Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
4.5
Downton Abbey and Oxford Tour from London Including Highclere Castle
By Premium Tours - London Tours
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About
Even if you’re on a tight schedule in London, this tour allows you to escape the city and see some of southern England’s highlights in just one day. Ideal for first-time visitors and fans of Downton Abbey, this day trip transports you between dispersed attractions such as Highclere Castle and Oxford, and comes with the insider knowledge of your guide.
Ages 3-99, max of 75 per group
Duration: 10h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- See more of England than you would on your own
- Discover the famous Oxford University with a guide
- Letting someone else drive allows you to focus on the scenery
- Visit Downton Abbey filming locations, including Highclere Castle
- Entry to Highclere Castle
- Walking tour of Oxford and a village of Bampton
- A copy of Lady Carnarvon's autobiography
- Professional guide
- Transportation by Air-Conditioned Coach
- Entry/Admission - Highclere Castle
What's not included- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry/Admission - University of Oxford
- Start:
- Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UKLocated approximately 7 minute walk from Victoria Underground and Railway station. Tour departs inside the building at Gate 19 at 8:15am (Boarding starts at 8:00am).
End:- Victoria Railway Station, 115 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9SA, UKThe station is served by the Victoria, District and Circle line with easy access to trains/buses/taxis.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2452DOWNTON- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The itinerary is subject to change. The visit to Bampton cannot be guaranteed in case of events taking place in the village. In this case extra time will be spent in Oxford.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers
- All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2452DOWNTON
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9TP, UKLocated approximately 7 minute walk from Victoria Underground and Railway station. Tour departs inside the building at Gate 19 at 8:15am (Boarding starts at 8:00am).
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- Victoria Railway Station, 115 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 9SA, UKThe station is served by the Victoria, District and Circle line with easy access to trains/buses/taxis.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- trisho3920 contributionsDisappointingI have been on many tours in the UK and US and this was by far the worst. Our tour guide James did not wait for everyone to exit the coach before he took off so we felt like we had to chase him. He had a small unopened umbrella that could not be seen so we could not find him. While waiting in line at Windsor he only talked to the front of the line and we could not hear him. We learned more from the tour guides behind us who made sure everyone in his tour could hear. The same pattern continued at every stop and I felt left behind and disappointed that I didn’t learn about our destinations. He was condescending to passengers who asked questions and even told a woman who told him she did not get her gluten free meal, oh well, someone else got it you will be fine. I have been looking forward to this tour and am frustrated and saddened at the outcome. My family and I will be choosing a different tour company for our future UK trips.Written September 15, 2024
- marktQ3264KU0 contributionsWindsor Castle/Stonehenge/BathGreat trip made wonderful by James our guide and Wasabe our expert driver. Lunch at the George Inn was great. James is very knowledgeable and plies his trade well.Written September 15, 2024
- blackb8270 contributionsHad a wonderful day with James and WasameThe tour was wonderful. All the places are worth your visit. I went with James and Wasame and they took us to the most secenic route. This was a whole day trip, but never felt tired. It's worth it. 💚Written September 15, 2024
- OrangePear0 contributionsRocks, wizards and hot waterWasamme and James were great. James was very funny and engaging. Would have been nice to have a little more time at each locationWritten September 15, 2024
- easttmoore20180 contributionsGreat day, long dayIt’s a long day, but well worth it. Full of humour and history. 8 was last here I. 2010, good to come back again. Thanks to James and Wasami!Written September 15, 2024
- OnAir081488764210 contributionsStonehenge, Windsor, Bath excellent experienceJames our tour guide and Wasami our driver were awesome! They went above and beyond! I wish we had a little more time in Bath, but overall a top rate experience that I can recommend to all!Written September 15, 2024
- vanessasQ4792RK0 contributionsGreat experienceJames and wasami were wonderful, james was funny and entertaining. James was very knowledgeable of the area and landmarks. He made the 13 hrs fly by!Written September 15, 2024
- Adventurer7211660 contributionsLong Day - Beautiful SitesJames and Wasmasea. Loved seeing the sites. Bath is beautiful. Wish there was more time at each location. Felt a little rushed.Written September 15, 2024
