I meant to say "up", not "down".
Because Downton Abbey is set to be near Ripon, which is in the northern part of England. About center east to west, just a little north of the latitude that Liverpool sits at. So London is down south.
As I said in my correction, I meant "up", not "down". Several times one of the characters has said he or she is "going up to London." Downton is in Yorkshire, so I know it is north of London. That is what prompted my question.
Oh, I hadn't noticed them saying "up", sorry.
It's just to do with the fact that it's London, it's an important place and therefore you go 'up' to it no matter where you are in the country! I don't know how or why it started but you do still hear people say they are going 'up to London' when they will in fact be travelling south.
Also covered in this thread.