Discover the filming locations that brought Philippa Gregory’s Tudor books to life in The White Queen, The White Princess, and The Spanish Princess.
If you thought royal family dinners were awkward, try navigating the Wars of the Roses, marrying your political enemy, or discovering that your brother might have returned from the dead to claim your throne.
Welcome to the world of The White Queen, The White Princess, and The Spanish Princess, Starz’s interconnected historical Tudor trilogy inspired by Philippa Gregory‘s novels.
The three series follow the women who helped shape England’s royal succession, from Elizabeth Woodville‘s marriage to Edward IV to Elizabeth of York‘s uneasy union with Henry VII and Catherine of Aragon‘s struggle to become queen.
Rebecca Ferguson, Jodie Comer, and Charlotte Hope lead the respective stories, bringing ambition, romance, and survival instincts to courts where a wedding ring could be almost as dangerous as a sword.
The best part for travelling fans? The productions used a fascinating mix of medieval Belgian architecture, English cathedrals, Welsh castles, historic country estates, and Spanish palaces.
Some locations even appear in more than one series, so you can follow the story across real places without needing a royal passport.
Table of Contents
👑 The White Queen, White Princess, & Spanish Princess Filming Locations
Each series has its own visual identity, from the medieval streets of Flanders to the grand ecclesiastical buildings of England and the sunlit palaces of Andalusia. Here’s where the royal drama came to life.
🌹 Where Was The White Queen Filmed?
The White Queen takes you to Flanders, where authentic medieval streets, churches, and castles stand in for England during the Wars of the Roses, with Bruges among the principal locations.
The series adapts Philippa Gregory’s The Cousins’ War novels, following Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort, and Anne Neville as they navigate rival dynasties, dangerous marriages, and the struggle for England‘s throne.
The production transformed Belgian landmarks into English royal residences, religious buildings, streets, and battle settings. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Elizabeth Woodville, with Amanda Hale as Margaret Beaufort and Faye Marsay as Anne Neville.
What was filmed here:
- Bruges City Hall & Courtyard, Bruges: Westminster Hall & civic backdrops.
- Church of Our Lady, Bruges, Belgium: Stood in for St Stephen’s Chapel.
- Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges, Belgium: Represented the Tower of London.
- Heilige Geeststraat, Bruges, Belgium: Doubled as a medieval London street.
- Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, Belgium: Formidable medieval castle setting.
- Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium: Grand religious architecture.
- Saint Peter’s Abbey, Ghent, Belgium: Historic abbey architecture.
- Castle of Rumbeke, Roeselare, Belgium: Grafton Manor, Woodville home.
- Ursel Airfield, Knesselare, Belgium: Large-scale battlefield sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Belfry of Bruges, Bruges, Belgium: Panoramic views over historic centre.
- Market Square, Bruges, Belgium: Explore the city’s lively medieval heart.
- Bruges canals, Bruges, Belgium: Take a boat trip beneath historic bridges.
- Church of Our Lady, Bruges, Belgium: Remarkable medieval architecture & art.
- Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, Belgium: Imposing medieval fortress and ramparts.
- Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium: Admire the art & architecture.
🌹 Where Was The White Princess Filmed?
The White Princess moves production to England and Wales, trading cobbled streets for English cathedrals, country estates, and formidable castles, including Gloucester Cathedral and Berkeley Castle.
Historic buildings supplied the courtyards, corridors, gardens, and streets of the new Tudor court. Based on Philippa Gregory’s novel The White Princess, the series follows Elizabeth of York, played by Jodie Comer, as she marries Henry VII, played by Jacob Collins-Levy.
Their union is intended to unite York and Lancaster, but lingering loyalties, royal paranoia, and the appearance of a young pretender threaten the fragile Tudor dynasty.
What was filmed here:
- Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England: Westminster Palace’s exteriors.
- Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England: Royal gardens at Westminster.
- Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire, England: Palace corridors & crypt.
