It’s the end of an era, and this time, it really is goodbye

The Crawleys are returning for one last bow in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the third and final film in the beloved franchise, due to hit UK cinemas on 12 September. And if the newly released trailer is anything to go by, fans can expect high drama, big emotions, and a suitably lavish send-off.

Set in 1930, The Grand Finale picks up with Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) stepping boldly into London society, where she’s faced with the glare of the press, and possibly a new way of life. Meanwhile, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) remain at the helm of the Yorkshire estate, quietly grappling with the changes time and progress have wrought.

Fifteen years on from the original ITV series that captured hearts across the world, this final chapter brings the curtain down on one of the most enduring British television sagas of our time. Writer and creator Julian Fellowes returns once more, with Simon Curtis, who directed Downton Abbey: A New Era, back in the director’s chair.

And they’ve brought the full family along

Familiar faces abound, from Jim Carter’s steadfast Mr Carson to Joanne Froggatt’s resilient Anna. Brendan Coyle, Phyllis Logan, Penelope Wilton, and Laura Carmichael are all back in their iconic roles, while new names, including Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, and Simon Russell Beale, promise to stir things up. Dominic West also reprises his role as the dashing silent film star Guy Dexter, adding a touch of silver screen sparkle.

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But one absence will be deeply felt

Dame Maggie Smith, who played the formidable Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, passed away in 2024. Though her character’s death was written into the second film, The Grand Finale is the first release since her passing — and all signs suggest the production is set to honour her legacy. A touching moment in the trailer shows Lady Mary gazing at a portrait of her late grandmother, suggesting a farewell that will be as poignant as it is grand.

There’s going to be no shortage of classic Downton flair in this last outing. The trailer teases a family trip to the races, glittering balls, and all the old-world glamour that fans have come to love. There are vintage motors, sweeping staircases, and of course fashions to die for. But amid the elegance, hints of change are everywhere. In one shot, Lady Mary walks through what might be a London flat – a departure from her palatial upbringing, and perhaps a nod to the future of the Crawley family.

Highclere Castle – the real-life family seat of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon – once again stars as Downton itself. For Lady Carnarvon, who opens her home each summer to the cast and crew, the series’ success has always come down to one thing: authenticity. “It was actually built as a home,” she says in a piece for Tatler. “Not like Blenheim or Chatsworth… it was built around the sense of family.”

There’s a quiet poetry in that

Because Downton Abbey, for all its aristocratic trappings, has always been a story about family; found, chosen, and inherited. As the final chapter approaches, it seems fitting that the last image released shows Lady Mary walking away, scarlet gown trailing, casting one last glance back. A signal, perhaps, that it’s time for all of us to do the same.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be released in UK cinemas on 12 September 2025.