The Countdown begins!! One year from today, the Downton Abbey movie premieres!

Our visit to Highclere Castle in 2015, the "real" Downton Abbey 

As announced yesterday in several on-line media outlets, including Variety, not only has the production of the Downton Abbey movie already begun, but a premiere date has been set:  September 20, 2019!  We're bringing down our hemlines and dusting off our parasols in anticipation.

We can hardly wait!

Like so many, I'm a Downton Abbey fanatic. Starting back when the British Edwardian-era drama first  aired in the US in 2011, I jumped on the Downton Abbey bus and never got off. 

Meeting with Jessica Fellowes, author and niece of Julian Fellowes

Our great attachment to this Masterpiece serial took us on the road for DA-themed destinations, including a visit to Wilmington, Delaware, to take in one of the early traveling Downton Abbey exhibits. We also met Jessica Fellowes that same trip. That was our first one-degree-of-separation from the show's creator, Julian Fellowes (Jessica is Julian's niece). Jessica has written four Downton Abbey companion books (and, yes, we have them all!).

The  familiar front entrance where the Crawley family and staff greet their guests

The ultimate DA trip was a visit to the "real" Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle. My daughter, Rachel and I walked the grounds and toured the estate in 2015. We also visited Bampton Village, where the Downton Abbey town scenes are filmed.

Bampton Village, the "real" village of Downton Abbey

Our visit to Highclere, along with my interview of one of the residents, Lady Carnarvon, was featured in an issue of Tea Time Magazine.

Barb's Tea Service has done a lot of Downton Abbey-inspired teas, from the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham and Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, to libraries and museums throughout Michigan.

Presenting at Downton Days at Meadow Brook Hall

We've continued to carry on the DA teas (with another in just two weeks!), and we're gearing up for more in 2019.

Afternoon tea Crawley style

Get your tiara ready and the popcorn stored up.

If the anticipation gets to be too much, have a cup of Republic of Tea's Mrs. Patmore's Pudding tea and snuggle up with one of the Crawley's - teddy bears, that is.

Downton Abbey teddy bears:  Lord Grantham, Lady Mary and Mrs. Patmore

We're ready for a whole new season of Downton Abbey. Let Barb's Tea Service help you with your Downton Abbey-inspired afternoon tea! (barb@barbsteashop,com)