bluestar

TPAYT - the ticket info page you mentioned above has been updated as of today. You need to look at it.

https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk/admission-tickets

TPAYT

bluestar--thanks for the heads up.

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#555555>"it's a film set for crying out loud"</font></i>

And so is Rome, Paris, and New York City, and lord knows, there are plenty of people who enjoy seeing these things in person.

I'm sure the owners of Highclere sincerely appreciate their fans. It take a ton of money to keep these special places alive.

<i><font color=#555555>"I'm a Newsroom fan"</font></i>

That bloviating spectacle of lonely, romance-starved characters, blabbering political platitudes, each sounding like Aaron Sorkin's mouthpiece? What awful taste in primetime drama, otherwise known as a soap opera in the evening. LOL.

I seem to recall there were private paid tours to the set of "West Wing," back in the day. I think you had to know someone to get on that unadvertised list.

<i><font color=#555555>"flanneruk: The tone of your posts here have been quite condescending."</font></i>

Some things never change around here.

Cathinjoetown

TPAYT,

Highclere has its own real history which includes the King Tut connection so a win-win imo.

One reason why I suggested your read all tour descriptions carefully is, while nice to see the rooms used in Downton, it would be better to have the full tour of the castle. It may be that they are one in the same.

"Below stairs" Downton is filmed at a studio.

Dukey1

What I would LOVE to see are all those supposed upstairs..and I mean waaaaaaay UPstairs rooms at Highclere that are reported to be close to being in total ruins.

This TV show must have been like manna from heaven for the owners.

lovs2travel

We recently visited Highclere Castle and really enjoyed it. I didn’t think that the house was just geared toward Downton Abbey at all. There are laminated cards that indicate “Lady Cora’s room”, etc., as well as cards explaining each of the rooms. You will definitely recognize the rooms and furniture from the show. It was not a formal tour, but a self-guided tour with knowledgeable docents to answer questions.

Be sure to book your tickets ahead of time! Don’t chance it by waiting until the day of your visit. The website says summer tickets go on sale in February. I bought our September 11th tickets on February 2nd. https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk/admission-tickets

Although we didn’t take public transportation, it sounds like that is the way to go. You could buy Anytime tickets for flexibility. Try to get there at opening time. As time went by, more and more tour buses pulled up. The grounds are pretty and there is a small café. I wouldn’t pay the additional amount for the Egyptian exhibit. The British Museum has an awesome exhibit and it is free!

I watched the PBS Secrets of Highclere Castle prior to our trip and it gave the visit depth. It looks like it is going to be shown again in January. If your granddaughter is a fan of the show, she will love her visit.
http://pressroom.pbs.org/Programs/s/...RE-CASTLE.aspx

indy_dad

Fellow ex-pats visited as part of one of their last whirlwind weekends. They also note that they needed to purchase tickets well ahead of time.

Towards the end of this post:
http://theunlikelyexpats.blogspot.co...1_archive.html

Rumseydog

Note that according to the Highclere Web site (March 21, 2014), tickets for the 2014 pubic opening season are already sold out!

knoxvillecouple

And equally important to the OP, the castle is not open to the public in June in any case. "Those in the know" (rabid fans in my family) say that that's when filming is taking place.

latedaytraveler

Hi Tulips,

You wrote: “Does anyone visit Highclere for the Egyptian exhibition, or is it all about Downton now?”

Not sure if your question was answered. However, I just read LADY ALMINA and the REAL DOWNTON ABBEY, The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona, present Countess of Carnarvon.

The account focuses on Almina (“natural” daughter of Alfred de Rothchild) who operated a hospital on the estate during WWI, and her husband the 5th Earl of Carnavron, a devoted Egyptologist whose team discovered King Tut’s tomb in the 1920s. Contains several photos of the "downstairs" staff about the same size as that on the show. Fascinating read.

Susan001, great defense of those of us who enjoy the series…

Dukey1

Who said Flanner was Violet's nephew?????

susan001

Well, looks like I won't be seeing Highclere!! Just went into the site: they are completely sold out for 2014 season! The last time I checked, tickets had not gone on sale yet. I just got busy with life and forgot to check back until now. The day I had planned to visit is completely closed to the public, and all other days are sold out!!

I planned much of my trip around possible opening dates of Highclere. Such irony. I've just contacted a couple of sources in the UK. All is not lost -- yet.

latedaytraveler: A friend gave me that book as a birthday gift. I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Glad you enjoyed it.

Rumseydog

Don't be put off that reserved tickets to Highclere are "sold out". When we were in England during the first week of May 2014, we too had known that online reserved tickets were sold out for the year (see my March 21 post above), but decided to stop by anyway since Highclere was just off our route to Winchester. Low and behold, the parking attendant didn't even ask if we had reserved tickets, and there was a separate queue for walk-up ticket purchases. I expect they don't publish this fact as there probably are times when they are just too crowded. We were there on a Monday and the parking lot way maybe half-full.

ChristaJocelyn1

My advice to you is that you can avail the services of National Express coaches. These coach leave London Victoria and Newbury on regular basis. You can also avail the services of train and there is good service from London, Paddington, to Newbury. You can find taxi from Newbury Station to reach Highclere Castle.Taxi from Newbury station to Highclere castle will take around 15 minutes and it's cost is roughly £16 one way per taxi and you can afford this price.