Downton Abbey is always at the top of the list of things to do in the UK if you’re a fan of the TV series. However, even if you’ve never seen an episode of the show in your life, you’re sure to find it fascinating.

After all, it has a rich history that can easily rival the series. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, we highly recommend going on a proper tour.

These tours will tell you all about the history of the area, and show you the hidden gems you may not notice on your own. We know you’re eager to get started, so without further ado, here are the top tours of Downton Abbey.

Best Downton Abbey Tours

	Small Group Tour: Downton Abbey and Village Tour of Locations from London	From London: Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour	Private Downton Abbey with Castle Taxi Tour
	Best Small-Group Tour	Best Value Tour	Best Private Tour
Departure:	Gloucester Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4SF	Gloucester Road Underground Station	Hotel pickup and drop-off available
Departure Time:	9:00 am	Check with tour operator	8:30 am
Duration:	9 hours	9 hours	9 hours
Includes:	Local guide, live commentary on board, entry to Highclere Castle, transport by Mini Coach	Guide, round-trip transportation from London, entrance fees to Highclere Castle	Bottled water, private transportation, private guide, air-conditioned vehicle
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Downton Abbey Tours For 2024

1. Small Group Tour: Downton Abbey and Village Tour of Locations from London
2. From London: Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour
3. Private Downton Abbey with Castle Taxi Tour
4. London: Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour
5. Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London

Be sure to see our reviews of Buckingham Palace tours, Windsor Castle tours and Thames River cruises.

Downton Abbey Tour Reviews

1. Small Group Tour: Downton Abbey and Village Tour of Locations from London

This is yet another we absolutely loved, and draws many similarities to the previous tour. The Small Group Tour: Downton Abbey and Village Tour of Locations from London will have you taking the footsteps of Lady Mary Crawley on this full-day tour.

Covering many important locations, you’ll not only hear historical accounts but anecdotes about filming and the series. We would’ve liked that this tour included a hotel pickup, but you’ll instead be meeting your guide at the Gloucester Road tube station.

Your guide will wait for you at the station exit right outside Flowers Inc. at 9:00 am so you have the full day to explore. You’ll be transported by a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with a separate guide and driver rather than a 2-in-1.

The journey to Oxfordshire is quite beautiful, and your guide offers interesting commentary along the way to make it more entertaining. If you’ve ever wanted to explore more of the English countryside, this is a great way to see charming little villages and rolling hills.

Before you know it, you and your group will be arriving in the wonderful Cotswolds village which served as “Downton”. Just like with the others, you’ll have time to explore the former home of Matthew Crawley, Downton Cottage Hospital, and various other buildings.

Along the way, your guide will share anecdotes about filming and the actors along with genuine historical information about these spots. You won’t be able to get this experience anywhere else!

Take advantage of the free time you’ll have here before heading over to Highclere Castle, which itself boasts an over 1000-year history! Your guide will fill you in on some of the most important events that have taken place here during that time.

Serving as the Crawley’s family home in the series, you’ll also get to see inside and outside to take some photos. The above-stairs and below-stairs rooms are quite the contrast, and you’ll learn all about them through a self-guided pamphlet.

At this time, you can choose to grab a coffee at the castle or a light lunch. The grounds are stunning and perfect for enjoying your lunch on.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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2. From London: Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour

Let’s kick things off with the From London: Downton Abbey and Village Coach Tour. If you’re really looking to immerse yourself in this world, this is one of the most popular tours for doing so.

This 9-hour adventure will take you on a comprehensive tour of Bampton, with a skip-the-line to the legendary Highclere Castle, and learn about the series itself.

Start out by meeting your guide at Gloucester Road Underground Station, and they’ll be waiting next to the station exit. You’ll then hop onto a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and head straight towards the charming village of Bampton, located in Oxfordshire.

As you journey there, your guide will offer an educational commentary and give a briefing as to what you can expect. Once you get to Bampton, you’ll hop out and start your guided walking tour around the village marked by iconic spots seen in the series.

If you’re familiar with the series, you’ll surely recognize the post office and the house where Matthew Crawley lived before moving to the abbey.

Continue on to Highclere Castle, where you’ll be allotted around 3 hours of time you can use at your own leisure to explore the grounds. To help find your way around, there are maps detailing where to go so you can plan according to what interests you most.

After that, you’ll be able to either grab some lunch at the castle or find some unique souvenirs for yourself or those who weren’t able to go with you. Thanks to the professionalism and exceptional organization of the tour guides, you’ll be able to check out pretty much everything you could ever want to!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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3. Private Downton Abbey with Castle Taxi Tour

Perhaps you want to go all out and have your own private tour and tour guide handy! If so, then check out the highly-rated Private Downton Abbey with Castle Taxi Tour!

This 9-hour tour is similar to the previous one, but you’ll receive a more insider look about the show and will see more due to the small group size and exclusivity.

Hotel pickup is included, so make sure you’re ready at your hotel lobby by 8:30 am! Drive through London in the adorable car and head out to the Oxfordshire countryside which is absolutely beautiful.

