'Downton Abbey' opens for guests

"Downton Abbey" uses Highclere Castle for exterior shots of the fictional Crawley family estate. The TV series portrays an enchanting aristocratic lifestyle.

Now, fans of "Downton Abbey" can spend a weekend at Highclere Estate, where the show is filmed. Situated north of the castle, London Lodge will open to guests on Valentine's Day 2015.

Originally built around 1840, the lodges were left derelict for decades. It took two years for the owners, the Earl of Carnarvon and his wife, to restore London Lodge.

The cozy cottage-style lodges each have a wood-burning stove, full kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom with tub and dressing room.

The two self-catering lodges are available on specific weekends, when the castle is open to visitors. Prices start at $545 per night.

The lodge accommodates two and sits a mile away from the picturesque Highclere Castle.

Paths from London Lodge wind through the estate to Dunsmere Lake, The Temple of Diana and lookout spots toward the castle. The estate's gatehouse was built in 1793.

ITV's award-winning series is filming its sixth season at Highclere. With more than 11 million viewers, the show airs in more than 120 countries.

• Highclere Castle is the posh British mansion that doubles as Downton Abbey in the UK television series


• The castle's 170-year-old London Lodge accommodation is now available for weekend bookings


• The lodge comes complete with a fully equipped kitchen, but sadly no servants

(CNN) -- Downton Abbey, with its snooty aristocrats and even snootier butlers, has never been somewhere for the likes of us.

Until now.

Highclere Castle, the posh British mansion that doubles as Downton in the long-running UK television series, is opening up rooms to paying guests.

Bookings are now being taken for London Lodge, an historic gateway that forms a grand entrance to Highclere's extensive grounds in the countryside west of London.

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Built around 1840, the "unique and luxurious" accommodation for two has, according to the estate, been restored over the past two years by the current Earl of Carnarvon and his wife (although they may have had help).

The rooms are split across the two buildings flanking the original gateway built in 1793.

Majestic Victorian castle

On one side there's a kitchen and sitting room arranged around a wood-burning stove.

On the other there's a double bedroom, bathroom and dressing area.

There are no servants quarters, so guests shouldn't expect white-gloved flunkeys delivering their morning newspaper.

And, since it's unlikely to available during filming, there's little chance of being witheringly insulted by the acid-tongued Dowager Duchess of Grantham.

What is on offer is a chance to gaze enviously at one of Britain's most majestic Victorian castles and the surrounding 6,000 acres of parkland.

Situated to the north of the castle, the lodge will be available for Valentine's Day 2015 and for selected weekends through the spring and summer.

There's no need to ask Carson to make the reservation. Weekend stays, priced from $545 per night, can be booked via the castle's website.

Highclere Castle , Newbury, Berkshire; +44 1635 253210