Downton Abbey Filming Locations Guide
Period drama chronicling the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in early 20th century England.
Explore 173 iconic filming locations from Downton Abbey. Our comprehensive guide includes detailed maps, visiting information, photo opportunities, and insider tips to help you plan the perfect Downton Abbey filming location tour.
Explore Downton Abbey Filming Locations
Discover 173 iconic destinations where the magic happened
Plan Your Downton Abbey Film Tourism Adventure
Every Downton Abbey fan dreams of visiting the real-world locations where their favorite scenes came to life. Our comprehensive filming location guide makes it easy to plan your ultimate fan pilgrimage, whether you're exploring locally or planning an international film tourism adventure.
What's Included in Our Guide
- • Exact filming locations with GPS coordinates
- • Scene-by-scene breakdown and photo opportunities
- • Public transport and driving directions
- • Opening hours, admission fees, and accessibility info
- • Best times to visit for photography
- • Insider tips from fellow Downton Abbey fans
Perfect for Film Tourists
- • Solo travelers and fan groups
- • International visitors planning Downton Abbey tours
- • Local fans discovering nearby locations
- • Photography enthusiasts and content creators
- • Families looking for unique vacation experiences
- • Film students and industry professionals
All Locations
100 locations found
1900s Town Street
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Abbey Cloister
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Abbey Grounds
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in England, has been home to the Percy family for over 700 years. Founded around 1096 following the Norman Conquest, the medieval fortress was extensively restored in the 19th century by Anthony Salvin in convincingly medieval style, while the interiors showcase opulent Italianate Victorian design by Luigi Canina. The castle's State Rooms feature magnificent collections of art and furniture, while the grounds span thousands of acres including the famous Alnwick Garden. This working castle maintains its role as the seat of the 12th Duke of Northumberland while welcoming visitors to experience its rich history and stunning architecture. **Filming Scenes:** Alnwick portrayed Brancaster Castle in Series 5 and 6, serving as the backdrop for Lady Edith's romantic storyline with Bertie Pelham (later Lord Hexham). The castle hosted the 1924 shooting party organized by Lord Sinderby, where family tensions and romantic developments unfolded. The State Rooms provided elegant settings for formal dinners and social gatherings, while Hulne Priory within the estate grounds featured in outdoor scenes. Lady Edith's eventual happiness with Bertie was closely tied to this location, representing her transformation from overlooked middle daughter to Marchioness.
Armoury
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Armoury Hall
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Aviary
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Bagpipe Collection
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Bakehouse
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Bampton
The village of Bampton doubles as Downton’s village, featuring St Michael and All Angels Church, the library as Downton Cottage Hospital, and Churchgate House.
Bampton Village
Bampton, a historic Oxfordshire village dating to Anglo-Saxon times, perfectly portrays the fictional Downton village with its golden Cotswold stone cottages and 12th-century St. Mary's Church. This working village required minimal set dressing for filming, with its 17th-18th century buildings naturally frozen in time. The production team simply covered modern elements and added period props to transform the historic area around the church into 1920s Yorkshire. Now attracting tens of thousands of Downton fans annually, Bampton maintains its authentic village character while celebrating its role in television history. The village's dual layout, with the historic church area separate from modern shops, made it ideal for period filming. **Filming Scenes:** St. Mary's Church hosted all major wedding scenes including Matthew and Mary's wedding, Lady Edith's jilting at the altar by Anthony Strallan, and Carson and Mrs. Hughes' ceremony. The Church Green featured the village fair with coconut shy and helter skelter in Series 1, and the war memorial unveiling in Series 5. Bampton Library portrayed the Cottage Hospital exterior where wounded WWI soldiers were treated and George Crawley was born. Churchgate House served as the Crawley House exterior for Isobel and Matthew, while various cottages along Church View became the Post Office, Dog & Duck pub, and Grantham Arms.
Bank
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Barn
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Baron’s Room
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Basildon Park
Basildon Park stands as an exceptional example of Palladian architecture, built between 1776-1783 by John Carr of York for Sir Francis Sykes, who made his fortune with the East India Company. This National Trust property features stunning neoclassical 'Adamesque' interiors meticulously restored by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 1950s after years of neglect. The three-block design with its Bath stone construction creates an elegant country house set in 400 acres of parkland. The Octagon Room with its distinctive deep red walls and elaborate mirrors has become particularly famous through its numerous film appearances, perfectly capturing the grandeur of aristocratic London residences. **Filming Scenes:** Basildon Park transformed into Grantham House, the Crawley family's London residence, appearing prominently in the 2013 Christmas Special and Series 5 finale. The Entrance Hall and grand staircase welcomed London society, while the Dining Room became the setting for Lady Rose's spectacular coming-out ball. The Octagon Room served as the London drawing room where family dramas unfolded away from Downton. The Green Drawing Room hosted intimate family gatherings, and the Library provided Lord Grantham's London study. All first-floor rooms were utilized with elaborate silk flower arrangements by Neil Shaw enhancing the period atmosphere.
