6 Magnificent Historic Estates Used As Film Location in The Diplomat
Stately homes are often used as filming locations for period dramas, but there are contemporary series and movies that use these grand historic houses and one of them is the Netflix series The Diplomat.
The Diplomat is a Netflix series about Kate Wyler (played by Keri Russell) who is appointed as the new US ambassador to Great Britain. While the story itself is a good reason to watch this series, another big reason to watch this Netflix series is the amazing British locations used to make this story come to life.
In this article, we will share the most important The Diplomat filming locations. And if you’re a lover of historical dramas, you may recognize some of these grand estates.
Where is the Diplomat Filmed?
Besides a brief visit to Paris in the final episode of season 1, all scenes of The Diplomat (even scenes taking place at The White House) are filmed in Great Britain. These are historic The Diplomat filming locations.
The Diplomat Filming Locations in England
Most scenes of The Diplomat are filmed in England. These are the stately homes and historic buildings used for the Wyler’s diplomatic world.
Wrotham Park as Winfield House
Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire is used as the filming location for Winfield House, the private residence of US Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewel).
Wrotham Park is one of the largest country houses near London. The house was built in 1754 in a neo-Palladian style by Isaac Ware for Admiral John Byng (4th son of Admiral Sir George Byng).
The estate north of London is packed with important artworks such as a Sargent, a Titial, and a Van Dyck. The home is still used as a private residence of the Byng family which makes it feel lived in and perfect as the home of the Wylers. The house is also used as a filming location for Bridgerton, The Crown, and Sense & Sensibility.
Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace, the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to be called a palace, is featured in episode six of the second season as itself. Only the exterior scenes are filmed at Cotswolds estate, Blenheim Palace, the interiors are filmed in Wilton House.
Blenheim Palace is one of the largest stately homes in England and the birthplace of the famous war prime minister Sir Winston Churchill. The UNESCO world heritage site was the ancestral home of the Churchill (and later Churchill-Spencer) family for more than 300 years.
Blenheim is a popular film location, from contemporary movies like James Bond to Mission Impossible to historical dramas like A Little Chaos and The Young Victoria are filmed at this magnificent mansion.
Wilton House as Blenheim Palace Interiors
One of the most popular historic houses used as a film location in England is Wilton House in Salisbury. The Blenheim Palace dinner scene in episode six of season 2 is filmed in The Double Cube Room, designed by Inigo Jones, of Wilton House. You may recognize this room from Pride and Prejudice or Emma.
Wilton House has been owned by the Herbert family since King Henry VIII granted the estate to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke in 1544.
Harefield House as 10 Downing Street
Harefield House in in the village of Harefield in the London Borough of Hillingdon is used as the film location for 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister.
Harefield House is an 18th century building that was remodelled into 9 luxury apartments a couple of years ago. The historic house was transformed into the office of the Prime Minister by the design team of The Diplomat.
St. Paul’s Cathedral in London
It’s not often that the actual St. Paul’s Cathedral is used as a film location, especially when shooting the scenes at this location take four days. But the creators of The Diplomat managed to close down this unique London landmark and popular tourist attracation to shoot the scenes of MP Merrit Grove’s funeral.
Not all scenes from the funeral where shot at the catherdral, they also used the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich (also used in the Netflix series Bridgerton) to shoot some of the scenes.
RAF Halton as the British Embassy in Paris
While we did see wonderful Parisian locations, including the Louvre, in the final episode of season 1, the scenes in the British Embassy in Paris are filmed at Halton House in Buckinghamshire.
The French chateau-style stately home Halton House was previously owned by the Rothschild family, but now it is the RAF officer’ mess. The unqiue historic home is often used as a film location, for example in The Crown, Bridgerton, The Queen, and The King’s Speech.
The Diplomat Filming Locations in Scotland
In season two, the diplomatic world of Kate and Hal Wyler turns to Scotland. These are the most imporatant Scottish film locations of The Diplomat.
Inveraray Castle
Invevaray Castle is a Gothic Revival castle on the shore of Loch Fyne, the longest sea loch in Scotland. The castle in western Scotland, replaced an earlier 15th-century castle and features neoclassical rooms designed by Robert Mylne for the 5th Duke of Argyll in the 18th-century. These rooms are also open to the public.
Ardkinglas House
Not all scenes of Inveraray Castle were actually shot in that castle. The scenes were CIA agent Eidra (Ali Ahn) transports Margarat Roylin (Calia Imrie) through the casltes are filmed at Ardkinglas House.
Ardkinglas House is a historic country house built on the site of the 14th-century Ardkinglas Castle. The house is located on an estate of 12,000 acres with rolling hills and woodland.
The present house was built in 1907 by Sir Robert Lorimer and up until this day it’s a much-loved family house. However, the house is also used as a film or wedding location and from April to October, you can get a tour of the interiors.
