Take a tour and have dinner at the real Downton Abbey before the film comes out

If you’re a fan of the TV series Downton Abbey, you can have your very own adventure at the historical period drama’s real-life setting and inspiration in England.

In anticipation of the September release of the Downton Abbey movie, travel company Scott Dunn is offering ways for fans to immerse themselves in the majesty of Highclere Castle in Hampshire and the surrounding English countryside. The 19th-century Victorian castle is used for exterior shots and most of the interior filming on the ITV/PBS series, which has captivated audiences for six seasons as it chronicled the saga of the Crawley family and the lives of their servants.

The experiences available include a VIP tour of Highclere, where guests will learn how the historic castle epitomised the fortitude and glamour of the Edwardian period at the beginning of the 20th century. They will then sit down for a private lunch, afternoon tea or a sophisticated dinner in the State Dining Room, complete with champagne and vivid tales about Highclere Castle’s history.

Guests can also experience life as an English aristocrat with a period-themed, candlelit costume dinner, which includes Edwardian or 1920s’ era costumes and conversation about the estate’s historic past and the exciting guests it entertained at its lively house parties. Every experience is bespoke and customisable, so guests can relive their favourite scenes, get closer to their favourite characters and bring Downton Abbey to life on their own terms.

There are also opportunities for travellers to expand their journey beyond the walls of Highclere Castle with Scott Dunn’s ‘Classic England’ itinerary. Guests will stay in London, Bath and The Cotswolds, visiting iconic sites such as Stonehenge, Highclere Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon along the way. They can explore Bampton, Oxfordshire, where many exterior scenes depicting Downton Village were filmed, and stop at the regal Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, which served as the fictional Brancaster Castle in two Christmas specials. They can also embark on a tour of Cogges Manor Farm, which doubled as Yew Tree Farm in the television series.

For more information about Scott Dunn and its Downton Abbey-inspired experiences, please visit here.