There’s a name for holidaying at TV show locations, it’s SetJetting. As tribute to the smarty who came up with that, Seonaid McGill picks the TV locations you’ll like even better in real life.
Wednesday TV show locations: Buseni, Transylvania, Romania
I’m thinking even if the location brief for Wednesday was just ‘gothic’, scouts would probably still have landed in Romania. Not to accuse anyone of unoriginality, but the land of Bran Castle – the Transylvanian home of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – can’t have had much competition.
Nevermore Academy is in fact Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni. It was clearly gloomed up for its starring role and, in a nod to sort-of-authenticity, dates back just over 100 years: Reddit would have had a field day with a 14th century number like Bran cosplaying a US boarding school. Despite that artistic licence, the original isn’t shy when it comes to grandeur, not least because it sits in the shadow of the Caraiman Massif.
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Cantacuzino Castle AKA Nevermore Academy, Buseni, Romania
Wednesday returns to Netflix for season two this August. Meantime you might be interested to know that Cantacuzino rents out the Hunter’s Lodge and Garden Suite for family holidays. That could be a super-fan commitment too far – there’s still a chance Wednesday will fall foul of the Season Two Curse – in which case, settle for a guided tour (in English) of the castle itself or lunch at its restaurant, Canta Cuisine.
Wednesday Season 2 premieres on Netflix, 6 August 2025
The Last of Us: don’t be put off by the dystopian bit, the scenery is gorgeous
You possibly don’t have dystopian nightmare on your family holiday wish list – ever – but The Last of Us season one filming locations covered a lot of ground. Naturally most of TV show locations were liberally grunged: scenic grandeur doesn’t exactly say ‘death of civilisation’. But the keen eyed – or well travelled – should still have been able to spot great swathes of Canada as well as a hint of Missouri.
Alberta and British Columbia come out top for screen time. Sadly, the location for everyone’s favourite season one standalone episode, ‘Long, Long Time’ – Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett doing some fine heartrending – was built from scratch to echo old fashioned New England. But if you managed to get over Joel’s death in Season Two (gamers still haven’t stopped cackling at the dismay over that) you’re now officially incapable of disappointment.
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada
Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta is a good place to start The Last of Us tribute tour. It’s where prairie meets the Canadian Rockies, famous for thundering waterfalls and just the spot for recreating those Joel and Ellie bonding moments, before it all went to hell.
The Last of Us Season 2 is now on Amazon Prime
Sirens: easily the most enviable of recent TV show locations
I wasn’t too surprised to discover that Sirens chose Lloyd Harbour in North Fork as one of its main show locations. It’s described repeatedly as an island in the script, but in reality it’s a peninsula on Long Island and doesn’t need a two hour ferry crossing – a bit of a stand out piece of fiction in Sirens, thanks to the price Meghann Fahy was prepared to pay to smoke on board.
Though, if you know this bit of Long Island at all, you might be more familiar with South Fork or the Hamptons. Long the summer playground of the madly rich, these days its low-key, less crowded northerly neighbour is fondly referred to as the Un-Hamptons, and it’s meant as a compliment.
Caumsett State Historical Park Preserve, Lloyd Harbour
Spoiler alert, the magnificent cliff top house in Sirens doesn’t exist. Or rather it does, but not in quite the same way it appears in the TV show. The original is part of Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve which, albeit in the perfect location, was just too small to play the Kell House, so to get the required level of ridiculous ostentation it was glammed up considerably and wildly extended.
That said, the nearby village of Lloyd Harbour is just as quaint in real life as it looks on screen, they didn’t have to touch the beaches – they’re beautiful – and it’s an hour and 40 minutes drive from New York City.
Sirens season 1 is now on Netflix
Bridgerton: some of the best TV show locations in England
Over almost four seasons Bridgerton has managed to sprawl across quite a few of England’s stately homes, muscle in on historic cities (or bits of them), throw in some churches and theatres, and give us an eyeful of one or two heritage dockyards, just in case we weren’t getting the full Regency vibe.
There are Bridgerton Tours a-plenty from walks through Bath to private jaunts round Wiltshire, with snacks. But those of us still holding on to the belief that Bridgerton is just another TV show from the stable of the outrageously successful Shonda Rhymes, might want something a little less hardcore.
Castle Howard, one of Bridgerton’s many TV show locations
If a day out (also with snacks) is more the Bridgerton mood you’re after, start with Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. It plays the fictional Clyvedon Castle in Bridgerton, and comes with a very real adventure playground.
Alternatively, take a wander round Bath paying particular attention to Royal Crescent, the Assembly Rooms, Beauford Square and the Guildhall. Then head to the Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent, which is also one of the filming locations in Call The Midwife. And finally, pay a visit to Hampton Court Palace, yet another of the TV show locations.
Bridgerton season 4 premieres on Netflix in 2026
Yellowstone: great TV show locations for aspiring cowboys
Before Taylor Sheridan became the world’s most omnipresent showrunner, there was Yellowstone. The show that, love it or loathe it, introduced us to the Sheridan man: curmudgeonly and complex, deeply flawed, flinty eyed, and operating with a fairly loose moral compass.
Yellowstone Rancher, John Dutton, was the OG and, judging by the fuss about the show’s cancellation after four and a bit seasons, much beloved, despite his many faults. However, before you could say ‘rope that steer and pour me a bourbon’, Netflix had snapped up the whole series. So it’s there, any old time you feel a western shaped hole in your life.
