The Highclere Castle in England is used to film the BBC popular TV series Downton Abbey, and today was the pinnacle of our vacation: to tour the castle and enjoy the day on it’s spacious grounds. It is reportedly the finest occupied Victorian mansion in England, home of the Earls and Countesses of Carnarvan for over 300 years.
While Sue was working late one night in February, she realized that her life was momentarily out of balance and considered where she would rather be at that moment. The first answer that came to her mind was to have a cocktail at Downton Abbey. Sue did a little research and learned that the show is filmed at Highclere Castle and that limited tickets to the castle were available during July. She figured that it was worth it to risk the cost of the tickets on the chance that we could get ourselves to England on July 17 to take the tour and she bought them! Thus, our vacation was born, with visits to Ireland, Wales, and other parts of England resulting from that late night decision! How fun! And here she is, tea cup in hand, basking in the glow!!!
We had tickets for the 10am-1pm session today and we thoroughly enjoyed touring the route through most of the rooms, twice, with several long breaks on the lovely grounds in-between and afterwards. We walked through the two rooms of the Library containing 5,650 books, the Music room with it’s walls of Italian silk embroidery, the Drawing room, the Dining Room and the many paintings of ancestors of the castles but dominated by Van Dyck’s portrait of Charles I, and the impressive Saloon Room which is the main center room with a 50′ ceiling and a grand sweeping Oak Staircase. It was a hoot to see the different rooms and remember various scenes that were filmed for the Downton Abbey program.
Just as enchanting as being in the castle was the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful grounds that surround it. Luxurious rolling hills, expansive emerald lawns, the cool shade of majestic oak trees on a warm day. We even enjoyed a spot of tea on the lawn. Paradise!
So glad you two made it there!! Enjoy the rest of your journey!
Ted-O, the picture with Sue sitting in the chair with the castle in the background . . . the castle looks like Bonebreak Hall at UTS! Doesn’t it? 🙂
It does have a similar feel from the distance, Ernie… Up close, it is much taller and magnificent. The window on this one are about twice as tall. Inside, there is no comparison.