I love movies set in the past that take place in castles. I recently watched the medieval movie “Ironclad” and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did some research and found they filmed it at Rochester Castle, one of the most well-preserved castles in England. I wondered, what 10 castles are frequently used in movies?
Eilean Donan Castle
The coastal castle in the western Highlands of Scotland is the filming location of several movies, including:
- Highlander (1986)
- James Bond – The World is Not Enough (1999)
- The World Is Not Enough (1999)
- The New Avengers (1976)
- Loch Ness (1996)
Eilean Donan Castle was built in the mid-13th century, and it’s on my bucket list of castles to visit.
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in Derbyshire, England. It’s the filming location of many notable period dramas, including several of my favorites:
- The Duchess (2008)
- Pride and Prejudice (2005)
- Jane Eyre (2011)
Chatsworth House was initially built as a hunting lodge by the Duke of Devonshire, and it’s been home to the Cavendish family for centuries.
Lyndhurst Mansion
Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York, is the former home of Jay Gould. It’s also been used as a set for several popular movies, including:
- The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1975)
- Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Lyndhurst Mansion was built in the early 19th century, and it’s now a museum open to visitors.
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is in Dover, Kent, England. The castle has existed since the 11th century. They originally built it to help defend against invading Normans. They shot parts of several movies at Dover Castle, including:
- King Arthur (2004)
- The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Dover Castle is one of the most famous castles in all of England.
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. It’s also known as The Duke of Northumberland’s castle. They shot parts of several Harry Potter movies there, including – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Alnwick Castle was built in the 11th century, and it’s said to be one of the most haunted castles in England.
Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is in Hampshire, England.
The castle is the real-life filming location of Downton Abbey. A TV show I loved.
The castle is also the filming location of a couple other TV shows, including:
- Doctor Thorne (2016)
- Victoria (2016)
- Lady Jane (1986)
Highclere Castle was built in the 18th century, and it’s still owned by the same family.
Burghley House
Burghley House is in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It’s also known as The Family Home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury. They shot parts of Elizabeth (1998) at Burghley House.
The estate was built between 1555 and 1557, and it’s now a popular tourist attraction.
Wrotham Park
Wrotham Park is in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England. They shot parts of several movies here, such as:
- Gosford Park (2001)
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
- Kingsman: The Secret Service(2014)
- The Crown (2016)
The current building was built around 1710. Before that, it was a medieval hunting lodge owned by the Levett family from Sussex since 1372.
I also heard this castle is haunted.
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is in Doune, Stirling, Scotland. They shot part of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) here along with several other top movies, including,
- Game of Thrones (2011 to 2019)
- Outlander (2014)
- Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- The Wizard of Oz (2015)
Doune Castle is another 13th-century castle, and it’s one of the best-preserved castles in all of Scotland.
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is in York, North Yorkshire, England. They shot parts of Brideshead Revisited (TV miniseries 2008) at Castle Howard.
Castle Howard was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle. It’s one of the largest country houses in all of England, with over 300 rooms.
As you can see, many famous castles have been used as filming locations for movies. Out of these castles, which is your favorite? I personally love Dover Castle because it’s so iconic and has such a long history.
I’m also fascinated by Alnwick Castle because it’s said to be one of the most haunted castles in England. Do you have a favorite castle?
I love movies set in the past that take place in castles. I recently watched the medieval movie “Ironclad” and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did some research and found they filmed it at Rochester Castle, one of the most well-preserved castles in England. I wondered, what 10 castles are frequently used in movies?