Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is a British historical drama television series created by Julian Fellowes.

Downton Abbey is a British historical drama series that follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants at a fictional Yorkshire estate in the early 20th century. Created by Julian Fellowes, it aired from 2010 to 2015 and became a major international success.

What it is

The series centres on the Crawley family, the aristocratic residents of Downton Abbey, and the estate’s domestic staff. Its story is shaped by social change in Britain during the early 1900s, weaving in major events such as the sinking of the Titanic and World War I.

Key details

Downton Abbey originally aired on ITV and was broadcast in the United States by PBS. Although the estate is fictional, filming took place at Highclere Castle, a real country house in Hampshire, England. The series has six seasons and 52 episodes.

Why it matters

The show received widespread critical recognition and expanded into a film franchise after its television run ended. In Canada, it aired through television distribution and became widely known among viewers as an internationally successful British period drama.