ByIANSlife Features

September 20, 2019 (IANSlife) For one night only, Highclere Castle will open its doors to two guests, giving super fans an opportunity to immerse themselves in the iconic location of “Downton Abbey”.

Thanks to Airbnb, guests will learn what life might have been like for the Crawleys. The guests will be treated like royalty during their stay, with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon inviting them for an exclusive evening of cocktails in the Saloon followed by a traditional dinner in the State Dining Room and being waited on by Highclere Castle’s very own butler. After dinner, the guests will be served coffee in the Library.

Wake up to a delicious breakfast after resting the night in one of the principal bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom and views over 1,000 acres of rolling parkland. Wait! There’s more. One can take a private tour of Highclere Castle’s extensive grounds, explore iconic rooms such as the drawing room, or relax in one of the gallery bedrooms, following in the footsteps of kings and queens.

Lady Carnarvon, a host on Airbnb, says: “It’s an absolute privilege and pleasure to call Highclere Castle my home and I am delighted to be able to share it on Airbnb for a truly unique stay. Highclere Castle has been in the Carnarvon family since 1679 and has an incredible rich history. I am passionate about the stories and heritage of Highclere Castle, and I am looking forward to welcoming our future guests.” 
Hadi Moussa, General Manager for Northern Europe Airbnb, says: “We are thrilled to be able to offer fans the ultimate Downton Abbey experience through this once-in-a-lifetime-stay at Highclere Castle. At Airbnb, we are passionate about offering unique and unforgettable travel experiences to our community and we are certain that guests will have a magical experience while staying on the iconic location of Downton Abbey.”

But there’s a hitch, you have to abide by some a House rules:

No pets allowed, but 9 friendly dogs on site!
No smoking
All newspapers must be ironed
Strictly one butler per person
Cocktail dress is de rigueur for dinner
Gossip restricted to downstairs quarters only
Listing is midweek because after all - ‘What is a weekend?’

Booking details:

Available exclusively on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/downtonabbey for a one night stay for up to two guests on November 26, 2019 costing £150 inclusive. Reservation opportunities will go live on October 1, 2019 at 12 p.m. BST.

To celebrate this special offering, Airbnb will be making a donation to The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Highclere Castle - home of Downton Abbey – is now available to book on Airbnb

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Editing by Parul Soni and N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe