Unknown village in England, Downton, gets accidental tourism boost

DOWNTON, England, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- "Downton Abbey" fans are flocking to Downton village in Britain, but the area has nothing to do with writer-director Julian Fellowes' TV show, locals said.

"Downton Abbey" is set in a fictional location, and the scenes have been shot at castles across the country. The setting has been described on the show as being in Yorkshire, more than 200 miles away from the village of Downton.

U.S. tourists are heading to the village of Downton in hopes of getting a glimpse of the show before it starts its fourth season this month, The Telegraph reported.

"We definitely get a few people a week asking for directions to Downton Abbey. We had one couple who were absolutely adamant that this was where it was filmed, even though it doesn't look anything like it and we told them it wasn't the place," James Neve, the landlord of the Bull hotel in the village, said.

The Telegraph said Downton's economy has declined in recent years, and the village is best known for its Cuckoo Fair held in May.