Highclere Castle, also known as the real-life Downton Abbey, is a stunning Jacobethan-style country home in the English countryside, surrounded by gardens and woodland.
After dining on caviar, duck, filet of beef and a strawberry dessert covered in spun sugar, the royals retired early at Wentworth after their long journey. The royals inspected a march-past by army reservists from the terrace at Wentworth, as Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) does in the film, alongside the Queen and Princess Mary. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Please see the ‘Closures’ tab above. During the King's stay, a ball was held in the Marble Saloon, and the ballerina Anna Pavlova performed for the royal party. Use the 'more info’ button to see all the information about this …
There, in 1912, the real royal party were entertained by Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, following a 13-course dinner served by more than 20 footmen. Further filming took place at Pickering Station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and in the historic Little Germany area of Bradford. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20) and Your California Privacy Rights. This country estate was built in 1725, greatly enlarged in 1877, and then, in the 1930s, reduced in size to its current iteration. More information: wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk/. The property, whose price is available upon application, features a thatch-roofed summerhouse, a stone barn, a greenhouse, and an arboretum. These Yorkshire locations appear in the new Downton Abbey filmBack in 1912, the Marble Saloon, with its sprung dancefloor and galleried landings, was the focal point of the programme of entertainment laid on for King George V and Queen Mary. Famous for having the longest facade of any stately home in the UK, Wentworth Woodhouse is used in the film for its magnificent ballroom, creating the setting for the ball during the Royal visit. The home has five formal reception rooms, seven bedroom suites, and staff quarters. The King wanted to appear visible to his subjects, and decided to spend four days visiting collieries and factories in one of the country's manufacturing heartlands. Open Gardens tickets can be booked online or bought at the gate to the Stables (contactless payments only).
Realistically, there weren't many stately homes that were large and grand enough to host the King and Queen that were also within reasonable travelling distance of collieries, foundries and factories - Wentworth was the obvious candidate. The Downton Abbey movie hits theaters in the U.S. on September 20, but tickets are available now.