Stay near a castle

Where to stay near Highclere Castle

No, you cannot stay overnight at Highclere Castle itself. The castle's own website directs visitors to a 'Where To Stay' page for accommodation in the surrounding area, and its estate cottages are let only as long-term, unfurnished residential tenancies, not as holiday stays.

Mercure Newbury West Grange Hotel, Thatcham

Historic places to stay near Highclere Castle

Grimsbury Castle, Thatcham

Level 3 Tower, Fort & Folly

Grimsbury Castle

Thatcham, Sussex

about 8.5 miles (13 km) from the castle

An 18th-century sham castle built as a gamekeeper's lodge next to the Grimsbury hillfort. It is a folly rather than a fortified building, and local histories describe it as a private house.

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The castle and the places to stay around it.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.

About Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle in Hampshire is a family home of the Carnarvon family, known worldwide as the filming location for the television series Downton Abbey. The castle's own website notes that the estate's boundaries were marked out in Anglo Saxon times, when the land belonged to the Bishops of Winchester.

The castle also holds an Egyptian Exhibition in its cellars, linked to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon's involvement in the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The estate hosts weddings, corporate events and seasonal tours, run today under Lady Carnarvon.

Visiting Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is generally open to visitors in spring and summer, according to its own website, though exact dates change each year and tours require pre-booking (at the time of checking, September 2026). Parking is available on the castle grounds, but nearest train station details were not confirmed on the pages opened.

Questions

Can you stay overnight at Highclere Castle?

No. The castle's own website directs visitors to a separate 'Where To Stay' page for accommodation nearby, rather than offering rooms in the castle itself. Its estate cottages are let only as long-term, unfurnished residential tenancies, not as holiday stays.

Who owns Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle is the family home of the Carnarvon family. The estate's own website says its boundaries were marked out in Anglo Saxon times, when the land belonged to the Bishops of Winchester.

Why is Highclere Castle famous?

Highclere Castle is the filming location for the television series Downton Abbey. It also holds an Egyptian Exhibition in its cellars, connected to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon's role in the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.

Is there parking at Highclere Castle?

Yes. The castle's own website confirms parking is available on the grounds, though it does not give capacity or facility details, according to the page checked in September 2026.

Sources and checks

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