The Crown has won all seven drama categories at the Emmy Awards as well as winning Best Television Series twice at the Golden Globes. You can spot many famous royal backdrops from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle - so exactly where was The Crown filmed?
This smash-hit Netflix show has been filmed on-location at various listed and historical buildings around the UK, including many castles and palaces that are open to the public. We delve into 11 important UK filming locations and what they were used for in The Crown - as you'll see not all locations are as they appear on-screen!
Whether you're a filmmaker looking for location scouting inspiration or a fan eager to relive the magic of The Crown, we hope you enjoy these jaw-dropping destinations.
The Crown UK historical filming locations:
This neo-classical Grade I listed townhouse is nestled in the St James's district of London’s West End, near Buckingham Palace, and was once part of the St James's Palace complex.
These days, the venue is regularly used for state events, diplomatic gatherings and as a filming location. The house boasts an opulent neoclassical design, with ornate interiors featuring lavish gilding, grand staircases, and magnificent art collections.
On The Crown the rooms were dressed to replicate the interiors of Buckingham Palace throughout the seasons.
Address: Lancaster House, Stable Yard, London SW1A 1BB
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/history/lancaster-house
The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has various areas that are popular for filming including the grounds, Painted Hall, Skittle Alley, and the Chapel.
The Painted Hall is known as ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’ thanks to its 40,000 square foot of Baroque painted ceiling and walls. You can spot this beautiful backdrop in season 5 of The Crown as the setting for Queen Elizabeth’s 40th anniversary luncheon (played by Imelda Staunton).
The Chapel is known for its exquisite neo-classical interiors and was chosen to replicate the Royal Military Chapel, known as the Guards' Chapel, where Camilla (Emerald Fennell) and Andrew Parker Bowles (Andrew Buchan) were married in season 3.
Address: Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9NN
Website: https://ornc.org
Just down the road from Lancaster House is His Majesty's Theatre, the long-standing home to the classic West End musical 'Phantom of the Opera' since 1986. It is famous for its luxurious interiors, grand balconies, and rich red-and-gold decor.
The stage can be seen in season 4 where a young Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) performs the song 'All I Ask of You' from the very same musical in front of a full house as well as her husband Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor).
Address: His Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, London SW1Y 4QL
Website: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/his-majestys/
The Australian High Commission is located in the ornate Grade II listed building on The Strand. It is one of London's finest examples of Edwardian architecture and features grand marble interiors, ornate detailing, and a striking high-ceilinged hall. It was even used as a filming location for Harry Potter.
In The Crown, the interior is used as the setting for the tense lunch between Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) and Camilla Parker Bowles (Emerald Fennell) in season 4.
Address: Australian High Commission, Strand, London WC2B 4LA
Website: https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/home.html
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Four castles have stood on the hilltop of Belvoir castle (pronounced Beaver) since 1067, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding counties for miles. The current is an elaborate Regency-era house and several rooms have been used to replicate the grand interiors of Windsor Castle throughout multiple seasons of The Crown.
Address: Belvoir Castle, Woolsthorpe Rd, Grantham NG32 1PA
Website: https://www.belvoircastle.com/
This commanding Cathedral in the historic riverside city of Ely holds over 1,300 years of history. As the production was unable to film in Westminster Abby, Ely Cathedral was the stand-in location for the wedding of Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy) and Prince Phillip (Matt Smith) in season 1 of The Crown.
Address: Chapter House, The College, Ely CB7 4DL
Website: https://www.elycathedral.org
Manchester's trendy Northern Quarter neighbourhood is located between Piccadilly and Ancoats, and is characterised by its red-brick industrial buildings, street art, vintage shops, record stores, and a mix of quirky cafes, bars, and restaurants.
The Northern Quarter is regularly transformed into the streets of downtown New York City for film and TV productions, including in The Crown when Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) made a solo trip to the city in season 4.
Website: https://northernquartermanchester.com
Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe and one of the oldest in England. Featuring intricate medieval carvings and beautiful stained glass, this magnificent location was used to replicate St Paul's Cathedral as the setting for the highly anticipated wedding of Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) and Prince Charles (Josh O'Connor) in season 4 of The Crown.
Address: Winchester Cathedral, 9 The Cl, Winchester SO23 9LS
Website: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/
Hatfield House is a Grade I listed Jacobean mansion set on the large grounds of the Great Park. Built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury, it features intricate woodwork, rich tapestries, and an impressive art collection.
This is another site that was transformed to replicate the interiors of Buckingham Palace throughout the seasons of The Crown.
Address: Hatfield House, Herts, Great North Rd., Hatfield AL9 5HX
Website: http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/
Burghley House is a magnificent Elizabethan mansion near Stamford, Lincolnshire, known for its grand architecture and extensive parkland. Built between 1555 and 1587 by Sir William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, the house boasts numerous turrets and towers, as well as lavish interiors featuring ornate ceilings, tapestries, and an impressive art collection.
This palace-like stately home was used as a double for several external shots of Windsor Castle in season 4 of The Crown, including the devastating fire of 1992.
Address: Burghley House, Peterborough, Stamford PE9 3JY
Website: http://www.burghley.co.uk/
Caernarfon Castle is a massive fortress and medieval filming location located in Caernarfon, North Wales. Built by Edward I in the late 13th century as part of his campaign to control Wales, it remains one of the best-preserved and most impressive examples of medieval military architecture in the UK today.
The castle was both the filming location for Prince Charles's investiture as the Prince of Wales in season 3 of The Crown as well as the actual site where the ceremony took place in 1969.
Address: Caernarfon Castle, Castle Ditch, Caernarfon LL55 2AY
Website: https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caernarfon-castle/
The production crew on The Crown worked hard to capture the essence of the royal family’s world and it obviously paid off. The immense success of the show proves how important it is that the settings feel real to the audience - even if they aren’t filmed at the exact historical locations where the real-life events happened! Fortunately with a bit of artistic license, this show proves you can convincingly transform historical filming locations into exactly what you want them to be on-screen.
Need more location inspiration? Check out the top Bridgerton filming locations in England
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