- theyoungsa0 contributionsA Grand Adventure!An amazing day seeing Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Lacock & Bath. Our guide, James, was knowledgeable, efficient, organized & humorous. Wasami, the driver, was pleasant & safe. What a great memory for us all!Written September 15, 2024
- adrianab8450 contributionsStonehenge and Bath adventureJames is a very knowledgeable guide. He leads a group in a quite organized way to keep the pace and on time. He is quite funny and charming telling stories about the places we visited. Out driver, Wasami, is an excellent driver. Places were great, lunch was good. We had a great day. Thanks to bothWritten September 15, 2024
- Daydream3093880 contributionsWonderful Tour of Wonderful Places in EnglandJames (our guide) & Wasmame (our driver) were fantastic guides on this long day trip from London. I love tidbits of historical info when I’m on tours, and James nailed that with great humor. Seeing the places was great, but now I also know a few more things about thatched roofs, pig farming, Roman baths, and royal clockwinders. Wasmame took us on an extended scenic route on the way back to London so we could see the beautiful panoramic views of Wales and Bristol. I highly recommend this tour and these guides if you can get them. I had a great time!Written September 15, 2024
- boo08800 contributionsLong amazing day!This was a long but fantastic trip. We saw so many sights and were given so much information from our tour guide James. Each stop had something amazing and unique to offer and the late lunch in Lacock was delicious. Our driver for the day, Wasame, got us to each stop quickly and safely. He was amazing! I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone on a tight schedule on a trip to London.Written September 15, 2024
- scottdR8323YI0 contributionsGreat tour to BathThe family and I had a great time visiting Bath, Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. Bath was definitely the highlight. James was an excellent guide and was very knowledgeable. Wasame was an excellent driver and we appreciated being taken on the scenic route out of Bath.Written September 15, 2024
- Trail162781532930 contributionsGreat tour of Bath, Stonehenge, Lacock, and Windsor Castle!James was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable. And Wasame was a wonderful and patient driver. The tour covered a lot of ground in one day - Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Lacock, and Bath - it was so charming. I highly recommend it!Written September 15, 2024
- K9459HBmichaele0 contributionsTerrific Tour!This was an excellent way to cover a lot of ground in one day: starting off at Windsor Castle, continuing on to Stonehenge, an optional pub lunch in the village of Lacock and then on to the city of Bath… well over 200 land miles in total distance. Expect to have 60-90 minutes per stop, so do your homework and figure out “must see” sights ahead of time. Windsor castle is lovely, but Stonehenge won the prize for me: perfect sunny weather with sufficient viewing time. The end stop (Bath) was a bit rushed, so a little more time there would have been optimal. The bus driver, Carlos, was marvelous: expertly navigating the coach around traffic congestion. And the tour guide, Eugene, was fantastic and friendly, very knowledgeable with historical facts and curious trivia. All together, it was a fantastic experience which I heartily endorse.Written September 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
116 reviews
Excellent
93
Very good
12
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
2
MariaH
Calgary, Canada4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
I had a very wonderful and memorable time during this tour. It has been on my bucket list to visit Highclere Castle & Downton Village (Bampton) since I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey. A bonus was the visit to Oxford University.
A huge shout out to Carol, our tour guide, who is really outstanding at what she does. She has a very welcoming demeanor, personable, friendly and accommodating. She is very professional as well and you can tell she takes her job seriously. She provides a lot of information which makes you appreciate your tour more. Even the little things she adds on like playing background music of Downton Abbey while we enter the castle and playing a DVD of the series inside the coach. These little things adds to the overall experience which is truly unforgettable.
Even giving information about certain landmarks we see on the road, she provides. She really goes above and beyond….
Hayda, our coach driver, is excellent too and made our trip comfortable and safe.
Please extend my thanks to Carol and Hayda for a wonderful experience.
Maria H. from Canada
April 7 Highclere Castle tour
A huge shout out to Carol, our tour guide, who is really outstanding at what she does. She has a very welcoming demeanor, personable, friendly and accommodating. She is very professional as well and you can tell she takes her job seriously. She provides a lot of information which makes you appreciate your tour more. Even the little things she adds on like playing background music of Downton Abbey while we enter the castle and playing a DVD of the series inside the coach. These little things adds to the overall experience which is truly unforgettable.
