Travel to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

July 2020, day trip to Highclere Castle, Hampshire the film location for the hit TV series “Downton Abbey”.
The UK national Covid-19 lockdown had been lifted a week or two before our visit. Highclere have social distancing signs and sanitising stations in place.
We purchased the Adult tickets for the grounds, gardens and main house. We did not purchase the additional ticket for the Egyptian exhibit.
We were lucky to meet Lady Carnarvon on our visit. She greeted visitors to the main house as we entered the hallway.
If time is short, you can do a quick drive by, view and take photos. You can see the house clearly from the car park area. When you arrive you will be asked by the marshals if you have tickets or not.
Travel To Tips:
1. Directions - If driving by car, follow the brown tourist signs when you are nearby to enter via the correct entrance.
2. Parking – Free onsite parking. There are marshals to direct you card park spaces.
3. Queueing – Queues for the main house can be long. There is no seating or covered area so bring an umbrella in case of rain. They sell umbrella’s in the gift shop.
4. Food – There is hot food and afternoon tea available in the Stable Yard buildings. Alternatively, many visitors went back to their cars and enjoyed a picnic, bringing their own tables, chairs and food.
5. Time – Make time to visit the surrounding grounds and gardens. We spent around 4.5hours in total but you can spend longer if you want to take things at a more leisurely pace and enjoy a good meal or picnic.