Highclere Castle is the real-life Downton Abbey, the house where the TV series and films were shot, and yes, you can visit it yourself. It opens to the public for a few weeks each summer (roughly mid-July to early September), when you can tour the same State Rooms that appear as the Crawley family’s home on screen, see the Egyptian Exhibition downstairs, and explore the gardens and grounds. We’ve visited twice, once during the regular summer opening and once for a private event day, and took all the photos in this guide. However, Highclere Castle, the family seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, has a dramatic history of its own that rivals the fictional stories of the TV series and movies. The current Earl’s family has been living on the estate since 1679. The Carnarvon family has been involved in the founding of Canada, the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb… Read the rest
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