If you’ve followed the Crawley family closely over the years, you may think you know Downton Abbey like the back of your hand.

But visiting the Downton Abbey filming locations will show you otherwise.

While the centuries-old buildings and pretty landscapes are just as charming as they are on screen, a number of different villages, manor houses, and castles were used throughout the six seasons and two movies.

Here’s where you can find some of the most popular Downton Abbey filming locations in England and Scotland.

Image Credit and Location: Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England, UK

The down-low on Downton Abbey

Everything you need to know about the fictional Downton Abbey and where to find its real-life filming locations.

Is Downton Abbey a real place?

No, Downton Abbey is not a real place. But that’s just the bad news. The good news is that the Downton Abbey castle in England is a real castle in Great Britain. It’s called Highclere Castle, and like the popular Windsor Castle, it’s an easy day trip from London.

Where is Downton Abbey?

Downton Abbey exists only in our hearts, in our minds, and on streaming services, but the castle itself doesn’t. What’s the location of Downton Abbey castle? Highclere Castle, the filming location for Downton Abbey and country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, is located in Highclere Park, southwest of Newbury. Take the train from London Paddington to Newbury and you’ll be there in an hour.

Can I take a Downton Abbey tour?

Yes, there are loads of Downton Abbey tours available from a variety of tour companies. Some offer full-on Downton Abbey filming locations tours. Other Downton Abbey tours are site specific, such as guided tours of the Downton Abbey castle in England, Highclere Castle.

Where was Downton Abbey filmed?

Downton Abbey stretched for six seasons and two movies, so it’s gone far beyond the confines of Highclere Castle. It was filmed across Great Britain in places like Yorkshire, Bampton Village in Oxfordshire, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, and Lincolnshire.

Monk's Garden in Highclere Castle

Image Credit: Adam Hillier. Image Location: Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England, UK

Downton Abbey filming locations

We cordially invite you to visit these Downton Abbey filming locations, including the village that doubled as Downton.

Alnwick Castle

Nearest station: Alnmouth

Alnwick Castle is pretty magical: it was used as a Downton Abbey filming location for the Christmas specials (and was the Hogwarts castle for the first two Harry Potter films). You can tour "Brancaster Castle" and experience its grounds, courtyard, state rooms, stables, and more.

Inveraray Castle

Nearest station: Arrochar & Tarbet

Duneagle Castle should ring a bell if you rewatch the Christmas specials each year. The fact: it is a real castle in Scotland. The fiction: the MacClares don’t live there. Inveraray Castle is actually the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. The Clan Campbell still lives there, but visitors are welcome to tour limited areas of this regal home.

Lincoln Castle

Nearest station: Lincoln

Lincoln is no stranger to filming; Napoleon was one of the latest features getting Lincoln Cathedral on the big screen. Downton Abbey also filmed across the street at Lincoln Castle. This Downton Abbey filming location stood in for York Prison; similarly, Lincoln Castle acted as a prison in the 1800s. Feel free to visit and check out one of the original copies of the Magna Carta.

Image Credit: Getty Images, jgshields. Image Location: Inveraray Castle, Scotland, UK

Wentworth Woodhouse

Nearest station: Rotherham Central

Take one look at the Wentworth Woodhouse’s long, grand façade and you’d think it was the perfect establishing shot for a film. Well, not for Downton Abbey’s film. The crew actually filmed inside its ballroom for the grand ball scenes at Princess Mary’s home. The number 7 bus will get you from Rotherham's train station to the village of Wentworth in 15-20 minutes.

Harewood House

Nearest stations: Leeds | Harrogate

While Wentworth Woodhouse’s ballroom had the interior covered for the Downton Abbey film, the Harewood House teamed up with the 18th-century South Yorkshire property to portray its exterior. Also built in the 18th century, Harewood House acted as the face of Princess Mary’s country home. You can catch the number 36 bus from Leeds or Harrogate to the village of Harewood (buses every 15 mins Mon-Sat), followed by a 20 min stroll through the grounds to the house.

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North

Nearest station: Chester-le-Street

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, is quite the convenient filming location for Downton Abbey and countless other period pieces. This open-air museum already features Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian architecture and hallmarks, with actors dressed in the threads of the time offering an immersive stroll into the past. From Chester-le-Street, you can reach the museum on buses 28 or 29 in under 25 minutes.

Bampton Village

Nearest station: Oxford

The village of Downton is not a real place in England, but you can visit its Downton Abbey filming location: Bampton Village. Walk through the small village (also known as Bampton-in-the-Bush) and you’ll recognize many locations from throughout the series, including St Mary's Church, setting for the show's St Michael and All Angels Church. Get there in 40 minutes by taxi from Oxford.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Martyn Ferry. Image Location: St Mary's Church, Bampton, Oxfordshire, England

Lacock Village

Nearest station: Chippenham

Like the village of Bampton, Lacock Village’s streets lined with stone buildings made it the perfect place to film the royal parade for the Downton Abbey movie. This village in the Cotswolds was also a Downton Abbey filming location in the series, most notably, as a livestock market in the final season. The X34 bus from Chippenham will get you there in around 25 mins.

Cogges Manor Farm

Nearest station: Oxford

The Drewe family’s Yew Tree Farm is a true historic farm in Oxfordshire. Cogges Manor Farm’s property features buildings from the 13th and 17th centuries. You’re welcome to tour the farm and feed the animals. Perhaps even raise an illegitimate child? You'll find the farm just outside Whitney in Oxfordshire. Get there on the S1 bus from Oxford in around 40 mins.

Travel in style

Fancy a royal trip through England scoping out filming locations for other period pieces? Download the Trainline app and plot your route through the UK to these regal spots:

Header Image Credit and Location: Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England, UK

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