Early Evening VIP Guided Tour & Event Admission
Saturday 5^th October

Following a fun filled day in the Castle grounds, we are delighted to offer a further opportunity for a small number of exclusive VIP guests to join an evening guided tour with Lady Carnarvon.  The evening VIP guests will be able to enjoy the Highclere Festival Event throughout the day from 10:00am before enjoying an Early Evening Guided Tour at 4:00pm on Saturday 5^th October 2024. 

Lady Carnarvon will welcome VIP guests at 4:00pm in the Saloon, at the heart of the Castle, with a glass of Champagne.

Guests are invited to listen to Lady Carnarvon share some of the stories of life here during the war years, as seen in her book “Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey”, and answer any questions you may have about Highclere’s rich history.

Guests will then embark on a guided tour through the Castle State Rooms and the Gallery Bedrooms. Our guides have exceptional knowledge of the building, works of art and furniture along with behind-the-scenes stories to tell from their time working as stewards during the filming of "Downton Abbey".

After your guided tour, travel back in time and descend down the old servants’ stairs into the Castle cellars to explore the magnificent Egyptian Exhibition.

One hundred years ago, Lord Carnarvon, other leading Egyptologists of the day, Egyptian officials and much of the world’s press, gathered outside the unremarkable entrance to the tomb of a minor pharaoh to experience the discovery of the richest Egyptian burial ever found.

Each VIP ticket holder will receive a signed copy of ‘Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey” written by Lady Carnarvon.

Tickets for the Evening VIP Guided Tour and Event Admission are £95. Please note, we are unable to offer reduced rate or concession tickets for this tour option.

For more information about the entertainment taking place over the weekend, please click HERE.

For Evening VIP ticket holders, the Grounds will close at 5:30pm.

PICNIC AFTERNOON TEAS

We are pleased to offer an opportunity to combine your visit to Highclere Castle with our "Picnic Afternoon Tea for Two" - a selection of delicious cakes, scones and sandwiches with a Half Bottle of Joseph Perrier Champagne served in a beautiful box.

We offer a Standard Menu, Vegetarian Menu and a Gluten-Free Menu. These menu options apply to the entire Picnic Box. We are unable to offer mixed menus within one Box. We cannot guarantee that our products are either dairy free or nut free. For details on our Menus for "Picnic Afternoon Tea", please click  HERE.

If you wish to add a "Picnic Afternoon Tea for Two" box to your order, you can select this add-on option below. Our Picnic Afternoon Tea Boxes are £75 for two people.