Castle Howard: Our experience as a filming location
Step behind the scenes of one of Britain's most legendary on-screen stars
- Stories & Inspiration
- Castle Howard Filming Location
The magnificent Castle Howard is no stranger to the spotlight, having found fame in the 1980s as the Marchmain’s family home in Brideshead Revisited. The grand stately home near Malton has become a sought-after backdrop for a wide range of productions from documentaries to music videos, adverts to feature films, with scenes shot across various areas of the Estate. Its recent role in the Netflix hit series Bridgerton has only added to its onscreen legacy, with fans flocking to the house for a taste of regal life.
We spoke to Angie Alle, Events and Filming Manager at Castle Howard, to find out more about the Estate's filming experience.
Why was Castle Howard chosen as a filming location?
Castle Howard played the role of Clyvedon Castle, the Duke’s ancestral home. It’s where the Duke and Daphne spend their first few weeks of marriage together. The role the location plays is two-fold, it’s a space full of history and memories for the Duke, and magic and discovery for Daphne. Castle Howard’s iconic House and beautiful Gardens dotted with follies and statues provided the grandeur and magic to help bring the story to life.
Castle Howard took over 100 years to build, with construction starting in 1699. Bridgerton is set in the regency era, in the early 19th century, when the House was finally completed.
Which locations at Castle Howard have featured in Bridgerton?
With its grand architecture and romantic gardens, Castle Howard sets the perfect stage for courtship, scandal, and strolls through rose-covered paths. The 18th century Walled Garden hosted fiery drama and flirty moments alike, while the Great Hall welcomed the Duke and Duchess on their arrival to the castle.
One of the series' most famous scenes was filmed at the Temple of the Four Winds, commanding stunning views across the Howardian Hills, with the Duke and Duchess sheltering from a downpour on their romantic stroll.
The nearby village of Coneysthorpe was also transformed into Clyvedon village for Daphne's visit to the fete.
How do you protect the House when filming is taking place?
Castle Howard has a world-class art and sculpture collection, alongside precious architectural features and historic fixtures and fittings. There’s much to be protected, and that’s one of our greatest priorities whenever we host film crews.
It’s a team collaboration between our in-house Curatorial team and the film crew’s location manager, adapting spaces as necessary, and providing special training for the cast and crew to ensure there is no damage. Often we work with specialists Spencer and Fry, experts in protecting historic buildings during filming projects, who use their expertise to help us think of ways to achieve the best shot for the story without causing any damage.
Our staff and volunteers were very involved in the filmmaking process during Bridgerton, helping chaperone the film crew, look after the collection, and even stepping in as extras!
What did you think of Bridgerton?
We loved Bridgerton, and the fact we were able to play a part in the story! The show inspires a real atmosphere and feeling of escapism and romance that we hope to evoke during a visit to the House and Gardens.
Sneak peek...
Castle Howard recently served as the backdrop to Blueberry Inn, an upcoming British comedy feature film written and directed by Sonia Guggenheim (The Mad Whale), starring Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean), Sophia Di Martino (Loki), Alex Arnold (Skins) and Chloe Lea (Dune: Prophecy), due for release in 2026.
The film was shot in parts of the House and Gardens, and on the wider Estate mostly in the Bog Hall project area – an area of land undergoing a major habitat restoration project.
Castle Howard is now offering exclusive guided tours that lift the curtain on the magic of filmmaking. Walk in the footsteps of famous characters and explore iconic filming locations while discovering how this grand backdrop brings stories to life.
Photo credits: Netflix and Carole Poirot
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