Although the main exterior for the period drama Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle in Highclere Park, many of the village exterior shots (and church interiors) were filmed near The Church of St. Mary the Virgin (the parish church of Bampton in Oxfordshire).
The current structure was originally constructed in the 12th century, with the spire added in the mid-13th century, but there are records of a church being at this location as early as 1089.
Several walking scenes in the village have been shot near the church. The nearby library exterior has been used in a number of shots, including the arrival of the Matthew Crawley and his mother to the area.
If you look closely during the show, you can sometimes pick out the occasional tv antenna and double yellow lines on the road. If you don't have anything better to do, that is.
