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Highclere Castle

Highclere, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle with Walking Path 156-09371166x

Photo by David Coleman

England // Castles & Palaces· Hampshire England Location: [post_gps_latitude], [post_gps_longitude]

Highclere Castle is certainly distinctive, with Gothic towers, a Georgian interior, and neo-Elizabethan tributes. It’s a whimsical mishmash of architectural styles that somehow adds up to the very picture of English aristocratic heritage. The castle sits on a thousand acres of rolling Hampshire countryside just a couple of hours west of London, and Earls of Carnarvon have called it home since 1679.

You don’t have to be a fan of the TV show Downton Abbey to appreciate the stately beauty of Highclere Castle. But if you are a fan–like so many visitors who now flock to it when it’s open to visitors in the summer–you’re in for a real treat.

The grounds look just like they do in the series–lush, rolling, and stately. Fancy a walk up the pathway to the castle that’s featured in the opening credits? It’s exactly as you’ve seen it. Want to sit on the bench where Lady Mary and Cousin Matthew have a chat after his return from the war? Go ahead. Feel like pulling up to the entrance where Mr. Carson and Mr. Bates wait to greet Downton’s many guests? After you. (In fact, if you want to gain entry to the house, you must go through this entrance.)

Once inside, it can be hard to remember that the characters of Downton Abbey are just that–characters–for so much of the castle looks familiar. (At least the above stairs sections, that is. The below stairs parts are filmed at a film studio.) Wandering about the first floor, there’s the impressively stocked library, a music room, a smoking room, and, of course, the great hall. The floor above has the 11 main bedrooms, each with a beautiful view of the grounds. And there are another 40 or 50 unused bedrooms elsewhere in the building.1

But while it’s hard to be in the house without thinking of Downton, Highclere Castle also has an identity all its own. It’s a functioning home, as is evident by the shoes and personal effects strewn about by its owners. And though it’s big, it’s also small in a way; the home doesn’t seem nearly as sprawling once you’re in it as it does from the outside. But, frankly, as impressive as it is, and as enjoyable as it is to visit, I’m not sure I’d like to live there.

Photos of Highclere Castle

Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle

Photo by David Coleman

Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

Photo by David Coleman

Highclere Castle, UK

Photo by David Coleman

Highclere Castle in Hampshire, UK

Photo by David Coleman

Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle Panorama

Photo by David Coleman

Highclere Castle Grounds with Tree

Photo by David Coleman

Highclere Castle

Photo by David Coleman

What to Know Before You Go

It’s not open all the time, so be sure to check their website for hours. In general, they’re open to the public in July and August, but there are sometimes closures during that time for special events. They also have special openings at other times such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Christmas. You can find information about buying tickets online here.


  1. Jessica Fellowes, The World of Downton Abbey Revealed (London: St. Martin’s Press, 2011) p.185. ↩

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  • Moat at Kronborg Castle at Helsingor, Denmark
    Kronborg Castle / Hamlet's Castle
  • Chapel at Kronborg Castle at Helsingor, Denmark
    Kronborg Castle's Chapel
  • tapestries at Kronborg Castle at Helsingor, Denmark
    Kronborg Castle's Royal Apartments
  • Holger the Dane Statue at Kronborg Castle at Helsingor, Denmark
    Holger the Dane at Kronborg Castle
  • Stained Glass Windows of Greek Goddesses at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City
    Chapultepec Castle (Mexico's National Museum of History)

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.


Location: Highclere Castle
Country: England
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 51.326609
      Longitude: -1.360556

      # Castles & Palaces
      # Hampshire England



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find my photography gear reviews and tips at havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
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