How to Visit Highclere Castle

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 25, 2021 References

Highclere Castle is a country house in Berkshire, England that's most well known as the filming location for Downton Abbey. If you're a fan of the show, or if you're simply interested in historic landmarks, you can visit and explore the castle at certain times of the year.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Purchasing Admission Tickets

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Buy general admission tickets to visit during the summer. Every year, Highclere Castle opens its doors to visitors during the mid to late summer. To see this year's public viewing dates, or to purchase your own general admission tickets, visit the Highclere Castle official website.^{[1]
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- The castle sells morning tickets that let you enter the grounds between 10:30am and 1pm and afternoon tickets that let you enter between 1pm and 4pm.
- When purchasing your tickets, you can choose from 4 different options: Gardens Only, Egyptian Exhibition and Gardens, Castle and Gardens, and Castle, Exhibition, & Gardens.
- The castle sometimes offers general admission tickets around major holidays like Christmas and Easter.
2
Get tickets to a guided tour to learn more about the castle. Throughout the year, Highclere Castle offers a number of special tours led by trained castle guides. These tours will teach you more about the famous country house and, in some cases, will give you a chance to see parts of the castle that are off limits to general admission patrons.^{[2]
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- Visit https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk/categories/special-march-castle-and-garden-tours to see what tours are currently available.
- If you sign up for a tour, check the tour's online information page to see if there are any dress code requirements.
3
Sign up for special events for a unique castle experience. Highclere Castle hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year. These functions normally last one day and you can purchase tickets to them through the castle's official website. Some events to look out for include:^{[3]
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- Holiday festivals
- Concertos
- Food tastings
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Book group visits a year in advance. Highclere Castle offers special booking options to accommodate large groups. For scheduling reasons, the castle requires all groups to book at least 1 year prior to their intended visiting date.^{[4]
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- You can book your group visit through the official Highclere Castle website.
- The castle releases new group booking options near the start of every calendar year.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Finding Lodging and Transportation

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Reserve a hotel room near the castle if necessary. If you don't live in Berkshire or a nearby city like London or Birmingham, you may need to book a hotel room close to the castle.^{[5]
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- You can find a list of the castle's 4 and 5 star hotel recommendations at https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/where-stay.
- To find cheaper options in the area, visit a travel comparison site like Kayak or Travelocity.
2
Stay at the London Lodge for a more authentic experience. Though Highclere Castle does not rent rooms in the house itself, they converted their guest lodge into a miniature hotel for guests who wish to stay on the estate. You can book an overnight suite at the lodge by visiting the Highclere Castle official website.^{[6]
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- Even if you're staying at the lodge, you cannot visit the castle grounds after hours. However, you can explore the parks and public walkways surrounding the house.
- Highclere Castle leases out cottages to patrons who wish to stay near the castle for an extended period of time. For more information, e-mail estateoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk.
3
Drive your car or take a taxi to the house. Highclere Castle sits at Highclere, Newbury RG20 9RN, UK. Public transit does not go to the castle grounds, so you'll need to get there using your own personal vehicle, a taxi, or a ride-sharing service.^{[7]
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- Once you reach the castle, follow the brown signs leading to the tourist parking lot. Do not rely on your GPS here as it will lead you to the wrong entrance.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Enjoying Your Visit

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Follow the castle's official rules. While visiting Highclere Castle, make sure you follow the house's official conduct guidelines. Remember: Highclere Castle is an actual home, not just a business establishment, so be as respectful as possible while on the property. Some major rules to remember include:^{[8]
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- No photography while in the castle.
- No dogs allowed on the premises (with the exception of trained service dogs).
- No push strollers in the castle.
- No smoking in or around the castle.
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Download the Highclere app for additional information about the castle. The Highclere Castle App is an interactive program that features a variety of content related to the castle. During your visit, you can listen to a narration by Jim Carter (Downton Abbey's Carson the Butler) giving additional information about various elements of the house.^{[9]
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- The Highclere Castle App costs £2.29. You can download it through the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store.
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Eat in 1 of the castle's tearooms. Highclere Castle has 2 separate tea rooms: 1 in the castle proper and 1 in the nearby stable grounds. These areas sell tea, cakes, and a variety of other beverages and food items.^{[10]
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- The tea rooms open their doors at 9:30am and serve lunch and dinner items between noon and 2pm.
- If you'd like, you can dine in the castle's coach house instead. Meal tickets cost £30 and you must purchase them prior to your visit through the Highclere Castle official website.
4
Purchase souvenirs at the castle's gift shop. When you're ready to leave, stop by the stable grounds so you can look through the castle's gift shop. Some items you can find there include kitchenware, champagne, snack foods, clothing items (including Downton Abbey hats), and Egyptian exhibit merchandise.^{[11]
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- You can purchase many of the gift shop's items online at https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk.