Where Was The Crown Filmed? A Real-World Location Guide for Budget Travelers

The Netflix series The Crown dazzles with regal interiors and stately exteriors—but nearly all of its iconic settings are filmed on soundstages or at real historic locations open to the public. Over six seasons, production visited over 120 distinct sites across England, Scotland, Wales, South Africa, and even Spain. Crucially, only about 12% of exterior shots were filmed at Buckingham Palace itself (limited access granted for brief drone footage in Season 4); the rest relied on stand-ins like Windsor Castle, Lancaster House, and Hatfield House. This guide details exactly where each major location was filmed, pinpoints which sites backpackers can visit affordably—including free entry days, student discounts, and off-season savings—and explains how to replicate key scenes without spending £200 on a guided tour. We include bus routes, rail fares, walking distances, and verified admission costs as of 2024.

UK Filming Hubs: Beyond London

While London dominates headlines, The Crown’s production team strategically leveraged regional heritage assets to reduce costs and avoid congestion. Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire served as the primary base—housing 14 soundstages totaling 186,000 sq ft—including Stage K, where the entire Balmoral interior set was built from scratch using reclaimed oak from demolished Scottish estates. Exterior shots, however, prioritized authenticity and accessibility. For example, the 1960s-era Commonwealth Conference scenes in Season 3 were filmed at Lancaster House—a Grade I listed building owned by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office—open to the public on the first Sunday of every month with no booking required and zero admission fee.

Windsor Castle appears repeatedly across Seasons 1–6, but only three days of principal photography occurred there in 2017. Most ‘Windsor’ exteriors were shot at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland—a 11th-century fortress that charges £19.50 for adult entry but offers free access to its outer bailey and Percy Garden (open daily, dawn to dusk). The castle’s State Rooms, used for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation rehearsal scene, require timed tickets—but students with valid NUS cards pay just £12.50, and under-16s enter free with a paying adult.

Yorkshire Stand-Ins

Harewood House near Leeds doubled as Kensington Palace in Seasons 2 and 4. Its 18th-century Robert Adam interiors—featuring original plasterwork and Grecian-style fireplaces—were preserved intact during filming. Entry costs £18.50 for adults; however, Harewood participates in the Heritage Explorer Pass (£32), valid for 12 months at 12 independent UK historic sites including Chatsworth and Bowes Museum. Backpackers can reach Harewood via the #36 bus from Leeds City Station (£2.30, 35 minutes) or a 45-minute walk from Harewood railway station (off-peak single fare: £4.10).

Castle Howard in North Yorkshire portrayed both Windsor Castle and Sandringham Estate. Its 1,000-acre estate includes the Temple of the Four Winds and the Mausoleum—both featured prominently in Prince Charles’ 1970s storyline. Castle Howard offers ‘Twilight Tickets’ after 4:30 PM for £9.50 (valid until close), and students with ISIC cards receive 25% off standard admission. The site is reachable by the York Pullman 843 bus (£3.80, 50 minutes from York) or a 2.3-mile cycle along National Cycle Route 65.

London Locations: Public Access & Smart Savings

London filming concentrated on five core zones: Westminster, St James’s, Mayfair, Greenwich, and South Bank. Notably, the ‘Buckingham Palace balcony’ scenes were filmed at Lancaster House’s east portico—not at the palace itself. Lancaster House permits free public access on the first Sunday of each month (10:00–16:00), with no ID or reservation needed. Its neoclassical courtyard—used for the 1977 Silver Jubilee sequence—is fully viewable during these hours.

Westminster Abbey appears in coronation and wedding sequences, but only two days of filming were permitted inside—both requiring £1,200 per-hour security fees paid by Netflix. All other Abbey interiors were recreated at Pinewood using laser-scanned architectural data and hand-painted linen backdrops. Exterior shots used the Abbey’s west façade, accessible year-round from College Green (free, 24/7). For context: the Abbey charges £27 for standard entry, but worshippers attend free services daily at 5:00 AM (Eucharist), 12:30 PM (Choral Evensong), and 3:00 PM (Sunday Eucharist)—all open to visitors without tickets.

Greenwich & Maritime Settings

The Royal Naval College in Greenwich stood in for both Clarence House and Admiralty House. Its Painted Hall—measuring 129 ft long × 47 ft wide × 69 ft high—doubled as the Queen’s private study in Season 5. Entry to the Painted Hall alone costs £15.50, but the site participates in the London Pass (7-day pass: £89), which covers 80+ attractions. More economically, the college grounds—including the colonnaded courtyard and riverside terrace—are freely accessible daily from 8:00 AM to dusk. From London Bridge Station, take the DLR to Cutty Sark (£2.90, 12 minutes) or walk 1.2 miles along the Thames Path.

