Highclere Castle in Hampshire, the iconic filming location for the hit ITV series Downton Abbey, is a magnificent 184-year-old castle that has captured the hearts of millions. The castle, which has between 200 and 300 rooms and covers approximately 100,000 square feet, served as the fictional home of the Crawley family throughout the show's six-season run from 2010 to 2015, as well as in the subsequent films released in 2019 and 2022.
The Perfect Setting for a Period Drama
Creator Julian Fellowes, a close friend of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, chose Highclere Castle as the setting for Downton Abbey because he wanted a house that reflected the confidence and power of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain. The castle's Great Hall became one of the most recognisable locations in the series, while the Library was used as Lord Grantham's study for many family discussions. The Dining Room also appeared regularly as the setting for formal dinners. Several of the upstairs bedrooms seen on screen were real rooms inside the castle.
However, not everything viewers saw was filmed at Highclere. The kitchens and servants' quarters were created on studio sets at Ealing Studios in London because the real basement areas had been modernised and no longer matched the Edwardian period portrayed in the drama.
A Rich History
The castle itself has a fascinating history. Although a manor house stood on the site for centuries, the building visitors see today was completed in 1842. The 3rd Earl of Carnarvon commissioned architect Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament in London, to transform the previous Georgian mansion into a Victorian castle. Today, the castle sits within a 5,000-acre estate featuring 1,000 acres of parkland designed by landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown.
Highclere Castle offers different tours throughout the year, and most of them require visitors to pre-book. The castle itself has between 200 and 300 rooms and covers around 100,000 square feet.
The Legacy of Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey first aired on ITV on September 26, 2010. The historical drama, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes, ran for 52 episodes across six series and five Christmas specials. Set between 1912 and 1925, it follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants.
The series became one of the most successful British costume dramas ever made. It won a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award and was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011. Downton Abbey currently holds a 92% critics score and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
One reviewer said: "Greatest British series ever made. It's enjoyable from start to finish, including The Grand Finale." Another added: "Nothing will ever come close to Downton Abbey. Such a great show." A third wrote: "Masterpiece. Nothing else to add."
Downton Abbey can be streamed on ITVx and Netflix. Anyone planning on visiting Highclere Castle can find more information on its official website.