- Wells Cathedral, Somerset, England: York scenes & royal ceremonies.
- Caerphilly Castle, Wales: Doubled as the Tower of London & London Docks.
- Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales: Contributed historic castle settings.
- Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England: Cloisters used across the production.
- Tithe Barn, Bradford-on-Avon, England: Served as the royal throne room.
- St Laurence’s Church, Bradford-on-Avon, England: Medieval church setting.
- Lacock village, Wiltshire, England: Doubled as a Tudor-era London street.
- The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol, England: Constructed sets and palace interiors.
What to see & do here:
- Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England: Historic castle rooms and grounds.
- Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England: Royal history and gardens.
- Roman Baths, Bath, England: Remarkably preserved Roman bathing complex.
- Royal Crescent, Bath, England: Elegant Georgian townhouses.
- Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, England: Cloisters and historic rooms.
- SS Great Britain, Bristol, England: Brunel’s historic steamship.
- Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England: Gothic architecture & Magna Carta.
- Caerphilly Castle, Wales: Explore towers, moat, and fortifications.
- Cardiff Castle, Wales: Discover Roman remains and lavish interiors.
- St Fagans National Museum, Cardiff, Wales: Welsh buildings & traditions.
- Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Wales: Fairytale-style Victorian interiors.
🌹 Where Was The Spanish Princess Filmed?
The Spanish Princess brings Catherine of Aragon‘s story to the screen in South-West England, Wales, and Andalusia, Spain, including Almería, Granada, and Seville.
Production combined historic locations with a studio-built Tudor Westminster Palace. Season 2 filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios, Ashton Court Estate, Kings Weston House, Wells Cathedral & Gloucester Cathedrals, Berkeley Castle, and the Mendip Hills, which doubled as the Battle of Flodden.
Adapted from Philippa Gregory’s The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse, the series stars Charlotte Hope as Catherine of Aragon and Ruairi O’Connor as Henry VIII.
Catherine arrives in England to marry Prince Arthur, but his sudden death threatens her future. Determined to keep her status, she marries his younger brother, Henry, as pressure to produce a male heir increasingly shapes their relationship.
What was filmed here:
- Wells Cathedral, Somerset, England: Royal wedding and funeral scenes.
- Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England: Palace corridors in the cloisters.
- Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, England: Westminster Palace exterior views.
- Ashton Court Estate, Bristol, England: Royal pheasant-hunting sequence.
- Kings Weston House, Bristol, England: Historic estate & architecture.
- Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England: Historic cloister architecture.
- Caerphilly Castle, Wales: Medieval castle settings.
- Castell Coch, Wales: Historic castle scenery.
- UWC Atlantic College, Wales: Period architectural backdrops.
- The Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol, England: Tudor Westminster Palace set.
- Almería, Andalusia, Spain: Exterior scenes amid Spanish landscapes.
- Alhambra, Granada, Spain: Historic palace settings.
- Real Alcázar of Seville, Seville, Spain: Royal palace architecture.
What to see & do here:
England & Wales
- Stonehenge & Old Sarum, Wiltshire: Ancient hilltop settlement ruins.
- SS Great Britain, Bristol, England: Historic Victorian steamship museum.
- Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol: Iconic bridge above Avon Gorge.
- Roman Baths, Bath, England: Remarkably preserved ancient bathing complex.
- Royal Crescent, Bath, England: Elegant Georgian architectural landmark.
- Cardiff Castle, Wales: Roman ruins and lavish interiors.
- Tintern Abbey, Wye Valley: Atmospheric medieval monastery ruins.
- Dunraven Bay, Glamorgan: Sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs.
- St Fagans National Museum, Cardiff, Wales: Historic buildings & Welsh traditions.
Spain
- Albaicín, Granada: Winding lanes with Alhambra views.
- Granada Cathedral, Granada: Grand Renaissance architecture & royal history.
- Plaza de España, Seville: Ornate bridges & colourful tiles.
- Seville Cathedral & La Giralda: Gothic cathedral and iconic bell tower.
