Hi Friends,
Last Saturday I took the train into New York City and met my daughter, Melissa. We had tickets to see the Downton Abbey Exhibition, and we were looking forward to learning more about the history, fashion, and setting of this world-famous TV series.
The exhibition website promised, “You’ll be transported to post-Edwardian England where the characters and the iconic house come to life. You’ll be immersed in the fascinating social history, culture, and some of the most memorable moments from the show’s six season run. You’ll see Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen and the servant’s hall, Mr. Carson’s butler’s pantry, Lady Mary’s bedroom and much more.
The exhibition is laid out on three floors. The first floor included sets and information about the staff. It was fun to be greeted by Mr. Carson (via multimedia) and see Mrs. Hughes step into a doorway and greet us. The second floor has sets and multimedia displays about the Crawley family and their life “upstairs.” The third floor focuses on the beautiful costumes, hats, and jewelry worn by the cast. I enjoyed seeing Mary’s wedding dress and Edith’s two wedding dresses, plus the outfits worn by Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes on their wedding day. Each outfit was beautiful and many had beading or some special decoration that made it unique.
The designers of the exhibition did an amazing job recreating Downton Abbey. Walking through the sets made you feel like you were at Highclere Castle where Downton was filmed. Scott and I visited Highclere in 2014, so it was a treat to compare the sets to the actual rooms.
If you plan to see the exhibition, I’d suggest going on a weekday, rather than a Saturday, when it might be less crowded. The tickets are timed, but we had to wait in line outside about 20 minutes because they only allow groups of 30 people to go in every few minutes. You can learn more and purchase tickets online at: DowntonExhibition.com.
The wonderful displays made me miss Downton Abbey all the more and wish they would make a Downton Abbey movie. If you live nearby or are traveling to New York City I hope you’ll plan to see the exhibition. It was a wonderful experience and well worth the trip and price of the tickets!
If you live too far away, you might enjoy reading my English historical novels that are set in the same time period as Downton Abbey and include upstairs and downstairs characters, family drama, romance, and inspiration! Just click on the image to learn more and order your copy.
Until next time . . . happy reading!
Carrie
This looks amazing! I would love to see this and thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.
Hi Alice, thanks for stopping by. It was a real treat to see this exhibition!
Thank you for sharing the photos and words about DA. We are blessed that you have been to the real one and are able to set that stage for your books. I enjoy your blog, your Facebook updates, and of course your books.
Looking forward to the next release which I’ve preordered. May God continue to bless you in all that you do.
Hi Karen, So glad to share these photos with you. Thanks for your mind words. I hope you enjoy reading Across the Blue!
Hi Carrie,
Thank you for sharing! I will make a point of getting into the city to see the Downton Abbey exhibit! Cathy Emme Yardley Pennsylvania
Hi Cathy, that’s fun to hear you live close by and can go into the city to see the Exhibition. It was a wonderful treat, especially to see it with my daughter. I hope you enjoy it too!
Always enjoy revisiting Downton. This exhibition sounds delightful. Thanks for sharing, Carrie.
Hi Mary, thanks for stopping by! It was a real treat to see the Downton Exhibition. I’m glad to share it with you!
Thanks much. I’ve enjoyed your Highland books.