Mid Summer Special Guided Tours. May-Jul 2024


The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon are opening their home this year on selected dates through May and into early July. 

We are also delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Summer Garden Party for our Friends of Highclere on Saturday 15th June.

Please click HERE for more information about Friends of Highclere.


“Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." – commented the American author Henry James, who spent several weekends staying with the 4th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle 130 years ago.


 

 

 

 

Join us to experience a Midsummer Special Guided Tour of Highclere Castle. Highclere Castle has been part of the Carnarvon family since the late seventeenth century. Whilst rich in treasure and steeped in history, Highclere retains the warmth and welcome of a much-loved family home. It is, of course, also the fictional home of the Grantham family in “Downton Abbey”.


During your tour, the guides will lead you through the real and film worlds of ‘Upstairs’ before exploring downstairs which, today, is our Egyptian Exhibition. It tells the story of, and presents antiquities from another civilisation, whilst recreating the discovery and tomb of Tutankhamun discovered by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter 100 years ago.

We very much hope you will later both visit the Gift Shop and explore the Gardens, from the White Border, to the Secret Garden and Rose Arbour.  It is a beautiful time of year to enjoy the trees and nature around the Castle. 


Tickets are £140 per person which includes a Guided Tour of the Castle with plenty of time to view the Egyptian Exhibition, Grounds and Gardens.

The number of visitors on these tours are very limited and tickets include complimentary refreshments (for example homemade scones, quiches, soups, cakes and sandwiches all served by our team from the Coach House) as well as a signed copy of Lady Carnarvon’s beautiful book “Seasons at Highclere”.

Tickets are also available for Carers and Children (4-16 years) at £85.


Please note, we cannot guarantee that refreshments served are either Dairy-Free or Nut-Free.  We are able to offer a Vegetarian or Gluten-Free options for these tours. Please email theoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk in advance of your visit to reserve.



Your tour will commence promptly at the time stated on your tickets.  Please make your way to the Front Door of the Castle as follows:

Morning Guided Tours begin at 10:30am   (please gather by the Castle Front Door at 10:20am)

Afternoon Guided Tours begin at 1:30pm  (please gather by the Castle Front Door at 1:20pm)

If you choose the afternoon tour, please do arrive an hour early to walk around the Gardens.  If you choose the morning tour, please do take the time to enjoy the Gardens after your tour.


The Gates and Grounds open from 9.30am for the morning visitors and close at 5pm for the afternoon visitors.

Dress code for the event is smart/casual, please wear sensible footwear for the Gardens.

If you are a Friend of Highclere, we reserve a number of tickets on dates that have sold out, for priority access where possible. Please email theoffice@highclerecastle.co.uk to enquire.

To find out more about becoming a member of ‘Friends of Highclere’, please click HERE 


Click HERE to view our Terms and Conditions and click HERE to view our Frequently Asked Questions. If you wish to read these pages, please do so BEFORE entering your ticket requirements here.


If you have already purchased tickets you can use the button below to login, then view, download and print them.

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Please print your tickets and bring them along with you on the day of your visit.

Total cost