Where was the Victoria series filmed? From Scottish castles to Yorkshire hangars, discover the locations that brought Queen Victoria’s epic reign to the screen.
Picture this: an 18-year-old girl wakes up to learn she’s the Queen of England. Cue panic, palace intrigue, and a broodingly handsome German cousin named Albert.
Victoria (2016-2019) stars Jenna Coleman as the fiery young monarch, Tom Hughes as her earnest prince, and Rufus Sewell as the charming “Lord M.”
Over three seasons, we watch Victoria morph from a sheltered teenager into a bearded-baby-producing matriarch – all while navigating the Irish Potato Famine, European revolutions, and the mother of all exhibition spaces.
But where did this time-travel magic actually happen? Spoiler: It involved wild parakeets, 43 miles of timber, and a whole lot of thermal underwear.
Table of Contents
👑 Victoria Filming Locations
A teen queen, a German prince, and a whole lot of corsets. Discover exactly where the magic (and the wild parakeets) actually happened.
🏰 Harewood House, West Yorkshire
If you’ve ever wondered why Buckingham Palace looks suspiciously like a stately home in Yorkshire, meet Harewood House.
This 18th-century stunner, designed by Robert Adam and landscaped by “Capability” Brown himself, doubled as the palace’s bustling reception rooms. Those blindingly beautiful yellow drawing rooms? Yeah, that’s where Victoria held court while probably thinking about Albert’s cheekbones.
Harewood House is worth a pilgrimage for its world-class art collection and sweeping deer-dotted grounds. The house is so authentic that the cast often forgot they weren’t actually in 1840s London. One crew member reportedly tried to order tea from a real butler. Awkward.
What was filmed here:
- Buckingham Palace reception rooms (Seasons 1-3): Opulent, yellow, and very Yorkshire.
- State dining room scenes (Seasons 1-3): Where Victoria ate, judgingly.
⛪ Beverley Minster, East Yorkshire
Westminster Abbey is lovely, but it’s also crowded with tourists.
So Victoria pulled a sneaky move and used Beverley Minster – a towering gothic masterpiece that’s actually larger than many cathedrals – for two of the show’s biggest moments: Queen Victoria‘s coronation and her emotional royal wedding to Prince Albert.
The Minster’s soaring vaulted ceilings and medieval stained glass are so breathtaking that you’ll forgive the substitution. Local legend says the crew had to chase away a few pigeons before filming the “I do’s.”
What was filmed here:
- Coronation of Victoria (Season 1): Crowns, tears, gothic glory.
- Royal wedding to Albert (Season 1): “I do” in a medieval stunner.
🏰 Raby Castle, County Durham
This 14th-century fortress with imposing battlements and a deer park so scenic it hurts – that’s Raby Castle.
It stood in for Buckingham Palace interiors (again) and its sweeping grounds hosted the royal family’s outdoor horse-riding scenes. Yes, Victoria rode horses here. No, she didn’t fall off dramatically.
What makes Raby Castle special? It’s exceptionally well-preserved, meaning you can practically smell the medieval vibes. The crew loved filming here, though they reportedly had to negotiate with the resident peacocks for quiet on set.
Also, check out the Plotters’ Forest adventure playground – because nothing says “royal drama” like a zip line.
What was filmed here:
- Palace interiors (Seasons 1-2): Medieval walls, royal squabbles.
- Horse-riding grounds (Seasons 1-2): Victoria trots, Albert broods.
🏰 Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
Before she was queen, Victoria was a prisoner – okay, a very privileged prisoner – in Kensington Palace. With its dramatic gilded central dome and formal fountains, Castle Howard perfectly captured that grand-but-isolating vibe.
This magnificent estate (the same one from Bridgerton) stood in for young Victoria‘s childhood home. The cast found filming here oddly emotional because Coleman was literally walking where a lonely teenage queen once paced.
Castle Howard is so theatrical it almost looks fake. Give yourself four hours to explore the house and lakeside gardens, then raid the farm shop for Yorkshire treats.
What was filmed here:
- Kensington Palace interiors (Season 1): Gilded cage, royal style.
🏰 Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire
The house with the longest country house facade in Europe, Wentworth Woodhouse is absurdly enormous.
Its colossal rooms stood in for various aristocratic estates and supplemental royal chambers across all three seasons. Think of it as the utility player of Victoria locations – always reliable, never complaining.
Wentworth Woodhouse is undergoing a mega-scale historical restoration, so you’ll need a guided tour to see inside. But trust us, it’s worth it. The scale is so astonishing that one crew member got lost for an hour. Not a joke.
What was filmed here:
- Aristocratic estates (Seasons 1-3): Europe’s longest facade = royal flex
- Supplemental royal chambers (Seasons 1-3): When one palace isn’t enough
🏠 Hull Old Town, East Yorkshire
Victoria used the preserved, historic streets of Hull Old Town to stand in for 19th-century Victorian London. Cobblestones, gas lamps, traditional pubs – this neighborhood is a time capsule.
Walking through feels like stepping into a Dickens novel, minus the child labor. The crew filmed bustling street scenes here, with extras in corsets and top hats dodging real Hull residents.
Visit the Hepworth’s Arcade and grab a pint at Ye Olde Black Boy, Hull’s oldest licensed pub. Don’t ask for a latte – it’s 1840, darling.
What was filmed here:
- Victorian London streets (Seasons 1-3): Cobblestones, gaslights, drama.
