Highclere Festival Weekend: WW2 and D-Day

Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th October 2024

Come along and listen to a variety of speakers, learn to dance swing, sing along with 1940s performers and tap your toes to the music.

• Castle Tours
• Egyptian Exhibition
• Specialist ‘Pop-Up’ Talks
• Live Vintage Music
• Vintage Cars
• Swing Dancing
• Living History Reenactors
• Croquet and Badminton on the Castle Lawns
• Vintage Costume Display
• Children’s Storytelling and Activities

Come along to listen to a variety of speakers, learn to dance swing, sing along to the 1940s singers and tap your toes to the music.

There will be vintage car displays, lawn games and a 'History of Flight' tent detailing the planes and crew which crashed on the Highclere Estate during World War 2.  

The Castle will be open for you to tour and explore at your leisure, should you wish, as well as enjoying reenactments from the Second World War on the Castle Lawns, including activities for children.

We are able to offer various ticket types for the weekend:

• Castle Admission with Event Access
• Castle and Egyptian Exhibition Admission with Event Access
• Or Event Access Only- this ticket gives you the chance to explore and enjoy the various activities and entertainment taking place in the grounds but please note that it does not give access to the inside of the Castle or Egyptian Exhibition.

The event and entertainment in the grounds will be scheduled throughout the day from 10:00am – 5:00pm and all ticketholders are welcome onsite between these times. There are three admission times for those touring the Castle and Exhibition.  Please note you are welcome to enter the Castle and Exhibition at any time within your booked window. In order to book, please choose a date on the selector below, followed by a ticket type, then your admission time.

•    Morning Admission:
      Admission between 10:00am – 12:30pm
•    Midday Admission:
      Admission between 12:30pm – 2:30pm
•    Afternoon Admission:
      Admission between 2:30pm – 4:00pm. 

Last admission to the Castle is 4:00pm. Regardless of your Castle/Exhibition admission ticket timing, you are welcome to visit the Gardens, Tearooms and Gift Shop throughout the day.  The Grounds and Event closes at 5:00pm.

Tours of the Castle and Egyptian Exhibition are on a self-guided basis, with guides throughout to provide information and assistance.

Our Tearooms will be open throughout the day offering a delicious selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as our Highclere Castle Gin Cocktail Bar!

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.

Ticket Prices:

• Please note: We reserve the right to amend the proposed schedule of events and entertainment. We cannot be held responsible for events outside of our control that may prevent planned entertainment and displays taking place. The photographs on this page only reflect the theme.

• Picnics (other than those bought from Highclere Castle) are not permitted at this event.