Highclere Castle visitor information
World famous from its starring role in the smash hit drama series Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle’s future is secure thanks to the scores of visitors who have flocked to witness its imposing façade first hand. Tourist revenue, not to mention location fees, have done much to support the notorious cost of maintaining a stately home, or in this case, castle. Nestled in the lee of Iron Age Beacon Hill, Highclere Castle and its previous occupiers are steeped in ancient history.
In 1907 the 5th Earl Carnarvon set sail for Egypt with Howard Carter in search of hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It was an expedition that would lead to the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb but neither man expected that it would take 16 years and ultimately end the Earl’s life when he shaved across the top of a mosquito bite which ended in blood poisoning and fatal pneumonia. The curse of Tutankhamun? Today the Castle boasts a magnificent Egyptian collection from those expeditions; Tutankhamun’s Tomb and other wonderful artefacts are on display in the castle’s cellar.
Outside are immaculately landscaped secret gardens and woodland grounds with awe-inspiring views sculpted by the legendary Capability Brown. Despite its appeal to a modern audience, Highclere Castle is a place time has forgotten, at least for a century or so, and is well worth a visit to tap into its slower, more measured, pace of life.
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