The epic historical drama Wolf Hall is finally back for a second and final season after a long five-year gap. The riveting six-episode season takes us from the horrific execution of Anne Boleyn right up to the execution of Thomas Cromwell (there are a lot of executions in Tudor history!).
The advisor of Henry VIII, Cromwell was the focus of the series. In season 1, we meet him as a young boy at Putney. Later, he becomes a frequent fixture at Hampton Court Palace where he works closely with the king. The BBC show, which looks and feels more truthful than many Tudor dramas, aims to portray the period with as much accuracy as possible — and it uses many real locations.
Here are all of the Wolf Hall filming locations to look out for.
Forde Abbey, Dorset
This 12th-century estate was once used by King Henry VIII, so it makes for a perfect Wolf Hall filming location. In the series, it is often used to depict Hampton Court Palace, where Henry lived and held court. The Great Hall becomes Henry’s throne room, while the cloisters are shown before Henry’s marriage to Jane Seymour. As location manager Rebecca Pearson said, it has “an amazing cloister corridor”, and “everybody fell in love with it.”
“We went there for the corridor, but we also ended up using their Great Hall as a presence chamber for the king, and we use it a lot in the series,” she said. “It features quite a lot in episode one as they are walking back and forth.”
Meanwhile, the kitchen garden and the drawing room double as Margaret Pole’s house.
Nick Briggs/BBC
Wells, Somerset
Head to Wells in Somerset, and you may recognise some of the older streets. This tiny medieval city features in many of Wolf Hall’s street scenes in both seasons. In season 2, Wells Cathedral stands in for the Palace of Whitehall where Henry weds Jane Seymour.
Great Chalfield Manor, Wiltshire
This Tudor manor doubles as Austin Friars, the bustling London home where Thomas Cromwell lives. Period drama fans may recognise it as a set from The Other Boleyn Girl and Tess of the D’Urbervilles as well.
Penshurst Place, Kent
Another authentic Tudor building, this fortified beauty has been the same for around 600 years and was once owned by Henry VIII himself. The long rooms were used to film Whitehall scenes.