As far as TV show locations go, Kevin Costner might have thought he was the star of Yellowstone, yet he was outshone at every turn by Montana; a state with the type of rugged magnificence Costner can only dream about.
Glacier National Park, Montana
You’ll find the real Dutton Ranch (Chief Joseph Ranch) in Darby, a tiny town of less than 800 souls, several saloons and practically nothing else for what seems like a million miles in any direction, apart from four National Forests: ‘tis the Montana way. But clearly, a lack of manmade attractions isn’t an issue, as you can also stay as guests at Lee Dutton’s or Rip’s Cabin for a hefty $1,400 a night – complete with a ranch and set tour – and both cabins are fully booked until 2026.
Yellowstone is on Netflix now
Outlander: top locations in Scotland for family holidays
With the final season of Outlander airing next year, the jury is still out on whether the old ‘know when to stop’ maxim applies. If season seven was anything to go by, it does: stop trying to make young Ian the new Jamie.
That gripe aside, the time travelling yarn has had a fine run and its fast and loose take on history will be missed. Again, the entire show is on Netflix, so you can travel back to 2014 whenever you like.
Glenfinnan Monument, Loch Shiel, Scotland
Alternatively, there’s the option of some real life travel, as Outlander gave screen time to practically all of the Scottish Highlands, brought in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness for a few guest appearances, hit Prague and even ventured to South Africa.
Sticking with Scotland, start your tribute tour with the Glenfinnan Monument, then take a turn around Culloden. If you feel like tramping around the Highlands, stride out on the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness. Urban adventurers should visit Pollok House in Glasgow or Hopetoun House in Edinburgh. And don’t miss Doune Castle in Stirlingshire, it’s a ruin, but outruns almost everywhere on atmosphere.
The White Lotus: best TV show locations in Hawaii, Sicily and Thailand
Now we’ve all stopped taking The White Lotus season three so seriously, recalibrated and remembered it’s fundamentally a comedy, the time has come to talk about all its real frivolities. Starting, of course, with the insanely luxurious hotels standing in for the fictional White Lotus, and gamely taking social commentary on the chin.
Naturally no one has revealed whether the Four Seasons has a great sense of humour and almost supernatural humility or whether a shedload of cash was involved in getting them to hand over their opulent properties and, possibly reputation, to showrunner Mike White. Regardless, we’re thinking the alignment hasn’t done the brand any harm: online searches for Four Seasons Koh Samui were up 65% in April 2025.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
A little bit more about those White Lotus locations
The original – and I’m going to say best – season of The White Lotus was set in Hawaii, around the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. You might have asked yourself why so many ridiculously wealthy families were sharing sofa beds? Creative licence has to be the answer, because three bedroom suites are available, along with Club Floor rooms and suites (billed as a ‘hotel within a hotel’ and complete with personal assistants).
San Domenico Palace, Taormina, Sicily
No quibbles about the rooms at San Domenica Palace, Taormina in Sicily: they looked just as quietly elegant as you’d expect from a reimagined 14th century Sicilian convent. In real life good news, it doesn’t seem you’ll be tortured by lounge singers of an evening. And it’s fair to say The White Lotus season two gave no hint of how spectacular the views are from the hotel’s lofty perch overlooking the Ionian.
Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand
Finally to Thailand, where it was hell on earth to be holed up in luxury, if the cast were to be believed. I’m not believing that for a minute, but would advise visiting the stunning Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui between November and March, so you aren’t forced to whine relentlessly about the humidity.
Emily in Paris: a TV tour of the City of Lights
Everyone’s favourite hate-watch is decamping to Italy for season four, a move that’s put Parisian noses out of joint after years of complaining about the show’s sacrilegious take on all things French.
But Paris had a good run, and if you want to relive its best moments in tribute to Emily, you’ll find her apartment at Place de l’Estrapade in the Quartier Latin (where no Emily could afford to live IRL).
La Maison Rose, Montmartre, Paris
In homage to our heroine’s endless Instagramming, you want La Maison Rose restaurant in Montmartre: the most shared façade in Paris. Or stop by for cocktails at Hôtel Plaza Athénée on Avenue Montaigne – of course – scene of many a grand Agence Grateau event.
And if you can’t resist revisiting the stomping ground of all those ‘will they, won’t they’ moments, Gabriel’s restaurant is actually Les Deux Compères, again, in the Quartier Latin.
Emily in Paris is on Netflix
Shogun: Canada dupes Japan for the Primetime Emmy award winner
Shogun swept the boards at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards, scooping up no fewer than 18 wins, including Outstanding Drama Series. The fact that it looked so atmospheric and authentic deserved some kind of award of its own, particularly because it was filmed almost entirely in British Columbia.
You may not have seen that coming, immersed as you were in the feudal and sepia toned world of 17th century Japan, but Covid restrictions meant no travel and, as a make-do, BC did very well indeed.
Ucluelet, Shogun TV show locations, Vancouver Island
But special mention has to go to Ucluelet, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. All the raging seas, moody middle-distance-staring moments, romantic beach encounters and windswept drama was courtesy of this extraordinary, untamed spot.
Happily, alongside its uncanny resemblance to ancient Japan, Ucluelet is also a good base on beautiful Vancouver island, as well as prime whale watching territory and proud protector of its own rainforest.
Shogun is available on Disney+ and season 2 premieres in January 2026
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