The Ultimate Downton Abbey Filming Location Guide: 15+ Real-Life Castles, Villages, And Mansions

Step into the world of the Crawley family with this comprehensive and up-to-date guide to every major *Downton Abbey* filming location, covering the original TV series, the two blockbuster films, and even a peek at the upcoming grand finale. As of today, December 18, 2025, the magic of *Downton* continues to draw millions of fans to the stunning stately homes and picturesque villages across the UK and beyond that brought the Edwardian and Jazz Age eras to life. While the fictional Downton Abbey is set in the rolling hills of Yorkshire, the real-life locations are scattered across Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and even the sun-drenched French Riviera.

The success of the franchise lies not just in the compelling drama but in its commitment to architectural authenticity, using Britain’s most iconic heritage sites to create a believable, tangible world. From the grandeur of the main house to the humble village hospital, every scene was meticulously framed against a real, often centuries-old, backdrop.

The Heart of the Estate: Highclere Castle and the Downstairs Secret

The single most iconic and recognizable location in the entire *Downton Abbey* franchise is, without a doubt, the magnificent Highclere Castle.

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• The Real Downton Abbey: Highclere Castle, a Grade I listed country house, is located near Newbury in Hampshire, England.
• The Family: It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, whose family has lived on the 5,000-acre estate since 1679.
• Filming Use: The castle has starred as Downton Abbey in all six TV series, the 2019 film, the 2022 sequel, and the upcoming 2025 finale.
• Upstairs Interiors: Nearly all exterior shots and the grand "upstairs" interiors, including the Great Hall, Dining Room, Library, Music Room, Drawing Room, and several bedrooms, were filmed on location inside Highclere Castle.
• The Egyptian Connection: Interestingly, the castle's cellar spaces house a museum of Egyptian archaeological artifacts, as one of the former Earls of Carnarvon funded Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1923.

Where the Servants Worked: Ealing Studios

While the Crawleys’ grand rooms were filmed at Highclere, the cramped, bustling "downstairs" world of Mr. Carson, Mrs. Patmore, and Anna Bates was actually a meticulously crafted set.

• The Servants’ Quarters: The kitchen, servants’ quarters, and working areas were constructed and filmed on soundstages at Ealing Studios in West London.
• The Reason: The real Highclere Castle’s basement spaces were too modern or contained the Egyptian Exhibition, making the creation of authentic period sets necessary for the below-stairs scenes.

The Quaint Charm of Downton Village and Its Key Buildings

The fictional village of Downton, where much of the community drama unfolds, is primarily represented by one incredibly photogenic location: Bampton.

• The Village: Bampton-in-the-Bush, a small village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, was used for all exterior village scenes throughout the series.
• St. Michael and All Angels Church: The village’s parish church, St Mary the Virgin, served as the setting for countless pivotal moments, including Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley’s wedding and Lady Edith’s disastrous first wedding.
• Isobel Crawley’s House: Churchgate House in Bampton was used as the exterior for the residence of Isobel Crawley (later Lady Merton).
• Downton Cottage Hospital: The exterior of the village’s community archive building and library was transformed into the Downton Cottage Hospital, a frequent source of conflict between Violet Crawley and Isobel.
• The Pubs: The Grantham Arms and The Dog and Duck pub scenes were also filmed in Bampton, with the locations all condensed into one small area around the church.

Grand Tours and Royal Visits: Locations from the Films

The *Downton Abbey* films, *Downton Abbey* (2019) and *Downton Abbey: A New Era* (2022), allowed the production to expand its scope, introducing stunning new locations across England, Scotland, and even France.

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The 2019 Film: Royalty Comes to Downton

The first feature film centered on a royal visit from King George V and Queen Mary, necessitating some grand new settings.

