Downton Days Tea, Talk & Tour

Steep yourself in Edwardian England – NEW DATE!

Downton Abbey event at Meadow Brook HallFor those who cannot get enough of Edwardian England and the cinematic adventures of the Crawley family and their servants, Meadow Brook Hall will once more present the Downton Days Tea, Talk & Tour.

Set in Meadow Brook’s exquisite Christopher Wren Dining room, this elegant event will feature a talk on the customs and etiquette in the time of Downton Abbey, including all that went into entertaining Royalty when they came to visit.

Barbara Gulley will present the talk. Gulley, along with her daughter Rachel Brown, own and operate Barb’s Tea Service, a tea education business in southeastern Michigan. Gulley is also a contributing writer to Tea Time Magazine, and has published two articles on her visit to Highclere Castle, the setting for the fictional Downton Abbey, and has interviewed the current countess, Lady Carnarvon. Gulley is the author of two books, “Michigan Tea Rooms” and “Twelve Etiquette Essentials: Formal Dining and Tea Time.”

The elegant and immersive afternoon will conclude with a guided Servant’s Life Tour, which takes you through the hidden staff areas of Meadow Brook Hall. Guests are welcome to wear Downton Abbey-inspired attire for this event.

Please note that we cannot guarantee separate seating for groups. Because of the historic nature of the mansion, most areas of the Servant’s Life Tour are not accessible to wheelchairs.

2023 DETAILS:

$65 per person | $58.50 members | Reservations are required. 

Thursday, March 30, 2023
Time: 1 – 3:30 p.m.

There is limited availability for this event. Contact our Community Events team at to book your tickets.

For more ways to experience Downton Abbey at Meadow Brook, check out our immersive Downton Abbey inspired Servant’s Life Tour!

Downton Days Tea, Talk & Tour Menu:

Savories:
*Quiche Florentine
*Smoked salmon & boursin roulade on sourdough crostini
*Dried fruit & herb chicken salad in demi brioche boule
*Honey ham on pretzel roll with coarse dijon & gruyere
*Roasted garlic & cheddar biscuit with whipped butter
Sweets:
*Chocolate dipped strawberry
*Petite apple cinnamon muffin 
*Scone with lemon curd
*Chocolate mousse cup
*Cheesecake with caramel sauce

ABOUT DOWNTON ABBEY: The television series “Downton Abbey” followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the turn of the 20th Century in an Edwardian English castle (Downton Abbey).

Over its six seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, 69 Emmy nominations in total, making “Downton Abbey” the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.

For the huge fan base of the TV show, the “Downton Abbey” movie is like two hours catching up with old friends – finding out what happened to the characters since the show ended, and sharing in their joys, their tragedies and their dramas!