From Queen Victoria to William Shakespeare to King George, some of history’s most iconic individuals have been portrayed on screen in Hertfordshire locations in Film and TV hits spanning the decades. Not forgetting the most popular literary and screen characters too of course such as King Lear or even the Duke and Duchess of Hastings!
Hatfield House, Wrotham Hall, Knebworth or Brocket Hall are just some of Hertfordshire’s historic and architecturally stunning buildings that have been made world-famous by UK period dramas based around these incredible characters, solidifying the county’s position right at the heart of the entertainment industry.
Delivering authentic backdrops and details that complement the stunning storylines, sumptuous costumes and charismatic characters, the county’s much-loved locations are often the star of the show.
Ogle at the opulence, marvel at the majesty and delight in the décor as you check out any one of these period properties and step back in time to relive some of the most memorable moments from cinematic and television history…
SWOON-WORTHY SEDUCTION
Back on Netflix for a second season, worldwide hit Bridgerton is the lock-down phenomenon that saw over 80 million fans tuning in to watch the scandalous families of Regency London’s high society getting up to no good… with sizzling characters swooning left, right and centre, love matches oozing with chemistry and some of the most stunning costumes we’ve ever seen in a period drama, it’s easy to why it’s such a hit…
And setting the scene for all the drama, dancing and dalliances are some of Hertfordshire’s most beautiful period properties, each teaming with history, stories and scandal of their own of course! With Hatfield House regularly featuring in Season one and Wrotham Park doubling for the Bridgerton’s country home Aubrey Hall in the new series, the county enjoys its starring role in the series. Looking to spend the night in an equally regal setting? Look at nearby Birch Community with its pool and its unique classes such as pottery making. A little further north and on the border of plenty of green space is Delta Hotel's Cheshunt location, with easy access to roads to whisk you home after a weekend break.
Head to Hatfield House to check out the location of the infamous garden scene with the Duke of Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton (You know the ones 😉) or visit the Wrotham grounds in which Lord Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma fall head over heels in season two. (Fun fact, iconic movie Shakespeare in Love was also filmed here too!)
Excuse us whilst we swoooooooon!
HERTFORSHIRE’S CROWNING GLORY
If going behind the scenes and delving into the royal reign is your cup of (English Breakfast) tea, then look no further than long-running hit, The Crown, to be your guide!
From the entrance of Buckingham Palace being painstakingly rebuilt at Elstree Studios to the breath-taking St Albans Cathedral to the Gothic interiors of Knebworth House, Hertfordshire’s stately homes can be spotted on screen during all five seasons of the award-winning royal drama.
Hatfield House simply must be the first stop on the royal tour having served as a filming location for a huge number of integral scenes during the show’s timeline that spans decades of recent history. The Jacobean stately home boasts opulent halls and intricately decorated rooms so it's the perfect setting for recreating those lavish palace interiors. It also boasts plenty of royal links itself and it was actually here that Elizabeth I was first told her of her ascension to the throne by Henry VIII!
Don’t miss The Long Gallery, an extraordinary interior with a stunning gold ceiling that was used for the scene when Queen Mary (actress Eileen Atkins) visits her son, The Duke of Windsor in Windsor Castle. The tapestry-draped walls of the drawing room and jaw-dropping library have also been glimpsed on screen and are well worth a look.
Why not also head to Barnet where Wrotham Park is nestled amongst the stunning Hertfordshire countryside for another royal hotspot. The beautiful music room here was used as the setting for the Queen’s formal Buckingham Palace sitting room and played host to pivotal scenes between titans of British acting, Olivia Coleman (as Queen Elizabeth) and Gillian Anderson (as Margaret Thatcher).
Other stops on your royal tour could include St Albans Cathedral which can also be spotted in key wedding and baptism scenes, playing the role of Westminster Abbey of course, or Brocket Hall, one of England’s finest stately homes, dutifully doubling for Kensington Palace on screen. Finally, don’t miss the beautiful Moor Park in Rickmansworth which is used for the exteriors of Buckingham Palace.
In just this one production, we can see that the county has so many architectural jewels and gems (an entire ‘Crown’s’ worth at least!) to be enjoyed by viewers, visitors and filmmakers alike!
FIT FOR A KING
Colin Firth’s evocative portrayal of the troubled King George VI in The King’s Speech has won countless awards, accolades, and fans over the years. Telling the fascinating story of the King’s impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936 and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer, The King’s Speech was actually filmed at Hertsmere’s Elstree Studios. (The production also headed out on location across the county to film at popular shooting location houses such as Knebworth and Hatfield.)
With a century of filmmaking under its belt, this working Hertfordshire film studio remains a cornerstone of the British Film and Television industry today and is home to a huge number of TV shows and film productions. Apply to be a part of your favourite shows as an audience member to really get behind the scenes and watch this space for details of studio tours coming very soon!
THE PEOPLE’S PRINCESS
The grand country house and grounds of Langleybury Mansion in Kings Langley boast sought-after period features that have graced the big screen many times over in the last decade. Top notch British productions such as Paddington, Grantchester, Downton Abbey, Kingsman and Endeavour have been based out of the site, with film casts and crews staying for months at a time.
Most notably, the infamous 2013 production of ‘Diana’ starring Hollywood star Naomi Watts was filmed at the historic school, using both interior and exterior shots of the location to tell the story of the last few years of Princess Diana’s much-documented life and of course her tragic death.
QUEEN OF THE SCREEN
Another day, another drama and this time it’s Victoria who’s the Queen of the screen!
In 2009, British film ‘The Young Victoria’, based on the early life and reign of Queen Victoria and her marriage to Prince Albert was filmed in and around London and Hertfordshire, with popular star Emily Blunt in the leading role.
The house and grounds at Balls Park offered up locations for many of the film’s interiors such as the memorable bedroom and dining room scenes using the house’s distinctive dark, wood-panelled rooms. (You can also catch glimpses of this rather lovely house, which unfortunately isn’t open to the public, in films Amazing Grace, The Golden Compass, and Starter For Ten too).
Also spotted in the film is Haileybury College, a private college which was impressively transformed into the ‘Houses of Parliament’ during production, providing the backdrop to many pivotal scenes in this critically-acclaimed historical drama.
Complete with its dreamy love story, extraordinary costumes, epic locations and world class acting talent, The Young Victoria helped put some of these lesser-known period properties on the Hertfordshire map!
