Highclere Castle
It’s no secret that Highclere Castle, a spectacular Grade I listed country house dating back to the late 17th century, played the role of Downton Abbey through each series, special and movie. The property, set within a sprawling 5,000-acre estate in Hampshire, is open to the public for tours during the summer and on other key dates, such as the festive period and Easter. It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, who oversee the property’s management, which experienced a considerable increase in visitor numbers following the release of the series. Even today, more than a decade since the show’s premiere, several areas of the property are instantly familiar to audiences, from the library to the dining room via the dramatic central hall.
Bampton, Oxfordshire
What viewers came to know as the fictional village of Downton was, in fact, the charming Oxfordshire village of Bampton. This is where many of the series and movies’ village scenes were filmed, featuring exteriors of the church, village streets and local businesses. Nearby villages were also used. Scenes involving Mr Bates and the village pub were filmed in Shilton, while Swinbrook provided locations for additional key moments.
Ealing Studios
While much of Downton Abbey was filmed within Highclere Castle, such a property does present limitations. The kitchen, working areas, the servants’ quarters and some of the ‘upstairs’ bedrooms were all constructed at Ealing Studios, where scenes for the likes of Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones and Notting Hill have all been shot over the years.
The Crawleys’ London home
When the story moved to London, the Crawleys’ residence, Grantham House, was created using two separate locations. The exterior was filmed at Bridgewater House in central London, while many interior scenes were shot at Basildon Park, an 18th-century country house near Reading.
