Netflix Royal Drama

The Crown Filming Sites

Discover the magnificent London palaces, government buildings, and historic streets that double as royal residences in Netflix's landmark drama about the British monarchy.

Explore Locations Cultural Impact

Netflix's The Crown, created by Peter Morgan, has become one of the most acclaimed and watched television dramas of the streaming era. Spanning six seasons from 2016 to 2023, the series chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to the early 2000s, blending intimate personal drama with sweeping historical events.

While the real Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Balmoral were unavailable for filming, the production team assembled an extraordinary roster of London and UK locations that convincingly doubled for the Crown's most famous addresses. The result is a visual love letter to London's architectural heritage.

Location Guide

London Filming Locations

The grand buildings and historic sites that transformed into royal residences and seats of power.

1

Lancaster House — Buckingham Palace Interiors

Stable Yard, St James's, SW1A 1BB

Lancaster House is the single most important filming location for The Crown. This magnificent neoclassical mansion in St James's serves as the primary stand-in for Buckingham Palace interiors throughout all six seasons. Its lavish state rooms, sweeping grand staircase, gilded ceilings, and Long Gallery provide a convincing approximation of the real palace.

Queen Victoria herself reportedly remarked upon visiting Lancaster House, “I have come from my house to your palace,” underscoring just how grand the interiors are. The building is owned by the Crown Estate and managed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It occasionally opens for public tours and heritage events.

All Seasons Buckingham Palace Key Location
2

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich — Palace Exteriors

King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9NN

The UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Sir Christopher Wren serves as the exterior of Buckingham Palace in The Crown. Its twin-domed baroque architecture, grand colonnades, and the vast cobbled courtyard provide an instantly recognisable sense of royal grandeur. The Painted Hall, often described as “Britain's Sistine Chapel,” has also been used for interior scenes representing formal palace rooms.

The Old Royal Naval College is free to visit and open daily. Greenwich itself offers an exceptional day out combining The Crown locations with the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, and the Royal Observatory.

Multiple Seasons Palace Exteriors UNESCO Site
3

Ely Cathedral & Surrounds — Westminster Abbey & Windsor

The Gallery, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4DL

While not in London itself, Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire is an essential Crown location that doubles for Westminster Abbey during the coronation and other ceremonial scenes. Its soaring nave, octagonal lantern tower, and medieval grandeur provided the backdrop for one of the series' most spectacular set pieces: the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Season 1. The production team recreated the entire coronation ceremony with extraordinary detail.

Season 1 Coronation Westminster Abbey
4

Lyceum Theatre — Royal Performances

21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7RQ

The Lyceum Theatre in Covent Garden, one of London's oldest and most beautiful West End theatres, has been used in The Crown for scenes depicting royal theatre visits and public engagements. The theatre's ornate Victorian interior, with its red velvet, gold leaf, and grand balconies, provides the appropriate level of pomp for royal scenes. The Lyceum dates to 1765 and is currently home to Disney's The Lion King.

Multiple Seasons Royal Engagements
5

Whitehall & Government Buildings — 10 Downing Street

Whitehall, Westminster, SW1A

Various government buildings along Whitehall and in Westminster have been used to represent 10 Downing Street, the Cabinet Office, and other seats of political power in The Crown. The series features numerous scenes of prime ministers visiting the Queen, Cabinet meetings, and political crises, all filmed in historic London interiors that convincingly evoke post-war British political life. Noel Coward's former home at 17 Gerald Road, Belgravia, was used for Clarence House scenes.

All Seasons Political Scenes Downing Street
6

Additional London Locations

Various London addresses

Beyond its primary locations, The Crown has filmed across dozens of London sites to create its comprehensive portrayal of royal and political life:

  • Knebworth House — Used for various stately home interiors
  • Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire — Various palace and country house scenes
  • Hatfield House — Doubled for interiors of Buckingham Palace in early seasons
  • Treasury Building, Whitehall — Government office interiors
  • Southwark Cathedral — Used for ceremonial church scenes
  • Elstree Studios, Borehamwood — Purpose-built sets for recurring palace rooms
All Seasons Various Locations
Global Phenomenon

Cultural Impact

How Netflix's The Crown transformed London's relationship with royal heritage tourism and British cultural identity.

Tourism and Heritage

The Crown has had a measurable impact on tourism to its filming locations. The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich reported notable increases in visitor interest following the show's debut. Guided walking tours of Crown filming locations have become a popular attraction, joining the ranks of Harry Potter and Sherlock tours as part of London's film tourism economy.

The series has renewed global interest in British royal history, driving visitors to locations such as Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Kensington Palace. It has also raised the profile of lesser-known heritage properties like Lancaster House and Wrotham Park.

Awards and Recognition

The Crown has won numerous awards including Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and BAFTA Awards. The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2021, and its cast members — including Olivia Colman, Claire Foy, Josh O'Connor, and Elizabeth Debicki — have received individual honours for their portrayals of the Royal Family.

With an estimated production budget exceeding £500 million across all six seasons, The Crown is one of the most expensive television series ever made. Much of that budget was spent on location filming, set construction, and period-accurate costumes, contributing significantly to the UK's creative economy.

Debate and Discussion

The Crown has also generated significant public debate about the boundaries between historical drama and factual accuracy. The series prompted discussions in Parliament, media commentary from members of the Royal Family's circle, and ultimately led Netflix to add a disclaimer acknowledging the show as a fictional dramatisation. This cultural conversation itself has become part of The Crown's legacy, raising questions about how history, celebrity, and storytelling intersect in the streaming age.

FAQ

The Crown Filming Questions

The Crown is filmed at numerous London locations including Lancaster House in St James's (standing in for Buckingham Palace interiors), the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich (doubling for palace exteriors), the Lyceum Theatre, various government buildings in Whitehall, and numerous historic houses and streets across the capital and surrounding counties.
Yes. Lancaster House in St James's is used extensively as a stand-in for Buckingham Palace interiors in The Crown. Its opulent state rooms, grand staircase, and gilded reception halls closely resemble the real palace interiors. Lancaster House is a government-owned property managed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and occasionally opens for public tours.
Many Crown filming locations are publicly accessible. The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is open to visitors daily and free to enter. Lancaster House occasionally opens for public tours and special events. The Lyceum Theatre hosts regular West End performances. Several walking tour companies offer dedicated Crown filming location tours of London and the surrounding area.
The production team carefully selects London locations that closely match the real royal residences and government buildings. Lancaster House was chosen because its interiors genuinely resemble Buckingham Palace, as both were designed in a similar grand neoclassical style. However, creative liberties are sometimes taken for dramatic effect, and some on-screen locations are composites of multiple real places.
The Crown has significantly boosted interest in London's royal heritage and filming locations. Visitor numbers to locations like the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and other filming sites increased following the show's debut in 2016. The series has also renewed global interest in British royal history and the buildings associated with it, contributing to the broader film tourism economy.

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