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Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle

Greater London, United Kingdom
Likely to Sell Out

From $195.84

Select Date and Travelers

Non-refundable
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
London Tours
All London Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
Unique Experiences
  • 10 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Visit Oxford and top 'Downton Abbey' filming locations on this day trip from London. Start the day with a walking tour of Oxford and its famous university buildings, and then continue to the Cotswolds’ village of Bampton, which is also known as Downton village in the award-winning British TV series. Upgrade to include an additional book “Lady Catherine” OR "Lady Almina" written by Lady Carnarvon. Visit the magnificent Highclere Castle, known in the show as 'Downton Abbey,' in Hampshire.
  • Full-day Downton Abbey tour to Bampton and Highclere Castle
  • Explore Oxford and Oxford University
  • See Matthew Crawley's mother's house in the picturesque village of Bampton
  • Go to Highclere Castle, and explore its gorgeous grounds
  • Walk through rooms frequented by popular characters in the TV series
  • Upgrade to include an additional book “Lady Catherine” OR "Lady Almina" written by Lady Carnarvon

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

This accessible tour makes it easy to explore two top UK destinations—Oxford and Highclere Castle—in one day.

What's Included

  • Highclere Castle
  • Walking tour of Oxford and a village of Bampton
  • A copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography
  • Upgrade to include an additional book “Lady Catherine” OR "Lady Almina" written by Lady Carnarvon
  • Professional guide
  • Transportation by Luxury Air-Conditioned Coach
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Victoria Coach Station
    Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UK

    Located approximately 7 minutes walk from Victoria Underground and Railway station. Tour departs inside the building at Gate 19 at 8:15am (Boarding starts at 8:00am).

Start time

08:15 AM

End point

  • Gloucester Road Station
    Gloucester Road Station, Gloucester Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4SF, UK

What To Expect

Depart from central London by coach and travel to the historical city of Oxford. As you travel, hear about the world-famous University of Oxford whose ivy-strewn buildings you visit during your comprehensive walking tour.

On arrival, follow your guide along the timeworn streets, and check off top sights like the Bridge of Sighs. Then enjoy free time to sightsee independently.

When the time comes, return to your coach and relax on the journey to Bampton village in Oxfordshire, which is featured in 'Downton Abbey' as Downton village. Pass recognizable sights like the church where Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley wed and Grantham Arms. Go to the Bampton Community Archive, as well as a local exhibition about the village’s history.

Afterward, continue on south to Hampshire, where the grand Highclere Castle awaits. The estate, which dates back to the Victorian eta, is set amid 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of rolling parkland and was featured as Downton Abbey on the show. Tour the castle’s opulent rooms with your guide, and see the main hall and library—all used in the filming of 'Downton Abbey.' Hear about your favorite Downton characters and the real-life family who owns Highclere.

Make the most of some free time before jumping back in your coach for the return drive to London.

Upgrade to include a signed copy of “Entertaining at The Real Downtown Abbey” book written by Lady Carnarvon plus an additional book “Lady Catherine” OR "Lady Almina."

University of Oxford

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Highclere Castle

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

St Mary's Church

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

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    Featured review
    Steve_A
    Our driver (Carlos) and guide (Peter) were excellent. We enjoyed stories and information about history, our environs and Downton Abbey. With three stops it is important to be timely to be courteous to your fellow passengers. We highly recommend this tour.

