ITV Pictures
It’s no secret that period dramas are more popular than ever. Whether explored as a book, television series or movie, historical fiction holds an escapist allure that seems more important than ever in our modern world.
And this trend is not slowing down. Season five of Bridgerton began filming in March of 2026, meanwhile the latest BBC period drama adaptation, The Other Bennet Sister, has proven a hit with audiences. But what if your favourite period dramas didn’t have to stay on the screen? As it turns out, there’s a way you could turn your historical dreams into a reality, no time machine needed.
In this article
Inside the Georgian estate behind your favourite period dramas
I was busy scrolling through set photos of The Other Bennet Sister, dreaming of life as landed gentry, when I noticed something interesting. The exterior of this grand Georgian home looked familiar. Very familiar…
In The Other Bennet Sister, the setting serves as Pemberley House, Mr Darcy’s iconic home. It’s an estate so gorgeous it helps convince Pride & Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet that Mr Darcy isn’t so bad after all. (Note: This is a terrible reading of the source material and is, as such, a joke).
Quick research determined these scenes were filmed at Badminton House & Estate, the main core of which was built between 1664-1691. The Gloucestershire property is now home to the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, who opened their grand doors to Vogue for a recent tour, and also established the historical site as a filming location for many of my favourite period dramas.
Which period dramas were filmed at Badminton Estate?
It’s not just Mr Darcy who resided here on screen. It’s fair to say, this estate is home to some serious historical hotties. My personal favourite? Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, from Bridgerton, season one. Badminton Estate served as one of the main filming locations for Hastings House, especially in the earlier episodes of the season.
Scroll on for a more thorough breakdown of the specific scenes and characters to look out for.
| The period dramas | The scenes with this famous filming location |
|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor | The 2001 war romance blockbuster filmed scenes set at ‘Darlington Hall’ at Badminton Estate. |
| The Pursuit of Love | This 2021 miniseries, set in the years between the two World Wars, used this location as Alconleigh, the historic country manor of the Radlett family. |
| Bridgerton | In season one of Bridgerton, Badminton Estate grounds and interiors serve as the Duke of Hastings’ country estate (swoon) as well as Lady Danbury’s home. |
| Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | This Bridgerton prequel uses the estate grounds and interiors as the primary filming location for Danbury Estate. |
| The Other Bennet Sister | The BBC period drama, which follows a similar timeline to Pride and Prejudice from Mary Bennet’s perspective, used Badminton Estate as Pemberley House, Mr Darcy’s iconic home. |
| Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials | Interiors of the house were transformed to suit the glamour of the 1920s setting in this 2026 adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel. The estate depicts Chimneys, a country estate where a murder takes place. |
| Sanditon | Filming at Badminton Estate was extensive for the 2019 period drama. It served as Sanditon Estate in the adaptation of Jane Austen’s unfinished work. |
How you can visit the grand estate
Your wildest period drama dreams don’t have to stay on the screen. Badminton House & Estate opens to the public three days a year (sadly, it’s only the garden that is open to the public, not the interiors).
The next open day is on the 14th of June, so if you’re already in the UK you have time to buy tickets and tour the grounds. The following open day is on the 6th of September. To buy tickets, and keep track of 2027 open dates, click here.
