‘Those locations make a big statement and that’s exactly what we wanted’
‘Those locations make a big statement and that’s exactly what we wanted,’ so says Tony Hood, the locations manager on Bridgerton. Indeed, the many and varied swoon-worthy destinations used on the show have spawned a whole new tourism industry with places like the iconic Royal Crescent in Bath (used for many a carriage scene), Castle Howard in Yorkshire (where Daphne and Simon have an encounter during a storm IYKYK!) and Rangers House (the Bridgerton’s main residence) in London, all attracting visitors who long to see for themselves where the cast film.
Hood and his team’s ambition for the look and feel of both the exterior and interior locations is evident when you consider the scope of properties used for filming. Cast and crew cover the length and breadth of the UK to ensure the most historically appropriate houses and estates are used while conveying the personality of each character who lives there.
While old favourite locations will return for Season 3, there are a few new additions for any Bridgerton tour:
Ranger’s House, Greenwich, London
First up is the Bridgerton family home. Talk to any fan and they will be familiar with the exterior of this property cared for by English Heritage, which was built in 1722 and serves as the London residence of the eight Bridgerton siblings (Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, Hyacinth) and their widowed mother, Violet.
The house is a magnificent Georgian villa located on the edge of Greenwich Park, recognisable due to its red brick facade and the lilac wisteria that blooms around the front door. However, visitors who turn up to the house expecting a backdrop of the same flowers for their selfies, may be disappointed. The wisteria is added to Ranger’s House by the production team and taken down when filming has come to an end.
Bath
Bath’s streets have served as several locations for the world of Bridgerton. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is perfect for the series, as any modern details on its period buildings can easily be disguised for an authentic Georgian look. Fans have fallen in love with the drama of the iconic Royal Crescent, which sees 30 terraced houses sweep round in a perfect arc. In the series we often see characters promenading on its pavements or carriages dashing along the road. However, it is No 1 Royal Crescent that has garnered the most attention as the exterior of the Featherington’s family home. As Season 3 is their youngest daughter, Penelope’s (played by the wonderful Nicola Coughlan) time to step into the spotlight we can expect to see more shots of the house, which has recently opened as a museum of Georgian life and is therefore a great addition to any Bath itinerary.
Elsewhere in Bath, we can expect to once against be invited into Lady Danbury’s home. Pictures of this season’s lovers, Penelope and Colin, outside of the house released in advance of the season premiere, actually show the outside of another of Bath’s museums, the Holburne. The Holburne is set within the beautiful Sydney Gardens where we often see scenes with Lady Danbury, most notably talking to the Duke of Hastings in Season 1. The museum houses an enviable collection of British eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century paintings, as well as a full programme of contemporary art exhibitions.
Bath’s Assembly Rooms and The Guildhall have previously been used for ball scenes and the Abbey Deli in Abbey Green was the location for The Modiste in Seasons 1 and 2, the fashionable dress shop where members of the Ton go for all their finery. Sources say that The Modiste will be getting a glow up in Season 3 to reflect the continued success of the business and therefore Madame Delacroix will be moving to a more impressive location.
A new Bath location for Season 3 is Edward Street where cast and crew were spotted filming outside the Duke’s Hotel on a particularly cold January day. The production team lay gravel on the street outside to take us back to the Regency era.
Osterley Park
Osterley Park and House in Middlesex is an addition to the Bridgerton world for Season 3 and along with several other new stately homes that we will see on screen such as the National Trust’s Claydon House in Buckingham and Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, ‘make a big statement,’ says Hood about where the production team are going with the TV series this season. Osterley is a neo-classical mansion originally built in the Tudor period but transformed into its current form by Sir Francis Child in the early 18th century. Called the ‘palace of palaces’ by Horace Walpole it is the location for an outdoor ball in Season 3. Will we see Penelope and Colin dancing together there perhaps?
Castle Howard
Right back in Season 1 Castle Howard was the Duke of Hastings’ family seat where he brings his new bride Daphne on their honeymoon. Who could forget the couple’s breathless dash to The Temple of the Four Winds when they got caught in the rain? We all know what happened after that! The Temple was designed by famous architect John Vanburgh and enjoys incredible views of the hills and surrounding estate, which were all used in the episode. Castle Howards’s Walled Garden also hosted another memorable moment from Season 1 when Daphne punches an unwelcome suitor, Lord Berbrooke, as well as the Castle’s Great Hall serving as the main entrance to the house where Daphne meets her household for the first time.