The magnificent Hampton Court Palace is a spectacular backdrop for filming and has been featured in TV and film since 1926.
Originally owned by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century, Henry VIII took the palace for himself and used it to display his wealth and power at court. The palace later went through extensive work when Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned by William III and Mary II to design a new baroque palace in 1689. Wren scrapped his original plan to demolish the whole palace and instead created the spectacular Fountain Court, leaving much of the Tudor palace intact.
Today, Hampton Court's legacy leaves behind a unique palace with both Tudor and Baroque architecture, making it a fitting location for many genres, from period dramas Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Bridgerton, The Favourite, Belgravia and The Great, to documentaries such as Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors.
Explore historic locations featured in your favourite TV shows and films, from costume dramas to documentaries and see the real life spaces.
Bridgerton
Image: ©Netflix
Bridgerton is the Netflix show set in the Regency era, following eight close-knit siblings looking for love and happiness in London high society.
Discover the locations of your favourite scenes from the hit TV show, and delve into the history behind these real-life spaces from the baroque courtyards to historic palace gardens.
Bridgerton filming locationsRenegade Nell
Image: Photo by Robert Viglasky. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Renegade Nell follows plucky Nell Jackson, who becomes a highwaywoman in 18th century England.
Scenes featuring characters Thomas Blancheford (Jake Dunn, pictured here), and Robert Hennessey, Earl of Poynton (Adrian Lester) were filmed at Hampton Court Palace. This includes the ornate King's staircase that leads to King William's apartments and the colonnade in Clock Court.
Many of these baroque features were built during the reign of William III and Mary II, who was Queen's Anne's sister. Anne is also present in the show and occasionally stayed at Hampton Court Palace when she was Queen.
Renegade Nell, Season 1 is streaming now, exclusively on Disney+.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Image: © Liam Daniel/Netflix 2023
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, is the Netflix prequel to Bridgerton. Following a young Queen Charlotte and her marriage to King George of England, it's an epic love story that transforms London high society.
Explore the locations of scenes from the show including the magnificent Gardens, Base Court, Clock Court, the King’s Staircase, the Orangery and historic kitchens, all open to visitors and included in admission tickets to the palace.
Filming location: Tudor Courtyards
Featured in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023), Bridgerton (2020), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), Vanity Fair (2004), The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
Base Court and Clock Court are the main Tudor courtyards of Hampton Court. Henry VIII's courtiers entered the palace through Base Court where there were guest lodgings, while Clock Court contained the royal state apartments.
In Bridgerton, Base Court can be seen in a scene where debutants arrive to be represented to Queen Charlotte.
The Favourite
Set in the early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her 'favourite' Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz) uses her personal influence to govern the country in her stead.
Hampton Court Palace welcomed the film's cast and crew of The Favourite during the spring of 2017.
Learn about the famous locations featured in the film, such as Henry VIII's Kitchens, and find out where the real Queen Anne lived at the palace.
Filming location: Henry VIII's Kitchens
Featured in The Favourite (2018)
The huge Great Kitchens date from the Tudor period. Originally they were used just for roasting fresh meat on spits over the six great fires. It was these historic kitchens which would have served Queen Anne's court when in residence at Hampton Court Palace.
In The Favourite, the kitchens are where Abigail (Emma Stone) works in Queen Anne's palace.
Other films and TV shows
Other iconic tv shows and films filmed at Hampton Court Palace include:
- My Lady Jane (2024)
- The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (2024)
- The Great (2020)
- Belgravia (2020)
- Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (2018)
- Holmes & Watson (2018)
- Cinderella (2015)
- The Theory of Everything (2014)
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
- The Young Victoria (2009)
- John Adams (2008)
- Little Dorrit (2008)
- Vanity Fair (2004)
- Three Men in a Boat (1956)
- The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
- Hampton Court Palace (1926)
Filming location: Fountain Court
Featured in The Favourite (2018) and Bridgerton (2020)
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, Fountain Court was constructed on the site of Henry VIII's apartments during the reign of William III and Mary II in 1689.
In Bridgerton, the courtyard appears in a number of scenes featuring the character of Queen Charlotte, while in The Favourite it can be seen when Queen Anne demands a group of musicians to stop playing.
Filming location: The Great Fountain Garden
Featured in The Great (2020) Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), The Young Victoria (2009), Vanity Fair (2004)
This historic garden with its iconic yew trees were created by William III and Mary II. The garden became a popular location to visit in 1838 when Queen Victoria opened Hampton Court Palace to the public.
In The Young Victoria, Queen Victoria and Lord Melbourne can be seen walking through the garden.
Filming location: Privy Garden
Featured in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023), Bridgerton (2020)
The Privy Garden is a restoration of William III's private baroque garden of 1702. A privy, or private, garden has existed on the south side of Hampton Court Palace since the reign of Henry VIII.
In Bridgerton, the garden serves as the exterior of Queen Charlotte’s palace.
Documentaries
Hampton Court Palace has also taken centre stage in documentaries, including:
- Platinum Jubilee Windsor Horse Show – ITV (2022)
- Secrets of the Royal Palace – Channel 5 (2022)
- Medieval Pleasures – History Hit (2022)
- The Crown Jewels - BBC One (2022)
- Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors - Channel 5 (2021)
- Lucy Worsley Investigates – BBC Two (2021)
- Who Do You Think You Are? – BBC Two (2021)
- Thomas Cromwell: A Very Modern Tudor – Channel 5 (2020)
- Digging Up Britain – Channel 5 (2019)
- Tales from the Royal Wardrobe - BBC Four (2014)
- Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace: Hampton Court - PBS (2013)
A second season of Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors, an intimate look behind the scenes of King Henry VIII’s favourite palace, is available on My5.
Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors
Visit Hampton Court Palace
Visit iconic locations at the Hampton Court Palace as seen in many of your favourite TV shows and films from Cinderella (2015) to Bridgerton (2020).
Filming enquiries
Everything you need to know to book filming and photography for the press and media at Hampton Court Palace and our other palaces.
Find out how to book filmingBROWSE MORE HISTORY AND STORIES
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Elizabeth's Women by Tracy Borman
Discover the world of Elizabeth I with this insightful look at Elizabeth's relationship with woman and how they helped to shape her into a remarkable monarch. This thrilling book explores the lesser known side of Elizabeth I who is often portrayed as a ruthless 'man's woman'.
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