BELGRAVIA, the latest hit drama from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, is delighting audiences with its tales from the posh London district.
And the lavish production is shining a light on some of the many beautiful places where the show was filmed.
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Here, Robin McKelvie details some of the locations that feature in the show.
Somerset House, London
THIS impressive neoclassical building lies on the south side of The Strand. Like the Brockenhursts and the Trenchards in the drama, the Victorian period brought major upheaval and change to Somerset House as the outer east and west wings were added and the construction of the Victoria Embankment cut it off from the Thames. In Belgravia, Somerset House stands in for London’s East End but these days, it’s a hive of cultural activities as well as hosting a hugely popular winter ice skating rink. See somersethouse.org.uk.
Chatham Dockyard, Kent
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IT’S easy to drift back through the centuries at this historic attraction – ships were built here from Tudor times. It also proved versatile in the TV series. Various parts of it appear as Girtons Mills, a London market and also Pimm’s Chop House. You can plan starting a business to match the upwardly mobile Trenchards by learning from the master ropemakers at the Victorian Ropery. See thedockyard.co.uk.
Brocket Hall, Herts
WITH a grand country house at its centrepiece and a whopping 543 acres of estate grounds it’s easy to see why Belgravia’s producers were keen on Brocket Hall. It has also featured in a host of other TV and film shows including Spider-Man: Far From Home, Rocketman, The Queen and Pride And Prejudice. You can stay here, in Melbourne Lodge, an elegantly converted coach house and one of England’s finest Georgian houses. Brocket-hall.co.uk.
Hampton Court Palace, Richmond
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THIS royal palace by the Thames, a favourite of Henry VIII, featured in the first episode, with its impressive grounds standing in for Hyde Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens. The 16th Century grand interiors are well worth a visit but spring is also a great time to explore the gardens – virus willing. See hrp.org.uk.
Assembly Rooms, Bath
WHEN it opened in Georgian times this grand venue was described as “the most noble and elegant of any in the kingdom”.
Designed by John Wood the Younger in 1769, these assembly rooms are a Grade I listed marvel that are very much part of Bath life today, with a fashion museum and gallery space. Already in the first episode of Belgravia they have taken on a pivotal role as the setting for the poignant Duchess of Richmond’s ball on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. See nationaltrust.org.uk/bath-assembly-rooms.
Moray Place, Edinburgh
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FILMING in the actual porticoed streets of Belgravia proved impossible due to the numerous embassies and security restrictions, so Edinburgh’s New Town adequately filled the breach.
With a bit of CGI trickery to smooth the local sandstone into the starched white of Belgravia, it definitely looks the part.
Stroll around Moray Place and nearby Darnaway Street, peer into the private Moray Gardens, and Belgravia is immediately evoked. The producers were amazed at how little they had to tweak. The history is similar too, as Edinburgh’s New Town and Belgravia were both built for newly moneyed classes seeking space and luxury. Check out how they lived at the nearby Georgian House. See nts.org.uk/visit/places/georgian-house
Manderston House, Berwickshire
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IF it’s the sumptuous interiors of Belgravia that really have you swooning, then it’s a trip to the Scottish Borders for you as soon as we’re travelling again.
Much of the interior filming for both the Trenchard and Brockenhurst houses was done in this Georgian country house, which Lord Palmer still lives in.
Belgravia just had to use the remarkable silver-plated staircase – no expense was spared crafting Manderston. Other filming was done in the ballroom, drawing room, morning room and bedrooms. See manderston.co.uk.
