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Filming locations and iconic destinations from: Bridgerton

from Dream Escape Magazine | Summer 2021

from Dream Escape Magazine | Summer 2021, page 64

Undiscovered Norfolk

The glamorous locations of Netflix’s Bridgerton offers a new way to see Britain. Stroll around a pleasure garden, call on a castle or take a carriage ride, as we uncover some of the new Bridgerton experiences available as part of your Dream Escape.

NETFLIX’S Bridgerton has stolen our hearts, ever since its Christmas release. The Regency romp mixes Pride & Prejudice with Gossip Girl as Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor) looks for love - and finds it with the smouldering Duke of Hastings (played by Regé-Jean Page). As the steamy storylines unfold among stately homes, landscaped parks, gentlemen’s clubs, shops and more, these backdrops have become as loved as the characters. Some are iconic landmarks, such as Hampton Court Palace, whilst others are lesser known. Dream Escape will certainly bring the Bridgerton magic alive with specially created experiences to explore, our connected planners and private guides are in the know and will immerse you behind the scenes on private visits to a handpicked selection of properties featured in the show. Here are some of our favourites.

**Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Polly Walker as Portia Featherington, Harriet Cains as Phillipa Featherington, Ben Miller as Lord Featherington and Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington**

STATELY WILTSHIRE

For Bridgerton Regency-era romance, head to Wilton House, near Salisbury. This home of the Earls of Pembroke acts as multiple sets for Hastings, his honorary godmother, Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) as well as Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). Most recognisable will be the exterior – which was used for Hastings’ London home and the Double Cube Room for the Queen’s presentation chamber. Whilst the garden hosted Lady Danbury’s party in the last episode. Head to Bath though for the Danbury house exterior seen as she steps from her carriage reading Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheet: this elegant façade belongs to the Holburne Museum of art in Sydney Pleasure Gardens. Make an entrance at a Bridgerton ball at Leigh Court in Bristol. Built during Regency times, the suspended double staircase in the Great Hall is where Daphne appeared before dancing with the eligible Prussian Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma).

STYLISH BATH

As one of the most stylish cities in Georgian Britain, many Bridgerton streets and places are filmed in Bath rather than London, where the story is set. “People came from all over for the theatre, gambling, dancing and general society,” explains local historian, Diana White. The Assembly Rooms was at the city’s fashionable centre, and is similarly so in Bridgerton where lavish balls were filmed in its Tea Room as well as Ball Room. Visit these rooms through the Fashion Museum, whose collection, including muslin Regency dresses and waistcoats, inspired one of the series’ costume dressers, Emma Horn. Pop into The Abbey Deli at 2 Abbey Street - for this was used for the sought-after Modiste shop run by Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Dysdale). The shop’s interior saw lots of Bridgerton action – romance, blackmail, gossip and, of course, dress fittings. Learn the art of writing à la Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) with a private calligraphy lesson.

BATH ON FOOT

Tour Bath the Regency way as “you didn’t need a coach and horses – you could have a sedan chair or walk,” says historian, White. First stop: No 1 Royal Crescent, a museum of a Georgian home including a Withdrawing Room and Gentleman’s Retreat. It was used as the exterior of the Featherington’s family pad, as “with the Featheringtons, it is all about show,” says Bridgerton production designer, Will Hughes-Jones. Whilst there, sample The Royal Crescent Hotel’s champagne afternoon tea or hop on a carriage like Regency ton (high society). Stop at the city’s impressive Guildhall as its banqueting room with unmissable chandeliers stood in for the Rambury ballroom. Follow the footsteps of your favourite characters, walking along streets where filming took place. There’s Abbey Green, Bath Street, Beauford Square, as well as Trim Street, where inside number 12 Gunter’s Tea Shop was filmed. →

LONDON LIFE

See London through its Bridgerton homes. Start in the west with Syon House, the London home of the Dukes of Northumberland with its 200 acre park. Used as Bridgerton’s Buckingham House, the smaller forerunner to Buckingham Palace, it’s where Queen Charlotte dined with her husband, George III. Whilst its Print Room doubled for Hastings’ study. Travelling across London to other stately locations, treat yourself to a Michelin-starred lunch at Seven Park Place by William Drabble. It’s near Pall Mall’s Reform Club where one of the more steamy love scenes between Hastings and Daphne Bridgerton occurred in the library. South East of the capital by Greenwich Park lies the red brick Ranger’s House aka the Bridgerton family home –without the on screen purple wisteria. Open daily, it houses one of Europe’s largest private art collections. Nearby is the 17th century Queen’s House built by architect, Inigo Jones with Elizabeth I’s Armada Portrait among other iconic works. On screen, the royal abode doubles for Somerset House, where Daphne is dubbed “this season’s diamond” by Queen Charlotte over the Featherington and Cowper girls and Berbrooke and Hastings fight. Add an extra day to explore the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent where more of London streets were filmed including the slums where Lady Featherington (Polly Walker) takes her pregnant cousin, Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) so she marries quickly as well as the boxing ring at Tarred Yarn Store where Hastings spars with his friend, Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe).

