Downton Abbey tour from London: what to expect
Highclere Castle, the house that played Downton Abbey, is a private family home that welcomes visitors on a limited number of days each year, while Bampton stood in for Downton village. We show 8 tours to the Downton Abbey filming locations from London. Fans of the series have rated the Downton Abbey tours on this page 4.7 out of 5 on average, in more than 1,874 reviews.
Around 9 hours is the most common span of the filming-location days we cover, and two of them run to 10.
Types of Downton Abbey tour from London
Highclere and Bampton with Oxford or Blenheim
Combined Downton Abbey days set the filming locations next to a second sight, Oxford or Blenheim Palace. A 10-hour version covers the Highclere Castle entry fee and a walk around Oxford, and gives each guest "A copy of Lady Carnarvon's book", as the listing put it; its rating is 4.7 out of 5. The Blenheim Palace pairing comes with palace admission and adds two more Cotswolds villages to Bampton.
Small groups of 16 or fewer
Small-group days to the filming locations carry at most 16 passengers on most tours. One 9-hour group of up to 15 guests, plus a guide and a driver, sees the above-stairs rooms of Highclere Castle with house and garden admission included; reviewers give it 4.8 out of 5.
Coach days with episodes on board
Coach days led by a guide cover Highclere Castle and Bampton, and the ones we cover include castle admission. On a 9-hour version, episodes of Downton Abbey play between locations and fast-track entry gets you into Highclere Castle. A filming-locations day also opens Yew Tree Farm, the Cogges manor house, for a private tour before it opens to the public, and drops off at Victoria Station.
Comparing Downton Abbey tours from London
| Type of tour |
★ |
Duration |
Includes |
| Castle, Bampton and Oxford combo |
4.7 |
~10h |
Highclere Castle entry + Guide + Lady Carnarvon's book |
| Small group of up to 16 |
4.8 |
~9h |
House and gardens admission + Professional guide + Transport |
| Coach day with episodes on board |
4.7 |
~9h |
Highclere Castle entry + Guide + Return transport from London |
For a Downton Abbey day, the decision is mostly about how many people travel with you and whether the castle and Bampton share the day with a second sight. Of the tours shown here, "London: Downton Abbey Tour with Highclere, Bampton & Oxford" leads on reviews with more than 657, rated 4.7 out of 5.
Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.
Tips before your Downton Abbey tour from London
Highclere opens on limited days
As a private family home, Highclere Castle opens to visitors only on a limited number of days each year; on some of the tours we cover, the castle visit takes in rooms featured in the series.
Bampton, the real Downton village
Many village scenes were filmed in Bampton, a Cotswolds village used for the exterior shots of Downton village. Every tour we cover takes in Bampton, and several walk it with a guide.
Downton Abbey tours from London: frequently asked questions
Is Highclere Castle entry included on a Downton Abbey tour from London in 2026?
Yes, five of the six tours we cover include it. The Blenheim Palace pairing includes entry to the palace instead.
Can I see the Highclere Castle gardens on a Downton Abbey tour?
Yes, on two of the tours we cover. The small-group day includes admission to the Highclere house and gardens and leaves time on the estate grounds, and a filming-locations day tours both the castle and its gardens.
Which language are Downton Abbey tours from London guided in?
All of the tours we cover list English as their only guiding language.
