Journal · June 2026 · 4 min read
Highclere Castle: The Real Downton Abbey on Your Doorstep
If you have watched Downton Abbey, you already know what Highclere Castle looks like. The honey-coloured towers, the long drive, the sweeping lawns: it is all real, and it is barely twenty minutes from the cabin.
It is one of the grandest days out in the area, and well worth planning a stay around. Here is what to expect.
The house and the parkland
Highclere is the seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, and the present house was remodelled in the 1840s by Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Houses of Parliament. The thousand acres of parkland around it were laid out by Capability Brown, England's greatest landscape gardener, and on a fine day the gardens alone are worth the trip. Wander up to the folly known as Jackdaws Castle, or simply find a bench and take in the view that millions have seen on screen.
The Egyptian exhibition
The real surprise at Highclere is downstairs. The fifth Earl of Carnarvon funded the search for the tomb of Tutankhamun, and it was his archaeologist, Howard Carter, who finally opened it in 1922. The cellars now hold an exhibition telling that story, from the early digs in 1906 to the moment Carter peered in and saw, in his own words, wonderful things. It is a genuinely gripping piece of history, hidden beneath a house most people come for the drawing room.
Planning your visit
Highclere opens to the public on selected dates, mainly over the Easter and summer holidays, with timed entry slots through the day. It is hugely popular and tickets sell out well ahead, so book before you travel rather than turning up on spec. Allow a few hours: the house, the exhibition and the gardens together make an easy half-day, and there is afternoon tea if you would like to linger.
Make it your weekend.
Squirrels' Nest is a cosy one-bedroom cabin in the heart of it all, minutes from these walks, pubs and days out.