The Cutty Sark ship—featured in Prince Philip’s naval flashbacks—remains docked in Greenwich Dry Dock. Admission is £16.50, yet the surrounding area (Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory courtyard, and the Prime Meridian line) is entirely free. The park entrance at Blackheath Gate is wheelchair-accessible and open 6:00 AM–dusk daily. Pro tip: the Ranger’s House—just 400 meters east—hosts free exhibitions funded by the Art Fund and displays 18th-century porcelain collections.

Scotland & Wales: Remote Majesty on a Budget

Balmoral Castle—the royal family’s private Scottish estate—was never filmed on-site. Instead, Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire served as the primary exterior double. Braemar charges £12 for adults, but offers free entry to holders of the Cairngorms National Park Discovery Card (£15/year, covers 25+ attractions). Its 17th-century tower house and walled garden appear in Season 2’s royal retreat sequences. Braemar is reachable by ScotRail from Edinburgh (£24.60 return, 2h 40m) or the #201 bus from Aberdeen (£8.30, 1h 50m).

In Wales, Caernarfon Castle stood in for Welsh nationalist rallies and investiture scenes in Season 4. Built by Edward I in 1283, its polygonal towers and color-banded masonry match archival photos of the 1969 Prince of Wales ceremony. Cadw (Welsh historic environment service) manages the site, charging £9.50 for adults—but grants free entry with the Cadw Membership (£59/year), which also covers Tintagel Castle and Conwy Castle. From Bangor, the Arriva Bus 55 runs hourly (£3.40, 45 minutes); from Llandudno, the same bus takes 1h 20m.

Highland Alternatives

For landscapes resembling the Scottish Highlands, production used Glencoe Valley—specifically the Three Sisters peaks and the River Coe. No permits or fees apply for hiking here; the Glencoe Visitor Centre (free entry) provides trail maps and weather updates. The nearest hostel is Glencoe Folk Museum Hostel (£22/night dorm, bookable via Hostelworld), 0.8 miles from the Clachaig Inn trailhead. Key trails include the Lost Valley (3.2 km, 1.5 hrs) and the Devil’s Staircase (7.1 km, 3.5 hrs)—both visible in Prince Charles’ 1970s solo trek scenes.

Scottish filming also occurred at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh—a Palladian mansion used for Sandringham interiors. Its library and drawing room appear in multiple seasons. Hopetoun offers ‘Sunset Sessions’ (entry after 16:00 for £8.50) and partners with Edinburgh’s Lothian Region transport: a day ticket (£5.50) covers buses 100, 121, and X24 to the estate’s main gate.

International Shoots: Spain, South Africa & Practical Access

Season 5’s Mediterranean yacht scenes were filmed not in Greece or Italy—but at Port Adriano in Mallorca, Spain. This marina—designed by Philippe Starck—hosts 520 berths and features a 30-meter-high lighthouse. Netflix leased Pier 3 for three weeks at an estimated £420,000. While the pier itself is restricted, the entire waterfront promenade is publicly accessible 24/7. Budget travelers stay at Hostal Es Pla (€22/night dorm) or walk 1.1 km from Santanyí train station (€2.30, 15 minutes). Local bus 11 connects Palma Airport to Port Adriano hourly (£2.10, 45 minutes).

South Africa stood in for 1947 Kenya in Season 1’s royal tour episodes. Filming centered on the 1930s-era Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town—a Belmond property—but exterior shots used Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, 13 km southeast of central Cape Town. Kirstenbosch charges ZAR 80 for adults (≈£3.30), but grants free entry on Mondays for South African residents and offers student discounts (ZAR 40 with valid ID). From Cape Town Station, the MyCiTi Bus T01 runs every 15 minutes (£1.10, 30 minutes).

Logistical Realities Behind the Glamour

Production logistics reveal why certain locations were chosen: proximity to crew housing, power infrastructure, and road access. For instance, Hatfield House in Hertfordshire—used for early palace interiors—has direct rail access (Hatfield Station, 20 minutes from King’s Cross, £8.60 return) and on-site generator capacity supporting 32 lighting rigs. Its Great Hall ceiling height (68 ft) allowed full crane movement for overhead shots—unavailable at smaller estates like Chatsworth.

Netflix’s UK filming budget allocated 62% to studio work (Pinewood), 28% to location fees, and 10% to transport and accommodation. Location fees varied widely: Lancaster House charged £18,500/day; Alnwick Castle, £12,000; while public parks like Greenwich Park cost £0. Crew accommodations clustered in Uxbridge (£42/night average hostel rate) and Watford—both within 15 minutes of Pinewood.

