I went to Downton Abbey and was shocked by what I learned

I've been a lifelong Downton Abbey fan, so when the opportunity came up to visit the real-life set, I couldn't resist. I even got the chance to chat to some of the show's beloved cast members-including Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern), Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), and Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery)-which made the whole experience even more surreal. Walking through Highclere Castle was nothing short of magical. The grand rooms like the library, salon, and dining room felt like stepping back in time.

But as breathtaking as it all was, one of the biggest surprises was that the kitchen and servants' quarters aren't at Downton at all. I had always assumed the entire show was filmed at the castle, but it turns out that's not the case. The "upstairs" and "downstairs" worlds were shot in entirely different locations. While the grand upstairs scenes were filmed at Highclere Castle, the kitchen, servants' hall, and working areas were all constructed as sets at Ealing Studios in London.

This decision wasn't just about logistics-the original servants' quarters at Highclere had either been removed or modernised over the years, making them unsuitable for historically accurate filming.

The sets at Ealing allowed the production team to faithfully recreate period-accurate spaces and ensure they were the right size for shooting.

And they went all out. The designers meticulously matched the period style and details so that the transition from castle to studio would be seamless on screen.

I was also taken aback by how much smaller everything seemed in real life. The camera definitely works its magic-the library especially felt far more compact than it appears on screen.

Another surprise came when I walked into one of the bedrooms used in the show-only to find it wasn't just a film set, but someone's actual bedroom.

A fellow visitor explained: "One thing that I wanted to see that isn't actually at Downton is the downstairs kitchen and servants hall and Lady Mary's bedroom-those are sets in London, which was crazy to me."

She also revealed that some of the real bedrooms at Highclere Castle are still lived in today.

"I walked into Cora's bedroom and it looked just like the show, but then on the nightstand were Colleen Hoover books... because that's someone's real bedroom!"

It didn't take away from the magic-if anything, it made the experience even more fascinating. And yes, you do get to see the iconic servants' staircase.

There's also a quick café near the Abbey for lunch (think sandwiches and snacks) and an impressively stocked gift shop.

From mini Highclere statues and Downton teas to butler bells and "What is a weekend?" t-shirts, there's something for every level of obsession.

I walked away with a commemorative mug and more postcards than I know what to do with. There's even a second shop in the nearby village for more Downton-themed treasures.

All in all, visiting Downton-aka Highclere-was every bit as beautiful and exciting as I hoped. But it was also full of surprises, it was the perfect blend of timeless British charm.