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10 Oscar winners filmed in England

1

The Favourite (2018)

Hatfield House, Hatfield

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 10 and 1 (Best Actress)

The magnificence of Hatfield House, a leading example of Jacobean architecture, provided the predominant filming location for director Yorgos’ 18th century period comedy detailing the warped royal court of Queen Anne. Hampton Court Palace also plays a starring role in the kitchen scenes alongside Emma Stone.

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2

The Queen (2006)

Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury

A Chinese couple enjoying the grounds at Waddesdon Manor. The South Parterre.

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 6 and 1 (Best Actress)

Filming at Buckingham Palace is heavily restricted, even for films focusing on Her Majesty. For 2006’s The Queen, the production team opted instead to use Waddesdon Manor to recreate the Royal Family’s London residence. It was clearly the right decision; the Queen was so impressed with the film that she invited Helen Mirren to Buckingham Palace for a private dinner.

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3

Darkest Hour (2017)

The John Rylands Library, Manchester

 Staircase at the John Ryland Library, Manchester, England

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 6 and 2 (Best Actor, Best Makeup and Hairstyling)

London features heavily in Darkest Hour - which tells the story of Winston Churchill’s early days as Prime Minister but very little was actually filmed in the capital. Instead, two filming locations in Manchester doubled for the Houses of Parliament – Manchester Town Hall and John Rylands Library. Yorkshire also features heavily in the film; stately homes Bramham Park and Brodsworth Hall were both stand-ins for 10 Downing Street in various scenes.

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4

Atonement (2007)

Redcar Beach, Redcar

Scenes from Atonement at Redcar Beach

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 7 and 1 (Best Original Score)

Seaside resort Redcar is as far removed from Dunkirk as possible, yet the town was used in place of the historical French bench for 2007’s Atonement. Various parts of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire were also used to recreate French countryside, while the docks at Grimsby (in particular, the ice factory) were used as a backdrop for the streets of Dunkirk.

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5

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Heath and sand at Holkham Beach in Norfolk

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 13 and 7 (Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Original Music or Comedy Score, Best Original Screenplay)

One of the most successful films in Academy Award history, Shakespeare in Love tells the story of an imaginary love affair involving the titular playwright. The film underwent multiple script and direction changes during filming, but stuck to its English heritage by shooting in locations up and down the country, including the vast stretches of sand at Holkham Beach in Norfolk and Hatfield House (which also plays a starring role in The Favourite) in Hertfordshire.

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6

Sense and Sensibility (1995)

Saltram House, Plymouth

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 7 and 1 (Best Adapted Screenplay)

The award-winning 1995 period drama Sense and Sensibility was filmed in a string of stately homes and National Trust properties across England, including Saltram House near Plymouth. Taking nearly one hundred years to build, Saltram House is one of the best preserved examples of a Georgian house in the country, retaining much of its period décor and stylings.

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7

Phantom Thread (2017)

Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby

Birds eye view of the town and Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire, England

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 6 and 1 (Best Costume Design)

Set within England’s developing couture fashion scene in the 1950s, Phantom Thread sees Daniel Day-Lewis portraying a renowned fashion designer. Various locations in London play a role within the film, but most of the countryside scenes were filmed in picturesque northern England, including the pretty fishing villages of Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay in the North York Moors.

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8

The Imitation Game (2014)

Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 8 and 1 (Best Original Screenplay)

Known as one of Britain’s best-kept secrets during the Second World War, Bletchley Park was home to Britain’s codebreakers, including Alan Turing who devised the Bombe machine which eventually cracked the Enigma code. His achievements and legacy are celebrated in The Imitation Game, filmed almost entirely on location at Bletchley Park.

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9

The Theory of Everything (2014)

St John's College, Cambridge

 View of New Court and the Bridge of Sighs over the River Cam from the Kitchen Bridge at St. John's College

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 5 and 1 (Best Actor)

The Theory of Everything captivated audiences with its portrayal of Stephen Hawking’s doctorate years, including his struggles after being diagnosed with ALS. Cambridge plays a key role in the story, and the stunning Georgian architecture of St John’s College can be seen in the backdrop of many important scenes in the film.

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10

Les Misérables (2012)

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, East London.

Oscar Nominations and Wins: 8 and 3 (Best Supporting Actress, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing)

Despite being set in France, the majority of 2012 adaptation of hit musical Les Miserables was actually filmed in England. Various parts of Winchester and Bath were used to recreate Parisian streets, while the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich was the backdrop for the film’s climatic barricade scenes.

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21 Apr 2022(last updated)

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  • 1

    Hatfield House, Hatfield

  • 2

    Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury

  • 3

    The John Rylands Library, Manchester

  • 4

    Redcar Beach, Redcar

  • 5

    Holkham Beach, Norfolk

  • 6

    Saltram House, Plymouth

  • 7

    Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby

  • 8

    Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes

  • 9

    St John's College, Cambridge

  • 10

    Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

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