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It has been the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon since the late Earl died in 2001, and the home of their ancestors, the Herbert family since the early 18th century. It was the 3rd Earl who built the present house in 1842 and his son, the 4th Earl who arranged the rooms. It is their faces that look down at us from the walls of Highclere today; for more about the History of Highclere, why not view their Website?

The Herbert family acquired Highclere through descent. In 1692, Robert Sawyer, a lawyer and college friend of the diarist Samuel Pepys, bequeathed a stuccoed mansion at Highclere to his only daughter, Margaret. As Countess of Pembroke, Margaret lived at Wilton House in Wiltshire, which became the inheritance of her eldest son, Henry, after his father's death. Her second son, Robert Herbert, inherited Highclere, began the picture collection and established a line of succession from father to son unbroken to the present day.

The Earldom of Carnarvon was won on the political stage by Robert Herbert's nephew, Henry. In 1780, when his parliamentary rival Lord George Gordon was inciting the London mob to violence against the leniency measures for Catholics, Henry defused a tense situation and his courage was rewarded by George III, who created him Baron Porchester and 1st Earl of Carnarvon, titles the family still hold.

The 2nd Earl vociferously opposed the Reform Bill and the 3rd Earl, the repeal of the Corn Laws, but it was Henry, 4th Earl who had the most consistent political success. As Secretary of State for the Colonies and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland he played a prominent part in the expansion of the British Empire worldwide and his marriage to Lady Evelyn Stanhope, daughter of an active political family, the Earls of Chesterfield, consolidated his position at the centre of power through the long reign of Queen Victoria.

Some of the exotic flavour that the Herbert family created at Highclere is due to their taste for foreign travel. The 3rd Earl was a great adventurer and impressive linguist, travelling throughout his life in Europe, Greece, Turkey and North Africa. He was fascinated by Moorish architecture and wrote a tragic play and several poems about Spain and the Moors.

His grandson, the 5th Earl seems to have inherited the Herbert love of faraway cultures. His particular passion was for the lost civilisation of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He sponsored a series of excavations in the Valley of the Kings, led by the Egyptologist Howard Carter, before discovering in 1922 the astonishing treasure of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the richest burial site ever found. The discovery made him famous throughout the world, but he died before the excavation was complete and his embalmed body was brought home for burial at Highclere.

Summer 2009 sees the launch of an exciting new Egyptian exhibition in the castle cellars. The cellars have been redeveloped firstly to display the family's collection of Egyptian antiquities and secondly to take visitors through the 5th Earl's path to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922; the only royal tomb of a Pharoah ever found intact. Separate admission charge for Egyptian Exhibition or combined ticket for Castle and exhibition available.

Entertain at Highclere

Highclere Castle is a Victorian gem and a perfect venue for private or corporate entertaining in glorious style. This wonderful home can be hired by the day and being only 55 minutes by road from Heathrow or by rail from Paddington, it is extraordinarily convenient. You can experience the combination of style, traditional service and the very best of food and wines which has established Highclere's undisputed reputation for excellence.

Close to Newbury Racecourse, Highclere Castle, surrounded by outstanding gardens and grounds, is the perfect venue for conferences, exhibitions, activity days and concerts, not to mention receptions and dinners which are a class apart. There is, literally, nothing quite like it.

Paul Brooke Taylor, Highclere Castle's executive Chef has had a distinguished career having worked in various prestigious venues. For an intimate party for six, to an event for several hundred - why not call and discuss your requirements with their General Manager?

Opening Times - 2008:

11.00am - 4.30pm (Last entry 3.30pm)

Easter:
Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) from Sunday 23rd March to Thursday 10th April

Bank Holidays:
The Castle will be open on the following Bank Holidays in May:
Sunday/Monday 4th/5th May
Monday/Tuesday 26th/27th May

Summer:
Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) from Tuesday 1st July to Sunday 31st August

Admission Charges - 2008:

Adults - £8
Child (4-15yrs) - £4
Concession - £7
Family (2+2/1+3) - £20
Free to members of the Historic Houses Association

Grounds & Gardens only: Adult £3 Child £1

Group Rates:
20 + persons
Adult - £7
Concession - £6
Child - £3.50

Opening Times - 2009:

11.00am - 4.30pm (Last entry 3.30pm)

Easter:
Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) from Sunday 29th March to Thursday 16th April

Bank Holidays:
The Castle will be open on the following Bank Holidays in May:
Monday/Tuesday 25th/26th May

Summer:
Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) from Wednesday 1st July to Thursday 3rd September

Admission Charges - 2009:

Adults - £8
Child (4-15yrs) - £5
Group - £7

Private Guided Tour
At other times a private tour may be arranged subject to availability at a minimum cost for up to 40 persons of £600 plus VAT, each additional person £15 plus VAT

School Groups (to visit Egyptian Exhibition only):

Child - £4.50 (plus VAT)
1 adult free for every 10 children. By prior arrangement.