Midcheshire Independent Issue 170

17 SEPTEMBER 2024 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk Independent TRAVEL FOUR years since its first season launched on Netf- lix in 2020, Bridgerton has once again become the TV series on everyone’s lips. Based on the novels by Julia Quinn, the show has proved a hit with audiences around the world thanks to its mod- ern take on life in Regency England – not to mention its passionate romance scenes. Fans looking to follow in the footsteps of its stars can discover the real-life filming locations on a trip to Britain. BATH NO.1 ROYAL CRESCENT ALTHOUGH many of the events in Bridgerton are set in Mayfair’s London, within the residences of the best fam- ilies in England, much of the filming took place in Bath. Founded by the Romans, the Somerset city was a buzzing social hub for the well-to-do in the 1800s and it remains a jewel of Regency architecture to this day. For those keen to experi- ence a slice of Bridgerton, No.1 Royal Crescent is a must-see stop. Doubling as the home of the Featheringtons, in real life it is a museum dedicated to the period. Built in the 1760s – 1770s, the Royal Crescent’s perfectly preserved architecture and views of Royal Victoria Park are one of the main backdrops to the series. Eagle-eyed fans may also recognise it from TV adap- tations of Vanity Fair and Northanger Abbey, in addi- tion to the motion picture The Duchess. ABBEY GREEN IN the centre of Bath, Abbey Green’s cobbled streets and quaint boutiques make it a dream filming location for Bridgerton and it’s here that the fictional dress shop, Modiste, is located. Owned by renowned seam- stress Madame Genevieve Delacroix, the shop is a hot- bed of style and gossip and the setting to several key scenes in the show. Fans can look forward to donning their best outfits for a turn around the square, before a spot of lunch and shopping in true Bridger- ton style. BATH STREET BATH Street features in the very first episode of Bridger- ton, when the duke makes his heart-stopping appearance on horseback. Although it doubles as a Mayfair street in London, this Georgian delight is actually the location of a quintessential Bath highlight, the Thermae Bath Spa, an award-winning spa featuring the 18th-cen- tury Cross Bath and an open- air rooftop pool. THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS MANY of the scandalous storylines in Bridgerton revolve around big social events, where high society comes together to celebrate, mediate and fall in love, much to the delight of gossip columnist extraordinaire, Lady Whistledown. The Assembly Rooms tea- room and ballroom were the setting for many of these extravagant evening scenes and have also featured in film adaptations of classics includ- ing Persuasion. LONDON THE RANGER’S HOUSE GREENWICH is an area steeped in regal history, so it’s a fitting location for the home of the Bridgertons themselves. Filmed at the Ranger’s House, a stately home on the edge of the world-renowned park, today the majestic build- ing is home to The Wernher Collection, which features more than 700 works by art- ists including Botticelli, Mon- vaerni and Metsu. Those planning to explore the area shouldn’t forget to visit the Royal Observa- tory, while history fans can immerse themselves in the past at the Queen’s House, the home built for Queen Anne, and the Old Royal Naval Col- lege – all located just a stone’s throw away. CHISWICK HOUSE CHISWICK House is another popular Bridgerton backdrop and can be spotted in a num- ber of scenes throughout the series, including in sea- son three. The neo-Palladian villa was built between 1726 and 1729 by the Earl of Burling- ton, who took inspiration from visits to Italy and the works of Italian architect Andrea Pal- ladio and his English follower Inigo Jones. Visitors can explore the lavish 18th-century inte- rior of the villa or take a stroll through the tranquil kitchen gardens. The onsite café offers speci- ality coffee and freshly baked cakes from their in-house bak- ery, while the house is a popu- lar wedding venue, so it’s best to check for planned closures before visiting. LANCASTER HOUSE ALTHOUGHHampton Court Palace was used for exterior shots of Queen Charlotte’s Palace, Lancaster House in Westminster was used for the interior and also acted as a backdrop for scenes filmed inside Buckingham Palace. With its sweeping stair- cases and Grand Hall, which mirrors the style of the Palace of Versailles, the building is a favourite filming location for period dramas and has also appeared in Downton Abbey and The King’s Speech. THE REFORM CLUB LOCATED in the heart of Pall Mall and founded in 1832, The Reform Club is another London filming location