SET Locations of the Tudors

Where is the Series Filmed? Click EasyEdit to update this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? <a href="../#signin" target="_self">Sign in</a> or <a href="../accountnew" target="_self">Sign up</a>.) The Tudors is an Irish/Canadian co-production filmed 80% at <a class="external" href="http://www.ardmore.ie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ardmore Studios">Ardmore Studios</a> in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland and 20% at various locations like Dublin City, Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Jail, Phoenix Park and Lord Meath's estate at Killruddery House. Locations: All four seasons of "The Tudors" used Ardmore Studios, Luggala, Killruddery House and Gardens, Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin, Christ Church, Humewood Castle, Swords Castle, Drimnagh Castle and Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, Ireland for locations throughout the summers of 2006 through 2009 County Wicklow, dubbed the "Garden of Ireland," lies on the eastern edge of the country, bordering the Irish Sea. The green, rolling hills are prized not only as scenery, but also for being conducive to walking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and other sporting activities.

<a class="external" href="http://www.ardmore.ie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ardmore Studios">Ardmore Studios</a> - Situated in Bray, Co. Wicklow, just 12 miles south of Dublin, Ardmore Studios is ideally placed to draw on the many suppliers and services Ireland's bustling capital has to offer. Yet thanks to its position at the gateway to one of Ireland's most scenic regions, the studios are also ideally positioned to enjoy easy access to literally dozens of different film locations. "We were contacted by Mel Gibson's people, who said they had a wonderful time making Braveheart in Ireland, and gave us contact numbers. So we made a few calls, the Irish army volunteered their services, and we were able to make our movie." Steven Spielberg (Director Saving Private Ryan) "I've worked at every major studio in America (Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, etc.) and in Europe (Shepperton, Pinewood, Cinecitta, etc., etc.). I made my first film at Ardmore Studios (Excalibur), returned there to do Into The West. It is in my opinion, on a par with any of the above. It's proximity to Dublin, a myriad of diverse locations, facilities and first rate crews, make it Grade A. It's track record over the years speaks for itself. Unhesitatingly, I would recommend it as a first class studio." Gabriel Byrne (Actor/Director) "I have been making films at Ardmore since 1969. I keep going back. There is no other studio in the world that combines efficient facilities with a range of locations - mountains, lakes, rivers, sea scapes, forest - close at hand." John Boorman, (Director, The Tailor of Panama) "I've worked in Dublin now for four years - almost every year now I do something in Dublin, mainly out of Ardmore Studios in Bray and I love working here 'cause the Irish actors and Irish crew are very similar to the Scots. They like to laugh before they walk on set, they like to enjoy their work, they're very passionate about it." Peter Mullan (The General, Magdelene) <embed allowfullscreen="true" height="340" src="http://widget.wetpaintserv.us/wiki/thetudorswiki/widget/youtubevideo/8161996e5bda393137ef3906732e278d1a7782a6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" wmode="transparent"/>

<a class="external" href="http://www.killruddery.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Killruddery House">Killruddery House</a> - Home to the Brabazon Family (the Earls of Meath) since 1618, Killruddery House is the most successful Elizabethan-Revival mansion in Ireland and also one of the earliest. Its uniqueness in having one of the most extensive early formal gardens, still in its original style, surviving in Ireland, largely laid out in the 17th century and added to in the 19th century.

Lady Xenia Meath and Lord Meath of Killruddery house ...and with his daughter Serena Brabazon who portrays Nan Saville in the Series

<a class="external" href="http://www.dublincastle.ie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Dublin Castle">Dublin Castle</a>, which is a major Irish governmental complex, doubles as the Vatican.Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex represents some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city, and was the centre of English power in Ireland for over seven centuries, until it was taken of by the Irish Free State in 1922. Highlights include the 13th-century record tower, the largest visible fragment of the original Norman castle and the State Apartments, once the residence of English viceroys and now the focal point for government ceremonial functions, including the inauguration of Ireland's presidents.

<a class="external" href="http://www.powerscourt.ie/golfclub/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Powerscourt">Powerscourt</a> estate in Enniskerry, which is owned by the Slazenger family (since 1961), is one of the locations used for filming "The Tudors". It is renowned for its magnificent gardens, the highest waterfall in Ireland & an 18-hole championship golf course within the 1000-acre estate. It was originally an important strategic site for the Anglo- Normans who came to Ireland in the late 12th century. By the year 1300 a castle had been built & was in the possession of the Le Poer (Power) family.

The house has been used as a filming location for "The Count of Monte Cristo" (2002), "David Copperfield" (2000), Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon" (1974) & "Where's Jack" in 1969.

