Step Into The Amazing World Of Downton Abbey

Do you love Downton Abbey? Gush over the costumes and estate and imagine what life was really like in early 20^th century England? Love the characters, both upstairs and downstairs? Then the Downton Abbey Exhibition is for you.

This immersive exhibition features set recreations, costumes and exclusive multimedia elements, providing guests with a chance to step inside the world of Downton Abbey.

Biltmore Estate

I was fortunate to visit this exhibit when it was at the Biltmore Estate this past year. The beautiful estate, with all of its treasures, provided the perfect backdrop for the exhibition. It is America’s largest private home, built in 1895, and located in Asheville NC.

When 33-year-old George Vanderbilt III welcomed family and friends to the Biltmore Estate on Christmas Eve in 1895, it marked the formal opening of the most ambitious home ever conceived in America.

It took six years to create the 250 room mansion with 33 family and guest bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and an indoor swimming pool. The ground encompassed 125,000 acres of forests, farms, and a dairy, a 250-acre wooded park, five pleasure gardens and 30 miles of roadways.

There are many parallels between Downton Abbey and Biltmore’s real-life story of the Vanderbilt family, their friends and staff.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey aired for six seasons on Masterpiece on PBS in the U.S. and reached more than 26 million viewers in its final season, making it the highest-rated PBS drama series of all time. With 15 wins and 69 nominations, it is the most nominated non-U.S. show in the history of the Emmys. 

Downton Abbey Exhibition

The Exhibition transports guests on an incredible journey through the grand home of Downton Abbey, providing an inside look into the world of the Crawleys and those that served them below stairs. It provides a fascinating look at all aspects of the post-Edwardian era in which the TV series is set. This exhibit also offers an in-depth insight into the remarkable events that shaped the world, such as World War I.

There are never-before-seen multimedia elements and the series’ most recognizable sets and artifacts. This immerses guests in the social history, culture and memorable moments from the show.

I got the chance to walk through some of the series’ most beloved sets. These included Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and the gossip-fueled servants’ quarters to the family’s glamorous dining room and Lady Mary’s bedroom.

Downton Abbey Costumes

I also had an up-close look at more than 50 of the show’s costumes that were worn by my favorite actors including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Dame Maggie Smith.

Identified as one of the top ten pop-cultural exhibits in the world by Matador Network, the exhibit offers three-dimensional experiences. These include character reference stations, a build-out of the iconic downstairs space of the home, a theatrical showing of the beloved library, Lady Mary’s glamorous bedroom, and a fully set dining room.

Summary

This is a unique opportunity to step into Downton Abbey. You can wander through the sumptuous rooms where the family lived such as the kitchen and servants’ quarters below stairs. Then, of course, there are iconic costumes and props.

Visitors should plan for 60-90 minutes for the entire experience. You can use an audio guide, a docent guide, or self-tour.

The exhibition was supposed to travel through the United States but the pandemic disrupted its schedule. The Biltmore Estate Exhibition paused then later reopened. No further exhibitions are currently scheduled at this time. You can sign up for notifications of future exhibitions here (https://www.downtonexhibition.com/#tour)