The final season of The Crown is upon us, so fans and fanatics grab your cuppa tea along with Princess Diana’s commemorative paraphernalia and settle on a cozy couch to enjoy the final season. Part one of the show’s finale, consisting of four episodes, was released on16th of November, while part 2 will be released on the 13th of December and will consist of six episodes. However, if you thought that your Crown journey was over, you are wrong. In this article, we will be discussing the 7 best filming locations from The Crown that you can visit for the ultimate experience.
All of us fans adore and love the characters and the actors of The Crown who portrayed their parts so well. However, one thing about the series that we love the most is its remarkable British setting. The beautiful setting ranges from scenic seaside to impressive castles. Most of the scenes were shot in locations spread across England, Wales, and Scotland. However, the show wasn’t granted permission to access the real royal estates for filming, so the main question is where did they film? In this article, we will answer that question and more and we explore the Best Filming Locations from The Crown.
Filming Locations from The Crown
Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
1. Balmoral Estate – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Ardverikie Estate
The imposing Balmoral Castle and Estate in Scotland is the backdrop of many pivotal scenes in the series including a particularly memorable scene in an episode called The Balmoral Test in season 4. During this scene, Lady Diana portrayed by Emma Corrin, and the new prime minister Margaret Thatcher represented by Gillian Anderson are both subjected to vetting by the queen at her favorite Scottish escape, the Balmoral Castle. However, as the show wasn’t granted permission to film at the Balmoral, a substitute had to be selected. And so, Ardverikie Estate was selected to portray the Balmoral Castle and Estate.
Ardverikie lies about 2.5 hours north of Edinburg and is situated by Kinloch Laggan. It was built on clan lands in the 1800s and has played host to royalty in the past, including Queen Victoria, who ruled from 1837 to 1901. The Ardverikie Estate is an excellent substitute for Balmoral Castle and Estate with its turrets and Gothic flourishes. The grounds of Ardverikie Estate are home to about 1,000 red deer and are open for the public to explore. Even though staying inside the main castle is tricky, you can however stay at the eight cottages that are available for rent on the estate.
To take a peek into the castle, you can opt for a tour. Moreover, as Ardverikie Estate lies at the edge of Cairngorms National Park which is the home of Balmoral, you can take a hike by the royal grounds to see the imposing state from afar. The Ardverikie Estate is one of the most beautiful filming locations among the vets filming locations of The Crown and will transport you back in time all the while helping you connect on a physical level with your favorite series.
2. The Ritz Paris – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Waddesdon Manor
In season five of The Crown, a scene is shown where Mohamad Al Fayed portrayed by Salim Daw, the father of Princess Diana’s boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, played by Khalid Abdullah, purchased the grand dame Parisian hotel known as the Ritz Paris. However, that scene was not filmed at Ritz Palace. Instead, Waddesdon Manor which is a French Renaissance chateau style housed located in the English countryside, stood in for the interior of Ritz Paris in that scene. The Waddesdon Manor is one of the best filming locations from The Crown it is a must-visit.
Built by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild in the late 1800s, the Waddesdon Manor is a lavish place that is open to the public to visit year around. The Estate offers daily tours of the beautiful grounds and the magnificent house. Waddesdon Manor is also a great place to visit during the festive season as it holds various events and festive events. There is a chance that the Waddesdon Manor will be featured in season 6 of the series as the Ritz Paris was the place where real Princess Diana and Dodi spent their final night together in the car accident that took both of their lives.
3. Highgrove – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Somerley
Somerley is a beautiful 7,000-acre Gregorian estate that dates back to the 1600s and was used to portray Highgrove, the country getaway of Prince Charles in Hampshire. Somerley is a large Georgian Grade II listed English country house and resides on the Hampshire Dorset border on the edge of the New Forest, lying 90 minutes away from London. The palatial house is among the best filming locations from The Crown and is adorned with opulent furnishings and artwork. Harboring nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a drawing room, and a library, Somerley is a beautiful place surrounded by verdant grounds that are home to pheasants and deer.
The house is not open to the public, you can however book it for weddings, concerts, festivals, and other concerts. Another way of entering the property is by gathering your “The Crown” loving crew and reserving the house in its entirety. If renting the entire house is out of budget, the property is home to two other accommodations that you can rent for less than the price. These accommodations include the Old Salmon Hut which is a 150-year-old refurbished lodge fit for a party of two and the Farmhouse which Is wisteria-clad, multi-room.
4. Caernarfon Castle – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Caernarfon Castle
Among the Filming Locations from The Crown, the actual location in which the real-life transpired which was also used as a filming spot for the series was the Caernarfon Castle. The Caernarfon Castle is an imposing medieval fortress castle that is one of the few historic locations that The Crown was able to use for filming.
This medieval fortress can be found residing in Gwynedd, Wales, lying about 85 miles west of Liverpool. Feature in season four, the Caernarfon Castle was used as the site of Prince Charles’s investiture as the Prince of Wales. The ceremony that took place in 1969, was replicated in the show. Caernarfon Castle is open to the public, and fans of the show can visit the fortress to see it in its full glory.
5. Windsor Palace (From Season One to Three) – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Belvoir Castle
In The Crown series, Queen Elisabeth’s home, Windsor Place was featured heavily, however, the crew was not allowed to film scenes there. Therefore, instead of the Windsor Palace, the Belvoir Castle played the role of Windsor Castle from season one to season three. Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire lies about 70 miles east of Birmingham and harbors a rich history that dates back to the 11th century.
The land of Belvoir is home to four castles, the current one was built between 1901 and 1832, which makes it an excellent example of Regency-era architecture. Today the beautifully massive estate is open to the public, hosting everything from tours to Christmas spectaculars to afternoon tea. Tourers visiting the place can also sleep over on the grounds of the estate as it is also home to several cottages and glamps.
6. Windsor Palace (From Season Four to Five) – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Burghley House
For seasons four and five of The Crown, the crew switched from filming at the Belvoir Castle to Burghley House. The Burghley House lies in Lincolnshire, residing about 30 miles south of Belvoir Castle. Sir William Cecil who was the first Baron of Burghley, built the beautiful Burghley House in the mid-1500s.
The Burghley House is one of the grandest and oldest surviving estates that is open to the public. Lovers of the season can visit Burghley House and take a tour of the home, its gardens as well and the massive parkland. Moreover, the estate is also house to a woodland-themed play area where the kids can play as well as several cafes and restaurants, where you can enjoy a hearty meal against the backdrop of the beautiful estate.
7. Buckingham Palace – – Visiting 7 Best Filming Locations from The Crown
Real-life Location – Wilton House
The queen’s famous London residence, the popular Buckingham Palace, also made a cameo in the season, however, the scenes portraying the castle were not filmed at the Buckingham Palace but at several other estates, that stepped in to portray the grand palace. Wilton House is one of several locations that were used to portray Buckingham Palace, the other one being Lancaster House, which is not open to the public.
The Wilton House is a beautiful and grand house that is about 450 years old and lies 95 miles west of London. The house comes under the ownership of the Earl and Countess of Pembroke and is adorned with art and antiques. Those visiting the place have to plan their trip around the months of summer or spring because the place closes for fall and winter. Its vast ground is also home to a children’s playground and café, where you can have a meal after touring the place.
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