The days of turning on the TV and being presented with just five channels are as ancient as carpeted bathrooms or popcorn ceilings. Now, we can access tens of thousands of shows on demand, with the tap of a device (or a quick word to a voice assistant such as Google Home).
So, choosing a TV show to watch can be trickier than selecting a shade of white paint. But if you’re an interiors enthusiast, real estate obsessive or travel aficionado, we know of a few series that will help you whittle down your watch list. You’ll want to binge them for the locations and settings alone, which are often not where you’d expect them to be.
Love literature, too? Perfect, because the shows we’ve handpicked for you have been adapted from much loved novels. From Pride and Prejudice to The Summer I Turned Pretty, book-to-TV adaptations are definitely having a moment.
Not to mention films based on classic books; Wuthering Heights, starring Aussie actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is expected to hit cinemas in February, for example. (Check out the new trailer here.)
Here’s our guide to five new TV shows that were filmed in some of the world’s most gorgeous locations, houses and, well, castles.
1. Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen’s books have captivated readers for more than 200 years, and one of her most beloved, Pride and Prejudice, is being adapted again for the screen. Currently in production for Netflix, the six-part limited series will feature Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell and Emma Corrin, with Jack Lowden as the iconic Mr Darcy.
Since filming only started in July, the locations remain a mystery and Netflix has released just one tantalising image of the Bennet girls walking demurely through a grassy field so far. But you can visit some of the more recognisable settings of previous adaptions, and even Jane Austen’s real-life home.
Open to the public, Lyme Park in Cheshire, UK, subbed in as Mr Darcy’s (Colin Firth) grand estate ‘Pemberley’ in the 1995 adaptation. The lake out the front of the historic mansion was the setting for that iconic swimming scene.
Bookworms flock to the Hampshire cottage in which Jane wrote all of her six novels. She lived there for the last eight years of her life; today, it’s a cherished museum.
2. We Were Liars
Lovers of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket architectural style, characterised by shingles, gambrel roofs and preppy coastal interiors, will froth over the We Were Liars sets.
Based on the young adult novel by E. Lockhart, it tells the story of a mysterious wealthy American family ‘summering’ on a fictional private island, Beechwood Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. The property boasts four separate (made-up) homes: Clairmont; Windemere; Cuddledown; and Red Gate.
The series, which just premiered on Prime Video, was in fact filmed in Nova Scotia, on the Canadian coast. A sprawling beachfront mansion on Meisner’s Island posed for the exterior shots of the family’s main homestead, Clairmont, while interior shots were reportedly filmed on sound stages in LA (sorry to spoil the mirage).
A rustic cliff-top cottage in Indian Harbour, which was once a holiday rental, plays the part of Cuddledown in We Were Liars.
Lunenburg, a colourful UNESCO World Heritage Site settled in the 1750s by Europeans, provides a picturesque backdrop for the town scenes, including at a ye olde ice cream ‘shoppe’ and a saltwater taffy stall.
3. Outlander: Blood of My Blood
The wildly popular book series and TV show Outlander ran for seven seasons until 2024, and spanned countries and time periods — from 1940s Scotland to 18th century Scotland (and Paris) to North Carolina during the American Revolution.
It’s all a bit confusing, but there’s no shortage of mesmerising locations to drool over when you binge this ‘historical time travel romance’ series. Fun fact: since much of Outlander’s principal photography took place in rugged Scotland, the country has enjoyed a boom in tourism in recent years.
Outlander buffs and ‘Heughligans’ — the community of fans of star Sam Heughan — were given even more geographical eye candy when the show’s prequel, Blood of My Blood, premiered in August.
Set entirely in Scotland, key locations include medieval castles Midhope (‘Lallybroch’ in the show) and Doune (Leoch in the show) and the quaint lakeside village of Luss, which are an easy drive from Edinburgh. If you don’t dilly dally, you can visit them all in one day.
If crumbling castles and bucolic hills tickle your fancy, then queue up Blood of My Blood on Stan.
4. The Family Next Door
Bestselling author Sally Hepworth’s novel, The Family Next Door, has been adapted for the screen and we are here for it. Most of the drama occurs in a quintessential Australian cul-de-sac, Pleasant Court, when single, child-free Isabelle (played by Teresa Palmer, who in real life has many kids) moves into the family-centric neighbourhood. Naturally, Isabelle starts to unravel the neighbours’ secrets, and they’re not thrilled.
While the series is set in the idyllic Melbourne Bayside suburb of Half Moon Bay, according to Reddit sleuths, the cul-de-sac featured is actually an hour away in Eltham. Other scenes were captured in spectacular Anglesea, on the surf coast of the Great Ocean Road, and potentially Aireys Inlet.
“It is an honour to be bringing Sally Hepworth’s celebrated novel to the screen, and to be not only filming in the state where it is set, but showcasing to the world the spectacular Victorian coastline,” executive producer Melinda Wearne told the Surf Coast Times.
The interior of each 80s-era house reflects the personalities of the women who live there, from ambitious Ange’s spartan yet stylish renovation to vegan couple Lulu and Holly’s bohemian, low-tox abode.
Despite their different values and aesthetics, the women love a wine of an afternoon, in retro folding chairs on the street, while their kids run between backyards. It’s a lovely snapshot of Aussie suburban life… if not a little foreboding.
5. The Summer I Turned Pretty
Like We Were Liars, this smash-hit series, now in its third season, embodies classic American coastal design. Think, wainscoting, light sconces, floral wallpapers and more hydrangeas than you can poke a secateur at.
Protagonist Isabel’s (‘Belly’) picture-perfect family home, in the fictional Cape Cod town of Cousins Beach, is actually a private residence on a golf course in Wilmington, North Carolina. So, unfortunately you can’t take a peek.
According to People, the real home in The Summer I Turned Pretty has five bedrooms and six bathrooms, an infinity pool and a private boat ramp. A landscaping team was brought in to elevate the already beautiful garden. As for the very Nancy Meyers-inspired kitchen and ‘coastal grandma’ interiors, these were reportedly created on sound stages (sorry).
The country club scenes were shot at the 130-year-old Cape Fear Country Club, while the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill subbed in for Finch College. This was author Jenny Han’s alma mater, making the filming of those scenes are full-circle moment for the writer, no doubt.
This season, we see Belly flee to Paris — a feast for the eyes for Francophiles and architecture devotees. Come along for the ride on Prime Video.
