Downton Abbey is set at a fictional country estate in North Yorkshire, England, but the “real” Downton Abbey you see on screen is Highclere Castle in Hampshire, in the south of England.

Quick Scoop: Where is Downton Abbey?

  • In the story, Downton Abbey is a grand aristocratic estate near the (also fictional) village of Downton in North Yorkshire, England.
  • In real life, the main house is Highclere Castle, located in Highclere Park, southwest of Newbury, Hampshire, England.
  • The surrounding village you see in the show is mostly filmed in Bampton, a real village in Oxfordshire’s Cotswolds.

Fictional vs Real Locations

  • Fictional world:
    • Downton Abbey estate and Downton village are portrayed as being in North Yorkshire.
  • Real filming world:
    • Highclere Castle (the big house) – Hampshire.
* Bampton (village scenes) – Oxfordshire.

* Other key scenes use locations across Berkshire, Northumberland, Wiltshire, and more.

If You Want to Visit

  • Fans who “visit Downton Abbey” are usually going to Highclere Castle, which opens to the public on selected dates and also offers themed Downton-related visits.
  • You can also visit Bampton village to see the church and buildings used as the hospital and village center in the series.
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