• Buckingham Palace Interiors: Lancaster House in London, known for its glamorous Victorian interiors, stood in for the interiors of Buckingham Palace.
• The Royal Ball: Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, a stately home with the longest façade in Britain, provided the gorgeous ballroom used for the grand ball scenes.
• Princess Mary's Residence: Harewood House in Leeds played itself, serving as the residence of Princess Mary, where the Crawleys visit for afternoon tea.
• The Royal Procession: The picturesque stone-built streets of Lacock Village in Wiltshire were the backdrop for the expansive royal procession, featuring hundreds of extras and a period royal carriage.

The 2022 Film: A New Era in the South of France

The sequel, *Downton Abbey: A New Era*, took the family on an exotic trip to the French Riviera, a stark contrast to the English countryside.

• The Villa of the Doves: The stunning, pearl-white Belle Époque mansion inherited by Violet Crawley, "The Villa of the Doves," was filmed at the real-life Villa Rocabella in Le Pradet, Provence, France.
• French Gardens: Due to travel restrictions at the time of filming, the gardens and orangery of the French villa were actually filmed back in England at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.

More Iconic Estates and Period Settings

Over its six seasons and three films, the production utilized a diverse array of stately homes, castles, and historic sites to represent the wider world of the British aristocracy.

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• The Dower House: Violet Crawley's famously sharp-witted residence was filmed at Byfleet Manor in Surrey.
• Grantham House (London): The Crawley family’s London residence was filmed at Basildon Park in Berkshire, a National Trust property that also hosted Lady Rose’s coming-out ball and her wedding to Atticus Aldridge.
• Duneagle Castle (Scotland): The Crawleys’ grand holiday in the 2012 Christmas special was filmed at the jaw-dropping Gothic Revival Inveraray Castle in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
• Brancaster Castle: Alnwick Castle in Northumberland—also famous as a filming location for *Harry Potter*—stood in as the fictional Brancaster Castle for two Christmas specials.
• York Prison: The grim scenes of John Bates’s imprisonment were filmed in the preserved Victorian prison wings of Lincoln Castle, which dates back to the 11th century.
• Downton Railway Station: Horsted Keynes Station, part of the preserved Bluebell Railway in West Sussex, was transformed into the fictional Downton Railway Station, complete with authentic 1930s-era details.
• Yew Tree Farm: Cogges Manor Farm in Oxfordshire served as the exterior for Yew Tree Farm, home to the Drewe family and later Mr. Mason.
• Lady Rosamund’s Home: West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire provided the interiors for Lady Rosamund Painswick's London home.

For the final installment, *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* (set for a 2025 release), production expanded its roster once more by adding Claydon House in Buckinghamshire, chosen for its ornate Georgian interiors and elegant staircases, demonstrating the franchise's continued capacity to uncover new, beautiful heritage sites.

Planning Your Downton Abbey Pilgrimage

Visiting the *Downton Abbey* filming locations has become a popular form of "set-jetting" tourism, offering fans a unique opportunity to step directly into the world of the Crawleys.

Highclere Castle: The castle is a private residence and is only open to the public on select dates, generally in the spring, summer, and around Christmas. It is highly recommended to book tickets well in advance, as they sell out quickly.

Bampton Village: The village is an easy day trip from Oxford and its locations are all condensed into one small area, making them easy to explore on foot. The Bampton Community Archive often houses *Downton Abbey* memorabilia.

Basildon Park: As a National Trust property, Basildon Park is open to visitors most days of the year, providing easier access to the grand interiors used for Grantham House.

The Global Appeal: The sheer number of locations—from the historic castles of Scotland to the sun-drenched French coast—highlights the show's massive global appeal and its role in showcasing the architectural diversity and rich history of the United Kingdom.

Whether you are a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the period drama, a tour of these breathtaking real-life locations provides a deeper appreciation for the world Julian Fellowes created, proving that the magic of the Edwardian era is truly alive and well in these historic settings. The legacy of *Downton Abbey* is a powerful reminder of how heritage sites can be dynamically adapted for large-scale storytelling.