Blenheim Palace is rolling out the red carpet once again with a reimagined “Lights, Camera, Action” film trail, inviting visitors to step into scenes from some of the world’s biggest films and television series.
Opened on 1st October 2025, the updated trail now includes Ridley Scott’s Napoleon (2023), Netflix’s The Diplomat (2024), and the upcoming action comedy Heads of State (2025), alongside historic favourites such as Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948), one of the first major productions ever filmed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From Napoleon to Netflix
Over the decades, the Oxfordshire landmark has doubled as everything from French battlefields to royal palaces, lending its baroque grandeur to period dramas and blockbusters alike.
In Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, Blenheim’s Great Hall, Long Library and State Rooms became the backdrop for the rise of the French emperor, with battle scenes staged across the grounds to recreate the drama of Europe in revolution.
In The Diplomat, Netflix’s acclaimed political drama, the palace appears as itself, hosting elegant state dinners and providing a suitably majestic setting for tense diplomatic exchanges.
Most recently, Blenheim transformed into Buckingham Palace for Heads of State, Ilya Naishuller’s fast-paced spy comedy starring John Cena and Idris Elba. The Palace’s stately interiors lent the film both spectacle and authenticity, while covert operations unfolded in the State Rooms.
Period Drama Royalty
Fans of Shondaland’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story will also recognise the Great Court and Water Terraces, where scenes depicting the young Queen’s ascent to power were filmed. The show joins Bridgerton Season 3, Cinderella, and A Little Chaos as productions that have captured Blenheim’s sweeping grandeur.
The Palace’s cinematic history stretches back more than 75 years. Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948), Ealing Studios’ first Technicolor production, used Blenheim’s interiors to portray the splendour of European courts, a fitting debut for a location that would go on to host some of cinema’s biggest stars.
Britain’s Greatest Palace on the Silver Screen
The film trail allows visitors to explore both familiar and hidden corners of Blenheim, discovering locations featured in Harry Potter, James Bond: Spectre, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Cinderella, Inspector Morse and more.
Each stop includes behind-the-scenes stories, from Billy Connolly saving a real wedding day while filming Gulliver’s Travels, to the intricate set designs that transformed the palace for Hollywood.
Key Filming Locations Along the Trail
| Location | Featured Productions |
| The Great Hall | Napoleon, A Little Chaos, Cinderella, Queen Charlotte, The Diplomat |
| The Great Court | Queen Charlotte, Gulliver’s Travels, James Bond: Spectre, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation |
| The Saloon | Bridgerton: Season 3, The Libertine, A Little Chaos, Queen Charlotte, Napoleon |
| The Long Library | Napoleon, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Cinderella, Queen Charlotte |
| The West Colonnades | James Bond: Spectre, The Libertine |
| Water Terraces & South Lawn | Bridgerton: Season 3, Queen Charlotte, Gulliver’s Travels |
| The Grand Bridge | Cinderella |
| The Italian Gardens | The BFG |
| Walled Garden | Inspector Morse |
A Living Film Set
“Blenheim Palace has long been one of Britain’s most iconic filming locations,” said a spokesperson for the Estate. “This new trail celebrates the creativity of filmmakers past and present, while offering visitors a chance to experience the magic of the movies in one of England’s most historic settings.”
Visitors can explore at their own pace, tracing a route through the State Rooms, courtyards, gardens and lakeside paths, where centuries of history meet cinematic storytelling.
Visitor Information
- Film trail opened: 1st October 2025
- Location: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
- More information: blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/lights-camera-action
