Highclere Castle Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Highclere Castle. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford

• Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London

• Shared-Group Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

• Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour from London with Highclere

• Downton Abbey and Highclere Castle Tour from London

Tickets to Highclere Castle start at £25 for adults, £23 for students and seniors over 65, and £15 for children aged 4–16. To add entry to the Egyptian Exhibition, prices increase to £32 for adults, £30 for students and seniors, and £17.50 for children. Family tickets (two adults and two kids) start at £70. Free entry is offered to children under 4 and carers of visitors with disabilities.

Yes, Highclere Castle is well worth visiting. Best known as the filming location for Downton Abbey, this Victorian castle is set within sweeping English countryside, with the Egyptian Exhibition adding another layer of history. Guided tours from London are a convenient way to visit, with most combining the castle with Oxford and nearby villages.

Per one customer who booked the Downton Abbey & Highclere Castle Tour from London, with Oxford, "We loved this day trip, which gave us a chance to see historic Oxford, along with the castle and village where Downton Abbey was filmed. Our guide was knowledgeable and helpful, and the bus was comfortable. We appreciated that we had time to explore on our own in all three locations."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Highclere Castle. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Southampton:

• Port of Southampton

• Wiltshire Museum

• Beaulieu National Motor Museum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in and around Southampton.