When work began on Bridgerton’s third season, the team behind Netflix’s smash-hit historical romance knew that they had to take episodes to the next level.
‘With season three we just wanted to make everything bigger everywhere,’ says location manager Tony Hood. He’s worked on all three seasons, as well as its spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. ‘More colour, bigger costumes, bigger locations… more everything,’ he says of the ethos behind the grander-than-ever mansions, country piles and manors in the new season. ‘We wanted it bigger and better.’
Fans intent on getting a closer look at how the Bridgerton and Featherington families live will feast their eyes on a plethora of real locations – some old, some new.
But finding (and using) those locations comes with some unique challenges. ‘In every room you walk into there are priceless pieces of furniture or art that usually can’t even be breathed on, let alone moved,’ says Hood. ‘We have to shift these things that are worth an astronomical amount of money.’
So what opulent Regency venues appear in season 3? We asked Hood to take us through its locations.
Osterley Park and House, London
A few miles west of London, you’ll find the Georgian splendour of Osterley Park and House. The abode, originally dating back to the 1570s, makes a starring turn in the second episode of the new season when it plays host to the Full Moon Ball. ‘It’s a beautiful building,’ says Hood, ‘and it worked very well for the ball sequence which had to be spectacular.’ The locations team were attracted to the ‘inner courtyard, which has columns on the outside’, explains Hood. Although with no full moon to coincide with the shoot, Bridgerton had to generate its own lunar rays. ‘We had to use a huge crane outside to create the moonlight for the ball.’ says the location chief.
Squerryes Court, Kent
This late 17th-century manor house makes its Bridgerton debut in the opening episode of season three. ‘It was bit of a find,’ says Hood. Squerryes Court provides the setting for a garden party scene after the year’s debutantes are introduced to Queen Charlotte. ‘It was really cold that day,’ recalls Hood. Shooting winter – or autumn – for summer piles on the workload for the art department. ‘Filming takes about eight months,’ he says, ‘but I’d say three of those months are useful because the trees have blossomed and the gardens look green. The rest of the time we have to add greenery to the trees. It’s a huge amount of work.’
Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire
Just over 100 miles north of London is Grimsthorpe Castle, a citadel dating back to 13th century. In Bridgerton, it’s used as the home to a new character called Lord Hawkins. The character is an ‘eccentric man fascinated by inventions’ and Hood says that a suitably strange and out-there location was needed for him. ‘It needed to be a large and very ornate building, which is unusual for [Bridgerton].’
It’s here that the Innovations Ball in episode 3 was filmed, with the castle’s huge courtyard and walled garden featuring prominently. There was some heavy-lifting required when it turned out that the Grimsthorpe’s floor was too old to be used for the dance sequences. ‘We had to build a dance floor for the dancers, which took an awful long time,’ says Hood. ‘But it’s a great location. We loved it up there.’
Claydon House, Buckinghamshire & Kingston Bagpuize House, Oxfordshire
Built in the mid-18th century, Claydon will pop up in the second part of Bridgerton’s third season (on Netflix on June 13). Hood is sworn to secrecy on its exact use in the show, but as a Grade I listed building with Grade II listed gardens, our gold sovereign is on some kind of fancy-dan gathering. Kingston Bagpuize House in Oxfordshire will also be included in the next batch of episodes, too. Fans of period films and shows will recognise the country house, as it has previously been used for Emma and Downton Abbey.
📌 Visitor information for Claydon House and Kingston Bagpuize House
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire’s Blenheim Palace was a key location in Bridgerton spinoff Queen Charlotte. It’s making its Bridgerton debut proper in season 3, playing host to the Hawkins Hot Air Balloon Event – pictured above – and standing in for Buckingham House.
Basildon Park, Berkshire
This season also gives the show a chance to dive deeper into Basildon Park, Berkshire. Previously used as an exterior for the Featherington family’s garden, we’ll see the interiors too this time out. It’s home to a new character, Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New). ‘It’s immaculate inside,’ says Hood. ‘Everything – the mouldings, ornaments, plasterwork, furniture, woodwork – was done with the same design.’
Wilton House, Wiltshire
Used by Bridgerton in each season to date, Wilton House makes a triumphant return in season three. This is where Queen Charlotte does most of her talking with Lady Danbury, so its location is utilised to heighten her power.
As well as its gorgeous rooms and hallways, there’s another reason Hood loves Wilton: its famous Double Cube Room. ‘It has the biggest private collection of van Dyck paintings in the world. God only knows how much they’re all worth. It’s a beautiful room.’
For season 3, Hood used the exteriors of Wilton House for the first time. ‘There's a lovely river that runs through the back of the grounds,’ he says, ‘and we [use] that a lot for promenading. Wilton is not of the right realm, but we get a lot out of it when we go there.’
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace returns to Bridgerton in season 3, making a starring appearance in episode four when the Greek myth ballet and Queen’s Ball takes place. Hood adds that the vast palace comes in handy whenever they’re missing a location for additional sequences. ‘You probably wouldn't guess what we've used Hampton Court for,’ he says. Master Carpenter’s Court and Tennis Court Lane were used as a printing shop and in carriage scenes, respectively. ‘We squeeze things in to shoot there that you wouldn’t think would be shot there,’ says Hood. ‘But that’s the way.’
📌 Visitor information
5 magnificent ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ locations you can visit.