Christmas 2023
As the autumn season develops, bringing out all the warm golden colours into the gardens and trees, we look forward to welcoming guests for guided tours (all of which are pre book only).
Can you believe Christmas is around the corner? Whilst many tours are now sold out do join me for the special Friends of Highclere Christmas Tours and Teas.
Wintertime tickets begin 8th January. Spring and summer tours are all available for you to book on our ticketing website For useful information about visiting Highclere please click here.
Thank you to those who follow us on Instagram, Lady Carnarvon's Blog, Podcast or Highclere Castle Facebook.
Thank you to all our Friends of Highclere: we have some fantastic new videos going behind the scenes set the table with us in situ, visit the gardens with me and I look forward to saying hello every Friday for Friends on Friday. Don't forget you have priority booking and access to visit in person whenever possible even if a day seems sold out - we keep some tickets back for you.
The Earl and the Pharaoh one of the most exciting stories ever...Tutankhamun and Downton Abbey in one book
With all best wishes from everyone at Highclere,
The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon
ABOUT THE CASTLE
The first written records of the estate date back to 749 when an Anglo-Saxon King granted the estate to the Bishops of Winchester. Bishop William of Wykeham built a beautiful medieval palace and gardens in the park. Later on, the palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House in 1679 when it was purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Earl of Carnarvon. In 1842, Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament, transformed Highclere House into the present day Highclere Castle.
During the First World War, Highclere Castle was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers run by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Throughout the Second World War, Highclere Castle was home to children evacuated from London.
There are between 250 and 300 rooms in the Castle and during your tour you will explore the main state rooms so familiar from "Downton Abbey". You will see some of the bedrooms after which you will follow the stairs down to the cellars and old staff quarters where you will find the Egyptian Exhibition, celebrating the 5th Earl of Carnarvon's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