immortalised in the series. The setting of episode one’s meeting between the Duke On the Bridgerton trail of Hastings and Anthony Bridgerton, in reality the private members club is the haunt of some of Britain’s most forward-thinking polit- ical minds, not to mention one of the area’s most strik- ing buildings. SURREY HAMPTON COURT PALACE THE former home of King Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace doubles as the opulent residence of Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton. Located in Richmond on the banks of the Thames, a visit to the palace is a must for those interested in Brit- ish history. Fans of the series can fol- low in the footsteps of its stars with a stroll through the palace’s 60 acres of gardens, including the ornate Privy Garden, which was beloved by the King himself, or explore the beauty of Richmond Park – home to herds of red and fallow deer since 1637. PAINSHILL PARK THE beautifully manicured grounds of Painshill Park also feature in the hit show. Completed in 1773, the gardens were inspired by the owner, the Honourable Charles Hamilton’s Grand Tour of Europe and his pas- sion for Renaissance art, with the lake, bridge and gently rolling landscape all featur- ing in the series. BERKSHIRE BASILDON PARK, READING VISITORS may recognise the Garden Room and parterre at Basildon Park from the party scene at the Featherington’s home in season two. The house and its lavish interiors return in season three, where it doubles as the home of new character Lady Tilley Arnold, a wealthy widow. The 18th-century house also featured in the hit series and movie Downton Abbey and the film adapta- tion of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. WEST SUSSEX PETWORTH HOUSE WITH its impressive art col- lection, Petworth House dou- bled as the setting for the art gallery scene in Bridgerton season two. The striking 17th-century mansion houses masterpieces by Anthony Van Dyck, JMW Turner, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, as well as carvings by the famous Anglo-Dutch 18th-century artist Grinling Gibbons. Petworth also boasts a pleasure garden featuring woodland walks and architec- tural features, and a 700-acre deer park with ancient trees. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CLAYDON HOUSE, NEAR BUCKINGHAM NESTLED among the rolling hills of Aylesbury Vale, Clay- don House is a National Trust property with extravagant 18th-century interiors. Serving as a backdrop in Bridgerton season three, vis- itors can marvel at the gran- deur of the magnificent state rooms and spot the elaborate carvings found throughout the house. STOWE GARDENS, NEAR BUCKINGHAM Not far from Claydon House, south of Buckingham, lies Stowe Gardens. For season one of Bridgerton, it was transformed into Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens where Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings began their romantic relationship. In the Regency era, the pleasure garden was a popu- lar part of London’s nightlife, where visitors could indulge in diverse entertainment, from concerts and acrobats to hot-air balloon rides. With its winding paths, lakeside walks and temples, Stowe Gardens also appeared in various other outdoors scenes in the second season. Now looked after by the National Trust, the gar- dens can provide the setting for scenic walks in the foot- steps of the Regency cast. OXFORDSHIRE BLENHEIM PALACE, WOODSTOCK BLENHEIM Palace first appeared in Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte as Buckingham House - the for- mer name of Buckingham Palace before its 19th-cen- tury conversion. The royal residence makes its first appearance as a true Bridgerton filming location in season three. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the seat of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Win- ston Churchill. Visitors can explore the pal- ace and 2,000 acres of mag- nificent grounds, including a landscape designed by Lance- lot Capability Brown. The self-guided ‘Lights, Camera, Action Trail’ takes visitors behind the scenes of some of the most famous blockbusters to be filmed here, from Harry Potter to super spy James Bond. YORKSHIRE CASTLE HOWARD CLYVEDONCastle, the Duke of Hastings’ great estate, is actually Castle Howard, a splendid residence located a short distance from York. The castle is no stranger to the big and small screen, having featured in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, Brideshead Revisited and Victoria, to name just a few. Built at the end of the 17th century, the castle’s sprawling gardens feature in the show, while nearby Coneysthorpe village doubled as the village frequently visited by the duke and duchess.