Indulge In Luxury And History With These Different, Downton Abbey-inspired English Estates

Published on September 10, 2025

Fans of Downton Abbey can’t defy nan charm of expansive state estates. With Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arriving successful theatres this month, galore visitors to nan UK want to measurement into nan world of lords, ladies, and expansive manors. Luckily, respective historical English estates are fresh to whisk travellers backmost successful time. Guests tin stroll done general gardens, observe lavish authorities rooms, and consciousness nan opulence that erstwhile defined nan English precocious class. From rolling parkland to cautiously dressed up rooms, these 8 unthinkable estates present a Downton Abbey acquisition fresh for immoderate visitant eager to observe nan country’s fascinating history.

Highclere Castle – Hampshire

Highclere Castle successful Hampshire stands arsenic nan real-life Downton Abbey and remains an absolute must-see for fans. As nan main filming location for nan show, nan property draws visitors eager to rotation nan aforesaid expansive hallways arsenic nan Earl and Lady Grantham. Inside, look for nan stunning eating room, wherever you tin almost perceive nan meal bell, and nan staggering room piled precocious pinch aged books. Each room pulls you deeper into nan plush world of British nobility.

Step outside, and nan rolling gardens await you. Designed by nan celebrated Capability Brown, nan grounds are perfect for a stroll while enjoying perfectly manicured lawns and ancient trees. The castle’s guides stock captivating stories astir nan existent family that lives here, filling you successful connected hundreds of years of lore and legends. The property opens its doors to nan nationalist for a constricted play each year, truthful you’ll want to cheque nan dates. Guided tours and seasonal events tally passim nan summertime months, giving fans an unforgettable look astatine nan castle’s stunning architecture and rich | history.

Belvoir Castle – Leicestershire

Set successful nan rolling hills of Leicestershire, Belvoir Castle sparkles for illustration a real-life Downton Abbey. The infinitesimal you arrive, nan blend of fairy-tale towers and perfectly landscaped gardens promises a sensation of royal living. As nan residence of nan Duke and Duchess of Rutland, nan castle reveals lavish rooms—don’t miss nan elaborately carved ballroom and nan fabulous eating room. With interactive guides, you’ll besides unlock hundreds of years of Rutland family stories.

Outside, nan Duchess’s Garden invites you to stroll exquisite paths dotted pinch colourful roses. Guided castle and plot tours are popular, and nan property hosts seasonal events for illustration plot parties and festive markets.

Chatsworth House – Derbyshire

Just a thrust deeper into England’s countryside, Chatsworth House is nan very meaning of “aristocratic living.” The location of nan Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth features immoderate of nan astir breathtaking rooms you’ll ever see. Think glowing silk wall coverings, monolithic lipid paintings, and ancient furnishings packed pinch history.

Wander nan estate’s immense gardens to observe ornamental lakes, a expansive cascade, and a hedge maze worthy of an adventure. Whether you take a guided property circuit aliases research astatine your ain pace, Chatsworth invites you to rotation done a real-life play play you wish you could measurement into.

The sprawling property is wrapped by much than a 100 acres of gardens wherever ornate fountains and creation pieces dot nan pathways. When you sojourn Chatsworth House, you tin drawback a assortment of typical events, from open-air plays to seasonal festivals, making it an easy extremity for anyone craving some civilization and a stroll.

Downton Abbey: The Real-Life Location – Bampton, Oxfordshire

Though Highclere Castle steals nan spotlight arsenic nan main group for Downton Abbey, nan picture-perfect colony of Bampton fills successful galore of nan outdoor scenes. The cobbled colony stood successful for various locations, and St. Mary’s Church is nan mounting for a number of cardinal moments. Visitors tin roam nan constrictive lanes, respect quaint cottages, and popular into nan religion to threat a changeable successful nan aforesaid pews nan Crawleys did. Bampton gives dedicated fans a behind-the-scenes consciousness and nan chance to stroll precisely wherever nan actors erstwhile did.

Hatfield House – Hertfordshire

Just extracurricular London, Hatfield House invites you to measurement backmost into nan era of Tudor and Jacobean grandeur. This stately manor boasts striking red-brick façades and ornate chimneys, giving it each nan fairy-tale look you’d expect. Inside, nan Long Gallery’s artwork and carved oak splendour speak to nan Cecil family’s ancient pedigree, while nan Great Hall listens for illustration an aged friend. Don’t miss nan family’s singular queue of portraits. Stroll into nan 42-acre gardens, too, wherever exquisite knot gardens and soaring cedar trees supply a serene pause. Hatfield welcomes you year-round, hosting seasonal specials for illustration guided plot rambles and friendly exhibitions that uncover behind-the-scenes.

Cliveden House – Berkshire

In Berkshire, Cliveden House radiates luxurious history for illustration a Bacchanalian trove of stories. This stunning edifice primitively entertained Britain’s grandest aristocrats, including nan Astors, and has hosted scintillating events, from royal visits to moreover nan inheritance Unite into him scandal. Step wrong to revel successful sparkling ballrooms, lukewarm oak lounges, and stately staircases that often swish hush-full smiles to guests. Exterior beauty rivals nan wrong treat, courtesy of nan magnificent Parterre garden, pinch perfectly clipped hedges and vibrant floral patterns, crowned by an 18th-century temple that casts a myth-like elegance complete nan Thames.

Cliveden House invites you to measurement into your very ain Downton Abbey moment, while still having each modern comfortableness conscionable a button-press away. You’ll drift from marble-floored halls to a sumptuous bedroom, cocktail successful hand, successful nan aforesaid activity you would rotation into nan adjacent scene.

Syon Park – London

Just a short thrust from cardinal London, Syon Park is wherever nan existent Duke of Northumberland still hangs his hat, and he’s not awkward astir sharing nan view. You rotation nan aforesaid richly dressed up rooms wherever family portraits present you to hundreds of years of aristocratic banter, each while soft earthy ray spills onto priceless antiques. Step extracurricular and nan 16th-century gardens—blankets of green, sweeping hedges, and still waters—encourage postcard-perfect moments aliases lazy plot strolls successful betwixt specially themed outpouring and summertime events.

Warwick Castle – Warwickshire

Warwick Castle is for illustration stepping into a storybook, but you consciousness for illustration you ain nan story. Keep your smartphone handy, because nan ramparts, moats, and haunting towers of this 1,000-year-old wall are nan aforesaid shape wherever royals planned wars, ballrooms, and everything successful between. You’ll stroll from nan Great Hall, spot ancient array settings still displayed arsenic royal oculus candy, to nan towers wherever nan position is some thrilling and wholly medieval. History is nan show, and yes, there’s still Wi-Fi.

The property has tons of family-friendly fun—from hands-on exhibitions and reenactments to outdoor activities. You tin dive correct into history and observe what regular life was really for illustration successful medieval England.

Conclusion: Your Own Downton Abbey Experience Across England

If you dream of seeing England’s expansive state houses and residences for illustration those successful Downton Abbey, these 8 destinations make it easy. Marvel astatine celebrated estates for illustration Chatsworth House and Belvoir Castle, past stroll nan charming streets of Bampton, nan filming village. Each spot will carrier you into nan world of British nobility, giving you memories you’ll treasure.