Easter Sunday egg hunt at Highclere Castle

Visitors have flocked to the famous landmark following the success of the Downton Abbey television series

MORE visitors are expected at Highclere Castle today (Easter Sunday), for a chocolate egg hunt, to raise funds for charity.

Visitor numbers have recently soared at the castle, following the success of the ITV1 television series Downton Abbey, which was mostly filmed at the castle.

Estate owner, the Earl of Carnarvon, said visitor numbers reached around 1,200 after the castle opened its doors for Easter last Sunday (April 17).

“The first day was around 1,200 and considerably up on previous years which I must assume is the 'Downton effect'," he said, adding that the trend was encouraging for the forthcoming summer season.

The Easter egg hunt, in aid of the Sutton Scotney-based charity Naomi House Children's Hospice, will take place in the castle grounds between 2pm and 5pm.

For more details of this, and summer opening dates, click on the link below.