How to See Highclere Castle for FREE – Downton Abbey Filming Location

Did you know that you can see Highclere Castle for free in Hampshire which is the real Downton Abbey filming location? 

Although you do have to pay for tickets to visit the inside, there are plenty of free Highclere Castle walks that you can take around the estate.

This means that Downton fans can easily see the stately home where they filmed Downton Abbey for free.

It’s perfect for when the castle is closed off to the public in the off-season. 

Beyond the house, the land around the estate is gorgeous and provides spectacular views of the Hampshire countryside. 

Plus, there are lots of viewpoints, grottos, lakes, temples, chapels, and follies to enjoy around this 5,000-acre estate too.

So, if you wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Crawleys, here’s how to visit Highclere Castle for free via the Highclere Castle public footpaths.

Highclere Castle history 

The castle was first recorded during the Anglo-Saxon era in 749.

Highclere was in King Offa’s kingdom of Mercia and bordered the expanding Kingdom of Wessex.

At this time, Offa granted the land to the Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham, who built a palace and planned gardens here.

In the 17th-century, the palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House and purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, a direct ancestor of the Earl of Carnarvon.

In 1771, Capability Brown made plans for the alteration of the grounds and the symmetrical Georgian house. 

By 1842, the house was transformed by Sir Charles Barry into Highclere Castle.

Sir Charles Barry also designed the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, and you can easily see some similarities in the architecture.

Something I found interesting was that in 1922, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings .

During WWI, Highclere Castle was converted into a hospital and during WWII it became a safe place for evacuated children from London. 

Today, Highclere Castle is still the ancestral home and seat of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.

But it opens for tours each year, which are very popular due to it featuring in Downton Abbey.

Highclere Castle Downton Abbey filming location

Nowadays, Highclere Castle has risen to fame for being the real Downton Abbey filming location.

In the world-famous ITV period drama series, this house plays the ancestral home of Lord Grantham and the Crawley family, set in Yorkshire.

The inside and outside of the grand residence were used for filming in all six TV series and the subsequent Downton Abbey movies to date. 

It’s an ‘upstairs downstairs’ style show. So, you’ll find the regal family staterooms and the staff quarters inside.

Highclere Castle regularly opens for tours throughout the year, so you can easily step inside Downton Abbey’s world in Hampshire. 

In fact, there are between 250 and 300 rooms in Highclere Castle that you can explore.

Plus, you can check out their Egyptian Exhibition, which celebrates the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb.

How to see Highclere Castle for free

So, of course, you have to pay for a ticket to visit Highclere Castle, which is only open for visitors at certain times of the year. 

As a Downton Abbey filming location, it’s extremely popular and can see over 1,500 visitors each day.

But if you want to see Highclere Castle for free, this is easy, as the Highclere estate has several free public footpaths.

This walk is perfect for Downton Abbey fans who are visiting the UK in the off-season or when the castle is closed off to the public. 

You simply need to park up in the area and walk into Highclere Park along the public footpaths, and you’ll get to see the house.

Where to park for the Highclere Castle walk 

It’s good to note that there is no official parking provided by the estate for the public footpaths. 

There is a car park for Highclere Castle visitors in summer, but you cannot park here unless you have a castle ticket. 

Ergo, you’ll need to ensure you find a safe and legal place to park your car.

As you drive towards the estate, you’ll quickly notice that the roads surrounding Highclere Castle are filled with no parking signs.

The easiest place to park for this walk is at the bottom of Beacon Hill. There is a large free car park there. 

You can first climb up to the top of Beacon Hill, which gives you a great view of Highclere Castle from the viewpoint at the top.

Then, you can head down and easily walk along the A34 Whitway Road until you reach the Highclere Castle estate entrance for the walk.

Alternatively, you can park up in Highclere Village and then access the Highclere Castle public footpaths from there.

Why not have lunch at the Carnarvon Arms?

If you are feeling peckish on your visit, why not visit the Carnarvon Arms?

The pub is just a short walking distance away from the Highclere Castle Estate entrance on the Whitway Road.

It’s a charming pub that has a cosy interior, and its menu has lots of breakfast, brunch, and dinner options.

We stopped in here for some lunch and enjoyed one of their tasty open sandwiches and a pint of local cider before our walk.

We then asked the owners if we could leave our car here whilst we went to see Highclere Castle, and they kindly said yes.

I would always ask before doing so just in case they are busy, but it’s a great alternative and safe place to leave your car.

Entering the Highclere Castle estate grounds

Once you’ve walked down the road to the Highclere Castle estate entrance, walk over the bridge and through a large gateway to access the park. 

There will be lots of no-entry signs if the castle is closed for tourism, but these are for vehicles. 

