Netflix’s hit period drama The Crown returns this weekend for its fourth season, bringing with it an abundance of stately homes and decadent interiors to admire alongside the corgis, tiaras and ballgowns. Though parts of the new episodes were shot at Elstree Studios, much of the series is filmed in country estates and historic houses around the UK. Here are eight filming locations from The Crown that you can visit in real life.
Somerleyton Hall
The Crown recreated Sandringham, the Queen’s private Norfolk retreat where the royals traditionally celebrate Christmas, at Somerleyton Hall. The sumptuous Suffolk property boasts a dazzling stone and red-brick facade overlooking 12 acres of parkland and formal gardens. A Tudor-Jacobean manor house that was extensively remodelled in the Victorian era, the estate retains few of the Jacobean features — with the exception of the marvellous panelled Oak Parlour — though the Victorian elements have been carefully preserved, including the chintz ballroom and, outside, the yew hedge maze, glasshouses and walled gardens. Under current restrictions, only the garden is open to the public (tickets £7.95).
Ardverikie Estate
The second episode of the new season sees the young Diana Spencer and Margaret Thatcher undergo the “Balmoral test”, where they must navigate the etiquette minefield of a weekend at the Queen’s holiday home, from long days stalking deer on the grounds to strict royal dining protocols. Another Scottish estate, Ardverikie on the shores of Loch Laggan, stands in for Balmoral, and makes a great likeness for the royal residence, built in the same Scottish baronial style and surrounded by dense forestry. Formerly a traditional Highland sporting estate, Ardverikie welcomes visitors to explore the estate, though only guests staying in the self-catering cottages are permitted to tour the castle. It may be familiar to viewers as Glenbogle from the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, and will also appear in the upcoming James Bond film No Time to Die.
Knebworth House
Interior shots for the Balmoral scenes were captured at this beautiful site in Stevenage, an 80-minute drive from London. The public rooms offer an eccentric mix of a number of different styles, including the Victorian library, Jacobean banqueting hall and Edwardian dining parlour, but Knebworth House is just as impressive from the outside. Film fans may recognise the property, covered in Gothic turrets and gargoyles, as Wayne Manor from Tim Burton’s 1988 Batman. Built in 1490 and former host to guests including Charles Dickens and Winston Churchill, there is plenty for history buffs to sink their teeth into, while outdoorsy visitors can stroll through the colourful formal gardens, which span 28 acres, and children can enjoy the dinosaur trail and adventure playground. At the moment, the gardens remain open on weekends but pre-booking is essential (tickets £7).
Goldsmiths’ Hall
One of The Crown’s filming locations for the interior scenes set in Buckingham Palace is the magnificent Goldsmiths’ Hall, a mid-19th century livery hall in the City of London. The exterior features a dramatic central portico of six columns, along with elaborately carved balconies, though inside, visitors can admire the strikingly ornate marble staircase and elegant reception rooms richly decorated with gold — the Goldsmiths’ Company was founded to protect the trade. A number of open days are held during the year, with guided tours costing £5.
Winchester Cathedral
Although we don’t see Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding on screen, the new season of The Crown does include a particularly fraught rehearsal at St Paul’s Cathedral. Winchester Cathedral again doubles as the iconic London landmark, and has itself been host to royal weddings including that of Queen Mary Tudor. Dating back more than 900 years, guests can also visit the grave of Jane Austen, see the 12th-century Winchester Bible, and tour the early Norman crypt. The cathedral is currently closed to tourists during lockdown, but is usually open daily (tickets £9.95).
Burghley House
The fourth season of The Crown casts a new location for the role of Windsor Castle, the Queen’s preferred weekend home. It is Burghley House, a Tudor mansion in Stamford, built by Queen Elizabeth I’s Lord High Treasurer William Cecil in the 16th century. A spectacular example of Elizabethan architecture, its three facades are adorned with spires, cupolas and tall chimneys, while inside, the state rooms are suitably lavish. Burghley House is also notable for its parkland and gardens, laid out by Capability Brown, who also constructed the Orangery, which now holds the Burghley restaurant. Though the house and gardens are closed until 2021, the parkland remains open daily.
Brocket Hall
The scenes set at Kensington Palace were filmed at Brocket Hall, a sprawling estate that dates back to 1239 and is now home to a luxurious hotel, two golf courses and an upscale restaurant in a former hunting lodge. The Hertfordshire house has its own royal history, as Elizabeth I stayed there before her rise to the throne, and Queen Victoria paid many visits while it was owned by prime ministers Lord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston. Today, the interior reflects 18th-century style, decorated with original furniture, hand-painted silk wallpaper and Chippendale bookcases. A 50-minute drive from central London, Brocket Hall also offers afternoon tea in the ballroom, which features one of the longest tables in the UK, second only to Windsor Castle.
Stevenson Square
The fourth season of The Crown depicts a number of foreign holidays and royal tours abroad, including Princess Diana’s first solo trip to New York in 1989. Rather than taking the shoot to America, however, the filmmakers gave Manchester a Manhattan makeover, transforming Stevenson Square into downtown New York with yellow taxis, a subway station and a hot dog stand. The square is part of the city’s Northern Quarter, which previously stood in for New York in the first Captain America film.
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