The Crown Filming Locations You Can Visit
With the third season of The Crown about to arrive on Netflix, we’re settling in for a weekend of royal drama, political intrigue, and sparkling tiaras. Despite the opulence of the sets, you might think the TV series was filmed in the actual Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. However, due to access limitations, the Netflix team shot the new episodes at Elstree Studios and several stately homes across the UK.
The good news is that many of these locations are open to the public, allowing you to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the lavish sets while avoiding queues at the actual royal residences. Here are eight filming locations from The Crown you can visit in real life.
Winchester Cathedral
The first episode of the new season covers the death of Winston Churchill in 1965. In real life, his funeral was held in St Paul’s Cathedral, but for The Crown, Winchester Cathedral serves as the perfect stand-in. Located in Hampshire, just over an hour from London, the cathedral is one of the largest in Europe at over 160 meters long, featuring some of the country’s finest medieval wood carvings. It is the resting place of Jane Austen and has been the site of several royal weddings from Henry IV to Mary Tudor. Tours are available daily (entry £9.50).
Lancaster House
When unable to film at Buckingham Palace, the makers of The Crown opted for this neoclassical mansion located merely five minutes away. The sweeping staircase and magnificent central hall, adorned in lavish Louis XIV style, feature prominently throughout the new season. Lancaster House has its own royal history, built in 1825 as a private palace for the “grand old” Duke of York. Winston Churchill even hosted a coronation banquet for the Queen in the Long Gallery in 1953. Today, this site is primarily used for government hospitality but welcomes visitors during Open House weekend.
Belvoir Castle
On weekends, one might find the Queen at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip. The Crown utilized Belvoir Castle for both interior and exterior shots across all three seasons, as it perfectly recreates the iconic round tower. Nestled atop a hill in rural Leicestershire, this fairytale castle is complete with romantic turrets, lush gardens, and stunning Regency architecture. The interiors, particularly the Elizabeth Saloon and the Regent’s Gallery, are overwhelmingly majestic. The castle is open on selected dates in November and December, reopening in March (entry from £18).
Caernarfon Castle
The sixth episode centers on Prince Charles’s investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales. This actual location served as the backdrop for the royal ceremony filmed in 1969. Now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this formidable medieval fortress is celebrated as one of Wales’s architectural gems and is open year-round (entry £9.90).
West Wycombe House
This Palladian mansion in Buckinghamshire, located about an hour’s drive from London, features prominently in the eighth episode. West Wycombe House doubles as the Duke of Windsor’s residence in Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The vibrant yellow saloon hosts scenes with the ailing duke, Wallis Simpson, Prince Charles, and the Queen. Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize the blue drawing room, where numerous interior scenes were filmed, while the beautifully maintained rococo gardens are a must-visit. The house will reopen in June (entry £9).
Wilton House
Another location representing Buckingham Palace, this country house near Salisbury was built on the grounds of a 9th-century nunnery and was granted to the Earl of Pembroke by Henry VIII in 1544. Wilton House showcases rich 17th-century interiors that provided a magnificent backdrop for scenes in The Crown, and is open from April to September (entry £15.50). Visitors can explore the gilded rooms, featuring artworks by van Dyck and Rembrandt, and enjoy 22 acres of parkland and gardens.
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College, designed by Christopher Wren, serves as the courtyard of Buckingham Palace in several episodes of The Crown, showcasing the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne. Originally the site of Greenwich Palace, it features striking baroque architecture framed by twin domes. Be sure to visit the Painted Hall, England’s answer to the Sistine Chapel. The visitor center offers free 45-minute guided tours, and the expansive 18 acres of historic grounds are free to explore all day.
Hylands House
Princess Margaret is featured prominently in episode two, which chronicles her visit to Washington and a state dinner with President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Crown found its White House just outside London in Essex at Hylands House, a neoclassical villa showcasing impeccably restored Georgian and Victorian interiors. The site opens to the public on selected Sundays each month, enabling guests to admire the opulent period decorations, enjoy complimentary guided tours, and stroll through the enchanting Victorian pleasure gardens.