Beamish Museum
Beamish, the world's first regional open-air museum established in the early 1970s, brings to life the story of North East England across 350 acres. This living history museum authentically recreates life in the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s, and 1950s through rescued and reconstructed historic buildings, costumed interpreters, and working heritage transport. Award-winning as Art Fund Museum of the Year, Beamish offers immersive experiences from riding vintage trams to exploring a working coal mine. The museum's dedication to preservation and authentic detail made it an ideal filming location, with entire streets maintaining their period character without modern intrusions. **Filming Scenes:** Beamish's 1900s Town provided authentic working-class street scenes for the 2015 Christmas special and first Downton movie. The period garage became Talbot and Branson Motors, where Tom Branson pursued his business ventures outside the aristocratic world. The Co-op store featured in shopping scenes showing the changing retail landscape of the 1920s. Over 100 cast and crew members, including Allen Leech, Lesley Nicol, and Sophie McShera, brought the streets to life. The museum's working trams and vintage vehicles provided authentic transportation, while the cobbled streets and period shopfronts required no additional set dressing.
Bedroom Suite
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Bells and carvings
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Billiard Room
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Blue Drawing Room
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Breakfast Room
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Broomstick Training Area
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Byfleet Manor
Byfleet Manor, a Grade II* listed house with royal connections dating to Edward II, served as the perfect embodiment of aristocratic dowager residence. The current building, largely from 1686 with a 1905 restoration, features distinctive architecture including a hidden room discovered in 2013, possibly a priest's hole. Originally a royal hunting lodge given by Edward II to Piers Gaveston, it was later commissioned as a new house by Anne of Denmark in 1617. The manor's combination of historical significance and modest scale made it ideal for representing the Dowager Countess's separate establishment, maintaining dignity while acknowledging changing times. **Filming Scenes:** Byfleet Manor portrayed the Dower House exterior, Violet Crawley's residence throughout the series, serving as Dame Maggie Smith's character's domain where she maintained her independence while orchestrating family affairs. The house appeared in establishing shots whenever action moved to the Dowager Countess's home, representing her retreat from but proximity to the main estate. Drawing room scenes were also filmed here, capturing intimate moments where Violet dispensed wisdom and witticisms. The manor's slightly smaller scale than Highclere perfectly illustrated the traditional arrangement where dowagers moved to a lesser house while the heir occupied the main estate.
Cascade
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Castle Green
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Chapter House
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Chavenage House
Chavenage House, a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor built in 1576, represents the ideal 16th-century Cotswold stone manor house with its E-shaped layout and mullioned windows. Built by Edward Stephens and remaining in the family for over 450 years, the house retains authentic period features including tapestries, furniture, and Civil War relics from its time as a Parliamentarian stronghold. The unaltered Elizabethan architecture with original oak paneling, stone fireplaces, and period portraits creates an immersive historical experience. Its authentic atmosphere and minimal modernization have made it a favorite for period productions, most notably as Trenwith in Poldark. **Filming Scenes:** Chavenage provided various interior scenes throughout Downton Abbey, utilizing its authentic Elizabethan rooms to represent different aristocratic houses visited by the Crawley family. The great hall, with its minstrels' gallery and Tudor furnishings, appeared in formal dinner scenes, while the oak-paneled bedrooms served for intimate character moments. The house's genuine period atmosphere, without modern intrusions, meant minimal set dressing was required. The combination of different architectural periods within the house - Elizabethan, Jacobean, and later additions - provided varied settings for different narrative requirements.
