Leave London’s Marble Arch by air-conditioned minivan, and travel west to the rolling limestone hills of Oxfordshire. On the journey, your guide will keep you entertained with tales and trivia about the Downton Abbey TV series that has a fan base spread all over the world. Filmed mostly in and around Oxfordshire, the British period drama of Downton Abbey documents the dramas and scandals of the fictional Crawley family and their servants in the days leading up to and after the First World War. Hear insider gossip about characters such as Lady Mary, and discover little-known facts about the shooting locations included on your tour. Stop at a farm nestled in the hills near Cogges and enjoy a hot drink (own expense) in the farm’s rustic cafe before discovering a few of the farm’s filming locations.

Photo stop

Continue to Bampton in the Cotswolds, a quintessentially English village that was used extensively as Downton village throughout the entire series. On a walking tour, enter Bampton Library — which doubles as Downton Cottage Hospital, see the village church — the site of Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley — and the house that was once used as the Crawley family home. Stroll along the main street, seeing shops used for filming as well as sights such as the fictional Grantham Arms pub.

Continue to Highclere Castle, Downton Abbey itself, to explore with your guide. Explore the lavish estate that surrounds the castle and hear all about Highclere Castle’s role as the Grantham family home. Enjoy lunch or a snack in the onsite tea rooms that serve food from the castle’s kitchens, then step inside Highclere Castle to explore its stately rooms. See the dining, music and smoking rooms that Lady Sybil graced with her presence and learn about the real-life family who have owned Highclere Castle since the late 17th century: the Carnarvons. In the basement is the special Egyptology exhibition, thanks to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s excavations in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Take in further areas of the famous filming site; the Red Stairs, saloon, gallery and bedrooms, before returning to your minivan. After departing Highclere Castle, we will quickly visit Burghclere to see Portal Hall, the location for Downton Village School, before the relaxing journey back to London.