Travelling through The Crown map

Since its debut on Netflix in November 2016, it has stood out not just as a lavish retelling of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, but as one of the most ambitious television productions ever created in the UK. With its meticulous attention to detail, stellar cast performances, and sweeping cinematography, the series quickly became a global sensation. Beyond its storytelling, it transformed the way audiences engage with history, sparking conversations about monarchy, duty, and the private lives behind public figures.

One of the elements that makes The Crown so visually striking is its use of real locations across the United Kingdom. Rather than relying solely on studio sets, the production brought the story to life by filming at grand stately homes, historic cathedrals, and iconic city streets. From the opulence of Lancaster House in London doubling as Buckingham Palace to the bustling streets of the North being used as America, the series became as much a love letter to British heritage sites as it was a dramatisation of royal history. Each episode carries with it a sense of place that grounds the drama in authenticity.

The impact of The Crown extends far beyond the screen. Since the series began, there has been a huge boost in interest of English Heritage locations where they filmed. Not only has it influenced tourism, but being a cultural touchstone, influencing fashion, popular perceptions of the monarchy, and even inspiring renewed debates about the institution’s role today. Nearly a decade since its premiere, The Crown continues to grow the UK's economy with people travelling to see where their favourite scenes were shot.

And now with my website, I can finally gather all of the filming locations I have visited from the six series. So whether you're travelling around the heart of London, or going around Manchester's Northern Quarter, you're guaranteed to see the backdrop for a scene.

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Central London

Filming in central London was never easy for the production team, given the city’s always bustling streets and strict regulations around historic landmarks. To capture the grandeur of royal life, the production often transformed iconic sites into stand-ins for the real thing. Lancaster House, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, was frequently used for interior palace scenes thanks to its gilded state rooms and regal atmosphere. The crew also shot at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which doubled as different London settings across the series, from the first chapel where Camilla gets married to the exterior of Buckingham Palace. A few more of the grand halls in London have been used through the series, with Goldsmiths Hall being used as Buckingham Palace and Cornhill Banking Hall being used for a grand Chicago hall.

By carefully weaving these historic buildings and recognisable streetscapes into the narrative, The Crown brought central London to life on screen, giving viewers an authentic glimpse into the capital’s role in the monarchy’s story.

Greater London

Beyond the heart of the capital, the production team also made extensive use of locations across Greater London to recreate royal settings. Historic estates and grand houses around Greater London also featured prominently, with places like Wrotham Park in Barnet standing in for royal residences and hosting pivotal events such as garden parties. These sites, combined with carefully dressed suburban streets, allowed the series to capture the elegance and authority of the monarchy while maintaining the flexibility needed for a long-running production.

There has only been two locations from The Crown that I have travelled to in Greater London. From Croydon's Fairfield Halls where Diana made her way through the paparazzi, to Langleybury House in Watford. The latter was used for many scenes through series 2, due to it being great for set builds and long standing production.

Manchester

Manchester’s versatility is showcased throughout series 4 in some of its most memorable sequences. One of the most striking uses of Manchester came in recreating Diana's visit to New York where she visited the Henry Street Settlement, this made use of the iconic warehouse style look of Dale Street. The production also used parts of the city to stand in for less obvious locations, such as London backstreets and working-class neighbourhoods, demonstrating just how flexible Manchester’s urban landscape could be. By carefully dressing these spaces, the show transported viewers to pivotal moments in British history, all while staying rooted in the heart of the North.

Liverpool

Liverpool became an important stand-in for London in The Crown, thanks to its wealth of Georgian, Victorian and Modern architecture. Landmark buildings like the Cunard Building served as the Ministry of Defence, with a few cinematic touches—vintage cars, shopfronts, and signage—Liverpool was transformed into mid-20th-century Washington with remarkable authenticity.

York

York also made its mark in The Crown, with its grand York Minster being used for a grand wedding scene, standing in for Westminster Abbey thanks to its soaring Gothic architecture and majestic interiors. By drawing on the city’s historic charm, the production added both grandeur and atmosphere, making York an integral part of the show’s visual storytelling.

Hull

Hull may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of royal drama, but it played a memorable role in The Crown by standing in for post-war New York. The city’s Old Town, with its wide boulevards and early 20th-century architecture, was transformed into 1960s Manhattan for scenes depicting Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s visit to the United States. Vintage yellow cabs, neon signage, and American-style storefronts were brought in to complete the illusion, turning Hull’s historic streets into a convincing slice of mid-century America. This clever use of location not only demonstrated the production’s resourcefulness but also gave Hull a brief moment in the global spotlight, showing how versatile its architecture can be on screen.

Exploring the filming locations of The Crown is like stepping directly into the world of the royals, with each stop offering a mix of history, grandeur, and cinematic magic. From the palaces of London to the streets of Manchester, Liverpool, and beyond, every site brings the series to life in a way that only travel can. If you’re planning your own royal-inspired adventure, I’ve created a brand-new interactive map to guide you through the key locations featured in the show. Be sure to follow along on my Instagram to see how The Crown fits into the real life backgrounds.