Chiltern Open Air Museum
Chiltern Open Air Museum, founded in 1976, preserves the built heritage of the Chilterns through 30+ historic buildings rescued from demolition and reconstructed on a 45-acre site. This living history museum features structures from the 1400s to the 1940s, including farmhouses, barns, a Victorian toll house, and a 1940s prefab. The working historic farm with traditional breeds and the authentic period buildings create immersive historical experiences. The museum's commitment to preservation and education through hands-on experiences, from brick-making to traditional farming, makes it a unique window into 500 years of Chilterns rural life. **Filming Scenes:** The museum's working farm provided the setting for Lady Edith's tractor-driving scenes in Series 2, when she joined the war effort by helping with agricultural work. The authentic farm buildings and equipment meant the production could film period-accurate farming scenes showing how the war transformed traditional estate life. Various barns and outbuildings appeared as tenant farm locations throughout the series. The museum's collection of period-appropriate agricultural machinery and authentic rural buildings eliminated the need for constructed sets, providing genuine historical context for storylines about the estate's agricultural economy.
China Turret
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Churchgate House
The village of Bampton doubles as Downton’s village, featuring St Michael and All Angels Church, the library as Downton Cottage Hospital, and Churchgate House.
Church on the Hill
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Church Street
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Coach House
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Cogges Manor Farm
Cogges Manor Farm offers over 1000 years of continuous history, with its 13th-century manor house and Grade II listed 18th-century farm buildings creating an authentic historical setting. Referenced in documents from 727 AD and listed in the Domesday Book, this 17-acre site beside the River Windrush has witnessed Norman knights, English kings, and centuries of agricultural heritage. The moated manor house with its medieval kitchen, walled gardens, and traditional farm buildings required minimal alteration for filming, providing a genuinely historic backdrop. Now a living museum, it maintains rare breed animals and demonstrates traditional farming methods while preserving its Downton Abbey connections. **Filming Scenes:** Cogges transformed into Yew Tree Farm, featuring prominently in Series 4-5 as Mr. Drewe's tenant farm where Lady Edith's daughter Marigold was secretly raised. The manor house kitchen witnessed tense scenes between Edith and Mrs. Drewe as the situation became increasingly untenable. In Series 6, the farm transferred to Mr. Mason, Daisy's father-in-law, with scenes featuring Dame Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess inspecting the pigs. Tom Branson taught Mary about farming here, while Lady Edith learned to drive a tractor in the fields. The authentic farm setting with its historic buildings and working landscape perfectly captured the estate's agricultural life.
Colliery
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Co-op Store
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Cottage Hospital (Library)
The village of Bampton doubles as Downton’s village, featuring St Michael and All Angels Church, the library as Downton Cottage Hospital, and Churchgate House.
Courtyard
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Courtyard
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Courtyard
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Courtyard
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Dairy
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Dining Room
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Dining Room
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Dining Room
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Dining Room
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Downton Hospital entrance
The village of Bampton doubles as Downton’s village, featuring St Michael and All Angels Church, the library as Downton Cottage Hospital, and Churchgate House.
Drawing Room
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Drawing Room
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Driveway
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
East Gallery
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Egyptian Exhibition
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Egyptian Room
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Entrance Hall
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Entrance Hall
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Fairground
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Farmhouse
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Folly
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Formal Gardens
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Fountain Garden
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Fox Talbot Museum
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
French Horn Statue
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Gallery
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Garage
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Garden Entrance
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Garden Lake
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Garden Room
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Gift Shop
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Grand Staircase
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Grey Drawing Room
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Greys Court
Greys Court, a Tudor country house with medieval origins dating to the 11th century, sits nestled in the Chiltern Hills surrounded by peaceful gardens and ancient parkland. The Great Tower, built around 1347, stands as the last remnant of the medieval castle, overlooking walled gardens that span 900 years of horticultural history. The house features rare Tudor elements including a working donkey wheel well, fine 18th-century plasterwork, and 16th-17th century Swiss stained glass. The series of intimate walled gardens include roses, wisteria, an ornamental kitchen garden, and a modern maze, all set within 75 hectares of Chilterns countryside with waymarked walks through beech woods. **Filming Scenes:** Greys Court appeared as 'Eryholme,' the modest property the Crawley family considered moving to during their financial crisis in Series 3, which they planned to rename 'Downton Place.' The pivotal scene featured a family picnic on the lawn in front of the house, where they discussed downsizing from their grand estate. Set in May 1920, this emotional sequence showed the family confronting potential loss of their ancestral home due to Lord Grantham's failed investments. The Tudor house's more modest scale compared to Highclere perfectly illustrated the dramatic reduction in circumstances the family faced, making their eventual salvation all the more poignant.
