

Price varies by group size

PrivateLuxury Customizable Sightseeing from Southampton to London

Rather than facing the inconvenience and delays of public buses, we present a refined alternative. We offer a time-efficient tour that allows you to discover iconic English landmarks from the comfort of a private vehicle—an exceptional way to experience the country in just one day, with service availability 24 hours a day, professional meet-and-greet, and generous luggage capacity. Our service is designed to maximise your time on the road. For example, when travelling from Southampton to London, we can include sightseeing at selected locations along the way, transforming a routine transfer into a pleasant journey rich in impressions. This private transfer ensures comfort upon arrival in England while offering an exclusive opportunity to visit renowned landmarks. Possible sightseeing combinations: -Salisbury Cathedral & Stonhenge -Windsor Castle -Highclere Castle -The Roman Baths -Winchester Cathedral -Jane Austen's House

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4.8

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PrivateLuxury Customizable Sightseeing from Southampton to London

4 to 18 hoursFree Cancellation

from $357

Price varies by group size

London: Private Downton Abbey Tour By Black Cab With Lunch Stop

5.0

(2)

London: Private Downton Abbey Tour By Black Cab With Lunch Stop

9 hours

from $737

Price varies by group size

London or Heathrow to Portsmouth Private Luxury Transfer

We are proud to present our company, founded with the vision of creating refined travel experiences for discerning guests. Our aim is to deliver a premium airport/city transfer service defined by comfort, elegance, and reliability. Beyond transportation, we focus on providing a seamless journey where attention to detail, simplicity, and style come together. Every transfer is thoughtfully arranged to ensure exceptional comfort, punctuality, and peace of mind. We would be honoured to assist you and to provide an airport/city transfer that is both smooth and memorable. All vehicles in our fleet are fully air-conditioned and include complimentary bottled water. Our service is available 24 hours a day, with a professional meet-and-greet to ensure a welcoming arrival. Thank you for considering our service. We look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you.

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London or Heathrow to Portsmouth Private Luxury Transfer

1 to 2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $214

Price varies by group size

PrivateLuxury Customizable Sightseeing from London to Southampton

4 to 18 hoursFree Cancellation

from $361

Price varies by group size

What are people saying about Highclere Castle

Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London with Hotel Pickup

Terri_M, Dec 2025

Our trip tour of a lifetime.

This was the trip of a life time. I have never been more pleased with the tour guide Andrew. He made the entire trip across the pond so very memorable. Thank you Andrew. Terri and I also appreciate your history knowledge. HighClere castle tour was super nice and very well organized. The add on tea was very-very nice and we were treated to a tasty selection, Mrs Patmore and Daisy would have certainly approved.

Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

Lizzie_W, Apr 2026

Sensational Solo Journey

Beautiful day in the countryside with fabulous tour! Eva was our guide and made the day fun, informational, and an extraordinary experience. The stops were well managed but time and pick up location. A great mix of group tour time and individual wandering. I went by myself and had a lovely time and met many different travelers of all ages. My main goal was Downton Abbey experience but was ecstatic to also experience Oxford University. Pick up and drop off was very easy. 10/10 would recommend

Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

Aidan_G, Apr 2026

Excellent day to Oxford and Highclere Castle

Excellent day all round. Eva our guide and Christian our bus driver were excellent. Very knowledgeable on all aspects of the trip and great fun

London: Downton Abbey Private Tour including entry to Highclere

David_O, Jan 2026

To the Manor We Go

Our second trip to Highclere and first to the Cotswolds and it again lived up to expectations. Very professional and informative. We are Downton Abbey fans (of course) and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London with Hotel Pickup

Rebecca_H, Dec 2025

Our driver / tour guide...

Our driver / tour guide Greg was extremely knowledgeable of Downton Abbey and each of the actual filming locations. He was professional, personable and friendly. Although the torrential rains put a damper on the day, we felt Greg provided us with a great experience. We recommend Greg without reservation.

Private Round Trip Transfer : Heathrow or London to Highclere Castle

Laura_B, Sep 2025

Private transfer to Highclere

We enjoyed excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, timely service from our driver Dushi. She was there to pick us up at our hotel in perfect time, and had great tips on our Highclere experience. She was really friendly and stayed onsite while we had our Highclere experience so was immediately ready when we were ready to depart and take us back to our hotel. It made the whole day easy.

Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

Mariana_P, Aug 2025

Short and sweet

Quick all in one tour. The time in Oxford goes super fast. You have tops 2 hrs total there. The stop in Bampton is really quite boring and you have to buy your picnic lunch in Oxford to eat there because there’s nowhere to buy there and then you have to eat at a random bench. Highclere castle is great. They have an Egyptian collection that you can see for an extra ticket if you’re interested. The tour guide and driver were good.