9/8/2019 Sunday London Highclere Castle

Sunday 9/8/2019 Day 12  Breakfast included  Averages - High 68, Low 55,  21% rain.

The Pennsylvania teachers left for home this morning and I extended my stay at Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton.  130 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1P 9Hp UK. Phone 44 207 3884131 Luckily, I did not have to check out of a double room to check back in as a single, I was able to stay in the original room.  The phone says 11,551 steps, 4.5 miles and 12 flights climbed.     

Highclere Castle - "Costumes, Cocktails and Castle" 

KATE SAYS The best way is to get to the castle is the underground from my hotel, which is really centrally located and perfect for sight seeing in London.  I traveled from Euston  to PADDINGTON STATION, from there I got the train to NEWBURY.  Once I got to Newbury, there was no choice  but to get a taxi outside the station to the Castle, which costs between £15-£20 each way. US $19.99  - $26.07.  To get to the castle, I connected with four other people in line so we each paid $6.  To return to the station, I connected with three other people at the taxi stand and we each paid $6.  

I went from  Euston Square to Paddington Station $5-6.  13 minutes, Paddington to Newbury (52 minutes on train. $26.-$30). 9:20-10:30. 1 hr 10 min.  Or 10:07-11:17. 1 hr. 10 min.

Letter from Highclere Castle.  

Dear Visitor, Thank you for purchasing your admission ticket to Costumes, Cocktails & Castle Tours event in September. We very much look forward to welcoming you for a roaring 1920’s weekend!  Please see below the schedule and timings for the day just to reconfirm:

This event will be filled with 1920’s music and dance entertainment, costumes and vintage car displays, and of course the opportunity to explore the Castle, whilst you go round the Castle State Rooms, Gallery Bedrooms and Egyptian Exhibition. Just before the Downton Abbey Film premiere, dress for Downton and enter our competition for the best-dressed character to win a prize! Let’s celebrate this exciting weekend, whilst sipping on some traditional Highclere Cocktails!   

The event is open from 10am – 6pm.  You are welcome to spend all day at the event. If you have purchased a Morning Admission ticket this will allow you entrance into the Castle between 10:30am – 12:30pm or if you have purchased an Afternoon Admission ticket this will allow you entrance into the Castle between 12:30pm – 2:30pm.The Castle door close at 4.30pm with no further admissions thereafter. The Estate closes at 6pm.

We hope that you will enjoy your visit to Highclere Castle. Please see www.highclerecastle.co.uk for any further information.

With all best wishes,

Stephanie Rodrigues
Event Manager
Highclere Castle
Tel: 01635 253210

Highclere Castle closed for the season on 9/3/2019, but I am lucky because of this special event weekend "Costumes, Cocktails and Castle”.  The cost is $85 GBP and my ticket is for the morning entry.  

The website says - The event is open from 10:00-6:00.  Enjoy a complimentary glass of Pimm’s (a fruit infused carbonated drink).    The Castle tea rooms will also be open throughout the day serving sandwiches, cakes, scones, and meals.  Music and entertainment are on the schedule.  

The 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and some employees will be choosing the best costume winners.  (If they did this, I missed it.)

Highclere’s history dates back to 749AD.  An Anglo-Saxon King gave the estate to the Bishop of Winchester and a beautiful palace and gardens were created.  

An ancestor of the current Earl rebuilt the palace in 1679.  Sir Charles Barry (Houses of Parliament architect) designed the Italianate Castle in 1838 and the first stone was laid in 1842.  Highclere and Houses of Parliament in London have similar silhouettes.  

Sir Geoffrey De Havilland made his first flight at Highclere in 1910.  During World War II, numerous planes crashed due to the adverse weather near Highclere.

The 5th Earl of Carnarvon and his friend Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamen’s Tomb in 1922.  The Earl went to Egypt to spend each winter due to a car accident that left his lungs compromised.  

In WWI, Highclere was a hospital for wounded soldiers and in WWII evacuees were housed here.    

This was a big disappointment, but there was a train at 10:03.  I had plenty of time at Highclere.  It was great to be there when it was not crowded.  Usually there were just two or three other people in a room with me.   In the regular season, over 700 people pass through the house each day.  The event was not as crowded as I imagined it would be.  

Highclere Castle 

The back of the building which looks like an addition.  

No pictures could be taken inside, but there was a display in a tent.  

There were antique cars with proud owners.  

The Gatsby Girls - performers and  Charleston instructors.   I also saw a Brass Band and Alex Mendham and His Ochestra. All the entertainers were good.  This temple was built with reclaimed materials and was intended to improve the view from the house.  

I walked through various gardens and around the grounds.  There were two green houses and several different gardens, including the Monks’ Garden, Secret Garden, Rose Arbor, etc.  

I enjoyed my day.  The rooms were very much as pictured on Downton Abbey.  Often times, there was a reference sheet in the room highlighting special art work or decor.  There were a lot of people around making sure you weren’t taking pictures or touching anything.  I also spent considerable time in the Egyptian exhibit as the 5th Earl and his friend Howard Carter discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun.