What are the dates of the Downton Abbey exhibit in Atlanta?

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If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to live upstairs or downstairs in Downton Abbey, then look no further than Atlanta, Georgia. Downton Abbey: The Exhibition recently opened in Atlanta following its acclaimed residency at Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. The exhibition is held at Perimeter Pointe in Sandy Springs for a limited engagement.

Downton Abbey: The Exhibition offers visitors a chance to step inside the world of Carnival Films’ award-winning global television and movie phenomenon. Hailed by The New York Times as a “cleverly immersive experience mounted with the same exacting care as the show itself,” the exhibition made its debut in New York City in 2017. Atlanta marks the fifth stop of the exhibition’s popular US tour, following engagements in West Palm Beach, Boston and Asheville.

“Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is a must see for all fans of the show,” says Tom Zaller, CEO of Imagine Exhibition. “The richness of the experience and its incredible details allows visitors to feel as though they are on set with the cast in Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen, the dining room, and immersed in the content and surrounded by the characters. It is a wow!”

Connecting fans to their favorite characters, costumes, locations and artifacts, the exhibition transports visitors on an incredible journey through the grand home of Downton Abbey, offering never-before-seen elements and exclusive footage. Visitors will get an inside look into the world of the Crawleys and those that served them below stairs. From Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and Carson’s office, to the family’s glamorous dining room, fans will get the chance to walk through some of the series and movie’s most recognizable and beloved sets. They will also get an up-close look at over 50 official costumes, worn by their favorite actors including Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Dame Maggie Smith.

The exhibition also provides a fascinating look at all aspects of the post-Edwardian period in which the popular series and movie are set, offering in-depth insight into the remarkable events that shaped the world. From World War I to the roaring twenties, visitors will have the chance to learn about British society, culture and fashion.

Tickets are priced from $36 and children 14 and under (accompanied by an adult) receive free admission. VIP packages and private event hire options are also available. The movie sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era will be in theaters March 18, 2022. Fans can also relive all their favorite moments from beloved television show Downton Abbey on Peacock, where all six seasons are streaming for free.

Tom Zaller, as he led media through Atlanta’s new “Downton Abbey: The Exhibition,” pointed out a picture of the opulent dining room. He stepped forward, pivoted, then with a wave of his arm, showed off a faithfully accurate replica of the room itself from the crazy popular period PBS drama.

“It’s all about the reveal,” Zaller said proudly.

Zaller, who runs Atlanta-based Imagination Exhibitions, is an “experience” veteran of 20-plus years. His company has created more than 40 different experiences ranging thematically from the Angry Birds video game to artist Leonardo da Vinci to multiple dinosaur exhibits. His company’s next big exhibition will be focused around Harry Potter in 2022. Zaller has done exhibits in dozens of countries for science centers, museums, zoos, aquariums and casinos.

This particular “Downton Abbey” stand-alone exhibition is based at the Perimeter Pointe strip mall in Sandy Springs two doors down from where the “Friends Experience” just wrapped. It costs $36 with free parking and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through January 17, 2022.

The experience has previously been shown in Singapore; New York City; West Palm Beach, Florida; Austin, Texas; and most recently, Ashville, North Carolina, at the Biltmore House.

Credit: RODNEY HO/rh@

Credit: RODNEY HO/rh@

“Downton Abbey” is by far PBS’s most popular scripted show in its long history, a worldwide phenomenon over six seasons that translated stateside as well. The series finale drew nearly 10 million American viewers in 2015, spawning a 2019 film and an upcoming 2022 sequel. Fans couldn’t get enough of the social dynamics between and among the rich and their help. And having Oscar winner Maggie Smith as the ever sardonic Dowager Countess never hurt.

“The character development is so amazing,” said Zaller, a fan of the TV show itself when it originally aired. “It’s rich and opulent with great storylines.” And he was fascinated by how the show revealed the period’s transition into modernity with the growth of automobiles and electricity and later, the telephone and radio.

The lush mansion itself became an enduring character in the series, which fictionally spanned from 1912 to 1925. The exhibition honors the edifice by painstakingly recreating many key rooms such as Mrs. Patmore’s busy kitchen, the servant’s hall and Lady Mary’s bedroom, which couldn’t fit in some of the earlier exhibit spaces.

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

“This is the best space we’ve had so far,” Zaller said. “We have the height. We have the width. We could spread out.” (With endless money and space, he would have loved to have also built out the mansion’s driveway, front façade and the foyer.)

More than 50 of the original costumes from the show are featured, from wedding dresses to maid outfits. And there are multiple videos, including immersive projection technology to showcase some of the show’s highlights in a room resembling the mansion’s library.

Elisabeth Corkran, a 51-year-old human resources business partner from Avondale Estates, began watching “Downton Abbey” during the pandemic and quickly became hooked. She saw the exhibit at the Biltmore in Asheville. “Those dresses are lovely on screen, but even more breathtaking in person!” she said.

For a fan like Kelly McCreary, a 45-year-old Stone Mountain wine shop manager, the show was a compelling blend of beauty, triumph, history and tragedy. “Seeing the exhibition will only solidify your passion for the show,” she said, after visiting the Asheville exhibit. “The attention to detail is incredible. Seeing certain pieces up close will take you back to your favorite scenes. But the showstopper for me was walking into Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen. I could only smile.”

NBCUniversal International Studios, which owns the rights to “Downton Abbey,” cooperated with the exhibition. As a result, the show creator Julian Fellowes, executive producer Gareth Neame, costume designer Gina Cromwell and set designer Donal Woods all consulted with Zaller to give the space authenticity.

Several of the key actors even taped specialized video, including Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley/Lord Grantham), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley/Lady Grantham), Jim Carter (butler Mr. Carson) and Phyllis Logan (lead housekeeper Mrs. Hughes).

Credit: RODNEY HO/[email protected]

Credit: RODNEY HO/[email protected]

The just-concluded “Friends” pop-up experience allowed fans to “relive” moments on the show by allowing them to interact directly with the props and furniture and taking numerous Instagramable photos. In contrast, the“Downton Abbey” version is sleeker and more museum-like. Selfies are still welcome, but you can’t sit at the dining room table and fiddle with the silverware.

“They call us the sophisticated pop up,” Zaller said.

IF YOU GO

“Downton Abbey: The Experience”

10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. $36 with children 14 and under (accompanied by an adult) free. VIP packages and private event options available. 1155 Mount Vernon Highway NE, Atlanta. downtonexhibition.com.

The show’s six seasons are available for Netflix subscribers and on Peacock for free.

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

Credit: Jenni Girtman

About the Author

Rodney Ho

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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