Shakespeare’s England has provided the backdrop to cosy crime favourites, spectacular period dramas and classic cinema. Follow Shakespeare & Hathaway through historic streets, discover the country estate seen in The Crown, or visit a wonderfully atmospheric setting from Doctor Who.
And the story doesn’t end with filming locations. If Hamnet has inspired you to discover more about Shakespeare’s family, this is where you can explore the real life places and buildings connected with their lives.
Take a closer look at some familiar spaces from the world of film, TV, online and literature and find inspiration for your next visit.
Follow Shakespeare and Hathaway
With its historic buildings and riverside setting, Stratford-upon-Avon is much more than a backdrop to Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators. It’s part of the show’s character.
Enjoy a wander through the town that Lu and Frank call home, looking out for familiar surroundings as you go. Filming has taken place on Rother Street and Meer Street, while locations across the wider area bring the duo’s investigations to life.
There’s a lovely twist for fans visiting Warwick: the Lord Leycester has also appeared in the series. And beyond the town centres, Stoneleigh Abbey and the private Alscot Estate have welcomed the production too.
Leave time to browse Stratford’s independent shops, stop for something delicious and enjoy the River Avon. You can make a whole day of being a little curious.
Explore Stratford-upon-Avon
Discover our film and TV locations
The Lord Leycester in Warwick
As seen in: Pride and Prejudice, Doctor Who, A Christmas Carol and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators
With its timber-framed buildings and remarkable courtyard, the Lord Leycester looks ready for its next close-up. Its screen credits stretch from Tom Jones to much-loved television dramas, making it a brilliant stop for anyone who enjoys spotting a familiar setting.
Step inside to discover the history behind the cameras, explore this extraordinary place and make time for the Master’s Garden. Then head into Warwick for more historic streets and a well-earned café stop.
Filming at the Lord Leycester
Ragley Estate
As seen in: The Crown, Doctor Who, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Dancing on the Edge
If you love a grand entrance, Ragley has plenty of screen appeal. Its impressive state rooms and country estate have helped create worlds far beyond Warwickshire, providing settings for royal drama and time-travelling adventures alike.
Keep an eye on Ragley’s events programme for opportunities to experience the estate for yourself. Access to the Hall and grounds depends on the event or visit booked, so check what’s included before setting off.
Discover Ragley and its events
Stoneleigh Abbey
As seen in: Shakespeare & Hathaway, Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?! and Land Girls
A Warwickshire abbey playing a New York hotel? That’s the magic of the movies. Stoneleigh Abbey provided a backdrop for hotel scenes in Nativity 3, as well as appearing in Shakespeare & Hathaway. Its stables also featured in Land Girls.
Visit for the screen connections and stay for the setting. Discover the Abbey’s history and enjoy its riverside surroundings, checking the current tour and grounds options when planning your day.
Explore Stoneleigh Abbey
Compton Verney
As seen in: Peter Hall’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare, cinema and a beautiful country setting come together at Compton Verney, where Peter Hall filmed his adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1968.
Today, there’s a different kind of creativity to discover in the art galleries and exhibitions. Pair your visit with time outdoors in the park for a day that brings culture and countryside together.
Discover Compton Verney
Ettington Park (near Stratford-upon-Avon)
As seen in: The Haunting (1963)
Classic film fans may recognise Ettington Park’s striking exterior as Hill House in Robert Wise’s The Haunting. Its distinctive architecture helped create one of cinema’s most memorable haunted-house settings.
Today, Ettington Park is a hotel, offering a rather different way to enjoy a screen location. Check with the hotel about booking a stay or dining experience before visiting, and see that famous exterior for yourself.
Discover Ettington Park
Father Brown country
You don’t need Father Brown’s powers of deduction to see why filmmakers are drawn to this part of the world.
Follow your curiosity to Kenilworth Castle, which features in The Mysteries of the Rosary, and explore its dramatic ruins and Elizabethan Garden. Near Alcester, Coughton Court appears in The Mask of the Demon, offering another opportunity to combine a screen connection with a historic house and gardens visit.
The series has also filmed at Alscot Park and Princethorpe College. These are private locations, so enjoy their screen appearances without assuming they are open for visits.
Visit Kenilworth Castle | Discover Coughton Court
Alcester on screen
Love discovering the real town behind a fictional setting? Alcester takes a starring role as Blossom Vale in The Hairdresser Mysteries, adding another screen connection to a town also used by Shakespeare & Hathaway.
Wander its historic streets, browse the shops and find somewhere inviting for lunch. Fans may recognise Church House on Butter Street, which was used as the salon location. It is a working building, so view it from the public street rather than expecting to step into a television set.
Explore Alcester
More stories behind the cameras
The private Alscot Estate near Stratford-upon-Avon has welcomed both Father Brown and Shakespeare & Hathaway, while Princethorpe College has appeared in Father Brown and Sister Boniface Mysteries.
These locations are part of the destination’s screen story, but they are not general visitor attractions. Please only visit where the owner advertises a public event or specifically arranged access.
When The Apprentice came to Shakespeare’s England
Remember the shopping challenge in the 2025 series of The Apprentice? Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding area became the setting for a race to find nine items, with Warwick Castle among the locations featured.
Broadcast on 13 February 2025, the episode also brought the cameras to Lower Clopton Farm Shop and Café and streets around Stratford’s town centre.
Plan your own visit at a gentler pace. Browse the town, make time for a farm shop stop or head to Warwick Castle for a day of history and adventure. There’s no boardroom deadline to worry about.
Discover Warwick Castle
Inspired by Hamnet
If Hamnet has stayed with you long after the credits, come and discover the Stratford-upon-Avon behind the story.
The film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel imagines the lives of Shakespeare and his family. Although it wasn’t filmed in Stratford-upon-Avon, the town offers a moving connection to the people and places that inspired it.
Visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Shottery, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife. Explore Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street, where he grew up, and include Holy Trinity Church, where the family’s story is remembered in the parish records and where Shakespeare is buried.
The film is a work of imagination, rather than a documentary account. Visiting Stratford is an opportunity to explore the history for yourself and discover more about the family beyond the screen.
Visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage | Discover Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Make a day of it or stay a little longer
Start with Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare & Hathaway surroundings and Hamnet connections, or spend a day in Warwick combining the Lord Leycester with Warwick Castle.
For a wider adventure, explore the historic houses and country estates that have caught a location scout’s eye. Build your visit around current opening dates and leave time for the places you discover along the way.
Some screen locations are private homes, working schools or venues with limited public access. Always check opening arrangements, accessibility and booking information with each venue before travelling.
Find somewhere to stay | Explore food and drink | Plan your visit
Bring your next production to Shakespeare’s England
Looking for a filming location with character? Shakespeare’s England offers historic streets, distinctive country houses and rural settings, with experienced venues already welcoming film and television productions.
Find the right location
Start with Warwickshire County Council’s Filming in Warwickshire pages for location guidance and the relevant permission routes. For venue-specific enquiries, contact the location directly.
We would be pleased to assist with location enquiries, please email enquiries@shakespeares-england.co.uk.