Visit various villages which Downton is made up of, such as the charming Bampton. Offering plenty of time to take photos outside Matthew Crawley’s house, hospital, and a couple village pubs (along with other gems), you’ll have a blast.

Along the way, your guide will offer interesting commentary on where they are in the show and their importance, culturally.

There are staff waiting to tell you all about the insider info on filming, and other interesting anecdotes. Make your way to various other villages, which remain a secret so you’re surprised when you do see them.

After this, you’ll head out to the infamous Highclere Castle which will be a bit less than an hour of driving. Along the way, you’ll stop at a traditional English Pub for some delicious lunch and beverages so refuel.

Then, you’ll arrive to Highclere Castle, where your guide will tell you all about its fascinating history and the Downton Locations before seeing the rooms. Later on, you’ll be able to drink a delicious cream tea before hopping on the bus.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. London: Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour

Maybe the other tours sound enticing to you, but you really want to experience as much as you possibly can of the area. If so, then the London Downton Abbey, Cotswolds, and Highclere Castle Tour is just for you.

This full-day tour will take you through the gorgeous Cotswolds, visiting iconic spots like the Cogges Manor Farm, Downton Village, Downton Abbey, or Highclere Castle.

Start off the tour by being picked up at your hotel by luxury mini-coach. With a small-group of a maximum of 18 people, you’ll have the guide’s full attention and be able to see more. Should you have any questions, you can feel free to ask your guide and feel confident they’ll answer you.

Along the way, you’ll stop at Yew Tree Farm where you’ll explore many film sites used throughout the series. Head further to the Swan Inn located in Swinbrook, which fans of the series will all know quite well, due to its controversy within the show.

Next, make your way to Shilton: a beautiful Cotswolds village that larger coaches and tours aren’t able to access. This is yet another benefit of taking a small group tour!

Before making that quick journey to Bampton, you’ll be able to see the old stone footbridge, duck pond, and old pump and well. These are great for snapping some photos and videos of before heading back into the coach.

Then, make your way a bit further down to “Downton Village” and see Highsclere Castle. This castle is usually the highlight of the tour, and with its incredibly intricate architecture and significance in the series, it’s no wonder why. Before stepping inside, make sure to appreciate the beautiful gardens and grounds outside.

Once inside, you’ll take a thorough, guided tour of each of the lavish rooms and even explore the Egypt exhibition.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London

Last but certainly not least, we bring you the Downton Abbey and Village Small Group Tour from London. Like most others on our guide, this tour also clocks in at 9 hours full of sightseeing and learning about the history and relation to the series of the area.

Thanks to the small group size, you’ll be able to see and learn more as there are many places you’ll see that larger coaches aren’t able to access.

Meet your guide at the Gloucester Road Tube, “the tube” station next to the station exit outside Flowers Inc. Make sure you’ve brought along some comfortable walking shoes, because you’ll be doing quite a bit of that on this tour!

Hop into your air-conditioned vehicle for the day and head straight through the beautiful English countryside to Oxfordshire. Along the way, you’ll make stops in various villages that have been featured in the series. The guided tour of Downton Hospital, the village pub, the former home of Matthew Crawley, and the local church.

Your guide will give you plenty of leisure time to explore at your own pace, taking photos along the way. Then, head onto the star of the show: Highclere Castle, which you’ll learn about on the way so you have some knowledge about it before arriving.

In “real life”, this castle has been around for over a whopping thousand years, and has understandably quite the background.

The history isn’t always a pleasant one, but fascinating, nonetheless. Your guide will also tell you about its use in Downton Abbey, considering its perhaps the most important building in the entire series. After, grab lunch at Highclere Castle and enjoy it while sitting on the beautiful grounds.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Downton Abbey Show Locations

Downton Abbey is a British TV show set in a fictional country estate of Downton Abbey. Many of these locations are featured in our tour reviews. The main locations on the show are:

1. Downton Abbey: This is the main shooting location of the show. It is a large estate owned by the Crawley family that includes the main house, gardens and farmland.
2. The Village: The village near Downton Abbey is where many of the estate’s employees live and it includes a post office, a pub and a church.
3. London: The show has several locations in London that include Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Savoy Hotel.
4. York: In the later seasons of the show, the city of York is featured prominently. York is a walled city in north England and has several landmarks such as the York Minster Cathedral.
5. Haxby Park: This is a neighboring estate that is owned by a wealthy businessman named Sir Anthony Strallan. Several characters from Downton Abbey visit Haxby Park throughout the series.
6. The Grand Hotel in Liverpool: Lady Mary and Lady Edith stay at this hotel in season five when they attend a conference.
7. Highclere Castle: The main filming location for Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle which is a real-life estate located in Hampshire England.
8. Edinburgh: In season three, the Crawley family visits Edinburgh the capital city of Scotland. It’s known for its historic architecture that includes Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile.
9. Ripon Cathedral: Ripon Cathedral is a historic cathedral located in the North Yorkshire city of Ripon. In the show, it is used as the setting for a wedding