**Regé-Jean Page as Simon Basset and Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton**

REGENCY LONDON

London still retains its Regency heritage. Take Regent’s Park and Regent Street. Whilst Grosvenor Square, the literary location of Bridgerton House, is dominated by Sir David Chipperfield's forthcoming Rosewood Hotel with its proposed thousand person ballroom. Stroll to St James’s where the Duke of Hastings and Anthony meet for a drink at exclusive White’s gentleman’s club and Anthony thinks he sees Siena. Shop like Regency ton with private appointments. Start along Jermyn Street, say, for Floris to Fortnum & Mason. Cut through 1819’s Burlington Arcade into Savile Row where tailors’ Gieves & Hawkes, founded in 1771, still measure. Grab lunch at the Beau Brummell pub, named after the Regent’s stylish bff or head to Hyde Park for a carriage ride. Next day, enjoy Hatfield House. Its North Front starred in the series’ trailer, say, and the library became the gentleman’s club where wannabe artist, Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) flirted with painter, Henry Granville (Julian Ovenden). “I did sneak upstairs because I wanted to see Olivia Colman’s room [in The Favourite film], says Nicola Coughlan, who played Penelope Featherington. “I was trying to rub the walls so that her acting talent would rub onto me!” she says. Top tip: take the afternoon tea – with an etiquette lesson.

PIVOTAL MOMENTS

Hampton Court Palace may be best known for its Tudor and Stuart heritage – but in Bridgerton, it stood in for St James’s Palace. Carriages swept into the famous red brick courtyard for Queen Charlotte’s Ball, say. “We were there for an afternoon,” says Bailey, who plays Anthony. Venture across Bushy Park into Teddington for Normansfield Theatre in the Langdon Down Centre, where Hastings and Anthony had their boxing match. Whilst Twickenham has medieval St Mary’s Church where early 18th century English poet, Alexander Pope is buried, which was used for St George’s Church where Daphne and Hastings married. Stroll like the Featheringtons in Surrey’s 18th century Painshill Park. Look out for oft used scenes like the Chinese bridge, rowing lake and winding paths.

YORKSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS

Daphne and Hastings’ marriage takes us to North Yorkshire and glam country estate, Castle Howard. The 300 year old home of the Howard family doubled for the Hastings’ marital residence, Clyvedon Castle. The Great Hall, Dairy Pond and Temple of Four Winds in the garden were among the sets. “When you go into a country house, there is far less flexibility than you can ever imagine — you can’t move the bed, you can’t move the painting, you can’t move the wardrobe, and you have to be quite delicate with the furniture,” says director, Julie Anne Robinson. So the room monitors refused to leave, even during the sex scenes in the duke’s bedroom, saying “can you go easy on the bed, go easy on the bedpost,” she adds. Fictional Clyvedon Village, where Daphne handed out bread and honey baskets to locals is nearby – at picturesque Coneysthorpe village. Whereas other iconic neighbouring sites include York Minster. Top tips: fine dine like Regency ton at Melton’s and relax in five star lux at The Grand York, the only 5 star hotel in Yorkshire.

THE COUNTRY SET

Discover the British countryside by exploring key locations in Buckinghamshire and Gloucestershire. There’s 18th century Stowe Park at Stowe School, say, in Buckinghamshire where the spectacular outdoor Vauxhall Ball was filmed, using over 400 fireworks. Here Daphne and Hastings danced together for the first time and agreed to partner so that he could avoid matchmakers and she could attract more suitors. Furthermore, the coaching inn where the Hastings spent their wedding night is in the same county: in real life, it’s Dorney Court, an early Tudor manor house, in Dorney village, near Windsor. Take extra time to embrace the period in the Regency spa town of Cheltenham. Live ton life at the boutique Queens Hotel Cheltenham, before a private tour of Badminton House in Gloucestershire, as the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort still live there. Spot familiar Bridgerton scenes – from the Foundling Hospital’s interior to Lady Danbury’s home.

The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honour to impart to you: Bridgerton shall officially return for further seasons. I do hope you have stored a bottle of ratafia for this most delightful occasion. Yours Truly, Lady Whistledown.

Season 2 of Bridgerton is currently in production. Announcements made in Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers have confirmed there will be a season three and even four to grace our screens soon!

Find out more

Sally Strange, Blue Badge Guide "Bridgerton was the perfect distraction when faced with long dark Winter nights and another Lockdown! Not only was it a romping tale of Regency life, but it was joyous to be transported back to some of my favourite English country homes. The sumptuous sets and glorious costumes reminded me of why it is such a privilege to share such places with clients.

I have since returned to several of the featured gardens during the Spring months and will be hot on the heels of Simon Bassett Duke of Hastings as soon as these beautiful homes re-open. I even got a sneak peak of the filming of Season 2 when I was at Hampton Court Palace!

⬥ sally@dreamescape.co.uk

→ dreamescape.co.uk

This article is from:

Dream Escape Magazine | Summer 2021

by Contista Media