Hampshire's 'real Downton Abbey' prepares for busy week
Highclere Castle is celebrating a two-day event to mark the end of the second world war as well as preparing for the release of the new Downton film
Last updated 4th Sep 2025
Highclere Castle near Newbury - better known worldwide as 'Downton Abbey' - will mark the end of the Second World War with a special two-day 'a weekend to remember' event.
It's the start of a busy week which will see the release of the second (and some say) final Downton Abbey film.
This weekend's event will feature live music, dancing, talks, exhibitions and fly-pasts from the B-17 Flying Fortress and the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain memorial flight.
Lady Carnarvon - who calls Highclere castle 'home' - told us:
"It's worth doing a shout-out now to raise money for those who serve and those who save. To bring some wonderful charities together and put them in front of people and use the excitement of the Downton Abbey film for some really good causes."
"During the war Highclere was a home for evacuee children, so it was children from North London. They were tiny, they were two, three, four years old, nothing. It's a lovely metaphor for looking after other people. I've always tried to stay politically neutral and just to find reasons and threads to gather us all together."
With Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale due to be released on 12 Sept it's maybe no surprise that Lady Carnarvon has weaved the film into the weekend. She added:
"We've got a special tribute marquee to the one and only Dame Maggie Smith, which I thought was a lovely idea to celebrate all that she gave us during her lifetime. I hope there'll be something for everyone."
You can find out more about the event here