Downton Abbey Filming Locations Guide
British period drama series
Explore 146 iconic filming locations from Downton Abbey. Our comprehensive guide includes detailed maps, visiting information, photo opportunities, and insider tips to help you plan the perfect Downton Abbey filming location tour.
Explore Downton Abbey Filming Locations
Discover 146 iconic destinations where the magic happened
Plan Your Downton Abbey Film Tourism Adventure
Every Downton Abbey fan dreams of visiting the real-world locations where their favorite scenes came to life. Our comprehensive filming location guide makes it easy to plan your ultimate fan pilgrimage, whether you're exploring locally or planning an international film tourism adventure.
What's Included in Our Guide
- • Exact filming locations with GPS coordinates
- • Scene-by-scene breakdown and photo opportunities
- • Public transport and driving directions
- • Opening hours, admission fees, and accessibility info
- • Best times to visit for photography
- • Insider tips from fellow Downton Abbey fans
Perfect for Film Tourists
- • Solo travelers and fan groups
- • International visitors planning Downton Abbey tours
- • Local fans discovering nearby locations
- • Photography enthusiasts and content creators
- • Families looking for unique vacation experiences
- • Film students and industry professionals
All Locations
10 locations found
Alnwick Castle – Armoury
Step into the medieval world of Downton Abbey at Alnwick Castle's historic Armoury. This impressive stone-walled chamber, lined with ancient weapons and armor, served as one of the castle's most atmospheric interior locations. The Armoury's vaulted ceilings and dramatic lighting created the perfect backdrop for several pivotal scenes throughout the series. Visitors can explore the same halls where the Crawley family's stories unfolded, surrounded by centuries of military history. The collection includes everything from medieval swords to Victorian-era firearms, offering a fascinating glimpse into the castle's defensive past. Interactive displays help bring the history to life, making it easy to imagine the grandeur that made this location perfect for period drama filming.
Bampton – Churchgate House
Churchgate House in Bampton served as the exterior of Isobel Crawley's house throughout Downton Abbey, providing the perfect representation of genteel middle-class living in early 20th century England. This attractive Cotswold stone building, with its traditional architecture and charming garden setting, created an ideal contrast to the grandeur of the main estate. The house's authentic period features and village location allowed the production team to showcase a different social stratum while maintaining visual consistency with the series' historical setting. The building's elegant but modest proportions perfectly captured the character of Isobel Crawley - refined and respectable, but not ostentatious. Today, visitors can appreciate the same architectural charm and village atmosphere that made this location perfect for depicting the complex social dynamics central to the series' storytelling.
Basildon Park – Driveway
The elegant Driveway at Basildon Park provided Downton Abbey with a suitably grand approach to Grantham House, creating the perfect setting for arrival and departure scenes that established the scale and importance of the London residence. This sweeping Georgian drive, lined with mature trees and designed to showcase the house's impressive facade, offered the production team excellent opportunities for establishing shots that conveyed aristocratic status and architectural grandeur. The driveway's careful landscape design and strategic positioning created natural drama for vehicle arrivals and formal occasions that required impressive backdrops. The approach's traditional design and mature plantings provided seasonal variety and natural beauty that enhanced the visual appeal of transition scenes. Modern visitors can experience the same sense of anticipation and grandeur that made this location perfect for depicting the important social and family events centered around the London residence.
Beamish Museum – 1900s Town Street
The authentic 1900s Town Street at Beamish Museum provided Downton Abbey with a perfectly preserved Edwardian urban environment that captured the essence of early 20th-century working-class life and commercial activity. This meticulously reconstructed street, featuring period shops, businesses, and authentic architecture, created ideal backdrops for scenes requiring urban authenticity and social context beyond the rural estate setting. The street's genuine period buildings and traditional commercial establishments offered the production team natural props and atmosphere for storylines exploring the broader social changes affecting different classes during the post-Edwardian period. The location's authentic character and comprehensive period detail made it perfect for depicting the urban environments that influenced rural society and the economic relationships between different social groups. Today's visitors can experience the same immersive historical atmosphere that made this location ideal for understanding the complete social landscape of the period depicted in the series.
Cogges Manor Farm – Bakehouse
The traditional Bakehouse at Cogges Manor Farm represented the food production and domestic economy that sustained the Drewe family household at Yew Tree Farm, providing Downton Abbey with authentic settings for scenes involving rural domestic life and self-sufficiency. This historic stone building, with its traditional bread ovens and food preparation areas, created the perfect backdrop for intimate family scenes and daily life activities that required authentic period atmosphere. The bakehouse's functional design and traditional equipment offered natural props and context for storylines exploring rural domestic economy and family relationships. The building's practical importance and traditional construction made it ideal for depicting the comprehensive nature of farm-based domestic life and the skills required for rural self-sufficiency. Today's visitors can experience the same authentic domestic atmosphere and traditional food production methods that made this location perfect for understanding the complete scope of rural household management and family economics.
Highclere Castle – Bedroom Suite
Highclere Castle stands in for Downton Abbey, the Crawley family’s stately home. Visitors can tour the state rooms, drawing rooms, library and grounds.
Inveraray Castle – Armoury Hall
Inveraray Castle stood in for Duneagle Castle, the Scottish estate visited in the Christmas special. It features crenellated towers and expansive gardens.
Lacock – Abbey Cloister
The picturesque village of Lacock provided multiple backdrops, including market square scenes and streets. Lacock Abbey appears as the interior of Crawley House.
Waddesdon Manor – Aviary
Waddesdon Manor provided the exterior for Haxby Park, the home Sir Richard Carlisle hoped to buy. The French Renaissance-style house is run by the National Trust.
West Wycombe Park – Blue Drawing Room
West Wycombe Park provided interiors for Lady Rosamund’s London townhouse in the series. The Palladian mansion features ornate rooms and landscaped grounds.