Situated a short drive from Reading is Highclere Castle, home of the 8th Earl & Countess of Carnarvon and the film location of Downton Abbey.

Highclere Castle has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. Built on an ancient site, the original house was recorded in the Domesday Book. The present-day Castle was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, the architect also responsible for building the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

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. The Castle houses an exhibition that commemorates this historic event, including some rare antiquities from the 5th Earl's earlier Egyptian excavations.

We welcome many visitors each year to view the Castle, the Egyptian exhibition and the surrounding grounds and gardens.This unique setting is also available for private events, corporate events and film locations.We are open on set dates throughout the year. Please see our website for our opening times and prices.