If you have ever watched the hit show Downton Abbey, you have probably lusted over the stunning setting of the Highclere Castle. Posh Voyage is here to take you back to 1912 and tell you exactly how to explore Newbury and make you feel like you have just stepped into the show. Spend a day being charmed by all that this lovely part of the UK has to offer.

10:00am- Start your adventure in the lovely little town of Bampton, which is host to some scenes in the show. Anytime one of the characters, namely the late but handsome Matthew, heads into town, the scenes are done in Bampton. Have coffee, tea and scones at Bampton Coffee Shop to begin your day. You can also visit St. Mary the Virgin, which is the church called St. Michael’s and All Angels in the show and it is where Lady Edith took Matthew sightseeing in season one.

12:00pm- Stop for lunch at The Vineyard at Stockcross, an elegant hotel with an amazing restaurant on your way from Bampton to Newbury. Maggie Smith is rumored to have stayed there during filming. Dine at the California Bar, where you can enjoy lovely French dishes and perfect wine pairings. They have a 3,000 bin wine list – drooling.

2:00pm- Head to Highclere Castle, the site where Downton Abbey is filmed. It is open to the public during the summer and is a beautiful setting. Be sure to reserve your tickets way in advance because visits to the castle have quadrupled since the premiere of the show. There is no official tour of the castle, but docents are available in each room to answer any questions.

4:00pm- After you finish your afternoon inside the castle, stick around and stroll through the castle’s grounds – keep your eyes peeled for a bench underneath a Cedar Tree because it is supposedly known as “Maggie’s Bench”, for the great actress has been known to sit and sip her tea there.

6:00pm- Once you have had your fix of the stunning Highclere Castle, visit the Esseborne Manor for pre-dinner drinks and canapés on the outdoor patio. Most of the cast stayed at this hotel during filming. To experience dining in the exact same location as the famed cast, eat at The Courtyard, an award-winning restaurant that overlooks the beautiful property.

9:00pm- Head back to the stunning Barnsley House (Hotel of the Week article coming Friday!) where you can rest your heads in the pure luxury of a 17th century country home and watch an episode (or 12) of Downton Abbey in their 30-guest, on site cinema. Have a cocktail first in the adjacent Garden Room before you finish your night binge watching a show that you experienced in real life. Beats Netflix, right?
However, if you really want to live like Lady Mary, stay at the guest wing of the Highclere Castle. It is sold out for the next year, though, so make sure you book as far in advance as you can.