Highclere Castle Events 2026 and 2027
Highclere runs a programme all year, and outside the two public-opening periods these events are the only way into the house. Everything below is dated and on sale at the time of the last check.
On sale now
Magic of the Movies Castle Tours
12–13 September 2026
A 1920s and 1930s weekend, with the castle open all day and a smaller VIP guided tour before the doors open to everyone else. Two ticket types, and the VIP tour is the one that sells out.
Friends of Highclere Castle Tour & Afternoon Tea
19–20 September 2026
A tour and afternoon tea run for Friends of Highclere. Membership is open to anyone and is bought through the castle's own scheme.
Highclere Castle Literary Festival
3–4 October 2026
The castle's first literary festival, tied to 2026 being the National Year of Reading. Author talks, performances and workshops alongside guided tours of the house.
Real Lives & Film Sets Guided Tours
Autumn 2026
The autumn guided tour: the state rooms, the Egyptian Exhibition and the gardens with the park in colour, plus refreshments and a signed book. £145 adult, £85 child and carer. Morning tours at 10:30, afternoon at 13:30, grounds closing at 5pm.
Christmas at Highclere
18 November – 19 December 2026
The winter programme, and the busiest thing the castle does. 2026 carries a Scandinavian theme and opens the new Viking Pavilion for refreshments.
Wintertime Castle Guided Tours
January 2027
Three groups of about twenty guests a day, which makes this the quietest way to see the house. £145 adult, £85 child and carer, including refreshments and a signed copy of Seasons at Highclere. Gates close at 4pm because dusk comes early.
Guided Tours — From Downton Abbey to Tutankhamun
February 2027
The tour built around the two stories the house is known for, ending in the Egyptian Exhibition. £145 adult, £85 child and carer, with a signed copy of The Earl and the Pharaoh. Gates close at 4pm.
Christmas at Highclere, evening by evening
The Christmas programme is not one event but several, each with its own ticket. The Scandinavian theme and the new Viking Pavilion are new for 2026.
| Evening | Dates |
|---|---|
| Christmas Tours and Afternoon Teas | November 2026 |
| Christmas Tours & Carols | 3–6 December 2026 |
| Friends Christmas Early Evening Castle Tours | 10 December 2026 |
| Evening Reception, Champagne, Canapés and Carols | 11–12 December 2026 |
| Charles Dickens Evening at Highclere Castle | 17, 18 and 19 December 2026 |
| Talk by Lady Carnarvon and Guided Castle Tours | 17, 18 and 19 December 2026 |
Two of these are worth singling out. The February tour is built around the two stories the house is known for, ending in the cellars with the Tutankhamun collection the 5th Earl brought home. The Christmas evenings are the only time the state rooms are dressed, and they are the quietest the house gets all year.
What has just finished
The Summer Public Opening ran from July to early September 2026. That was the last general admission of the year: from autumn until Easter, entry is by guided tour or event ticket only. The 2027 Easter dates had not been published when this page was last checked.
Quick reference: every date
| Event | When |
|---|---|
| Magic of the Movies Castle Tours | 12–13 September 2026 |
| Friends of Highclere Castle Tour & Afternoon Tea | 19–20 September 2026 |
| Highclere Castle Literary Festival | 3–4 October 2026 |
| Real Lives & Film Sets Guided Tours | Autumn 2026 |
| Christmas at Highclere | 18 November – 19 December 2026 |
| Wintertime Castle Guided Tours | January 2027 |
| Guided Tours — From Downton Abbey to Tutankhamun | February 2027 |
How to get to an evening event
Winter events finish after dark, and the last thing you want at 9pm in rural Hampshire is to be looking for a taxi that does not come. Trains to Newbury run late enough, but book the cab out to the castle before you travel. A private Highclere Castle tour or transfer removes the problem entirely, since the car waits for you.
Sources, and where to check for updates
- Highclere Castle — Tickets and What's On
- Highclere Castle admission tickets
- Highclere Castle — Visit Us
For opening patterns across the year see plan your visit, and to compare the ways of getting there start at Highclere Castle Tours.