Highclere Castle Museum

Address: Highclere Castle, Newbury RG20 9RN, England, UK

Website: https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/

Hours: Seasonal opening (typically Mar-Oct) with guided tours at set times; check official site for current schedule

Admission: Castle tours: approx. £15-£25 for adults (seasonal); grounds ticket separate when events are on

Highclere Castle is a 19th-century country house in north Hampshire, England, that serves as the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon. The estate is widely recognised as the principal filming location for the television series ‘Downton Abbey.’

Guided tours cover principal state rooms, family portraits and the castle’s period interiors, while a dedicated exhibition presents the Carnarvon family’s involvement in early 20th-century Egyptian archaeology. The formal gardens and surrounding parkland are open to visitors seasonally and include riverside walks and managed lawns.

The present house was largely rebuilt in the mid-19th century to a design by Sir Charles Barry on an older estate and has remained the family seat of the Carnarvon earls. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon financially supported archaeological work in Egypt that led to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.

Highclere Castle stands in north Hampshire near the border with Berkshire, within driving distance of larger towns such as Newbury and regional transport connections.

• Film location (Downton Abbey): Known worldwide as the main filming location for the television series ‘Downton Abbey,’ which increased visitor interest and opened the house to regular guided tours.

What to See#

• State rooms and interiors: State rooms and principal interiors of the house where guided tours present period decoration, family portraits and the house’s film history associations.
• Egyptian exhibition: An exhibition dedicated to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and the Egyptian excavations that funded and supported the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
• Grounds and gardens: Extensive landscaped parkland and formal gardens surrounding the house, featuring managed lawns, specimen trees and riverside walks used by visitors.

Highclere is near Newbury. From Newbury train station, the castle is a 25-30 minute taxi ride; driving from London (M4) takes about 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. Guided tours require pre-booking on the official website.

• Check the castle's events calendar - the gardens and state rooms are often closed for private functions.
• If visiting for filming-sites interest, the castle's interiors sometimes appear in period dramas - ask at reception about current exhibits.
• Combine with a drive through the surrounding estate and the nearby village of Highclere for lunch options.