🏰 Brodsworth Hall, South Yorkshire
Osborne House, Queen Victoria‘s beloved seaside escape, was recreated at Brodsworth Hall.
But here’s the twist: Brodsworth is preserved in a state of “conserved decay.” That means it looks exactly as it did when it was a lived-in family home, with peeling wallpaper and all.
The cast loved filming here because the authenticity meant less set dressing. The elegance is real, the dust is historical. One actor reportedly whispered, “This place smells like 1890.”
English Heritage members get in free, and the grand gardens include a romantic alpine glen.
What was filmed here:
- Osborne House interiors (Seasons 2-3): Victoria‘s seaside happy place.
🌊 Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire
The dramatic white chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head stood in for the Isle of Wight‘s coastal landscapes. Think rugged sea arches, nesting seabirds, and winds so strong the actors’ corsets actually helped anchor them.
The scenes here are breathtaking – and so is the hike. Wear sturdy shoes (the cliff paths get slippery) and visit in early summer to spot puffins. The crew had to pause filming twice because curious seals kept popping up. Nature really wanted a cameo.
What was filmed here:
- Isle of Wight coastlines (Seasons 2-3): Cliffs, seabirds, royal windblown hair.
🏰 Blair Castle, Perthshire, Scotland
In a rare move, Victoria filmed on-site at the actual historical location to showcase Victoria & Albert‘s romantic trip to the Scottish Highlands.
Blair Castle, with its striking white walls and mountain backdrop, tracks over 700 years of Scottish history – and houses Europe’s only remaining private army.
The castle is accessible by train (Blair Atholl station is a short walk away), making it a perfect car-free day trip from Edinburgh.
Fun fact: the cast was so moved by the real history that Coleman reportedly teared up during a scene. Albert would’ve approved.
What was filmed here:
- Scottish Highlands trip (Season 2): Actual castle, actual romance.
🎭 Church Fenton Yorkshire Studios, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Imagine transforming a drafty World War II aircraft hangar into Buckingham Palace. That’s exactly what production designer Michael Howells did, and the result was bonkers – in the best way.
This 100,000-square-foot former airfield became the beating heart of Victoria, housing custom-built replicas of the palace’s private apartments, grand corridors, and throne rooms.
The build required 43 miles of timber (enough to fence off a small country) and 22,000 sheets of gold leaf because nothing says “royalty” like furniture that costs more than your house.
The hangar was so rustic that wild parakeets and nesting owls kept flying through romantic scenes, hypnotized by Jenna Coleman‘s glittering replica jewels.
Imagine Prince Albert dropping to one knee while a confused parrot photobombs the moment. Add in freezing temperatures (the cast wore thermal undies under their corsets) and you’ve got a recipe for chaos – and brilliance.
The studios are closed to the public (sadly), but the surrounding market town of Tadcaster is famous for 14th-century brewing heritage. Pair a pass-by with a trip to York, 20 minutes away.
What was filmed here:
- All Buckingham Palace interiors (Seasons 1-3): 43 miles of timber, 22,000 gold leaves.
- Throne room to bedroom seamless shots: No walls, all drama.
- Proposal scenes interrupted by parakeets: Blame the shiny jewels.
❓ Victoria Series FAQs
Pray, have queries? Her Majesty’s loyal scribes possess the answers.
Why did the Victoria series end so abruptly after Season 3?
ITV paused production in 2019 due to cast scheduling conflicts and Jenna Coleman‘s departure. No official season 4… yet. Fans are still crying.
Does Lord M die in the Victoria series?
Not on screen! Lord Melbourne (Rufus Sewell) exits in Season 2 after historical accuracy demanded it – real Lord M died in 1848. But the show handled it with dignity (and tissues).
Is the Victoria series accurate?
Broadly yes, but with dramatic flair. Victoria really wore blue contact lenses (Coleman burned through 70 pairs!), but the parakeet interruptions? That’s 100% real set chaos.
Was Prince Albert really that handsome?
Historical accounts say yes. Tom Hughes‘ casting was unanimously approved by historians and fangirls alike.
Did Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes date in real life?
Yes! Their on-screen chemistry was real – they fell in love on set and lived together during the show’s run. (Cue collective “awww.”)
Why were there wild parakeets in a Yorkshire hangar?
The former military hangar was so rustic that local wildlife (including parakeets from a nearby colony and nesting owls) kept flying in, attracted by Coleman‘s glittering replica jewels.
What’s the deal with 43 miles of timber?
Production designer Michael Howells built an interconnected 100,000-square-foot palace layout inside the hangar to allow seamless camera movement. That’s enough wood to frame 20 houses.
Where can I visit these locations?
Most are open to the public! Harewood House, Castle Howard, Raby Castle, Beverley Minster, Blair Castle, and Brodsworth Hall (English Heritage) all welcome visitors.
📺 Where to Watch Victoria
Ready to stream? Here’s where to find your favorite royal drama.
- Amazon Prime: All three seasons available for streaming.
- DVD/Blu-ray: Complete series box sets.
- Other platforms: Netflix, ITVX, Apple TV, NOW TV, JioHotstar.
Every Sunday night during filming, the entire cast gathered at someone’s house to watch the latest episode together – while eating homemade curry and wearing thermal underwear hidden under their corsets.
That’s the real royal legacy: the cast survived freezing hangars thanks to curry. 🍛👑
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners, and no copyright infringement is intended.
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