Other than visiting Disney World, we really don’t have access to many castles in North America. So, it’s not a surprise that the Highclere Castle has attracted so much attention.
Even if you’ve never heard of the Highclere Castle, you’ve almost certainly heard of Downton Abbey– the PBS series set in the Hampshire countryside, with this spectacular Victorian-era English manor as its backdrop.
Highclere Castle has a number of other “claims to fame” as well:
- It was the setting for the British comedy series ‘Jeeves and Wooster’, which starred a young Hugh Laurie before he became Doctor House.
- It is owned by the Earl of Carnarvon (a British Aristocracy designation that is inherited). One of the previous Earls of Carnarvon was partners with Howard Carter, and participated in the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt. As a result, the Highclere castle has a display of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
- It was used as a hospital in World War I, and as a refugee center in WWII.
- It is the building where the British North America Act was signed into law in 1867 making Canada a sovereign nation. John A. MacDonald (Canada’s first Prime Minister) was on site for this signing.
This 14thCentury building has a ton of history, and if you are one of those who appreciates such things, then it’s well worth a visit.
You can visit Highclere Castle as a pre or post-cruise add-on with certain Viking Ocean and River cruise itineraries.
For example, on Viking’s “Paris & the Heart of Normandy” river cruise, you can add Oxford and Highclere Castle as an optional 3-night extension at the end of your cruise.
First you travel from Paris to London on the high-speed train, and then transfer for the short trip to Oxford where you’ll stay for three nights near the Castle. The next day you tour Oxford University – this is the oldest English-speaking university in the world. You then tour the Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and a UNESCO world heritage site. On the third day, you get special access to Highclere Castle as a result of an exclusive arrangement that Viking has made with the Earl of Carnarvon.
A couple of Viking’s ocean cruise itineraries offer the Oxford and Highclere Castle extension as well. For example you can do it on either the “British Isles Explorer” or “Into the Midnight Sun”, both of which travel between Bergen and London.
Here’s a video about visiting Highclere Castle with Viking Cruises: https://youtu.be/T1race8opks
If you’re a Downton Abbey fan, this side trip is not to be missed. Even if you’re just someone with an appreciation for historical buildings, you’ll get a lot out of this tour.
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Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