Guest Hall
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Halton House
Halton House, built 1880-1883 for Alfred de Rothschild, stands as an extraordinary example of French château-style architecture costing £1.5 million in 1880s currency. This Grade II* listed mansion was revolutionary as the first house built with electric lighting and hot-air heating. The interior features elaborate gilt plasterwork, a Moorish-style Gold Room, and grand state rooms that epitomize Rothschild opulence. Purchased by the War Office in 1918, it has served as the RAF Officers' Mess at RAF Halton ever since. Despite its military use, the ground floor state rooms retain their original grandeur, making it a coveted filming location for period dramas. **Filming Scenes:** Halton House provided the opulent interiors for Haxby Park, complementing Waddesdon Manor's exterior shots as Sir Richard Carlisle's estate. The officers' mess scenes during WWI episodes utilized the house's actual military connection, with the grand dining room and ballroom hosting military gatherings. The elaborate gilt ceilings and grand central hall with its iron stair balustrade created the perfect backdrop for Sir Richard's new money ostentation. The house's combination of French château grandeur and English country house comfort effectively portrayed the newspaper magnate's attempt to buy his way into aristocratic society through architectural splendor.
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle, the iconic face of Downton Abbey, stands as one of Britain's most magnificent Victorian estates. Designed by Sir Charles Barry in the 1840s in Jacobethan Revival style, this 5,000-acre Hampshire estate has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. The castle features over 200 rooms with exquisite State Rooms showcasing 17th-century Spanish leather wall coverings and Italian embroideries. Its Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars celebrates the 5th Earl's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The castle's Bath stone facade and Renaissance-influenced architecture create the perfect aristocratic backdrop that made it the ideal choice for Julian Fellowes' period drama. **Filming Scenes:** Highclere served as the primary filming location for Downton Abbey itself, featuring in countless iconic scenes. The State Dining Room hosted the Crawley family's formal dinners where the Dowager Countess delivered her memorable quips. Lord Grantham's library served as his private study for business meetings and family consultations. The grand staircase witnessed Lady Mary's wedding descent and dramatic family moments. The Drawing Room hosted social gatherings, while various bedrooms provided intimate settings for character development. The castle's exterior established every episode with sweeping shots of the estate grounds.
Highclere Castle – Test Room
Test sub-location for API testing
Highclere Castle – Test Room
Test sub-location for API testing
High Street
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Hilltop Mausoleum
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.
Horsted Keynes Station
Horsted Keynes Station, built in 1882 by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, now serves as a perfectly preserved example of a 1930s Southern Railway station. Part of the Bluebell Railway, Britain's first standard-gauge heritage line established in 1960, the station was saved from demolition following the Beeching cuts of 1963. Restored to its inter-war period appearance with authentic advertising boards, enamel signs, and period furniture, it provides an immersive journey into railway history. The station operates as part of an 11-mile heritage line running steam services between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, passing through the longest heritage railway tunnel in the UK. **Filming Scenes:** Horsted Keynes doubled as 'Downton Station' throughout the series, featuring in numerous emotionally charged arrival and departure scenes. Lady Mary's tearful farewell to Matthew as he departed for WWI became one of the show's most memorable platform moments. Bates arrived here to begin his service as Lord Grantham's valet, while the Crawley family departed for their Scottish adventure. Carson reconciled with his former music hall partner Charles Grigg before Grigg's departure to Ireland. The authentic 1930s period details, from the booking office to the platform benches, made it the perfect location for capturing the romance and drama of early 20th-century railway travel.
Inveraray Castle
Inveraray Castle, seat of the Dukes of Argyll and Chiefs of Clan Campbell, represents one of Britain's earliest Gothic Revival buildings. The current structure, begun in 1746 and completed in 1789, was designed by Roger Morris and William Adam, with later contributions by Robert Adam. Set dramatically on the shores of Loch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch, the castle features distinctive conical-roofed towers added after an 1877 fire. The famous Armoury Hall displays an extraordinary geometric arrangement of weapons, while the State Rooms showcase centuries of Campbell family history. The 60,000-acre estate remains a working property with forestry, farming, and renewable energy projects. **Filming Scenes:** Inveraray became Duneagle Castle for the 2012 Christmas Special, hosting the Crawley family's dramatic visit to the Scottish Highlands. The Armoury Hall provided the setting for the memorable Ghillies Ball where traditional Scottish dancing brought together upstairs and downstairs. The State Dining Room hosted tense family dinners exploring the MacClare family dynamics and Rose's rebellious behavior. Various castle bedrooms accommodated the visiting Crawleys, while the stunning loch views and Highland scenery created the perfect backdrop for the two-hour special that explored Scottish aristocratic life and the Crawley family's connections north of the border.
