The Crown’s most Instagrammable filming locations revealed

The Crown’s fifth series may have been blasted for fictionalising controversial storylines – but many of it’s filming locations are real beauty spots across the country.

Online entertainment experts Slotbox have now revealed the most Instagrammable filming locations in the popular series which fans can visit. 

From stunning castles to magnificent manor houses, there are plenty of filming locations up and down the country that fans can get that perfect Instagram shot in.

Here FEMAIL reveals the popular social media spots where the series was filmed – from Belvoir Castle to Waddesdon Manor.  

The Crown’s fifth series may have been blasted for fictionalising controversial storylines – but many of it’s filming locations are real beauty spots across the country. Here FEMAIL reveals the popular social media spots where the series was filmed – from Belvoir Castle to Waddesdon Manor

1. Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England

Instagram location tags: 93,000

Price to visit: From £10

Winchester Cathedral was used as a stand-in for the marriage ceremony of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles at St. Paul’s Cathedral

The Crown has filmed at Winchester Cathedral twice. Firstly for an episode in season three where viewers watched the Queen attending the funeral of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and to film Charles and Diana’s wedding rehearsal (in real life this took place in St Paul’s Cathedral) for season four

With 93,000 location tags, Winchester Cathedral is The Crown’s most Instagrammable filming location. 

The Crown has filmed at the Hampshire location twice.

It was first used for an episode in season three where viewers watched the Queen attending the funeral of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The cathedral was also used in season four to film Charles and Diana’s wedding rehearsal (in real life this took place in St Paul’s Cathedral).

Built in 1039, it is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe and the longest in overall length. 

Today, the cathedral regularly hosts events, choir services, tours and concerts, all for as little as £10.

2. Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Instagram location tags: 91,300

Price to visit: From £32

Waddesdon Manor, in Buckinghamshire, was built in 1874 by the Rothschild family, and according to the National Trust, it remains one of the most visited properties in the UK

Waddesdon Manor, a National Trust location, doubles as The Ritz in Paris, as seen in The Crown Season 5, Episode 3

Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, a National Trust location, doubles as The Ritz in Paris, as seen in The Crown Season 5, Episode 3.

It is also often used as a stand-in for Buckingham Palace on the popular Netflix show. 

With 91,300 Instagram location tags, it is the second most Instagrammable location.

The House was built in 1874 by the Rothschild family, and according to the National Trust, it remains one of the most visited properties in the UK.

3. Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales

Instagram location tags: 45,400

Price to visit: From £6.75

Caernarfon Castle in North Wales was used as a filming location for Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales, which took place on the 1st of July 1969

The Prince’s investiture was recreated during season 3 episode 6 of the popular Netflix series (pictured) 

Caernarfon Castle in North Wales was used as a filming location for Prince Charles’s investiture as Prince of Wales, which took place on the 1st of July 1969.  

The Prince’s investiture was recreated during season 3 episode 6 of the Netflix television series. 

The castle was first built in 1283 by Edward I of England to help control the newly conquered area. 

Now, it remains one of the most Instagrammable filming locations on The Crown, with over 45,000 people tagging the location on Instagram, with tickets costing around £6.75.

4. Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, England

Instagram location tags: 39,300

Price to visit: From £9

Belvoir Castle’s lavish dining room, which features in the first episode of The Crown’s third season

Belvoir Castle stood in as Windsor Castle in the third season of Netflix hit series The Crown (pictured: Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II in the Belvoir Castle dining room) 

Another popular filming location, Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, has over 39,000 location tags.

Grade I-listed Belvoir, home to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, has been the stand-in for scenes in Windsor Castle for the first three seasons of the hit TV show.  

Its website still openly boasts of its connections to the drama – which saw Claire Foy and Matt Smith as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in earlier series. 

However in 2020, it was reported that Belvoir had been set to one side as a filming location for the series. 

It is understood that the upheaval came after Belvoir’s chatelaine Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, demanded a larger fee from the production team to ensure filming could continue at Belvoir when it threatened to interfere with the estate’s highly profitable shooting season. 

The filmmakers refused and upped sticks to Burghley. 

A source at the time said: ‘Belvoir Castle has been the scene of so many films, I think they felt they could call the shots. They were really tiresome over filming then they got greedy over money so the producers told them to get lost.

‘People assume a big show like The Crown is a cash cow but there is a budget as for any other show.’

Neither Burghley House nor Belvoir Castle were prepared to comment. Netflix said: ‘The Crown uses a wide number of historic locations throughout the UK to represent the different Royal households featured in the series.’

From £9 a ticket, you can tour the castle and gardens and see where the filming took place.

5. London Coliseum, London

Instagram location tags: 20,900

Price to visit: From £10

The London Coliseum (pictured) was used as a filming location in the fourth season of The Crown

The historic London tourist attraction was used to recreate the Dominion Theatre during the Royal Variety Performance of 1995 (The Crown season 5 episode 8)

The London Coliseum was used as a filming location in the fourth season of The Crown.

