Mary
Gurnee
I'm a huge fan of Downton Abbey and would love to see the Highclere Castle and some of the other castles featured in the show. My question is to go on a tour or on our own? Best time of year to go? Any hints to avoid some of the more crowded periods? Great place to stay to complete my "Downtown" experience. Willing to go on a higher budget so mainly looking for a great experience.
Best time would be in the summer months just because of the weather (June-September) but just a warning, prices go up in these months and it is more crowded. If you go in the off months, you'll avoid the crowd but the weather won't be as great.
Whenever you decide to visit Highclere Castle, I recommend purchasing your tickets on their website (https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk/admission-tickets). It's also a good way to find out if there are any upcoming events or if they may be closed during your visit.
I would look into visiting Hever Castle & Gardens. Not far from Highclere and its beautiful. Windsor Castle is another great castle to visit.
Have fun!
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If you have time, Lincoln Castle would be worth a visit too. It was built by William the Conqueror so has huge history to it and it also houses one of the four remaining original copies of Magna Carta in an amazing underground vault. There is a Downton Abbey link too as the Victorian prison inside was used as the location for the prison that Bates spent time in!
Somewhere to stay to complete the experience could be Washingborough Hall Hotel which is a stunning Manor house not too far from the city.
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Jillian
Mary