Highclere Castle, Bampton & Oxford Downton Abbey Day Trip from London

Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle in Hampshire is the family home of the Earls of Carnarvon and the house used as Downton Abbey. The present building was remodelled in the 1840s by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament, with a Jacobethan exterior of pale stone towers. Guests come for the grand interiors, including the saloon, the library, the drawing room and the dining room, so recognisable from the screen.

If you have searched for a Highclere Castle tour from London or Highclere Castle tickets, this trip includes the entry fee in the option shown. The castle is only open on selected dates, and the tour is scheduled around them. Time inside is enough to walk the state rooms at a comfortable pace and to take photographs where allowed.

The Egyptian exhibition at Highclere

Highclere has a special link with Egypt. The fifth Earl of Carnarvon funded Howard Carter's search for the tomb of Tutankhamun, and in 1922 they opened the tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The castle's Egyptian exhibition in the lower floors tells this story with objects and displays connected to the expedition.

For Arab visitors this is often the surprise of the visit: a country house in the Hampshire countryside that holds a piece of ancient Egyptian history. The guide adds background on how the discovery changed world archaeology and how the family kept the story alive.

Bampton, the village of Downton

Bampton is a Cotswolds-edge village in Oxfordshire that became famous as the fictional Downton. The church of St Mary the Virgin, the building used as the cottage hospital and the cottages seen in the series can all be found within a short walk. The guide points out which scene was filmed where.

Even if you do not follow the series, Bampton is a quiet English village with old stone houses and a friendly atmosphere. This is a walking stop, so wear comfortable shoes. It is a rewarding stop for anyone searching for a Downton Abbey village tour from London.

Oxford

The final stop is Oxford, home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Its golden colleges, narrow lanes, the round Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian Library reflect nearly nine centuries of teaching and writing. Films including the Harry Potter series have used its buildings as locations.

Time here is for a stroll and a bite to eat, with your guide suggesting which streets and viewpoints to see first. Oxford is a beautiful place to end the day, and many visitors say they would like to return for longer. Colleges have their own opening times, so interior visits are not part of this trip.