The historic London tourist attraction was used to recreate the Dominion Theatre during the Royal Variety Performance of 1995.

Now, the Coliseum has over 20,000 location tags on Instagram is definitely popular with fans of the show. 

With a variety of shows available starting for as little as £10 a ticket, The London Coliseum is one to visit if you’re a fan of the show.

6. Lyceum Theatre, London, England

Instagram location tags: 15,900

Price to visit: From £23

Another historic performing arts theatre, Lyceum Theatre in London is the sixth most Instagrammable venue on the show

In season 5 the Swan Lake scene in episode 10, was filmed at the famous theatre where Mohamed Al-Fayed (Salim Daw) and Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) meet again

Another historic performing arts theatre, Lyceum Theatre in London is the sixth most Instagrammable venue on the show with over 15,000 location tags on Instagram.

This iconic London venue was used for The Crown shoots during its first seasons.

Elizabeth II played by Claire Foy and her husband Prince Philip played by Matt Smith attended a performance there. 

In season 5 the Swan Lake scene in episode 10, was filmed at the famous theatre where Mohamed Al-Fayed (Salim Daw) and Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) meet again. Though in reality, Princess Diana watched Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall. 

The theatre, which opened in 1841, has hosted performances for nearly 200 years.  Today the theatre is home to the much-loved live production of The Lion King.

7. Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, England

Instagram locations tags: 13,100

Price to visit: From £15

The interior of Knebworth House stood in for Balmoral Castle in the show during season five of The Crown

 Knebworth house during filming of season four, where the Balmoral Test and the Ibble-Dibble drinking game take place in episode two of The Crown

The interior of Knebworth House stood in for Balmoral Castle in the show during season five, whilst the exteriors of Balmoral were filmed at the look-alike Ardverikie castle.  

Olivia Colman as the Queen, Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, and Emma Corrin as Diana were also all on set at Knebworth during filming of season four, where the Balmoral Test and the Ibble-Dibble drinking game take place in episode two.

During your visit, you can explore the House along a 28-acre formal garden, including a maze, fine trees and a wilderness area with a Dinosaur Trail.

The venue has over 13,000 Instagram location tags, making it seventh on our list.

8. Wilton House, Salisbury, England

Instagram location tags: 10,000

Price to visit: From £18

The Double Cube Room in Wilton House was used for some scenes in The Crown as it resembles Buckingham Palace 

This scene from episode five in the latest series of The Crown looked familar to eagle-eyed viewers. Netflix producers chose the historic room for the Queen’s showdown with Prince Charles and Princess Diana

Wilton House has welcomed filming from not only The Crown but Bridgerton too. 

The House, built in 1544, has 10,000 location tags on Instagram, making it another popular tourist destination.

The House, along with its splendid state staterooms, and 14,000 acres of Estate, offers a wide range of locations for cinema, television, and photography. 

Netflix producers chose the historic Double Cube Room for the Queen’s showdown with Prince Charles and Princess Diana 

You can tour the grounds, along with exhibitions, for £18.

9. Burghley House, Lincolnshire

Instagram location tags: 10,000

Price to visit: From £6

Burghley House in Lincolnshire can be visited for as little as £6 and boasts events all year round

Burghley House doubles up as Windsor Castle in scenes for season 5 episode 4 with production recreating the famous blaze that tore through Windsor Castle which destroyed 115 rooms in November 1992

Burghley House in Lincolnshire has over 10,000 location tags on Instagram. 

It doubles up as Windsor Castle in scenes for season 5 episode 4 with production recreating the famous blaze that tore through Windsor Castle which destroyed 115 rooms in November 1992.

The stunning property can be visited for as little as £6 and boasts events all year round.

10. Lancaster House, London, England

Instagram location tags: 9,000

Price to visit: From £168

Lancaster House has stood in for Buckingham Palace throughout the show, with its beautiful interiors resembling the famous landmark

Emma Corrin, playing Princes Diana, pictured in Lancaster House in the fourth season of The Crown

Finally, Lancaster House in London is the tenth most Instagrammable location on The Crown, with 9,000 location tags.

It was the venue where Colin Firth gave a masterful Golden-Globe winning performance in his role King George VI in the highly-acclaimed film The King’s Speech.

It has also been the venue to host talks in 1979 that led to Zimbabwe’s independence as well as holding a reception for President Barack Obama.

As well as The Kings Speech, it was also the set for the film Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, and often doubles for the interior of Buckingham Palace.

It is done so in The Crown multiple times, with its beautiful interiors resembling the famous landmark. 

Many scenes from season one to five have been filmed here, including the iconic backdrop of Diana roller-skating through the House in season four.

Though it’s not usually open to the public, you can enquire about booked tours if you’re willing to spend a little more money.

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