"Christmas at Highclere"

Talk by Lady Carnarvon &
Guided Castle Tours
18^th and 19^th December 2025

Adult:  £140
Disabled:  £140
Carer:  £85
In the final days before Christmas, Lady Carnarvon would be delighted to invite you to join her at Highclere Castle for a festive talk and guided tour.

We welcome you to gather in the Saloon in front of the spectacular Christmas Tree for an introduction to "Christmas at Highclere" led by Lady Carnarvon.

After this, our knowledgeable guides will take you on a tour through the Castle’s State Rooms, up the Staircase and around the Gallery Bedrooms.

Guests are then invited to descend to the cellars, to explore at your leisure the fascinating Egyptian Exhibition and the story of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The Exhibition contains antiquities from the earlier tombs in the Valley of the Nobles and Valley of the Queens.

Our guides have exceptional knowledge of the building, works of art and furniture with plenty of anecdotes to share with you. As you continue your tour around the Castle,  you will recognise familiar rooms used in both Downton Abbey films and Christmas specials.

Following your tour please enjoy some delicious seasonal light refreshments and a hot drink before the all-important Christmas shopping in our Castle Gift Shop, where we are delighted to offer you a complimentary signed copy of Lady Carnarvon’s book ‘Christmas at Highclere’.

The Morning Talk begins at 10:00am. Please arrive at the front door 10 minutes before the start  time to be welcomed into the Saloon. The suggested departure time is 1:30pm. The Grounds will open no earlier than 9:30am. Please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.

The Afternoon Talk begins at 12:30pm. Please arrive at the front door 10 minutes before the start  time to be welcomed into the Saloon. The Grounds close at 4:00pm as it gets dark. If you wish to look round the Gardens before your talk and tour, please do so from 11:00am.

Please note the Gardens and Grounds will close promptly at 4.00pm.  

Dress code for the event is smart/casual; please wear sensible footwear for the Gardens.

Numbers are limited and we ask you to book in advance via this page. To purchase tickets for special openings, please see the date selection calendar below. Please ensure that you collect your complimentary book during your visit, as we will be unable to post these after the event.

For your refreshments, please select either Standard, Vegetarian or Gluten Free from the options below. We are not able to offer a vegan menu for this event. Please note that we cannot guarantee that our menus are either DAIRY FREE or NUT FREE.

Menu Selection:
Please choose one of the following for each ticket you buy:

Traditional Christmas Tea Menu

Gluten free Christmas Tea Menu

Vegetarian Christmas Tea Menu