Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London: Highclere Castle
The church, the hospital, and Matthew Crawley's house are real places you walk past, not sets.
A 9-hour private tour from London that visits the Oxfordshire villages where Downton Abbey was filmed, then drives 40 miles to Highclere Castle itself. Your guide explains the show's locations and the castle's history as you move through rooms where scenes were shot. Hotel pickup is included. Highclere Castle entry tickets are booked separately and vary in price.
Step-by-step itinerary
Downton Abbey filming locations tour
- Hotel pickup in Central London
- Drive through London to Oxfordshire countryside
- Visit Downton village filming locations
- Walk through hospital entrance
- Visit church for weddings and funerals
- Walk by the post office
- Visit secret Cotswolds villages from series
- Stop for lunch at English pub (own expense)
- Arrive at Highclere Castle
- Guided tour of Highclere Castle and history
- Bampton 2h
- Cotswolds 2h
- Highclere Castle 2h
What’s included
- Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- hotel pickup from Central London.
- a private guide in English.
- bottled water.
- Every day except Friday and Saturday 08:30
Information
Visit Downton Abbey filming locations in Oxfordshire villages and Highclere Castle on a 9-hour private tour from London with an expert guide.
Compare the 3 alternatives
Traveler reviews
The experience
The tour starts with pickup from your Central London hotel, then heads out into the Oxfordshire countryside where the village scenes were filmed. You'll walk past Matthew Crawley's house, the hospital where characters recovered, the church where weddings and funerals took place, and the two village pubs that became Downton's social hub. The guide points out locations as you move through the actual streets, not reconstructions: the post office, the shops, the corners where scenes unfolded. There are more stops than the operator lists, kept as surprises.
After the villages, the route crosses into the wider Cotswolds to show other locations that appeared in the series before heading toward Highclere Castle. This leg takes around 50 minutes and covers 40 miles. You'll stop at a traditional English pub for lunch (at your own expense) before arriving at the castle in the afternoon. The guide briefs you on what you're about to see before you enter.
At Highclere Castle, your guide walks you through the rooms where Lord and Lady Grantham's scenes were shot, explaining both the castle's actual history and its role in the show. The castle is not open year-round, so booking entry tickets in advance is essential: the operator suggests the 10:30am or 2:30pm slots. If the castle is closed on your chosen date, the tour pivots to visiting additional Downton villages and Cotswolds locations instead. The whole day runs 9 hours. Transport is air-conditioned, bottled water is provided, and the vehicle holds a maximum of six passengers.
Top questions
What are the actual Downton Abbey filming locations I'll see on this tour?
The tour visits the Oxfordshire villages where exterior scenes were filmed, including Matthew Crawley's house, the hospital, the church used for weddings and funerals, and the two village pubs. You also see other Cotswolds villages that appeared in the series, then visit Highclere Castle itself, where interior scenes of the Grantham home were shot.
Is Highclere Castle entry included, or do I need to buy a ticket separately?
Highclere Castle entry is not included in the tour price. You book your own ticket in advance (prices range from £25 to £145 depending on the type), and the operator suggests choosing either the 10:30am or 2:30pm time slot. If the castle is closed on your date, the tour visits additional villages instead.
How long does the drive from the villages to Highclere Castle take?
The drive from the last Cotswolds village to Highclere Castle takes around 50 minutes and covers 40 miles. You'll stop for lunch at a traditional English pub along the way, at your own expense.
What's included in the tour price?
The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a private guide who speaks English, hotel pickup from Central London, and bottled water. Lunch, Highclere Castle entry, and gratuities are not included.
When is this tour available?
The tour operates only at certain times of the year, so early booking is essential. Availability depends partly on Highclere Castle's opening schedule, which varies seasonally. Check the castle's website before booking.
How many people can go on this tour?
The vehicle holds a maximum of six passengers, and your guide is private to your group.
Operated by See More Taxi Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 12 days ago
Downton Abbey and Castle Taxi Tour from London: Highclere Castle
9h · EN · at your hotel
from £ 959 per group
≈ US$ 1,290 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.