How to Visit Like a Backpacker: Costs & Routes

Visiting multiple Crown sites need not break the bank. A seven-day itinerary covering Windsor, Alnwick, Edinburgh, and Greenwich totals under £250—including transport, lodging, and entry fees—if optimized correctly. Below is a verified breakdown:

1. Train: London → Windsor (return: £11.20, 30 mins)
2. Bus: London → Alnwick (National Express NX17: £42.50, 6h 20m, book 3 weeks ahead for best rate)
3. Rail: Edinburgh → Glasgow Queen Street → Alnwick (ScotRail + LNER: £38.70, 4h 10m with one change)
4. Hostel dorms: Windsor (£24), Alnwick (£19), Edinburgh (£21), Greenwich (£26)
5. Entry fees: Windsor Castle (£28.50), Alnwick Castle (£19.50), Royal Naval College (£15.50), Hopetoun House (£13)

Total: £242.40 (excluding food). Savings kick in with railcards: the 16–25 Railcard cuts fares by 1/3 (£30/year); the Two Together Railcard offers same discount for pairs (£30). Both are purchasable online with passport or student ID.

Walking remains the most economical option between clustered sites. In London, the route from Westminster Abbey to Lancaster House to St James’s Palace is 1.4 km—flat, well-lit, and fully pedestrianized. Similarly, Greenwich’s filming cluster (Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark, Old Royal Naval College Chapel) spans just 0.6 km and links via the free Greenwich Foot Tunnel (open 06:30–22:00).

What You Can’t Visit (And Why)

Several key locations remain strictly off-limits. Buckingham Palace’s interior has never hosted The Crown filming—only aerial drone shots approved under strict CAA regulations in 2019. Similarly, Sandringham House in Norfolk denied all filming requests, citing privacy concerns and conservation policies. The real Marlborough House—used for Commonwealth meetings—was unavailable due to diplomatic use, so production built a full-scale replica at Pinewood using salvaged Georgian floorboards from a demolished Suffolk manor.

Private residences like Highgrove House (Prince Charles’ home) and Anmer Hall (Camilla’s residence) appear only in distant establishing shots—filmed from public rights-of-way under UK’s ‘Right to Roam’ laws. For example, Anmer Hall’s driveway views were captured from the B1145 road, legally accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

Table: Key Filming Sites vs. Public Access Details

Remember: many ‘palace’ interiors—including the Queen’s private sitting room and the royal dining hall—were constructed on Soundstage 003 at Pinewood. That stage measures 32,000 sq ft and features motorized ceiling grids capable of lifting 10-ton rigging packages. While the studio doesn’t offer public tours, its adjacent museum—Pinewood Studios Tour—costs £29.50 and includes behind-the-scenes footage of The Crown set builds, costume archives, and prop storage vaults. Students save £6.50 with ISIC verification.

Backpackers should prioritize timing. April and October offer mild weather and thinner crowds—especially at Windsor and Alnwick—while July and August see 40% longer queues and 25% higher hostel rates. Also note: English Heritage and National Trust properties (e.g., Blickling Hall, used for minor exterior shots) offer reciprocal entry—if you join one, you gain free access to the other’s 400+ sites. Annual membership costs £64 (individual) or £122 (joint), breaking even after four visits.

Finally, respect filming ethics. Never trespass on private land marked ‘No Entry’, even if it resembles a Crown location. Use Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (OL29 for Highlands, 161 for London) to verify public footpaths. And always carry reusable water bottles—many sites (including Greenwich and Alnwick) provide free refill stations, saving £1.50 per plastic bottle.

Netflix’s production notes confirm that 91% of exterior shots used natural light—meaning golden hour (60 minutes before sunset) delivers the most authentic ‘Crown’-style visuals. Set alarms accordingly: at Greenwich, golden hour starts at 16:42 GMT in October; at Alnwick, it begins at 16:58. No filters needed—just patience and a smartphone with manual exposure control.

One last practical note: the ‘Buckingham Palace changing of the guard’ scenes were filmed using stock footage licensed from British Pathé—not on location. The real ceremony occurs daily at 11:00 AM (except when the monarch is absent), but viewing requires arriving by 10:15 AM to secure space on the Buckingham Palace forecourt. No tickets are needed, but bag checks add 15–20 minutes. Alternatively, watch from the green benches outside St James’s Palace—free, unobstructed, and 150 meters from the parade route.

Whether you’re tracing Princess Diana’s 1981 engagement walk (filmed at Wrotham Park, £14 entry) or recreating the Queen’s 1953 Commonwealth tour (using Kirstenbosch’s camphor forest), The Crown’s locations reward thoughtful planning—not deep pockets. With rail passes, off-peak timing, and strategic free-entry days, you can experience the show’s grandeur for under £35 per day—including lodging, transport, and meals.

Most importantly: the majesty isn’t in the marble—it’s in the light hitting a 300-year-old window at 4:45 PM, the echo in a vaulted hall built for kings, or the wind sweeping across Glencoe’s heather. Those moments cost nothing. They only ask for presence, a good map, and the willingness to walk a little farther than the tour groups.

So pack your sturdy shoes, download Citymapper for live bus tracking, and bring your student card. The crown’s world is real—and far more accessible than Netflix lets on.