<a class="external" href="http://www.tourismresources.ie/cht/hume2.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Humewood Castle">Humewood Castle,</a> Kiltegan is located in Ireland's Wicklow Mountains & was designed by English architect William White in 1867 for William Wentworth Fitzwilliam Hume Dick. The residence (with 440 acres) was recently bought by German-born businesswoman, socialite & polo devotee Renata E. Coleman bought the crumbling manse at auction for less than £1 million. (Its market value is now estimated at over £21 million). Humewood Castle lies 45 miles south of Dublin, at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains,The Spice Girls & actors Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta & Winona Ryder have all reportedly bedded down at Humewood. Humewood was featured in an Architectural Digest spread, & was the setting for Laws of Attraction, a film starring Pierce Brosnan & Julianne Moore, & for ABC's television movie, Prince William.

Drimnagh Castle (the "gh" is silent), is a Norman Castle located in Drimnagh, a suburb of Dublin. It is the only remaining castle in Ireland with a flooded moat around it. A number of movies & TV productions have been filmed at Drimnagh Castle, most notably 'The Abduction Club' 2002 Ella Enchanted' 2004, Excalibur & The Tudors in 2007 & 2008

LEFT: Staircase to the Moat, which doubles as Traitors Gate. RIGHT: An interior picture. The interior was used as Hever Castle. <embed height="314" src="http://widget.wetpaintserv.us/wiki/thetudorswiki/widget/youtubevideo/1d31ec1dd9033761365ef2ea9b2a139fc0ad24cd" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="382" wmode="transparent"/> Mark Hildreth who playes Reginald Pole - a vlog of his time at Drimnagh

<a class="external" href="http://www.cccdub.ie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Christchurch Cathedral">Christchurch Cathedral</a>, Dublin - Exterior & Interior 11th-century cathedral established by the Viking king of Dublin. The cathedral has historical ties to the Tudors, it was here that the pretender Lambert Simnel was crowned king of England. Despite the Reformation, Christchurch received funds from Edward VI and Mary I.

The Crypt Right: Ambassador Chapuys meets with the "mysterious assassin" William Brereton

<a class="external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church,_Bray" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Christ Church">Christ Church</a> in Bray, County Wicklow Only a mile from Ardmore Studios, this church was built in the late 1800's and is said to have the finest bells in Ireland.

<a class="external" href="http://www.luggala.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Luggala Estate">Luggala Estate</a>- a unique and special place situated in 5,000 acres in the stunning Wicklow Mountains, just 28 miles from Dublin. It was also also known as the Guinness Estate as it was owned by wealthy arts patron Garech Browne, a member of the Guinness family. However,in September 2007, it was reported that <a class="external" href="http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0919/Jacksonm.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Michael Jackson">Michael Jackson</a> had purchased the estate, which includes a mountain, for €20 million, after an extended three month stay there earlier in the year. The estate has been used as the location of some major films, including "Zardoz" & "Excalibur" “Luggala isn’t so much an estate as a kingdom, a veritable Middle Earth of heather-covered mountains, silvery waterfalls and lakes, emerald forests and meadows.” W Magazine

(Left) a view of Luggala Lake taken by "Brother Martin" Mart Gorman AKA <a href="/account/gormorocks" target="_self" title="gormorocks">gormorocks</a> (on the wiki)

<a class="external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_Castle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Swords Castle">Swords Castle</a> is situated in the centre of the ancient town of Swords about 15 Km north of Dublin City. The castle was built over a period of 400 years starting before 1200 AD.

Kilmainham Jail, Dublin where several executions were filmed. A former prison built in 1796 which is now a museum run by the Irish Government.

Phoenix Park, Dublin - located to the west of the city center is one of the largest city parks in Europe. With a circumference of 7 miles and a total area of 1,760 acres, It is made up of open grasslands, tree-lined avenues, ornamental gardens, lakes and nature trails. The park is also home to a herd of wild deer. Dublin Zoo is located within the park. Also within the park grounds is a 206-ft obelisk in memory of the Duke of Wellington who was born in Dublin in 1769 and the Phoenix Monument located in the very center of the park. The Phoenix Park Visitor Center is at Ashtown Castle, a medieval tower house that is thought to date back to the 17th century, and now houses an exhibition about the history and wildlife of the park.

The Royal Hospital - Kilmainham, Dublin The Royal Hospital Kilmainham in <a class="external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmainham" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Kilmainham">Kilmainham</a>, <a class="external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Dublin">Dublin</a> is one of the finest 17th-century buildings in <a class="external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ireland">Ireland</a>. Built in 1684 by Sir William Robinson although the styling is French after Les Invalides in Paris, there is a Tudor gateway at the end of the long avenue. The Royal Hospital is currently an Irish Modern Art Museum and is open to the public.

The courtyard at the Royal Hospital, was used in the opening scene of The Tudors, season 1 episode 1, where the English Ambassador in Italy alights from his carriage.