Where was the Downton Abbey movie filmed? (2024)

Where is Downton Abbey filmed?

Where was the Downton Abbey movie filmed? (1)

Both the ITV drama and the feature film were shot at Highclere Castle in north Hampshire.

Highclere was used for exterior shots of Downton Abbey, and for most of the interior filming including the dining hall and the entrance room and the staircase.

The kitchen and servants' quarters were constructed and filmed at Ealing Studios in London throughout the TV series, and for the film, sets were constructed at Shepperton Studios in Surrey – including the post office, the Carsons' cottage, and Downton's wine cellar.

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Highclere Castle actually belongs to the Earl and Countess Carnarvon, who have fully embraced their home's status as the real Downton Abbey. As for seeing the family home on screen, the Countess of Carnarvon told RadioTimes.com: "It always makes you feel slightly odd!"

She added: "I love the magic of film. When Jim Carter – Mr Carson – started walking down our staff stone staircase here, they rebuilt the bottom five or six steps on a film set, so two weeks later he’d come out in Ealing Studios! I love that."

Where was the Downton Abbey movie filmed? (3)

And Highclere is more than just a home, or a film set; it also does does weddings, tours, Christmas fairs, high teas, special dinners, concerts, and exhibitions.

"Highclere has had a career break and we’re working hard to see how we can make best use of it," the Countess of Carnarvon said.

Where is the village in Downton Abbey?

Filming for the Downton Abbey movie took place in Laco*ck, a village in Wiltshire. The village was already period-ready with quaint cottages and historic streets, and the film crew added Union Jack bunting and draped flags out of residents' windows to get ready for a royal parade.

Producer Gareth Neame said: “The parade scene featured 350 extras including real-life Laco*ck villagers in period-accurate costumes and 80 soldiers on horseback, plus a royal carriage."

Further scenes were filmed at Beamish Museum, an open-air museum in County Durham, which helped create Mr Bakewell's Shop (i.e. where Mrs Patmore does her shopping).

Throughout Downton, many outdoor scenes have been shot in the village of Bampton, Oxfordshire. Bampton Library stood in for Downton Cottage Hospital, while Churchgate House became Isobel Crawley's house.

Where did they film 'Buckingham Palace'?

Interiors for the royal scenes were shot at Wrotham Park, a country house in Hertfordshire previously seen on screen in Mr Sense and Sensibility, Gosford Park, Vanity Fair, Bridget Jones's Diary, and Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Where did they film the ballroom scene?

Where was the Downton Abbey movie filmed? (5)

In the Downton Abbey movie, one stop on the royal tour of Yorkshire is Harewood House – where the Lord and Lady Grantham's neighbours are preparing to throw a spectacular ball.

Exteriors were filmed at the real Harewood House (and the drawing rooms can also be seen in some scenes), but the ballroom scenes set at Harewood were actually filmed at Wentworth House.

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The Downton Abbey movie will be released on Friday 13th September 2019

Where was the Downton Abbey movie filmed? (2024)

FAQs

What locations were used for the Downton Abbey film? ›

The feature film shot at locations in the region last summer, including North Yorkshire Moors Railway, (including Pickering Railway Station), Wentworth Woodhouse, Little Germany in Bradford, Harewood House and Dalton Mills in Keighley, whilst Highclere Castle in Berkshire continues to serve as the key country house ...

Who owns Highclere Castle? ›

Highclere Castle, stately home in Hampshire, England, owned by the earls of Carnarvon. The castle has more than 200 rooms and stands on a tract of about 1,060 acres (430 hectares).

Where did they film the Buckingham Palace scenes in Downton Abbey? ›

Lancaster House was used to depict the interiors of Buckingham Palace.

Where did they film the village scene in Downton Abbey? ›

Different places throughout Bampton were used to create many fictional Downton Abbey locations, including the post office, The Grantham Arms, The Dog & Duck, Isobel Crawley's house, the Downton hospital, and the Church, and so on. Everything that is Downton village is Bampton in Oxfordshire.

Can you just visit Highclere Castle? ›

Highclere offers different tours throughout the year, which reflect the seasons, the history and of course Downton Abbey. Please do click here to browse the various admission tickets. Most of our tours require you to pre-book, so do check before travelling!

How many bedrooms are in Highclere Castle? ›

'There are around 200 to 300 rooms and between 50 to 80 bedrooms,' says Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, the ancestral home propelled to fame as the location for Downton Abbey in the popular TV series.

What celebrities got married at Highclere Castle? ›

More recently, in 2021, the castle was the venue for the nuptials of the late Queen's godson, the Hon. Harry Herbert, son of the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, and glamorous TV chef Clodagh McKenna.

How much does Downton Abbey pay to use Highclere Castle? ›

Now I hear Lord and Lady Carnarvon have negotiated an unprecedented £1million location fee for Highclere to feature in the fifth (and possibly final) series of Downton. It started shooting earlier this year and will be broadcast in September.

Does anyone currently live in Highclere Castle? ›

Today, Highclere is home to George Herbert and his wife Fiona, the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon (Lord and Lady Carnarvon), owners of the 'real' Downton Abbey house.

Was Downton Abbey filmed in Bath? ›

Highclere Castle, the filming location for Downton Abbey itself, is in the English countryside between Bath and London, geographically nowhere near the fictional Yorkshire town of Downton.

Where is the pub in Downton Abbey? ›

The Red Lion is a public house in Kirkbymoorside where John Bates worked for a time after his then-wife Vera forced him to leave Downton Abbey. After glimpsing John one day, Anna mentions this to Mary Crawley, whose then-fiancé Richard Carlisle finds out that Bates is in Yorkshire and where he is working.

Which church did they use in Downton Abbey? ›

St Mary's Church (St Michael and All Angels)

In real life, St Mary's Church in Bampton dates from the 12th century and was built on the site of an older minster. It's open to visitors so you can take a look around – this was the only building in Bampton where filming took place inside as well as outside.

Can you stay at Highclere Castle? ›

Highclere has two restored Lodges which make gloriously comfortable country escapes. London Lodge has one double bedroom as well as a sitting room, kitchen and bathroom, and is available for a minimum of two nights. Grotto Lodge has two double bedrooms - each with their own bathroom, a sitting room and a kitchen.

Does the family still live in Highclere Castle? ›

The family attributed this increase in interest to the on-site filming of Downton Abbey. The family now live in Highclere Castle at various times throughout the year, but return to their cottage when the castle is open to the public.

How much is Highclere Castle worth? ›

Indeed, the property was conservatively valued at £137 million in December 2021. With the Office for National Statistics noting a house price increase of 3.7% between December 2021 and May 2022 (up from a rate of 9.1% to 12.8%), which means Highclere Castle is worth around £142,069,000 today.

Did the Queen stay at Highclere Castle? ›

Queen Elizabeth II was once a guest at the elegant Highclere Castle that served as the backdrop of the hit television series Downton Abbey. “My father-in-law was one of her greatest friends from the age of 16, and my husband is her godson,” Lady Carnarvon told CTV News from the manicured grounds of Highclere Castle.

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