How to visit The Crown filming locations
The Netflix drama gripped the world for six seasons and not only put the spotlight on the royal family but historic locations across the UK and Europe.
The final series of The Crown on Netflix follows the royal family into the late 1990s and beyond. Viewers see Princess Diana’s courtship with Dodi Al-Fayed, her inevitable, tragic death, and William and Kate’s early relationship. Reviews have not been particularly kind to the program.
While previous seasons have been met with praise for their sensitive depictions of wartime Britain, the sixth has been greeted with cynicism. Regardless, many will be keen to see the depictions of the most modern royals – especially as the repercussions of its events continue to reverberate today.
One of the most captivating parts of The Crown has always been the locations. From gilded dining halls to vast country estates, the setting of the drama has commanded attention. These are the locations used in season six of The Crown – and how to visit them.
On screen: St George’s Chapel, Windsor
In reality: York Minster
St George’s Chapel has a storied history among the royals. It’s a place of worship, used by the family and the community. It’s also a place of burial, and one of remembrance; many royals have been interred here, including the late queen. But its replacement in The Crown is equally important in British history. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the Gothic cathedral is the resting place of Harold Godwinson, among earlier kings of Northumberland. It looms over the city of York – it is significantly more imposing than St George’s Chapel – with its impressive Gothic towers and medieval stained glass. There remains a royal connection, too; last year a statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled in the west facade.
How to visit: York Minster is open throughout the week for visitors and worship. Adult tickets from £16 ($30).
On screen: Balmoral
In reality: Ardverikie Estate
Ardverikie House has been a stand-in for the Queen’s favourite residence, Balmoral, for numerous seasons of The Crown. The residence is, however, best known as the fictional Glenbogle manor in British drama Monarch of the Glen, and the brooding, lochside estate is now home to thousands of red deer. Its small-screen ambitions aside, the grounds are open to the public and there are eight guesthouses. Among them is a turreted gatehouse, perhaps even more charming than the faux royal palace itself.
How to visit: Self-catering cottages sleep between two and 13 people, starting from £250 for a two-night stay.
On screen: St Andrews University
In reality: St Andrews University
Royal Holloway University stands in for some university scenes in this season of The Crown, but St Andrews is, mostly, filmed at St Andrews. Here, Kate studied art history while William graduated from a geography course. Away from the lecture halls, the student-filled town is a wonderful place to visit (as is the windswept coastline). Visitors should wander the university campus and the golf courses, but should also stroll around the rest of the town: its high street, dotted with independent shops and cafes, is a vibrant place to spend the afternoon. Prince William was apparently very fond of Forgan’s, a contemporary restaurant with a modern Scottish twist.
How to visit: A self-guided walking tour of university sites is available.
On screen: Various, including Villa Windsor, Paris
In reality: West Wycombe Park
The Georgian Villa Windsor, in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, was occupied by Charles de Gaulle after World War II. In the context of The Crown, however, that isn’t what concerns the audience. Of greater interest is its occupation by the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, and its subsequent leasing to Mohamed Al-Fayed. It was visited by Dodi Al-Fayed and Diana on the day of their deaths in 1997. The Crown’s showrunners did not head to France to film this scene. Instead, they filmed it and various other interior shots at West Wycombe Park, an elegant National Trust property in Buckinghamshire. With its Italianate country home, the property looks out over a historic village.
How to visit: West Wycombe Park is open from April to October; tickets from £11.
On screen: Windsor Castle Royal Lodge
In reality: Basildon Park
The 30-room Royal Lodge is about 5km south of Windsor Castle. It was the Queen Mother’s residence from 1952 until her death in 2002, and has more recently been occupied by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. In The Crown, its stand-in is the 18th-century Basildon Park in Berkshire. The National Trust property was restored by the Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 1950s; it’s now decorated with Old Masters and traditional furnishings. Its historic parkland is ideal for a crisp, winter stroll.
How to visit: The house, grounds, shop and tearoom are open most days from 10am until 4pm. Access to the whole property costs £16.50 an adult.
On screen: Various, including a jewellers
In reality: The Royal Exchange, London
The Royal Exchange is used for various glamorous locations in the sixth season, including as hotel corridors and a jewellery shop. It was constructed in 1566 as the first purpose-built centre for trading stocks. It was decimated by fires in both the 17th and 18th centuries, damaged by bombing in World War II, and returned to its trading-floor origins in the 1980s. Now, the building is home to luxury shops and restaurants, making it an ideal place to pick up Christmas presents.
How to visit: The Royal Exchange is next to Bank Underground station. Retailers have varying opening hours.
On screen: The Ritz Hotel, Paris
In reality: Phoenix Arts Club
The Ritz Hotel in Paris was a crucial part of Diana’s final hours. Owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed, it’s where the princess and Dodi ate prior to the fatal paparazzi chase. The Crown chose not to film the scenes in the hotel itself, instead using the legendary Phoenix Arts Club in London. The late-night cabaret theatre lurks below Charing Cross Rd, and while it is nominally a private members club, visitors can buy tickets to variety shows for as little as £15. The old-school bar, full of heavy wooden furniture and with posters from previous shows, feels like a relic from a bygone age.
How to visit: The bar is open to members and those with tickets for the cinema or theatre.
On screen: Castel del Ste Therese, St Tropez
(Al-Fayed’s villa)
In reality: Villa Castillo de Mallorca
While many scenes for this season were filmed in Britain, some were captured overseas. Among them are the shots of the Al-Fayed villa in St Tropez, where Diana and Dodi first met (and where they sought respite before their fateful decision to head to Paris). The property was put up for sale in 2015 with an asking price of £70m. The Crown showrunners used another private property, the Villa Castillo in Mallorca, as its surrogate. Diana visited this villa too, and while it is available for rental, its weekly rates (starting at $60,000) might be a bit steep for the casual holidaymaker.
How to visit: Mallorca is home to many luxurious villas. If you fancy a more glamorous getaway, operators such as AMA Selections and Abercrombie & Kent can provide options.
