Highclere Castle & Oxford tour from London

Evan Evans Office - 258 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, Westminster, London SW1V 1BS, UK,

Highclere Castle has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679 and is set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland, in the Hampshire countryside. The original house dates back to the Domesday Book while the present-day Castle was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry – the same architect who designed the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The gardens were designed for the 1st Earl of Carnarvon by the famous 18th century landscape gardener "Capability" Brown.

The Castle’s history also includes a fascinating connection with ancient Egypt, as the 5th Earl, with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.
In more recent history, Highclere Castle has become the location of ‘Downton Abbey’ – the hugely successful drama series with over 11 million viewers in the UK and now shown in over 100 countries across the world.
The tour begins with the main State Rooms before going upstairs to the Galleried bedrooms.
There are between 250 and 300 rooms in the Castle Saloon and during your tour you will explore the main state rooms so familiar from "Downton Abbey". You will see some of the bedrooms after which you will follow the stairs down to the cellars and old staff quarters where you will find the Egyptian Exhibition.

In November 1922 the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter stood outside a sealed door in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt and went on to discover the tomb of Tutankhamun. It was the first global media event and has given a legacy of understanding knowledge and insight into a remarkable civilisation.

A highlight of the tour, The Egyptian Exhibition explores the path to the discovery of this most famous of tombs. The six rooms of the exhibition catalogue the Earl’s fascination with Egypt, his early excavations from 1906 onwards, his relationship with his friend Howard Carter and the discovery and contents of the tomb, including a magnificent reproduction of the sarcophagus. It begins with part of the Earl’s own collection of antiquities.

It has been over four years since Downton Abbey’s final television episode aired, capturing over 180 million of us, but while it left our screens, it has never left the hearts of its fans across the world.

2019 saw the premier of Downton Abbey: The Movie in which the beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepared for the most important moment of their lives - a royal visit from the king and queen of England which left the future of Downton hanging in the balance.
You have watched the series and seen the movie – now relive every scene during your visit to Highclere Castle: glide down the grand oak staircase like Lady Mary did on her wedding day, sit at Jackdaws Castle where Lady Edith so often found herself and take in the state dining room where many of the Dowager Countess' wonderfully acerbic lines were delivered by Dame Maggie Smith.

We continue our day with a visit to 'The City of Dreaming Spires', perhaps best known for its world-famous university and incredible architecture.

The origins of Oxford University can be traced back to the 11th century, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Throughout the city, elegant stone spires and domes rise up into the city skyline from medieval stone buildings. Little surprise, then, that this beautiful city has provided the backdrop for countless movie and TV series, including Harry Potter and Inspector Morse.

Enjoy a walking tour of the city with your expert guide, who will bring the history and charm of this beautiful city to life. As you walk through the cobbled streets, you'll see architecture from every period in English history, from early Saxon right through to the Gothic Revival.

This is the only place in the country where you'll find buildings from every period in English history, which is what makes Oxford so unique. Highlights include Radcliffe Camera – the breath-taking exterior of the Bodleian Library, the Ashmolean Museum and the Sheldonian Theatre. You will also see the entrance to Christchurch College, linked with the Harry Potter films.

London Victoria Train Station
Your tour will finish outside London Victoria Train Station, centrally located and easily accessible by national rail and underground.