The 'Downton Abbey' Hotel Is Taking Reservations For 2016

Highclere Castle, used as the main location for Downton Abbey.

Highclere Castle, which plays the role of Downton Abbey on the hit PBS show, is once again opening its doors to overnight visitors.

Updated 12/9/15. Tickets for the spring 2016 opening of Highclere Castle are on sale now. If you want an afternoon tea in the coach house, though, you'll have to book quickly. The Dowager waits for no one.

Highclere Castle, the English country estate where Downton Abbey is filmed, has opened an on-site hotel called London Lodge. (Despite the name, the castle and its hotel are in Newbury, West Berkshire, not in London.) The estate, built in 1793, is home to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and has already been open to tourists for some time—there are organized Downton-themed tours that take tourists to see the building and grounds. But this marks the first time that visitors can stay overnight there.

London Lodge is a smaller property near Highclere Castle on the estate. The process of opening the lodge took two and a half years. Like many old houses, Highclere suffered from some wear and tear over the years and needed some repairs, including a much-needed new roof. And while the period charm is intact, there are modern amenities in the hotel rooms, including TVs, Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and (of course) electric kettles perfect for making that cuppa.

Season six of Downton Abbey has already aired in Britain but will premiere in the U.S. on January 3, 2016. Rooms at London Lodge begin at £350 ($540) per night.

This post originally appeared on December 30, 2014. It has been updated with new information.

Written by Lilit Marcus

 www.cntraveler.com

Ireland's Five-Star Ashford Castle Invites Kids To Wizard School This Fall

This Halloween and Thanksgiving, Ashford Castle in Western Ireland is welcoming families to Wizard School.  The 13th-century castle, with its winding passageways, hidden alcoves and secret gardens, lures participants into the magical and mystical world of witchcraft and wizardry hidden within its walls. A "Forbidden Forest" treasure hunt on the estate's 350 acres, a visit to meet Dingle (Ashford Castle's resident owl), painting in the "Chamber of Art," a cookery class for "House Elves" and a special Wizard School dinner are all part of the two-night package.  In the evening, a Harry Potter movie in the castle's brand-new cinema - complete with jars of candy and popcorn - will be screened, while adults relax in the elegant George V Dining Room with a sumptuous five-course table d'hote menu. The program is as follows: Day 1 (October 23, 25 and 30, November 25): Noon: Forbidden Forest Treasure Hunt for the family (unsupervised) 3pm: Visit the hiding place of Dingle the Owl (supervised) 4pm: Afternoon Chamber of Art (supervised) 5pm-6:30pm: Kids Dinner in Wizard School (supervised) 6:30pm-9pm: Harry Potter Movie Evening (supervised) From 7pm: George V Table d'Hote Dinner for the adults Day 2 (October 24, 26, 29 and 31, November 26): Noon: Hidden Garden Treasure Hunt for the family (unsupervised) 3pm: 'House Elves' little helpers Cookery School (supervised) 4pm-5pm: Afternoon Chamber of Witchcraft & Wizardry (supervised) 5pm-6pm: Kids' Dinner in Wizard School (supervised) 6:30pm-9pm: Harry Potter Movie Evening (supervised) From 7pm: George V Table d'Hote Dinner for the adults The two-night package is priced at $1,349 and includes accommodation in a Deluxe Family Room, breakfast and dinner and is based on two adults and two children (under 12 years of age) sharing the room.  Complimentary estate activities include tennis, golf, billiards, self-guided walking tours and access to the solarium, steam room and indoor pool.  Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the castle.  For more information on the Wizard School pacakges at Ashford Castle, please visitwww.ashfordcastle.com

ABOUT ASHFORD CASTLE: Ashford Castle is set on 350 acres in County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, with a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river, and mountains. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, it features 82 guestrooms and is renowned for a range of country sports including an equestrian centre, fly fishing, an exclusive nine-hole golf course and Ireland's first school of falconry. Several dining rooms and bars, along with a gracious afternoon tea service are among the amenities. For more information please visit www.ashfordcastle.com. ABOUT THE RED CARNATION HOTEL COLLECTION: The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is an award-winning collection of five and four star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva, Florida, South Africa and now Ireland. Each property has its own individual character and unique location that reflects the local environment, culture and cuisine. They all share the qualities that win Red Carnation so many prestigious awards - splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests.  Red Carnation Hotels was listed as number 3 in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2015, having debuted at 72 just three years previously. For more information about these award-winning hotels and the rest of the Red Carnation Collection, please go to www.redcarnationhotels.com.