    Reviews

    4.5
    500 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 500 reviews
    Very Disappointing Tour
    Charles_L, May 2023
    Bus broke down before leaving Station. Replacement bus broke down on way to coach station. We finally left station two and a half hours later. Skipped stop on way to Oxford, and had an hour and a half to explore Oxford and eat lunch. Nice visit to Highclere, but skipped Bamford due to time constraints. Got 30% refunded.
    Not very good
    Majbritt_C, May 2023
    We were 3 hours late. Not offered any coffee or anything in the waiting time. We had only 1 1/2 hour in Oxford and no time in Bampton at all. I wrote to you yesterday and I would very much like to hear from you regarding the refund we were promised.
    Highclere Castle
    Linda_S, May 2023
    Touring Highclere Castle was definitely worth the trip The problem was with the tour company having 2 buses break down we were delayed by 2 1/2 hrs and had to miss 2 stops They finally got us a bus and did offer a 30% discount which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 1
    Go if you can
    Kim_H, May 2023
    Loved every minute. The guide Tom was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable but not boring. It was pricey but worth every penny..
    Fabulous Day
    Cassandra_F, May 2023
    Tour guide and bus driver were lovely and full of great and funny knowledge. Plenty of free time to explore
    more Highclere Please !
    Debra_S, May 2023
    I did like the fact that our guide was very personable and he did point out things that were unique. Wish we had more time at Highclere castle it's so beautiful and the gardens that we had time to see were amazing.
    Amazing experience
    Jennifer_L, May 2023
    The entire tour was awesome. Now - when I watch Downton Abbey - I can say “I walked down that staircase.” So fun to walk the grounds, see the gardens and walk throughout the castle. Highly recommended tour !!!
    Absolutely worth it!!
    Karli_O, May 2023
    Peter the tour guide was absolutely incredible, hilarious and super informative, brought everyone out of their shells. It was a great mix of history tied to the plot of the show. Highclere Castle- I mean, talk about staggering beauty!! 10/10 recommend.
    Great choice of visit
    Pedro_N, May 2023
    A very complete day visit to Oxford and Downton Abby sites. The guide was very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the day
    Fun and memorable tour
    Jay_L, May 2023
    Peter did a masterful job ensuring all of our questions and needs were dealt with. Full of good information and very funny tales.
    A lovely day trip
    Steve_A, May 2023
    Our driver (Carlos) and guide (Peter) were excellent. We enjoyed stories and information about history, our environs and Downton Abbey. With three stops it is important to be timely to be courteous to your fellow passengers. We highly recommend this tour.
    Couldn’t be better
    Karen_O, May 2023
    Our guide was amazing! His depth of knowledge of the crown and its history was unparalleled. And a bonus— he had great knowledge of the Downton Abbey series as well. All coupled with a fantastic sense of humor
    Wonderful experience. We would definitely recommend to family, friends and anyone looking to go on this tour!
    jannieman, Apr 2023
    Andrew was a wonderful tour guide. He was a wealth of information and provided individual attention to each guest. We had a long day of touring and he made it pass quickly.
    Beautiful grounds. ...
    Kim_S, Apr 2023
    Beautiful grounds. Knowledgeable staff. Allow enough time to explore all the gardens. 2 hours time was too short.
    Very prompt and departure...
    Kenneth_B, Apr 2023
    Very prompt and departure times. Guide was well organized. His narration was scripted which is ok but there was no conversation outside the script. Recommend an earlier start time by at least 30 minutes. By the time we arrived, walked to the entrance, went through security we missed the 11 AM changing of the guard ceremony. That should be part of the excursion, right? Otherwise all was good. Windsor Castle is a must see.
    Our guide Frank was very...
    Lisa_T, Apr 2023
    Our guide Frank was very knowledgeable and charming. Enjoyed every minute even in the pouring rain he made sure we knew where to go and gave details so our visit to Oxford, Bampton and Highclere Castle were great!
    Best day trip from London for Downton fans
    Sophie_H, Apr 2023
    This was the most incredible tour my partner and I could’ve chosen. I’m a huge Downton fan and he’s not, but this had the perfect blend of great history as well has facts about the show. Our guide Frank could not have been more knowledgeable and all around a great guide. He truly made the experience as wonderful as it was. If you’re visiting London for the first time or even if you’ve never been to the castle, it’s absolutely lovely.