Even giving information about certain landmarks we see on the road, she provides. She really goes above and beyond….
Hayda, our coach driver, is excellent too and made our trip comfortable and safe.
Please extend my thanks to Carol and Hayda for a wonderful experience.
Maria H. from Canada
April 7 Highclere Castle tour
Written April 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerome Prince-Foster
Sydney, Australia4 contributions
This was a wonderful tour. We went to Oxford (with free time here), then on to Bampton village where scenes for Downton Abbey were filmed and finally to Highclere Castle, the highlight of the tour.
Our tour guide, Peter was brilliant. He was personable, friendly, informative and funny. He showed us how much he loves his homeland and how much he knew about Downton Abbey. He made sure no-one got lost or left behind and that everyone fully understood his instructions. We’ve been on 5 tours with Premium Tours and Peter was the best guide we had.
A true highlight was that while looking around Highclere Castle, Lady Carnarvon often walks around and chats to people and she did on our tour. How exciting to get to talk to a member of the English aristocracy! It’s a beautiful place and the guides on duty were very helpful.
Our tour guide, Peter was brilliant. He was personable, friendly, informative and funny. He showed us how much he loves his homeland and how much he knew about Downton Abbey. He made sure no-one got lost or left behind and that everyone fully understood his instructions. We’ve been on 5 tours with Premium Tours and Peter was the best guide we had.
A true highlight was that while looking around Highclere Castle, Lady Carnarvon often walks around and chats to people and she did on our tour. How exciting to get to talk to a member of the English aristocracy! It’s a beautiful place and the guides on duty were very helpful.
Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonnie H
28 contributions
Jul 2022
Wonderful tour for a Downton Abbey fan! James, our tour guide, was fantastic! He was so knowledgeable and gave great commentary the whole day. And Andre, the driver, did great, especially making our way in a huge bus through small towns/streets.
My only feedback would be that it felt like our time in Bampton was 20-30 minutes too long. It was fun to get to see all the sites that the show was filmed, but there wasn’t much to do after that.
My only feedback would be that it felt like our time in Bampton was 20-30 minutes too long. It was fun to get to see all the sites that the show was filmed, but there wasn’t much to do after that.
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Madeline S
Jacksonville, FL25 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Our tour guide Frank was wonderful - full of wit and funny and interesting stories as we went about our day. It's a long day trip but definitely worth it for how much we got to see and do. Oxford was full of history and we had some time to get food. The village of Bampton was nice and it was a real treat to be able to go inside the church where they have filmed so many scenes. And of course, Highclere Castle was amazing - our tour guide played the theme song of Downton Abbey as we got close which was really delightful and added a lot to the tour as most of us were there to see the castle.
Only drawbacks: no charging stations on the bus for our phones. Given that we're gone for almost 12 hours and most of us are taking so many pictures, etc., it would have been nice to have to keep our device charged - most other tour buses have those USB charging stations at each seat. Also, it would have been nice for the tour guide to express the importance of everyone being on time for all of our departure points. Every single time we were a few minutes late leaving because a couple or two were late. With such a large group and the time crunch we're in, it'd be nice if people could respect that time.
Only drawbacks: no charging stations on the bus for our phones. Given that we're gone for almost 12 hours and most of us are taking so many pictures, etc., it would have been nice to have to keep our device charged - most other tour buses have those USB charging stations at each seat. Also, it would have been nice for the tour guide to express the importance of everyone being on time for all of our departure points. Every single time we were a few minutes late leaving because a couple or two were late. With such a large group and the time crunch we're in, it'd be nice if people could respect that time.
Written April 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicki C
Seattle, WA11 contributions
Aug 2022
Our guide, Karen, and our driver Nono (not sure of the spelling of his name, I'm sorry!) did a fantastic job. They were so accommodating and compassionate and the trip was really fun. We did Oxford, Bampton (village), and Highclere Castle. Karen was so witty and charming and genuinely seemed to love checking in with us and the other passengers. Nono was also very witty and fun. All in all, a great trip that I would heartily recommend.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lhk5
Haversham, UK3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Our guide, Frank, was very informative and had a sense of humor. He was quick to show us points of interest and tell us the history, but wasn’t overly talkative. He was cheerful and helpful. A great guide!