Pedestrians are allowed to walk here on the Highclere Castle public footpaths and permissive pathways all year.

You must stick to these pathways at all times. The rights of way are very well signposted, so don’t worry about getting lost. 

Of course, this permission is kindly granted by the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon as they still live at the castle.

It can be stopped at any time without notice (for security, events, or special visits), but 99% of the time you’re safe to walk around.

Follow the Highclere Castle walking paths

Once you’re on the estate, you must follow the paved pathways to stay on the Highclere Castle public footpaths.

It’s easy to follow, and there are signs guiding you through. We also met some friendly security guards who were happy to direct us.

It really is a lovely walk as you get to see lots of the wildlife here. There were many sheep grazing, and it was a magnificent estate to explore. 

I visited in January, but I think that spring and summer would be a gorgeous time to visit Highclere Castle.

There’s lots of flora and fauna to see, and it would have been much better weather.

As well as wildlife, there are lots of opportunities to see the real Downton Abbey filming location on the walk.

If you want to explore beyond the Highclere Castle public footpath, there are even more walks on the estate.

How much of Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey can you see on the walk? 

I’m going to be honest with you, it’s not a show-stopping view. Most of the time, you see only parts of the house on this walk.

Near the estate entrance, you can see the top of the castle on top of the park. Then, you can see the side of the house through the trees.

If you want a better view of Downton Abbey, you can head around the public rights of way towards Highclere Village near the Cemetery Chapel. 

Although the castle is far away, you can see a fair bit more of the house from this viewpoint.

There are great views to be had from Beacon Hill all year.

Also, the Wayfarer’s Walk with the Gateway to Heaven folly has an amazing panoramic view of Highclere Castle when it’s open in summer.

Highclere Park Public Walk

There are many acres of land to explore on the Highclere Estate, and most of it has public rights of way. 

There is a map at the estate entrance, which I would recommend taking photos of, which highlights the points of interest on the walking routes.

We took the Highclere Park Public Walk, which was along the Whitway path.

This will take you around Highclere Castle and over to Highclere Village.

This route also took us by the quaint Highclere Castle Cemetery Chapel. Although it is no longer open to the public, it has been very well preserved.

Even more Highclere Castle walks

If you wanted to explore more of the park, there are eight free Highclere Castle walking routes that you can follow to find more attractions.

Most of the public rights of way are connected via the castle, which allows for easy access. 

Note that some of these walks are only open during the summer season.

Regardless, dogs must also be kept on a lead at all times on any of these walks:

• Beacon Hill Public Walk – this has a dedicated car park and is a walk to a viewpoint that’s 261 metres high.

• Old Burghclere Public Footpath – This takes you just outside of the Highclere Estate grounds to the village of Burghclere.

• Milford Lake Summer Walk – A huge walk around the lakeside which will also allow you to see the Temple of Diana, London Lodge and Duns Mere lake. 

• Temple Summer Walk (no dogs allowed) – This will take you around Highclere Castle and over to the Temple of Diana. 

• Grotto Lodge Summer Walk – This is in the south of the estate and accessed via the Wayfarer’s walk. The Highclere Grotto Lodge was designed by Thomas Allom 175 years ago, and it’s now unique accommodation you can stay in.

• Heaven’s Gate Summer Walk – The Highclere Castle Heaven’s Gate is a Grade II listed archway via the Wayfarer’s walk. The folly was built by Robert Herbert in 1737 and renovated in 1997.

Where to stay near Highclere Castle? 

If you were looking for a place to stay the night, I recommend the award-winning Carnarvon Arms.

It’s nestled in the Hampshire countryside just inches away from Highclere Castle, and they have 18 gorgeous boutique rooms.

It makes a great place to stay on a weekend break or as a base to explore more of the area. 

Those travelling with furry family members will be relieved to know that they also have some dog-friendly stays available too.

Visit the Downton village of Bampton next

If you are a fan of Downton Abbey, you may love to know that the village featured in the series is only a one-hour drive from Highclere Castle.

It’s not in Yorkshire but in Bampton, which is a tiny village in Oxfordshire on the fringes of the Cotswolds. 

Here you can visit the outside of Isobel Crawley’s house and the church where Mary and Matthew were married.

There is also The Grantham Arms, Downton Cottage Hospital, and more.

Bampton is a place trapped in time, so you must visit if you’re in the area. You’ll be instantly transported to the regal world of the Crawleys.

Why not book a Downton Abbey Tour?

If you’re visiting the UK on holiday or don’t drive, you may prefer to book a Downton Abbey tour.

This covers Highclere Castle, Bampton village and some more Downton Abbey filming locations. 

There are plenty of trips that leave from London and take you to all these places in one day:

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