Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story is set primarily in British royal residences such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral, and Highgrove, but filming used stand-in stately homes and estates across the UK plus Elstree Studios and select international locations. The pattern is consistent: palaces were played by houses such as Wilton, Lancaster, and Hatfield, Windsor was Belvoir and then Burghley, and Balmoral was Ardverikie. Caernarfon Castle is the notable exception, playing itself.
The Studio Side
Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, served as the production's primary studio base, accounting for about 20% of filming, with the remaining 80% shot on location. The studios are not open to the public, so fans should focus their visits on the on-location sites, most of which are ticketed heritage properties that welcome visitors.
Tours That Visit These Locations
For travellers who want a guided experience rather than self-directed trips to stately homes, a London walking tour focused on the series covers filming sites and royal London in the company of a knowledgeable guide.
London Filming Sites Walk
The Crown Walking Tour of London
A guided walk through central London that connects The Crown's filming locations with the real royal landmarks they portrayed, ideal for visitors who want context and stories alongside the sights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the real Buckingham Palace where The Crown is set?
The production did not film inside Buckingham Palace. Interiors were shot at stand-ins including Lancaster House, Wilton House, and Hatfield House, while exteriors used the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which is free to visit.
Which castle played Balmoral in The Crown?
Ardverikie Estate in the Scottish Highlands stood in for Balmoral across multiple seasons, including the Balmoral Test episode. The grounds are open to the public and cottages are available to rent, with possible castle tours.
Did The Crown film at the real Caernarfon Castle?
Yes. Caernarfon Castle in Wales played itself as the site of Prince Charles's 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales. The UNESCO site is open to the public and is one of the few locations in the series to appear as itself.
Which house played Windsor Castle?
Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire stood in for Windsor interiors in seasons 1 to 3, and Burghley House near Stamford took over for seasons 4 to 5, including the 1992 fire scenes. Both are open to the public for tours.
Where was the coronation filmed?
The Queen's wedding and coronation scenes in season 1 were filmed at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, which doubled as Westminster Abbey. The cathedral is open to visitors and sits in a historic riverside town.
How many locations did The Crown use?
The series used 719 filming locations across seven countries over 10 years of production, with about 20% of filming at Elstree Studios and 80% on location.
The Crown's filming trail stretches from Greenwich to the Scottish Highlands, and most of its key locations are visitable heritage properties. Start with the free grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in London, add a guided walking tour for royal context, then pick one or two stately homes such as Burghley or Belvoir, or make the journey north to Ardverikie for the full Balmoral atmosphere.
