Coming Soon: A Room at Downton Abbey

by James Ruggia
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Mon January 5, 2015

PHOTO: Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is adding some hotel rooms. (Courtesy of VisitBritain)

Season Five of Downton Abbey got underway on Public Television Stations on Sunday night after much anticipation. When last seen, the series was attracting an international viewership of about 120 million. Once again the viewership will return to enjoy characters shaped by entitlement and the servitude that entitlement commands. A series of intriguing story lines enlivens all that shoe shining and once again the series is inspiring more travel developments in Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.

Beginning in February, guests will be able to stay on the grounds of Highclere Castle, the estate used to portray the Abbey itself. After more than two years of renovation, the hotel will open on the grounds of the castle in February, though it's probably already too late to get a room for St. Valentine's Day. The official name of the hotel is London Lodge, though it's at least 60 miles from London.

The hotel was created from a building that was built in 1793 to celebrate the first Earl of Carnarvon's admittance into the Peerage. The hotel is comprised of individual lodges that are located on either side of a historic archway. A room at Highclere will be priced from £350 ($540) per night. Highclere Castle is still where the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon call home and the estate features programs, including tours, to accommodate visitors.

Located among the 1,000-acre estate's 300 rooms are some 5,650 rare books and an art collection that includes paintings by Anthony van Dyck and an extensive Egyptian collection. A former Lord Carnavon actually accompanied Howard Carter, the man who discovered King Tut's tomb (and who died from its legendary curse), on a trip to Egypt.

New York-based Sceptre Tours and Britain-based Tours International are both offering Downton oriented tours. Sceptre's seven-night Classic World of Downton Abbey combines four nights at the Kensington Hotel in London and three nights at the Oxford Belfry in Oxford. The tour is completely independent and explores show locations as well as other relevant sites, including what may be the most beautiful of all British estates, Blenheim Palace, the boyhood home of Winston Churchill.

PHOTO: Though not a Downton location, the magnificent Blenheim Palace, is often added to Downton programs. (Photo by James Ruggia)

The tour visits High Street and Arlington Row, and the village of Bampton, where the majority of the show is filmed. Highlights of this tour include a visit to the Churchgate House which was used as the Crawley Family Home, the old Grammar School which served as the Downton Cottage Hospital and two local pubs, "The Grantham Arms" and "The Dog & Duck."

Priced from $2,825 from New York, the package includes airfare, private transfers, car rental to be picked up when departing London for Oxford, hotels, breakfast daily, service charges, taxes and a tour of Downton Abbey Village, Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds.

For something more local, you might try the Tours International Ltd., which has added a three-night Downton Abbey package (July 27 to 30) from $1,750 per person double. The package includes a visit to Highclere Castle, afternoon tea at Byfleet Manor, Basildon Park and Bampton village, which are all locations on the show. The package is centered in central London where it uses a four-star hotel. A ride on the London Eye with champagne and a tour of London is also included.

PHOTO: Bampton Village serves as the village on Downton Abbey. (Photo by James Ruggia)

If you prefer to go it alone you can go to Visit Oxfordshire's dedicated website, which offers a downloadable map of Downton locations.

The series is providing a boost to British heritage via tourism as all of the visitation is encouraging renovation of historic buildings. Actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton's Earl of Brampton), is helping raise funds to preserve the building used as Downton Abbey hospital, which in reality serves as Bampton's library.

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