From Mrs. Patmore to the Cobbles: My love affair with British TV
When Downton Abbey first hit the screen, it became an instant sensation. The upstairs downstairs drama of the Crawleys and their staff drew millions of viewers around the world, myself included. It was not just another period drama. It was television at its finest, running for many seasons and captivating fans with its elegance, wit, and unforgettable characters.
In Canada, I even ran the Downton Abbey Fan Club, where fellow enthusiasts gathered to celebrate our shared obsession. At my tea room in Jordan Village, I hosted themed Downton Abbey High Teas. Guests would arrive in hats and gloves, sip Earl Grey, and debate Lady Mary’s romances or Mr. Carson’s standards as if they were part of our own neighbourhood gossip.
Sometimes we went even further. I created special “upstairs dinners”, where everyone arrived dressed to the nines, complete with long gloves and pearls. Other times we flipped the script with “downstairs dinners”. On one such night, when my daughter was about nine, I had costumes made: she played Daisy and I was Mrs. Patmore. I will never forget running through the dining room, calling “Daisy” at the top of my lungs, just as Mrs. Patmore did from the kitchen in Downton Abbey. We had so much fun with that series, and those moments still make me smile today.
It was not long before that fandom spilled into travel. We decided to cross the pond and experience Downton Abbeyfirsthand with a tour of its filming locations.
When our coach finally rolled up to Highclere Castle, the iconic image of Downton itself, we could not contain our excitement. We all jumped out to take photos in front of the grand façade, just as it appears in the show’s opening sequence. Our driver had stopped at the entrance, blocking the lane slightly, but in the moment none of us noticed. We were too busy grinning in front of the camera.
Then came a beep beep. A modest van was stuck behind us. I leaned into the window to apologize to a casually dressed man in the back seat. “We are so sorry,” I explained, “we have come all this way, and later we will be here for a cocktail party, but it will be dark and we will not get our photo. Just give us a couple of minutes and we will move.” He smiled politely, and I thought nothing of it.
That evening, dressed in gowns and pearls, we returned to Highclere for the cocktail party. As we gathered in the great hall, Lord Carnarvon descended the staircase to greet us. To my utter horror, he was the very same man in the van. My face turned beetroot red. I apologized again, mortified that I had delayed the master of the house on his own driveway. It is a travel memory that has stayed with me ever since.
Over the years, my love for British period dramas has only grown. Bridgerton swept me off my feet with its playful take on Regency society, filmed against the elegant backdrop of Bath. All Creatures Great and Small continues to charm with its heartwarming tales set among the stone cottages and rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales. And for fifty years, I have never missed an episode of Coronation Street. Those cobbles are practically part of my DNA.
The truth is, these shows barely need set designers. England itself provides the perfect stage: stately homes, honey coloured villages, and countryside so timeless it feels like a storybook.
That is why next September, I am bringing it all together in one unforgettable tour. We will begin in London, travel through the Berkshire countryside to Highclere Castle, wander the Georgian streets of Bath where Bridgerton was filmed, meander through the Cotswolds, and soak up the rustic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. And to top it all off, we will step onto the legendary Coronation Street set in Manchester, with a behind the scenes studio tour and a meet and greet with a cast member.
But this will not be just about sightseeing. Just as I loved to mix upstairs elegance with downstairs fun back in my tea room, I will do the same on this journey. We will enjoy high tea in posh hotels, but also sample builder’s tea and muffins in bustling food markets. There will be northern style full English breakfasts, and also cozy stops at garden centres with secret cafés tucked away at the back. This tour is about contrasts. The elegance of the aristocracy, the simplicity of everyday life, and the beautiful ways they meet in British culture.
This is not just another sightseeing trip. It is my favourite kind of journey, one that blends my own love of British television with the joy of sharing it with others. If you have ever dreamed of seeing Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, All Creatures Great and Small, or Coronation Street come alive before your eyes, this is the perfect chance.
Yes, it is personal. This tour is all about the things I love, and I would be delighted if you would come along with me.
All my hosted trips are usually on my website but if you are a part of a group and you would like to travel together and us arrange it for you in a similar way we can do that too! Check out the website here and Keep travelling friends!