As you probably know, Highclere Castle is privately owned by the Earl of Carnarvon and only open to the public for a few days each year. Pre-bookable tickets sell out almost as soon as they become available, so you need to keep a look out on the website http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/ and get in there as soon as you can (the next round of tickets for summer visits 2016 become available in February, so pop it on the calendar now if you want to go).
However, you can turn up on the day and it is highly likely that you will get in on a day ticket, but if you are tied to a certain day or travelling any distance a pre-booked ticket is much the best option. Tickets are timed for entrance to the castle, with a morning or afternoon option. This is a great idea, as numbers are limited so that it is never too crowded.
The castle itself opens at 10.30am, and I arrived on site around 10.15am … enjoying the leisurely drive through the grounds and, as I approached the castle, being directed to a parking spot. There were already a good number of cars parked, and people waiting for the castle doors to swing open. I had half an hour to kill before my friends arrived, so made my way round the back of the castle to the tearoom (oh what a surprise I hear you cry!) and enjoyed a coffee sitting outside, looking over the glorious landscape.
I am sure Highclere Castle was a popular visitor destination even before it became the star of Downton Abbey … but certainly the TV programme made it an even bigger attraction. There were visitors from many different nations enjoying seeing Downton ‘in the flesh’ so to speak. The series of Downton shown in late 2015, however, was the last – going out on a high, always a good thing in my opinion, though of course many people are sad to see it go. How wonderful that Highclere Castle has been able to benefit from the experience, and I am sure will continue to enthral visitors who love the programme for years to come. But it is a great experience, whether you are a Downton fan or not.
There are various levels of tickets, which may differ year on year, but for £20 I had entrance to the castle, the Egyptian Exhibition and the grounds. As you can spend all day here, it is well worth it. There are several small tea room areas for light snacks and lunches, but when I left in the early afternoon some people were thoroughly enjoying picnicking in the grassy carpark, so that is yet another option.
You stroll from room to room around the castle at leisure, following a natural route, and are able to linger in each room as long as you wish. There are helpful and friendly guides in each room to answer any questions, and all were happy to offer up their knowledge.
I had been longing to see the Egyptian exhibition, and was mighty impressed with the area it covers and the vast collection. I would say you need an absolute minimum of an hour to see it, and even then would not be able to examine every artefact. There has clearly been a lot of time and effort making this a fabulous part of the Highclere experience and hats off to those who have made it so. I particularly loved the sensation of peering into the gloom to get a feel for what the 5th Earl and Howard would have seen he made his great discovery.
Leave time to stroll the grounds … you really do need to spend the day here to get maximum benefit. However, the drive as you leave the estate takes you on a different route, so you actually get to see a lot of the grounds. Although so close to the A34, the peace is almost deafening. It really is another world, and must be a wonderful place to grow up and live … quite magical in fact.
Biddy x
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