Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle
Highclere in 2019
Location within Hampshire
General information
StatusGrade I listed[1]
TypeStately home
Architectural styleJacobethan and Italianate
LocationHighclere, Hampshire
Coordinates51°19′36″N 1°21′41″W / 51.326667°N 1.361389°W / 51.326667; -1.361389
Year(s) built1679
Renovated1842–49
OwnerThe 8th Earl of Carnarvon
Other information
Number of rooms300[2]
Website
highclerecastle.co.uk

Highclere Castle /ˈhklɪər/ is a Grade I listed country house built in 1679 and largely renovated during the 1840s, with a park designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century. The 5,000-acre (2,000-hectare) estate is in Highclere in Hampshire, England, about five miles (eight kilometres) south of Newbury, Berkshire, and 9+12 miles (15 kilometres) north of Andover, Hampshire. The 19th-century renovation is in a Jacobethan and Italianate style produced by architect Charles Barry. It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.

Highclere Castle has been used as a filming location for several films and television series, including the 1990s comedy series Jeeves and Wooster. It achieved international fame as the main location for the ITV historical drama series Downton Abbey (2010–15) and the 2019, 2022 and 2025 films based on it.

The house, Egyptian exhibition, and gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours during the summer months and at other times during the rest of the year, such as Christmas and Easter.[3] The house also holds ticketed events, such as the Battle Proms picnic concert, and special guided tours throughout the year.[3]

  1. ^ "Highclere Castle, Highclere". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  2. ^ Hines, Morgan (17 September 2019). "One night only: You can stay at 'Downton Abbey's Highclere Castle, thanks to Airbnb". USA Today. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Highclere Castle Opening Times and Visitor Information". www.highclerecastle.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2019.