Where was Wonka filmed? Discover Wonka filming locations and uncover behind-the-scenes secrets from the magical, chocolate-filled 2023 adventure.
The world of Wonka (2023) looks like someone blended old-world Europe, a dash of whimsy, and a sprinkle of chocolate dust. If we wondered, “Where was Wonka filmed?” it’s because the streets, arcades, and interiors feel too magical to be real.
Luckily, they are real – just dressed up with color, props, and a healthy imagination. From Oxford’s cobbled charm to Milan’s glittering Galleria, these real-life locations brought Timothée Chalamet’s Willy Wonka to life.
Table of Contents
🍫 Where Was Wonka Filmed?
Here’s a list of every major filming location used for the new Willy Wonka movie. Let’s unwrap the world behind Timothée Chalamet’s chocolate-coated origin story.
🎩 Oxford (UK) – Opening Song & Whimsical Streets
Wonka bursts into Oxford (standing in for London) with his first big musical number, turning the city into a cocoa-fueled stage. The Radcliffe Camera wears fake snow, chimneys smoke, dreams tower, and nobody bats an eye at 7 a.m. chocolate singing.
From Carfax Tower, Wonka surveys Oxford like a cocoa-fueled king plotting mischief. Meanwhile, St. Paul’s dome photobombs like a prim sugar-chaperone keeping an eye on the chaos.
What was filmed here:
- Opening musical number
- Carfax Tower panorama
- Snow-dusted Radcliffe Camera
🍬 Bath (UK) – Georgian Streets Go Wonka
Bath’s golden lanes exploded into candy-colored chaos overnight. Pastel stalls, spinning carts, and extras rushing like they’d missed the last chocolate train brought Kingston Buildings, Bath Street, and Parade Gardens to life.
Riverside Colonnades got a snowy makeover, while Bath Abbey and the Orange Grove joined the fun. Every honey-stone façade glowed, turning a simple stroll into a perfectly choreographed swirl of magic, spins, and chocolate-fueled anticipation.
What was filmed here:
- Bustling marketplace scenes
- Supporting character introductions
- Choreographed street movement through Georgian lanes
🦒 Verulamium Park, St Albans (UK) – Fairground & Zoo Scenes
Verulamium Park turned into Wonka’s wintery playground, complete with a full zoo and fairground set by the lake – then buried under fake snow.
Locals woke up to carnival stalls, animal enclosures, twinkly lights, and extras frozen in cheerful chaos. Real landmarks, such as the River Ver bridge, peek out in the background, while CGI later made the zoo appear far bigger than the park itself.
What was filmed here:
- Wide zoo shots near the lake
- Snow-covered fairground moments
- Bridge + park elements blended into CGI zoo
💂🏻 Eltham Palace (London, UK) – Slugworth’s Swanky Lair
Eltham Palace got a chocolatey makeover, turning its grand halls into the glitzy interiors of Slugworth’s house and factory.
Wonka squares off with his rival amid Art Deco flair, Swedish-inspired touches, and a sprinkle of medieval drama – because nothing says “chocolate showdown” like royal vibes.
What was filmed here:
- Interiors of Slugworth’s house and factory
- Chocolate rivalry scenes with Wonka
- Stunning Art Deco rooms with Swedish design flair
🌊 River Thames (UK) – Young Wonka’s Waterway Whimsy
The River Thames practically dripped into Wonka’s childhood memories. Flashbacks show young Willy performing magic tricks for his mom on a longboat.
He drifts past charming countryside spots like Goring Gap and Sutton Bridge in Oxfordshire. Think nostalgia. Think whimsy. Think riverbanks sprinkled with chocolatey imagination.
What was filmed here:
- Young Willy Wonka’s flashback sequences
- Longboat magic trick scenes
- Scenic riverside landscapes
🎬 Leavesden Studios (UK) – Candy Town & Chocolate Chaos
Leavesden Studios became Wonka’s full-blown fantasy playground. Cobbled streets, pastel façades, crooked alleys, tiny bridges, and the Galeries Gourmet arcade – built entirely on set – sparkled with “too-perfect-to-exist” magic.
Inside, chocolate rivers flowed, machines swirled, cauldrons bubbled, and candy gadgets clicked like they were plotting mischief. The arcade borrowed from Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Paris’s Grand Palais, with a CGI upgrade.
What was filmed here:
- Galeries Gourmet arcade sequences
- Pan-European town square and streets
- Cobbled lanes for musical numbers
- Full Chocolate Factory interiors
⛪ St. Paul’s Cathedral (London) – Giraffes & Chocolate Cartels
St. Paul’s Cathedral became the absurdly grand entrance to the Chocolate Cartel’s secret lair. Inside the soaring nave, Rowan Atkinson’s Father Julius presides over a congregation of chocoholic monks… until chaos strikes.
A giraffe sniffs out acacia mints from his pocket and storms in, sending monks scattering. “What have I done… Sold your soul for twenty pieces of chocolate!” Father Julius wails, perfectly capturing the sweet, chaotic mayhem.
What was filmed here:
- Interior scenes for the Cartel’s secret base
- The giraffe attack/mint‑smelling chaos
- Father Julius’s frantic phone call
🚤 Lyme Regis (UK) – Coastal Calm
Lyme Regis brought a seaside sparkle to Wonka, turning its famous Cobb and harbour into a wintry playground. The production dusted the harbour and steps with fake snow, giving the town a storybook glow perfect for a chocolatier’s whimsical escapades.
Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka makes a grand entrance, descending the harbour steps in one sequence, while the historic steam drifter Lydia Eva sits proudly in the background, adding authentic maritime charm to the fantasy scene.
What was filmed here:
- Cobb Harbour and steps
- Steam drifter Lydia Eva
- Snow-dusted harbour scenes
🏰 Bodiam Castle (East Sussex, UK) – Chocolate Castle Dreams
Bodiam Castle got a sweet upgrade in Wonka, transforming its 14th-century stone walls, picturesque moat, and ivy-draped towers into the perfect setting for Willy Wonka’s ultimate chocolate empire.
In the finale, Wonka buys the real-world castle to make his chocolate factory dreams come true – because why settle for a regular factory when you can have turrets, a moat, and maximum cocoa-infused flair?
What was filmed here:
- Exterior shots of Wonka’s new chocolate factory
- Moat and stone facade scenes
- Castle finale moments
💃 Rivoli Ballroom (London, UK) – Comedy & Chandelier Chaos
The Rivoli Ballroom stole the spotlight for Wonka’s mid-credits scene, hosting Larry Chucklesworth’s big comeback comedy gig. Its vintage red-and-gold glamour and glowing chandeliers made it instantly feel like the perfect stage for a slightly awkward comedian.
The crew filmed the whole sequence on the main dance floor, filling the room with cheering extras and warm, old-school theatre vibes. Every corner sparkled, giving the scene a nostalgic, chocolate-tinged charm.
What was filmed here:
- Larry’s mid-credits comedy performance
- Crowd reaction shots in the ballroom
- Full interior setup on the main floor
From Oxford’s snow-dusted historic streets to Bath’s golden Georgian streets, each location in Wonka (2023) feels like a storybook sprung to life. Walking these streets, you can almost hear the whimsical music, spot bustling townsfolk, or imagine chocolate fountains bubbling just out of frame.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Wonka (2023) and all associated characters, logos, images, and content are the property of The Walt Disney Company. No copyright infringement is intended.
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