Downton Abbey
As our tour ended in London it gave us the opportunity to make the pilgrimage to Downton Abby (ok, it's really Highclere Castle). Even though we didn't get tickets ahead of time, by arriving early, we were able to get walk-ups. If you don’t book a tour from London to Highclere and don’t want to rent a car, you can still go. It took us two subway stops, a train ride and cab to get there by 9:30am in time for the opening of the ticket office. It was worth it! No pictures are allowed inside, so I can’t share the interior, but the rooms were just as they appear in the tv show. I really wanted my picture taken as I descended from the main staircase. Sigh.
Whilst having tea outside, Lady Carnarvon made an appearance as she was trying to bring her dog back in from scrounging for crumbs. Don't forget the basement! The fifth Earl of Carnarvon and his colleague, Howard Carter, discovered King Tut's tomb. The basement of the castle houses many of their discoveries along with replicas found in King Tut’s tomb. |