Stuck for winter break ideas? Stay near Highclere Castle – a legend of film and TV
It feels like only yesterday – and
yet, also eons ago – that we were all celebrating Christmas; indeed, some of
you may have joined us here at Regency Park Hotel for one or more of our always
well-attended festive-season events.
The early months of the year,
though, can see many of us end up in a bit of a funk. The winter blues may
creep in, as the weather becomes unpredictable and the hours of daylight short.
What could you possibly do, then, to lift the mood for both you and other
members of your family?
We’ve got an idea – indulging in a
bit of TV and movie escapism. No, we’re not talking about spending your workday
evenings slumped in front of the TV as you work your way through your DVD
collection.
We’re suggesting, instead, that you
meet one of the biggest recent stars of the small – and soon, big – screen. Stay near Highclere Castle, and
you’ll shortly be developing some welcome déjà vu...
So much more than just a Jacobethan wonder
When many visitors catch their first
‘in the flesh’ sighting of Highclere Castle – which, by the way, is situated a
less than 10-mile drive away from Regency Park Hotel via the B4640 road – they
immediately know where they are, and why this property is so special.
That’s right – this historic country
house is no less than the real-life Downton Abbey! By that, we mean that it
served as the main shooting location for the award-winning ITV period drama
series, with both exterior and interior scenes having been filmed here.
In fact, despite the original Downton Abbey TV programme having
concluded back in 2015, this majestic Grade I-listed stately home is set to
return as the home of the aristocratic Crawley family, this time on the big
screen. A feature-length Downton Abbey film
is scheduled for release this autumn, and quite frankly, none of us here at
Regency Park Hotel can wait!
Even before Downton Abbey started airing in 2010, though, Highclere Castle was
a TV and movie star, appearing in the likes of the 1991 American comedy film King Ralph, the TV version of Jeeves and Wooster in the early 1990s
and Stanley Kubrick’s final film, 1999’s Eyes
Wide Shut.
What else do you need to know about experiencing the ‘actual’ Downton
Abbey?
One of the most important things for
us to tell you is that if you would like to visit Highclere Castle, you should
first head to the property’s official website at www.highclerecastle.co.uk. This
will give you all of the information that you will require to plan your visit,
including how to buy tickets. Bear in mind, in particular, that the house is
not open to the public on every day of the year.
Once you’ve secured your tickets to
see the property, though, the really fun bit will begin – picking out the best
local hotel!
Regency Park Hotel offers the best
of all worlds to those wishing to stay near Highclere Castle at any time of
year, including the winter. Our rooms are spacious, affordable and
contemporary-styled, while our location is perfectly tranquil, lending itself
nicely to a restful night’s sleep. Yet, local transport connections are also
excellent, so you’ll have no trouble reaching Highclere Castle.
Why not book a room with us online
today to lift that stubborn seasonal gloom in the finest possible style?