Grantham House, the London residence of the Crawley family in Downton Abbey, was filmed at Basildon Park in Berkshire for interior scenes. The exterior scenes for the London home, specifically for the 2013 Christmas special, featured the exterior of Bridgewater House in Cleveland Row, Westminster.
Basildon Park(opens in a new tab) steps into the spotlight as the Crawleys' London residence, Grantham House, for Downton Abbey series five and the Christmas 2013 special. Actually nestled in rural Berkshire, Basildon's period interiors sparkle on screen.
Where were the London scenes in Downton Abbey filmed?
Where are the London scenes filmed in Downton Abbey? Stroll the streets of Mayfair, Belgravia, and Westminster, where the Ritz London, Belgrave Square, and Bridgewater House all starred as sets in Downton Abbey's urban scenes.
Grantham House in Grantham town centre was built in the 14th Century and is Grade I listed. It is owned by the National Trust and more than £200,000 has been spent restoring the property and its five-acre gardens for visitors.
Downton fans will recognize its striking facade as that of Grantham House, the Crawleys' grand London residence, which makes its first appearance in season two and remains a regular fixture throughout. Alas, as Bridgewater/Grantham House is, in real life, a private residence, it's not possible to get inside.
Why was Maggie Smith written out of Downton Abbey?
Maggie Smith left Downton Abbey because she found the role draining, felt her character's arc was complete, and wanted to move on to other projects, with her departure culminating in the Dowager Countess's death in the second film, A New Era, a decision producer Gareth Neame found easy as Smith often expressed wanting to be "killed off". She signed contracts annually, never committing to stay forever, and expressed a desire to return to the stage and screen, feeling the show had reached a natural end with her character's story.
In fact, Highclere Castle's kitchen is very much a product of the 21st century, down to the stainless steel appliances. All of the Downton Abbey scenes in the kitchen and servant's quarters are authentic period sets, filmed at Ealing Studios in West London.
At the heart of the village and of the drama of Downton sits St Mary's Church. It was the place where Lady Mary married Matthew Crawley and also the place where sweet baby Sibyls christening took place. Visitors can see backstage pictures from the filming hanging on the entrance walls of the church.
Today, Highclere is home to George Herbert and his wife Fiona, the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon (Lord and Lady Carnarvon), owners of the 'real' Downton Abbey castle.
Cogges was turned into Yew Tree Farm for Downton Abbey. Filmed in the manor house kitchen and grounds, Yew Tree Farm is home to the Drewe family in series 4 & 5 where Lady Edith's child is brought up, and later home to Mr Mason in series 6.
Grantham House Tours. A special chance to discover the history of Grantham House as you explore its rooms on both the ground and first floor. A special chance to discover the history of Grantham House as you explore its rooms on both the ground and first floor.
From 6–14 September, visitors can see six original costumes from Julian Fellowes' final film on display inside this breathtaking house. Basildon Park has played a starring role in Downton Abbey, doubling as Grantham House, the Crawley family's London residence.
Highclere Castle ticket prices vary significantly by event, ranging from around £32 for general summer/spring adult entry to £85-£150+ for special guided tours with afternoon tea or movie themes; expect around £17.50-£18 for children (4-16) for basic access, with family tickets available, and carer tickets often free with a paying disabled visitor.
Dame Maggie Smith was diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid, in the 1980s, which led to thyroid eye disease causing significant eye swelling and protrusion, requiring radioiodine treatment and eye surgery.
Allen Leech. Known for his role as unlikely aristocrat Tom Branson on the hugely popular series "Downton Abbey" (ITV, 2010-2015), Allen Leech was born in Dublin.
But he still isn't sorry about leaving, adding that it was the right thing to do. "Everybody, including my wife, was incredibly supportive of the decision and it wasn't made lightly or easily but it really felt the right thing to do," says Stevens.
Who is the most beloved character in Downton Abbey?
The best Downton Abbey characters
Lady Edith Crawley. ...
Lady Mary Crawley. ...
Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. ...
Cora Crawley. ...
Tom Branson. ...
Thomas Barrow. ...
Charles Carson. ...
John and Anna Bates. These two come as a pair because their dramatic, and often traumatic, love story has been the backdrop of most of the Downton Abbey series.
When Alfred joined Downton as a footman in 1920, O'Brien, childless herself, became protective of him. She endeavored to advance his career, even causing a rift with Thomas Barrow over Alfred's training as a valet. Her commitment to Alfred was so profound that she left Downton in 1922 for a position in India.
Yes, Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) are very close friends in real life, sharing a strong, sister-like bond that developed over their years on Downton Abbey, with Dockery even serving as a bridesmaid at Carmichael's 2023 wedding to Michael C. Fox. Despite their characters' bitter rivalry, their off-screen friendship is a highlight of the cast's close relationships, with Dockery stating they have a unique language and humor.
This is Cora's long-term revenge on her husband. She knows that Thomas is the illegitimate son of O'Brien and Lord Grantham – and the rightful heir to the house.
While he emphasizes that his estimate is not scientific and is probably conservative, such an equivalency helps to put the sums Austen scatters throughout the novel into perspective. According to Austen, Mr. Bennet's annual income is 2,000 pounds, or 160,000 dollars.