    Downton
    Trudy_R, Apr 2023
    Toby James was an amazing guide with lots of stories and information. Highly recommend if your a downton fan!
    Fantastic!
    Jessica_S, Apr 2023
    Toby was an excellent tour guide. He provided insight and had an excellent sense of humor! Highly recommend this tour!
    Awesome
    Lara_F, Oct 2022
    Fabulous tour, we had an amazing day. It was an amazing castle, tour was great and guide was very knowledgeable.
    A busy but enjoyable day
    Joanne_G, Sep 2022
    As Highclere Castle isn’t conveniently close to public transportation, I picked this tour with 2 other stops in Oxford and Bampton. Our guide Carol was extremely knowledgeable, and her commentary on the walking tours in Oxford and Bampton, and while along the way in the bus, added to my enjoyment of the day. For those not interested in the walking tours, she was not offended by a choice to use the time for exploration on your own. We all had some time on our own after the walking tours. The time at Highclere Castle may be less than I would have liked (we had 2 hours), but we were told the owners strictly enforce arrival times and the the flow of people. I spent so much time in the house and shop that, sadly, I never made it to the gardens. Plan accordingly! There was not a specific lunch stop, but there was time in Oxford for a quick lunch and other opportunities to pick up snacks to eat on the bus (no hot food allowed on bus). It was a long day, but the 3 stops and the time on the bus through the countryside were all very pleasant.
    Great trip - beautiful place to visit💕
    Catherine_S, Sep 2022
    This was a wonderful trip - well organized - just lots and lots of fun! The only issue I had is that I was not told beforehand that you could not take any photos inside Downton Abbey which was disappointing😔 but what a lovely trip - what a beautiful place to visit - I almost had tears in my eyes when I saw the castle for the first time🥲 I highly recommend this to all of you Downton Abbey fans! ❤️
    Absolutely worth it!!!!
    Marina_M, Sep 2022
    Wow!!! This trip was incredible. The driver (Omar) was amazing and the guide (Frank) was informative, funny, personable and all-around pleasant!!! We loved every minute of it. There is a lot of bus time, but of course there is since we covered so much ground. Seeing the village of Bampton was a highlight. I can’t recommend it more if you’re a Downtown Abbey fan!:)
    The Downton Abbey series brought to life!series
    Sue_E, Sep 2022
    The series and all the people came to life by visiting Highclere Castle. It was wonderful to learn the family really does use the house and all the furniture as is. The grounds and trees are massive and beautiful!
    Great day trip combining the historical with the downton abbey fantasy world
    Norman_G, Sep 2022
    Oxford walking tour and touring the castle the driver Chris and the tour guide James both did outstanding. Jobs
    Great memories
    Grantland_S, Sep 2022
    Great tour guide and helpful driver. Wonderful experience! Easy access and no worries about what to do when. Recommend the tour bus route
    A must do for Downton Abbey fans!
    Brittany_H, Aug 2022
    This tour was a highlight of our trip! Carol was an amazing guide who provided us with loads of information on Oxford, Bampton, Highclere, and of course Downton Abbey. She kept us on track and made sure there was something for everyone. We absolutely loved each part of the tour and even though it was 11 hours it went by fast! Cannot recommend this trip enough.
    We thoroughly enjoyed...
    Molly_M, Aug 2022
    We thoroughly enjoyed this tour experience! It was a good balance of getting to hear local history and see fascinating sites at Oxford, while also getting to experience the Downton Abbey filming locations and Highclere. We felt there was ample time at each location to explore, shop, and relax without feeling too rushed. Our guide was very knowledgable. It is a big group so that's important to keep in mind if you want a more private or bespoke experience, but in general, we would recommend!
    Highly recommend this...
    SueShelley_N, Aug 2022
    Highly recommend this tour. James, our guide, and Andrea, our driver, we’re very knowledgeable and come highly recommended. Only issue was I wish we had had more time in Oxford and Highclere Castle to explore independently.
    Great for fans of Downton Abbey and Endeavour
    Belinda_S, Aug 2022
    Informative tour guide. Excellent driver. Appropriate rest area stops. Would have love to have spent more time in Oxford but I understand the limitations. Highly recommend.
    ...

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    Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
    500
    10 hours
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    $195.84

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