• Small Groups
  • Interesting Itineraries
  • Personalized Service

'World of Downton Abbey' Stately Homes & Country Villages Weekend

separator

Downton Abbey film locations: Greys Court, Basildon Park, Bampton, Swinbrook + Astor Family's Cliveden, Blenheim Palace & Oxford.

2 days from London

separator

Gardens, treasure houses and wonderful countryside!

Overviewicon Itineraryicon

This is a suggested tour itinerary for private departures, adjustable to best suit your specific wishes. Price based on how many travelers, your chosen package inclusions and your chosen level of accommodation.

 

This tour begins and ends in London.

 

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day 1

A full day today as we make our way into the countryside, with the Astor family’s magnificent country gardens at Cliveden our first destination. Follow in the footsteps of dukes, earls and royalty as you explore this formal series of gardens that include topiary, colorful seasonal planting in the Long Garden plus the celebrated parterre offering breathtaking views. Now a luxury hotel, for more than 300 years Cliveden was the glittering hub of high society, home to aristocracy and royalty and visited by many famous friends.

 

Edged with a medieval parkland, Greys Court is a rich patchwork of styles and stories, a Tudor mansion with a mid 20th-century interior featuring an 18th-century tweak. Greys Court provided a magical backdrop for a decadent family picnic scene during filming of series three of Downton Abbey. Chosen for its atmospheric setting with a country house backdrop, the house, maze and gardens are well worth visiting in any case!

 

Also today, Basildon Park, an impressive Georgian mansion surrounded by glorious parkland. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th Century mansion. Basildon Park lit up the small screen in the Downton Abbey Christmas special 2013 as ‘Grantham House,’ the Crawleys’ London residence.

 

Our overnight location is in the ‘city of dreaming spires’ Oxford. Guests are free to explore this university town as they choose tonight and first thing in the morning.

 

Overnight: Oxford

BB

Day 2

This morning, a bit of a late start so guests have some additional time in Oxford as they choose.

 

Our first destination is the ancient market town of Bampton, one of the oldest towns in England featuring many pleasant 17th and 18th century houses, a few inns and a Italianate Town Hall. Certainly to be recognizable as many outdoor scenes of Downton Abbey are filmed here, most notably St. Mary’s Church and the library, which serves as the entrance to the cottage hospital.

 

The lovely Cotswold village of Swinbrook, a quintessentially English village where time has stood still, hosted the elopement of Lady Sybil with the family chauffeur Branson in the second series of Dowton Abbey. Here too are connections to the notorious Mitford sisters, the property owned by Debo, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire until her passing in 2014.

 

Later, see the incredible treasure house and garden estate Blenheim Palace, given to Winston Churchill’s ancestor John, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The superb collection here includes fine paintings, furniture, bronzes and the famous Marlborough Victories tapestries. In addition to the opulent palace itself, see the amazing gardens, designed in part by ‘Capability’ Brown.

 

We will return to London by early evening.

 

 

Please note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website. While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times beyond our control.

 

Please note that your final day to day itinerary may fluctuate to accommodate variable opening times/days for listed attractions, special events and places of interest. Please discuss your needs with us for an individual itinerary with rate quote.

 

Oft imitated, never duplicated! This is an original SGT itinerary, property of Special Group Tours and to be used only with express permission/in conjunction with SGT.

Inclusionsicon

What Your Tour Package Includes

This is a suggested tour itinerary and can be modified to best you your individual wishes.

 

Suggested tour package includes: # of touring days with vehicle & exclusive services of your driver/guide/companion, your accommodation for # nights while on the tour including full breakfasts, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide. Your price also can include dinners and/or entrance fees to attractions or these items can be left out of the up front package/to be paid directly for maximum flexibility. Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour, scheduled city day tours/attraction passes/transport passes or theatre/event tickets can be added to your package as you wish, subject to availability.

 

SGT is at your service!

Mapicon Why SGT?icon

The Special Group Tours Advantage is our unique and intimate understanding of what you expect traveling in the UK and Europe. We have not only visited but have spent many years living in and loving the cultures you will experience down the ‘B’ Roads and off the beaten track. We have worked with local suppliers and our guide/companion team for over a decade, creating unique special interest itineraries. Special Group Tours offers our “insider” knowledge to you.

 

The SGT Small Group Touring Concept is traveling with just 4 - 14 guests per departure. It is our aim to introduce you to the 'real' country and its people, not just ticking the boxes of a standardized route and treating you as an individual and not a number. Our concept allows for a leisurely touring pace and flexibility to get off the beaten track to discover hidden gems. Of course you'll see the major sites but so much more too!

 

At Special Group Tours, it is our priority that you have the most enjoyable holiday possible. You deserve it!