Day trip

London: Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour

4.8 / 5

66 reviews

Activity provider: International Friends
Day trip

London: Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour

Activity provider: International Friends

From US$ 232.23 per person

Enjoy a full-day trip through the scenic Cotswolds, visiting charming Cogges Manor Farm, Downton village, and Downton Abbey, or Highclere Castle.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 14 days in advance for a full refund
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 1 day
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Immerse yourself in the world of Downton Abbey on a tour of its locations
  • Travel in comfort aboard a minibus to locations inaccessible by larger vehicles
  • Visit Downton Abbey and the gardens before exploring the Egyptian exhibition
  • Get up close to the picturesque Yew Tree Farm and discover Downton Village
  • Enjoy the comfort and convenience of round-trip transportation from London
Full description

Set off on a scenic day trip from London and see some of the highlights of the Cotswolds. Visit filming locations from the show Downton Abbey, discover Highclere Castle, and admire the picturesque countryside in the region on this guided tour.

Head to the Cotswolds countryside and visit some of the filming sites of Downton Abbey. Your first stop is Cogges Manor Farm located on the banks of the River Windrush. Learn of the farm’s role in Downton Abbey as Yew Tree Farm where Lady Edith's daughter Marigold was raised by the Drewe family.

Visit the kitchens and Mr. Drewe’s living room, see the farmyard where many scenes were filmed, and watch a unique and special video about the farm's role in the popular television series. After a coffee break, continue on to the delightful village of Shilton, famous for its shallow ford and used in series two to double as the village of Swinbrook. It was here that Lady Sybil and Tom Branson spent the night on their aborted elopement. Head to Bampton to see St Mary's Church, the scene of so many weddings and a funeral or two. During your guided walk, take in sites of interest including the cottage hospital, Mrs. Crawley's house, the village green, the post office, Mrs. Patmore’s bed and breakfast, and The Grantham Arms pub. Next, make your way southwards from the Cotswolds to the chalk down land of Hampshire, home to magnificent Highclere Castle, known to many as Lord Grantham's family seat, Downton Abbey itself. Discover familiar locations both inside the castle and out. See where O’Brien tripped up Bates, where Kemal Pamuk’s body was moved, and the dining room where delicious dialogue was served up with decadent food. Visit Robert Crawley’s library and the various bedrooms, and walk down the grand staircase.

Enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants here, before heading into the beautiful grounds. In the basement, there is a special Egyptology exhibition, thanks to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and his excavations in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

Spend around three hours in Highclere Castle and its grounds before returning back to London.

Includes
  • Round-trip transportation by tour bus or van
  • Tour guide
  • Visit to Cogges Manor Farm, Highclere Castle, and other Downton Abbey filming locations
  • Food
  • Tips

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Please wait at Bus Stop GV on Cromwell Road (Ashburn Gardens Stop). The nearest tube station is on Gloucester Road. Look for the International Friends tour bus.

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Important information

Know before you go

  • Depending on the castle entry time, the itinerary may be reversed
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 66 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Transportation
    4.7/5
  • Service
    4.3/5
  • Organization
    5/5

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Our Downton Abbey Tour was one of the highlights of our trip to England. Small group tours are the way to go! Our tour guide was friendly and informative and the other people on our tour were lovely. Cogges Farm was surprisingly interesting and our visit to the town of Bampton brought back memories of many key scenes in the Downton series. Highclere Castle was delightful. We loved walking through the same rooms inhabited by our favorite characters and descending the beautiful main staircase. We ate lunch outside and strolled through the beautiful gardens. It was a beautiful, memorable day.

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March 28, 2023

The day was excellent, great sceneries and the Cotswolds are a gift! Unfortunately, we had to wait 45 minutes to be picked up in the morning. There was a misunderstanding somewhere along the way... I booked with Get Your Guide but the tour was offered by International Friends. There was a disconnect and without calling the tour guide 3x, we would still be waiting...

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March 28, 2023

This was the absolute best tour we did on our trip to London. Amber was a wonderful guide and kept the group informed and on time throughout the day. We saw many locations used in the filming of Downton Abbey; in addition to Highclere Castle which was the highlight of the day. There was some downtime at the castle where we enjoyed a snack and the gin cocktail bar. The bus ride was fun as well, with Amber involving the group in trivia challenges, etc. We highly recommend this tour.

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March 28, 2023

Product ID: 123059