Your essential guide to Bridgerton filming locations
1 June 2023
If you’ve fallen under the spell of Shonda Rhimes’ recently released prequel to the frilly and fragrant world of Bridgerton, and drooled over its lavish settings, you may be among the legions of fans longing to know: where was Queen Charlotte a Bridgerton Story filmed?
The six-episode Netflix mini-series tells the tale of how the young Queen Charlotte came to marry King George III of England and their epic love story. And in addition to the cast of Queen Charlotte, a Bridgerton story, some of England’s finest grand palaces and mansions are the stars of the show, just as much as Queen Charlotte’s impressive wigs.
For history buffs or those who simply dream of rocking a bustle, the good news is all the lavish stately homes and grounds featured in the series are open to the public. And the spa city of Bath, where the series one and two were filmed, has a wealth of immersive experiences guaranteed to make Bridgterton fans swoon. So why not take a tour of the sumptuous Bridgerton filming locations and travel back in time to a bygone age of Regency grandeur and romance? Fetch the smelling salts and pear Brandy…
The most magical Bridgerton locations
Small wonder that shows like Bridgerton inspire such a desire to get a real-world peek inside royal palaces and wander around their extensive grounds. And talking of lush gardens, the delightful scene in which young Charlotte, betrothed against her will, attempts to climb a wall to escape the impending wedding to King George, was filmed at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. The charming country house, set in protected parkland, is beautiful inside and out. Guests can take a tour of the main house with chapel, armory and library and its five gardens (open Wednesday-Sunday, including Bank Holidays).
The couple’s opulent wedding was shot in another architectural gem of a building: Oxford University’s Merton College, while the location for Buckingham Palace, referred to as ‘Buckingham House’ in the drama, is the breathtaking Blenheim Palace. Situated in Woodstock in Oxfordshire, 18th century Blenheim Palace is one of England’s largest houses and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the ancestral home of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, its greatest claim to fame. The palace is open for tours from 09:00 - 18:00 daily.
And what of Kew Palace, the bolthole where King George spent his days farming, nights in the observatory and endured tortuous ‘medical’ treatments in the hands of crank doctors? These scenes were actually shot in Belton House, a Grade 1-listed country house near Grantham, Lincolnshire. The Netflix production team chose Belton House because the actual Kew Palace was too small for filming purposes. The house is bursting with treasured collections and the grounds feature an Italian Garden, an Orangery, a Dutch Garden and a Deer Park.
Longing for a memorable romantic break as part of your tour of Bridgerton filming locations? Few hotels offer rural retreats in stately splendour quite like Hambleton Hall the celebrated country house hotel with a renowned Michelin- starred restaurant in the picture perfect Oakham, just a 30-minute drive from Grantham.
In Queen Charlotte - a Bridgerton Story, we also travel back in time to the young Violet Bridgerton’s life with her family. These scenes were shot in Firle Place, a swanky country pile in the South Downs National Park that dates back to the time of Henry VIII. The house and celebrated Firle Tea Room is open to visitors on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (May-October). This part of East Sussex is also a prime location for elegant staycations and home to a number of tempting hotels, including Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa, an Elizabethan house surrounded by nine acres of gardens, with an outstanding spa and an award-winning restaurant.
And who doesn’t adore the indomitable Lady Danbury? Scenes between Violet Bridgerton’s father and the young lady in question were filmed against the grand backdrop of Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. Here, art lovers will be in their element: as the manor and estate have passed through three generations of the Rothschild family, the contents of the house have expanded to become one of the most rare and valuable collections in the world. The Grounds are open Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm) and the House Wed-Sun, 11am-4.30pm (last entry 3.20pm).
And for those who fancy a romantic foray into the Buckinghamshire countryside, Hartwell House is a peach of a spa hotel. Located in the Vale of Aylesbury, an area of outstanding natural beauty, the house is a blend of Jacobean and Georgian architecture.
Bridgerton filming locations in Bath
The glorious spa city of Bath provided the suitably elegant backdrop to represent ‘the Ton’ in the original first two series of Bridgerton and we get glimpses of these epic Bridgerton filming locations in Queen Charlotte a Bridgerton Story in flash-forwards and dotted through the regular storyline.
Lady Danbury’s Estate is actually the Holburne Museum in Bath. Nestled in Sydney Pleasure Gardens, the museum houses an impressive collection of sculptures, porcelain, embroideries and portraits by some of the greatest artists of the 18th century.
Featherington House, the Bridgerton family’s London homestead is a key landmark. While multiple homes were used for the interior shots, the exterior of the Featheringtons’ home is No. 1 Royal Crescent in Bath — a stunning townhouse museum where you can walk in the fashionable footsteps of Georgian Bath’s chattering elite.
Another great Bridgerton experience in Bath can be found at The Assembly Rooms, a Grade 1 listed building designed by John Wood the Younger in the 18th century. This beautiful venue was the place for elegant entertainments including balls, concerts, and gambling, attracting illustrious guests including the novelists Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, and the painter Thomas Gainsborough. It provided the perfect setting for the Bridgerton ballroom scenes.
Bridgerton filming tours in Bath
While you can go it alone, why not join an organised Bridgerton tour with expert local guides to get the inside story behind the drama? Bridgerton themed walking tours and experiences are available from a number of operators including Bath Insider Tours, City of Bath Guides, Fred Mawer Tours, and Brit Movie Tours. You’ll discover behind-the-scenes secrets as well as the real history of Bridgerton filming locations and landmark buildings.
And when in Bath, you can enjoy a Bridgerton-style hotel experience and languish in Regency splendour. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, situated in a prime position on the famous street, has become a must-stay venue for Bridgerton fans and those with a sense of old world glamour and style.
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