Kingston Bagpuize House
Kingston Bagpuize House, built around 1660 and remodeled in the early 1700s, exemplifies classic Georgian architecture with its distinctive cantilevered staircase and elegant proportions. This Grade II* listed family home has been lovingly maintained by the same family since 1939, preserving its intimate domestic character while sharing its beauty with visitors. The house sits in parkland featuring magnificent gardens including a restored 18th-century woodland garden with spring bulbs and rare shrubs. The combination of architectural elegance and lived-in warmth has made it an ideal location for period dramas seeking authentic country house interiors. **Filming Scenes:** Kingston Bagpuize portrayed Lord Merton's residence in Series 5 and 6, where Isobel Crawley's romantic storyline with Lord Merton unfolded. The Entrance Hall and Drawing Room witnessed the delicate negotiations between Isobel and Lord Merton, complicated by his sons' disapproval. Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Penelope Wilton filmed pivotal scenes here, including the Dowager Countess's interventions in Isobel's romantic affairs. The house's genuine Georgian domesticity, smaller in scale than Downton, perfectly represented Lord Merton's position as a respectable but not grand aristocrat, making Isobel's potential match both suitable and controversial.
Kitchen
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Kitchen
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Kitchen Garden
Cogges Manor Farm stood in as Yew Tree Farm, Mr Drewe’s farm in the series. Visitors can explore the historic farmstead, barns and walled garden.
Lacock
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Lacock Abbey and Village
Lacock Abbey, founded in 1232 as an Augustinian nunnery by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, seamlessly blends 800 years of architectural history. The medieval cloisters remain remarkably intact while the abbey was transformed into a country house following the Dissolution. Home to William Henry Fox Talbot, inventor of the photographic negative, the site includes a museum celebrating photography's birth. The accompanying village, with its timber-framed houses and absence of modern intrusions, appears frozen in time. This National Trust property's authentic historical atmosphere has made it one of Britain's most filmed locations, from Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter. **Filming Scenes:** Lacock village transformed into a 1920s livestock market for Series 6, with Church Street filled with sheep, pigs, cows, and a one-tonne bull as Lord Grantham, Lady Mary, and Lady Edith navigated the agricultural fair. The 2019 movie featured a spectacular royal parade through the village with 350 extras, including actual Lacock residents, 80 mounted soldiers, and a royal carriage procession. The village's perfectly preserved period architecture required minimal set dressing, with authentic stone cottages and the medieval abbey providing ideal backdrops. The production's attention to detail included period bunting and the transformation of the entire village into a celebration of royal visit.
Library
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Library
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Library
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Library
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1068 on the site of a Roman fortress, stands as one of England's best-preserved Norman castles. Unique as one of only two castles with two mottes (mounds), it features a complete medieval wall walk offering 360-degree views. The Victorian Prison, operational from 1787 to 1878, represents a complete separate system prison with the world's only surviving prison chapel of its type. The castle houses one of only four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta copies in a purpose-built underground vault. Still functioning as a Crown Court, Lincoln Castle uniquely combines nearly 1000 years of legal and penal history in one remarkable site. **Filming Scenes:** Lincoln Castle's Victorian Prison portrayed York Prison where John Bates was wrongfully imprisoned for murdering his ex-wife Vera in Series 3. The authentic Victorian cells, with their heavy doors and sparse furnishings, provided the perfect backdrop for Bates's unjust incarceration. The prison's separate system design, where prisoners were kept in solitary confinement, emphasized Bates's isolation from Anna and Downton. The chapel's unique individual prisoner enclosures, designed to prevent inmates from seeing each other, appeared in prison service scenes. The historically accurate setting, having actually operated as a prison during the Victorian era, added gravitas to this dramatic storyline.
Lion Arch
Alnwick Castle doubled as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. The medieval castle features grand staterooms and sweeping views.
Long Gallery
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Main Entrance
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
Main Entrance
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Main Hall
Basildon Park was used as the Grantham family’s London residence, “Grantham House”. The Georgian mansion features lavish interiors and sweeping parkland.
Market Square
The village of Bampton doubles as Downton’s village, featuring St Michael and All Angels Church, the library as Downton Cottage Hospital, and Churchgate House.
Market Stalls
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.
Market Street
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Masonic Hall
Beamish Museum’s Edwardian town stood in for various streets and locations in Downton Abbey. Visitors experience an open-air museum depicting North East life.