Shilton

Shilton is a lesser-known village in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds built around a shallow ford with a picturesque 18th-century stone footbridge across it.

Shilton is a small, quieter village in the Cotswolds, located just a few miles northeast of Burford in Oxfordshire. Nestled in a small valley with gentle hills surrounding it, it is a quintessential Cotswold village built around a shallow ford which can be crossed via a charming stone clapper bridge from the 18th Century. It is full of classic honey-colored cottages, some with thatched roofs, and many homes have beautifully tended cottage gardens, especially in spring and summer.

With fewer tourists than more established Cotswolds destinations, Shilton represents the more tranquil, undiscovered side of the Cotswolds, offering visitors a glimpse into genuine village life away from the tourist hotspots. Its modest size and relative obscurity have helped preserve its traditional character and peaceful ambience. Shilton is among several Oxfordshire villages used as filming locations for the well-known television series Downton Abbey, where it was immortalised as the backdrop for a fictional Yorkshire village called Kirkbymoorside in the 2nd season of the hugely popular period drama.

Nearby Attractions

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The Oxford Castle
Now a hotel, the main part of the original Oxford Castle was a prison - and guests staying in the hotel will find themselves in converted prison cells.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Located in a small valley amongst the gently rolling hills of the Cotswolds, Bourton-on-the-Water has been described as the 'Little Venice' and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region.
Stow-on-the-Wold
Explore Stow-on-the-Wold, a picturesque market town nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds and discover its historic charm, quaint streets, and vibrant market square.
Bibury
Immerse yourself in the quintessential charm of Bibury, a picturesque village nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds. Explore its timeless beauty, iconic Arlington Row, and scenic landscapes.
Bampton
Bampton is a picturesque village in the Cotswolds, known for serving as the fictional town of Downton in many scenes of the famous TV series Downton Abbey.
Burford
Nicknamed the "Gateway to the Cotswolds," Burford is a beautiful and historic town in Oxfordshire, perched on a hillside sloping down to the River Windrush.

Related Tours

Downton Abbey Cotswolds Locations: Private Day Trip from London

Explore the beautiful Cotswolds countryside and discover the iconic Downton Abbey filming locations, the hit series set in a fictional county in Yorkshire between 1912 and 1926 in the post-Edwardian era, on this private day trip from London in a Black Cab.

On your private tour, you will:

  • Meet your private driver-guide at your hotel in London;
  • Drive South West out of London towards the famously picturesque Cotswolds;
  • Stop off in many beautiful, honey-coloured Cotswold villages used in the filming of Downton Abbey;
  • Visit the charming Swinbrook pub where dramatic scenes took place, like Lady Sibyl planning to elope with Branson;
  • Explore the ancient market town of Bampton, where you might recognise Downton's Church - where Lady Edith was jilted, the Cottage Hospital, and the Grantham Arms pub;
  • Head to the historic 13th-century manor house at Cogges, which starred as Yew Tree Farm where Lady Edith's daughter Marigold is raised; 
  • Visit the tranquil village of Shilton with a babbling brook and an old Forge that was transformed into the Red Lion Pub, where Mr. Bates found work after leaving Downton;
  • Enjoy scenic drives around the magical Cotswolds, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with its famous thatched and honey-coloured stone houses, undulating hills, and quaint chocolate box villages of quintessential England


This is a must-see tour for Downton Abbey enthusiasts and a truly delightful day trip from London in the comfort and spaciousness of an iconic Black Cab. Explore many filming locations on a drive around the Cotswolds - considered England's most beautiful and quintessential countryside. It is famous for its honey-coloured limestone houses, thatched cottages, sheep farming, and truly gorgeous countryside.

Many period dramas have been filmed in Cotswold villages, including the movie 1917, and although the fictional Downton Abbey is set in Yorkshire, much of it was filmed in the southern Cotswolds counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. 

On this private, full-day trip from London in a Black Cab you'll enter the fictional world of the Crawley family and Downton by stepping into the real-life filming locations of this world-famous, era-defining, multiple award-winning TV series, starring Maggie Smith as the intimidating yet hilarious Dowager Countess, Hugh Bonneville as the diffident Lord Grantham, Michelle Dockery as the sarcastic Lady Mary, and Jo Froggatt in her award-winning role as her maid - as well as a host of other stars.  

Your expert driver-guide will ensure you have plenty of time to thoroughly explore these stunning historic locations, including the lovely market town of Bampton, which doubles up as Downton. Enjoy a guided tour through its streets and alleyways, stopping in at the Church where poor Lady Edith was jilted! Step inside the charming Swinbrook Pub where Lady Sibyl and Bransom plotted their elopement (also made famous by the Mitford sisters). 

See other villages like Shilton, Burford, and Cogges where various scenes were filmed, and enjoy breathtakingly beautiful drives around the Cotswolds before the return drive to your London hotel.  

Please note: This tour does not include a visit to Highclere Castle, and entrance tickets are not included in the tour price.

DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the television series ‘Downton Abbey’ produced by Carnival Film and Television and NBCUniversal International Limited. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with, or connection to, the television series ‘Downton Abbey’, Carnival Film and Television or NBC Universal International Limited.

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