Where was The Crown filmed?

The Crown drew millions into the private corners of royal life, and with them came a curiosity about where all that regal grandeur was actually filmed. Because the genuine palaces were off-limits to cameras, the production became a masterclass in finding stand-ins grand enough to pass for the seat of a monarchy, and many of them happen to welcome visitors.

In Ely, in the flat fenland of eastern England, the vast medieval cathedral nicknamed the Ship of the Fens stands in for Westminster Abbey in the coronation and royal-wedding scenes. Down in London, the opulent St James's mansion of Lancaster House supplies the gilded staircases and state rooms that double for the interiors of Buckingham Palace.

For fans planning a trip, the two work well on a London-and-beyond itinerary. Lancaster House opens only on select occasions, so check ahead, while Ely Cathedral is a straightforward day out from Cambridge, easy to combine with the wider region. Together they let you trace the show's sense of pomp through real, accessible English architecture.