The main filming exterior (and many interiors) for the period drama Downton Abbey is Highclere Castle. Set on a 1,000 acre estate in the county of Hampshire, Highclere Castle is an example of Jacobethan architecture and was largely rebuilt in this style by Sir Charles Barry from 1839 to 1842 (after he completed the Houses of Parliament).
To distinguish, Highclere Castle is the historical county seat of the Earl of Carnovan. Downton Abbey is the fictional home of the Earl and Countess of Grantham in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
