Where Was “Downton Abbey” Filmed?

Are you a fan of the British period series “Downton Abbey”? If you’re one of the show’s many viewers, you might be curious about the answer to the question “Where was ‘Downton Abbey’ filmed?”

If so, keep reading for our answer as well as our recommendations of a few locations you can rent through Peerspace that will successfully emulate the feel of the stunning sets found on “Downton Abbey.”

What is “Downton Abbey”?

“Downton Abbey” is a British drama that takes place at the beginning of the 1900s. The story focuses on the aristocratic Crawley family as well as the lives of their numerous servants as they experience the major changes and upheavals occurring throughout society from 1912 to 1926. The title of the show refers to the country estate where the family lives – Downton Abbey is a fictional estate located in Yorkshire (in the north of England).

The show has won numerous awards, including Golden Globes and Emmys, and has been incredibly popular, with its characters winning the hearts of viewers not just in England but all around the world. It’s so beloved that the creators made multiple feature films as follow-ups to the series.

Crazy for British period dramas? Then you need to check out where “Bridgerton” is filmed next!

Where did they film “Downton Abbey”?

Let’s answer the question “Where was ‘Downton Abbey’ filmed?”. Although Downton Abbey isn’t a real place, they filmed the series at a real castle. But where is this castle?

The answer is Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England. Even today, aristocrats inhabit the home, interestingly, and is a particularly authentic choice to act as the primary setting of the show.

Writes Visit Britain: “Set in 1,000 acres of parkland, the Victorian-built manor house remains home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, whose family have lived on the site since 1679. Downton Abbey author Julian Fellowes is a longstanding family friend and actually had Highclere in mind while penning the series.”

Can you visit the real Downton Abbey?

Perhaps now that you know the answer to your question, you’re wondering whether it’s possible to take a trip to Highclere Castle and do a bit of exploring for yourself.

Luckily, the answer is yes! Not only can you visit, but the castle offers a variety of exciting tours and events. In fact, visitors enjoy its Special Wintertime Tours, a Valentines Castle Tour, Afternoon Tea, Springtime Guided Tours, and even a week-long Living in a Castle event.

You can learn more about planning your own visit to Highclere Castle on their website.

Where is the real Downton village?

Another important setting in the show to address when answering the question “Where was ‘Downton Abbey’ filmed?” is the village of Downton, where numerous scenes in the show are set. The real Downton village is actually Bampton in Oxfordshire.

As they describe this lovely village on their website: “This charming village will seem oddly familiar to Downton Abbey fans, doubling as the fictional Yorkshire village of Downton, supposedly somewhere between Ripon and Thirsk! Many scenes, including some of Downton Abbey’s key events, have been filmed in and around the church in Bampton, the main location for filming”.  The church they’re referring to is St. Mary’s Church, a gorgeous structure that originally dates all the way back to the 10th century!

Like Highclere Castle, the village of Bampton often welcomes curious fans of the show, writes local paper Oxfordshire Live. “Fans of the show often come to visit Bampton to get a glimpse of their favourite show in the flesh”. You can be one of them, and if you visit, you’ll find that Bampton is an adorable and welcoming town.

If you love stylish TV dramas, then also discover where “Euphoria” is filmed!

Downton Abbey-style locations

Feeling inspired by your last viewing of “Downton Abbey” and hoping to film a creative project of your own? Next, we share a few locations similar to those in “Downton Abbey”. However, you can rent these spaces yourself by the hour through Peerspace, the internet’s largest marketplace for hourly rentals of venues and studios.

Eclectic Vintage Georgian Townhouse with Luxury Interior in London, England

Built in the mid-1850s, this incredible Georgian townhouse will certainly put you in mind of “Downton Abbey”. However, the design of the interiors themselves is more 90s than anything else. The home has “a large drawing room, lots of different wall colours, a hand painted chinoiserie wall, large bay windows, a large ‘country style’ kitchen, an opium den style room, several balconies, a fairly grand master bedroom.”

Outside, the garden is large and even contains a treehouse. To quote a reviewer who did a photoshoot here, “Really nice house and very friendly host! I’m very glad that I found this place for my shoot.”

Victorian Period Living/Dining Room in London, England

Although the townhouse linked above is quite nice, you may need a space with convincingly old-fashioned interiors, too. You’ll find them here – this 140-year-old living and dining room are Victorian through and through. The working fireplace has original marble and features “Anqituary and Kenelworth pictures from Victorian Minton tiles Co.”

There are also 19th-century “Italian imported heirlooms made from Tuscan chestnut” as well as an upright piano and a glass chandelier. The two velvet sofas give the space a sumptuous feel. Also, the high ceilings and large windows make it airy and fill it with plenty of sunlight.

Spacious Georgian Mansion, One Block from Capitol in Denver, Colorado

Your next project might require the use of a full mansion with a large variety of rooms and spaces. And at 13,000 square feet in size, this Georgian mansion is a perfect choice. The Starkey Mansion, as it’s known, was built in 1901 and will make you “feel like you stepped back in time, without sacrificing any of today’s modern conveniences”. It’s the ideal combo, we’d say!

The hosts themselves even mention “Downton Abbey” when they describe the mansion’s formal dining room. “With its glittering chandelier and displays of fine china and silver, the formal dining room is available to rent out for business meetings or gatherings. You’ll feel like a guest of a modern-day Downton Abbey in this room!”

Find unique production locations on Peerspace