- Córdoba Mosque-Cathedral, Córdoba: Striped arches & Islamic architecture.
- Córdoba Patios, Córdoba: Flower-filled courtyards behind historic façades.
- Alcazaba of Almería, Almería: Hilltop fortress with sea views.
- Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park: Volcanic landscapes & secluded beaches.
- Puente Nuevo, Ronda: Dramatic bridge spanning El Tajo gorge.
👑 Starz Tudor Trilogy FAQs
Here’s where the three series were filmed, which historical sites you can visit, and how their royal stories connect.
Are the Starz Tudor series based on books?
Yes. Here are the historical novels by Philippa Gregory that inspired the series.
- The White Queen (2013): Based on The Cousins’ War series.
- The White Princess (2017): Based on The White Princess.
- The Spanish Princess (2019): Based on The Constant Princess & The King’s Curse.
What’s the correct viewing order for the series?
Watch them in this order to follow the family history chronologically:
Who’s in the cast of the Tudor series?
The White Queen Cast:
- Rebecca Ferguson: Elizabeth Woodville
- Max Irons: King Edward IV
- Janet McTeer: Jacquetta Woodville
- Amanda Hale: Margaret Beaufort
- Faye Marsay: Anne Neville
- James Frain: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick
- Aneurin Barnard: Richard, Duke of Gloucester
The White Princess Cast:
- Jodie Comer: Elizabeth of York
- Jacob Collins-Levy: Henry VII
- Michelle Fairley: Margaret Beaufort
- Essie Davis: Elizabeth Woodville
- Rebecca Benson: Margaret Plantagenet
- Patrick Gibson: Perkin Warbeck
The Spanish Princess Cast:
- Charlotte Hope: Catherine of Aragon
- Ruairi O’Connor: Henry VIII
- Stephanie Levi-John: Lina de Cardonnes
- Aaron Cobham: Oviedo
- Laura Carmichael: Margaret Pole
- Georgie Henley: Margaret Tudor
- Harriet Walter: Margaret Beaufort
- Elliot Cowan: Henry VII
How historically accurate are the series?
They mix historical events with fictional dialogue, invented motives, and compressed timelines, particularly around the Princes in the Tower and Catherine of Aragon’s first marriage.
Who was the real White Queen?
Elizabeth Woodville was the real White Queen, becoming Queen of England through her marriage to Edward IV. Her family’s rise fueled tensions at court during the Wars of the Roses.
Is The White Queen connected to Alice in Wonderland?
No. Elizabeth Woodville’s historical story is separate from the fictional White Queen played by Anne Hathaway in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010).
What are some historical dramas like these series?
If you enjoyed the royal intrigue, complicated alliances, and lavish period settings, try these:
- The Queen (2006): Elizabeth II navigates a royal crisis after Diana’s death.
- The Tudors (2007): Henry VIII’s reign filled with intrigue.
- Elizabeth (1998) & Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007): Elizabeth I’s reign.
- The Other Boleyn Girl (2008): Two sisters compete for royal favour.
- Reign (2013): Young Mary navigates romance and royal politics.
- Wolf Hall (2015): Thomas Cromwell navigates Henry’s dangerous court.
- Mary Queen of Scots (2018): Rival queens battle for power.
- Spencer (2021): Princess Diana faces a defining royal Christmas.
- Becoming Elizabeth (2022): Young Elizabeth confronts Tudor court intrigue.
- The Serpent Queen (2022): Catherine de’ Medici schemes for survival.
📺 Where to Watch The Starz Tudor Trilogy
You may not settle the Wars of the Roses on your travels, but you can certainly see where the drama unfolded on screen.
From Belgium‘s medieval streets to England‘s magnificent cathedrals and Spain‘s spectacular palaces, the Starz Tudor series offer a historical journey packed with real-world royal settings.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy of its information or recommend relying on it for important decisions. All referenced titles, names, and intellectual property belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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