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Film and TV locations at Hampton Court Palace

The magnificent Hampton Court Palace is a spectacular backdrop for filming and has been featured in TV and film since 1926.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey owned Hampton Court Palace in the early 16th century before Henry VIII took it for himself. Henry 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 Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, 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.

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light

Photograph of an actor dressed in Tudor clothing.

Image: Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. © Playground Entertainment/BBC Pictures

Adapted from the final novel in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light follows the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII.

For the show, Hampton Court Palace set the stage for Tudor court intrigue, recreating events that might have happened within its walls. Originally built as a grand estate for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII later transformed Hampton Court into a magnificent residence, where the royal household and court were accommodated and entertained. 

Filming took place in the Great Hall, the heart of the Tudor palace, reflecting the significance of this space in hosting Henry VIII's court. 

Other locations used for filming include the Great Gatehouse, Base Court, Clock Court and Master Carpenter’s Court.

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light premieres on Sunday 10 November on BBC One and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer. 

Filming location: Great Hall

Featured in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (2024)

Designed to impress and inspire awe, the Great Hall was built as a symbol of Henry VIII's power as King of England. Lower-ranking members of the court used the Great Hall as a place for dining. 

My Lady Jane

A group of actors and actresses dress as King Edward VI, Mary, Lord Seymour and Bess in the Rose garden. The actor playing King Edward IV is dressed in gold regal clothing, Mary is in navy with gold embroidery dress, Lord Seymour is dressed in black and Bess is in a silk red dress. They all have a confused and and slightly disgusted expression.

Image: Amazon Content Services LLC. © Jonathan Prime / Prime Video

My Lady Jane is a historical fantasy, based on the life of the 'nine day Queen' Lady Jane Grey. The show follows the titular character, as she finds herself crowned Queen of England and must face against numerous plots to take her throne.

Scenes were filmed in the Rose Garden, once the site of William III's kitchen garden, and Clock Court, named after the 16th century astronomical clock that resides there, which was created for Henry VIII.

Bridgerton

A person dressed in regency costume in a courtyard at night at Hampton Court Palace

Image: ©Netflix

Bridgerton is a 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 locations

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

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.

Bridgerton filming locations
People dressed in regency costume in front of a black carriage in a courtyard. A woman stands in the foreground, wearing an ornate yellow dress

Image: Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2023

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.

Renegade Nell

An actor wearing a ornate outfit and a curly wig. He stands on a staircase, with painted walls behind him.

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+.

The Favourite

Set in 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:

  • 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)

Documentaries

A man and a woman stand facing the viewer in an ornate Tudor hall, with tapestries hanging behind them.and Tracy Borman, Joint Chief Curator

Image: Paul Fitzsimmons and Tracy Borman behind the scenes of Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors. © Channel 5/Lion TV

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 filming

Browse more history and stories

The gardens at Hampton Court Palace

A brief history of the famous royal gardens

Jane Seymour

Henry VIII's favourite Queen?

The story of Hampton Court Palace

Home of Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty

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