Downton Abbey fans no longer have to wait with bated breath, it's finally happening. The Downton Abbey Movie started filming in September 2018!
I had the opportunity to visit Oxfordshire, and with that came the frantic search to find as many Downton Abbey filming locations as I could. A few of these being the charming villages of Bampton (fictional Yorkshire village of Downton) and Cogges (Downton Abbey's Yew Tree Farm), but one of the more recognizable locations is Highclere Castle in Newbury, the home of the fictional Crawley family.
Take a look at my Highlights on Instagram, to get a real feel of the tour and my Oxfordshire visit.
Highclere Castle
The absolute highlight of the tour is the setting of the fictional home of the Crawley family, the real life home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and Lady Carnarvon who reside there in the winter.
Highclere Castle is also home to the Egyptian exhibition celebrating the 5th Earls’ and Howard Carter’s discovery of young boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun in 1922.
TIPS:
Photos are NOT allowed inside Highclere Castle
It’s veeerrry busy, so be patient. You do have to wait in line to get in, but once you’re inside you are free to take your time walking around
The grounds are worth the walk about if you have time, especially The Secret Garden (They give you a map so you can find it)
I didn’t have high-tea at Highclere as it was very busy and there wasn’t much time but I grabbed a sandwich and a drink and had a picnic luncheon on the grounds which made my day (I made this time-lapse of the moment)
The Egyptian Exhibition was worthwhile (no photos allowed) as it contains the actual Mummy of Tutankhamen!
Overall, if you’re able to go to Highclere Castle on your own time, not on a tour bus, I would recommend that as it would give you more time to see everything and not feel rushed
Cogges, is a heritage site with a 13th century manor house and historic farm buildings
Used as Downton Abbey's Yew Tree Farm, host to farming scenes in series 4 and home of Mr Drewe, the tenant farmer. In series 5 the farm buildings, including interiors, featured regularly as it is here that Marigold, Lady Edith's illegitimate daughter, was being brought up
Cogges has a visual display showing the way that its buildings were transformed into 'Yew Tree Farm' for filming, a collection of photos taken during filming and some interesting Downton memorabilia, including Marigold's birth certificate!
There’s a cafe so you can have a tea before your tour bus takes off, or pick up some snacks for the ride.
Bampton was the fictional Yorkshire village of Downton, for scenes including the church, buildings used as pubs, shops, post office and homes.
The main film locations in Bampton are:
Churchgate House, the old Bampton rectory, used for the exterior shots of Isobel Crawley's house
The old Grammar School building, which now houses Bampton Community Archive, which served as ‘Downton’ hospital. The Archive has a selection of Downton Abbey memorabilia including cards, mugs, pictures and a town map
St Mary’s Church, renamed as St Michael and All Angels in Downton Abbey, has hosted a number of dramatic ‘Downton’ events including weddings, funerals, christenings and even a jilting at the altar!
Church View has appeared regularly throughout the series and is home to two fictional pubs - The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck - both featured in various episodes. It was also the site of Downton Fair.
This tour was not sponsored.
I booked the “Downton Abbey Filming Locations and Highclere Castle” 1 day ticket (162 pounds, which is $280CAD or $211 USD) from International Friends, and enjoyed the tour guide’s extensive knowledge of Downton.