Being a Crawleyseems like a dream: A home in a sprawling castle, dinner parties, evening co*cktails, a full staff. The list goes on.
Now, to celebrate the release of the new"Downton Abbey" film(out Friday),the real Highclere Castle will open its doors for one night only and treat its guests as though they, too, are members of the Crawley family.
On Oct. 1, Airbnb is giving two guests the opportunity to book the famous castle for the night of Nov. 26. Reservations will open at7 a.m. EDT. The cost of a night's stay at Highclere Castle is $186.36.The reservation is first come, first served.
What can you expect? The castle sits on more than 1,000 acres and boasts 300 rooms.
Upon arrival, guests will be invited to jointhe Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, who live in part of the house, for evening co*cktails in the saloon followed by a three-course dinner in the State Dining Room, according to a release from Airbnb. At dinner, they will be waited on by Highclere Castle's butler, Luis, according to Lady Carnarvon's blog.
After post-dinner coffee in the library, guests will adjourn to a bedroom suite with views of the estate. The next morning,breakfast will be served prior to a private tour of the castle grounds.
There are some house rules. At Highclere Castle:
- Any and all newspapers have to be ironed.
- Only one butler is permitted per person.
- The co*cktail dress code for dinner is "de rigueur" (aka fashionable).
- Gossip is allowed below stairs only.
Fortunately, for those interested in simply visiting the real "Downton Abbey," Highclere Castle remainsopen to visitorson various dates, including Christmas and Valentine's Day. Since it is a private home, it is only open to visitors at specific dates and times.
Follow Morgan Hines on Twitter: @MorganEmHines.
