When Does "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" (2025) Take Place?
"Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" is a historical fiction film written by Julian Fellowes that released September 12th, 2025. So when is "The Grand Finale" set?
It takes place in the year:
We know this because early in the movie the Crawleys attend a musical and the marquee clearly reads "NOËL COWARD'S BITTER SWEET". The musical "Bitter Sweet" (1929) was first performed on July 2nd, 1929 AD and the English production closed in 1931 AD in the real world. So it must be during or before 1931 AD. (Another sign in the background reads: "COCHRAN'S 1930 REVUE".)
1930 AD
We know this because early in the movie the Crawleys attend a musical and the marquee clearly reads "NOËL COWARD'S BITTER SWEET". The musical "Bitter Sweet" (1929) was first performed on July 2nd, 1929 AD and the English production closed in 1931 AD in the real world. So it must be during or before 1931 AD. (Another sign in the background reads: "COCHRAN'S 1930 REVUE".)
Furthermore, Cora Crawley, The Countess of Grantham, says, ..."since we survived the Crash"..., presumably referring to the famous and tragic Wall Street Crash which occurred on a day known as Black Tuesday, October 24th, 1929 AD in the real world. So it is most likely during or after October of 1929 AD.
Later, Isobel Grey/Lady Merton, Sir Hector Moreland, and Charles Carson organize an event and then Mr. Carson announces at this event: "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Yorkshire county show 1930." So it is certainly the 1930 AD annual fair.
More specifically, at about one-tenth through the narrative, a newspaper page can be seen dated for: "THURSDAY 5th JUNE". So it is June of 1930 AD at the beginning.
It is the third chronological film in the Downton Abbey story [each being sequels to the TV series "Downton Abbey" (2010)] and can be watched at its timeline point after "Downton Abbey: A New Era" (2022).
