Alnwick Castle starred as the magnificent Brancaster Castle in two Christmas specials of world famous drama series Downton Abbey.

"A Moorland Holiday"

The cast and crew of Downton spent two busy weeks at the castle in July and August 2014, filming extensively in the spectacular State Rooms, as well as in the grounds and at the semi-ruined Hulne Abbey in the Duke of Northumberland's parklands in Alnwick.

The episode finds the Crawley family in 1924, when Lady Rose’s father-in-law, Lord Sinderby, rents out Brancaster Castle and the family are invited to a shooting party.

Surprises are in store when a scandalous secret threatens to undermine the holiday, and some new faces arrive on the scene.

"The Finale"

In July 2015, Downton returned for another week of filming in the State Rooms, the ramparts, and in the nearby Bow Alley, as well as in St Michael's Church Hall. These scenes would become part of the final-ever episode of the series, broadcast in the UK on Christmas Day that year.

This episode features Brancaster under the ownership of Lady Edith's fiancé Bertie Pelham, now Lord Hexham. Lord and Lady Grantham join Edith at Brancaster, where they meet Bertie's formidable mother and decide the future of Edith's relationship with Bertie once and for all.