Obsessed with The Crown? Discover six stunning locations featured in the million pound television series.
Words Georgie Rutherford
Visit Locations from The Crown
Lancaster House
Though the majority of the series is set in Buckingham Palace, it is never actually filmed at the Queen’s iconic home. Lancaster House in Pall Mall stands in for the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace, with its lavish interiors making it a fitting alternative. Commissioned in 1825 by the ‘grand old’ Duke of York, the décor was to set the fashion for London reception rooms for nearly a century.
Eltham Palace
Hidden away in south London, this stylish Art Deco house was used for several travel-themed locations in the series. It became the backdrop for the Queen’s quarters of the Royal Yacht Britannia, Bermuda Government House and the HMSS Queen Mary. Fans may also recognise its magnificent glass-domed entrance hall as the setting for the Queens’ meeting with fashion designer Norman Hartnell.
Goldsmith’s Hall
The scene where a room in Buckingham Palace turned into a makeshift operating theatre and King George had his lung removed was filmed in Goldsmith’s Hall, just a stone’s throw away from St Paul’s. This spot has been the headquarters of the Goldsmith’s Company since 1339 and this is the third hall that has stood here. It was built in the early 1800s and nearly destroyed by a bomb in 1941.
Greenwich Naval College
This world heritage site is a must see if you’re visiting London’s picturesque Greenwich district. The Old Royal Naval College is featured a lot throughout the series and serves as a stand-in for the Buckingham Palace courtyard. The building originally began life as Greenwich Palace, one of the main royal palaces throughout the Tudor period. The college continues to draw in crowds of tourists looking to discover its beautiful features from the Painted Hall to the Neo-Classical Chapel.
Ely Cathedral, Cambridge
Filming for the spectacular wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip took place at Ely Cathedral – which is no stranger to hosting film crews, having also been the location for other regal dramas such as The King’s Speech. Taking the place of Westminster Abbey, where the 1947 wedding took place, Ely Cathedral dates back to 1803 and boasts spectacular architecture as well as a 170ft high Octagonal tower.
Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire
The Grade I listed house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French chateau between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild. It was constructed as a stylish venue for entertainment and played host to endless social engagements in the late 19th century. With its stunning building and beautiful grounds, it perfectly recreates the exterior of Buckingham Palace.