Eduardo, our driver, was so skillful on the narrow streets of London. He drove our bus with ease. He was friendly and always had a smile.
You will love spending your day on this tour. Every stop was meaningful and made you happy you chose this tour.
Highclere Castle blew me away. What a thrill!
Eduardo, our driver, was so skillful on the narrow streets of London. He drove our bus with ease. He was friendly and always had a smile.
You will love spending your day on this tour. Every stop was meaningful and made you happy you chose this tour.
Highclere Castle blew me away. What a thrill!
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee
Thorndale, PA46 contributions
The only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars is because of the chaos at Victoria Coach Station before the tour. Really crazy and I may stay away from this tour group next time because of it.
That being said I really recommend the actual tour itself. Our guide, Frank and driver, Andre were great. The time in Oxford, Bamley and Highclere was wonderful.
Loved see Mrs Crowley’s house in town and hearing the stories about filming there.
The 2 hours at Highclere were the best. Touring the house was wonderful and then walking the grounds, having scones and tea and visiting the gift shop was relaxing and really quite peaceful.
That being said I really recommend the actual tour itself. Our guide, Frank and driver, Andre were great. The time in Oxford, Bamley and Highclere was wonderful.
Loved see Mrs Crowley’s house in town and hearing the stories about filming there.
The 2 hours at Highclere were the best. Touring the house was wonderful and then walking the grounds, having scones and tea and visiting the gift shop was relaxing and really quite peaceful.
Written July 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran
Miami, Florida3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Frank our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and informative with a mux of good humor thrown in. The trip was well organized although could have used a bit more time in Oxford. The trip to Brampton and Highclere Castle for fans was a wonderful treat.
Plenty of time to enjoy the grounds, gardens and have some delicious treats.
Plenty of time to enjoy the grounds, gardens and have some delicious treats.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb
Krum, TX7 contributions
This was a great tour. The one thing to know is that you may not take photos in Highclere Castle. Our guide, Carol was very helpful and knowledgeable. Provided pleasant commentary about the sites along with clear information on what to expect from the tour and how to manage time. Our driver, Lamar was very skilled in managing the coach. Highly recommend this tour. When I was not sure if the meeting point, I called the tour operator and was provided additional instructions. Very helpful.
Written August 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katherine62500
El Paso, TX20 contributions
Wonderful experience with Ava our guide and Christian our driver. Ava had lots of knowledge of the history of the areas we visited and is truly a superfan of Downton Abbey herself. It was a perfect day and our group was small. So happy we booked this tour!
Written July 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are staying at Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel. What is the best way to get your location and how much time should we allow?
Written July 11, 2022
Hello! First, can you walk inside/throughout Highclere Castle and see the home? Second, when at Oxford, do they take you to Bodleian Library? If not, is there enough time to see it on your own?
Written June 17, 2022
Hi, I already have tickets for Highclere Castle for 9/5 at 12:30pm. Do you have tours to oxford and highclere without including the castle tickets? What would you recommend?
Written May 2, 2022
How long do you have in Oxford? I would like to visit the library and Christ church.
Written May 20, 2021
How many people will be on the tour bus?
Written December 14, 2020
Ciao c'è una guida che parli in Italiano? O un Tours sempre in italiano?
Written March 23, 2020
We will be in London 3 days in June only so planned a Highclere- Downton Abbey tour thurs or fri (6/25 or 6/26) - but noticed not available. Is there a way we can get on waiting list- or other way to be able to do a day trip similar?
Written November 21, 2019
There are multiple tours available. Did u check with all of them?
Written November 29, 2019
We will be in London end of May 2020, will this tour be available?
Written August 5, 2019
I would hope so, but to be safe you should look at various UK tour companies’ websites. I booked through Premium Tours eight months ahead of my tour.
Written August 5, 2019
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