Where is Rivals filmed? Location guide for Disney Plus drama

But it's not just the thrilling plot that has captured the attention of viewers, but also the series' filming locations.

From mega mansions, manicured gardens and generally great shots of the English countryside, there are a myriad of picturesque backdrops in the new series.

So, where was Rivals filmed? Read on to find out about the locations used for Rivals.

Is Rutshire real?

No, Rutshire is an entirely fictional place devised by author Jilly Cooper for her series of well-known novels, The Rutshire Chronicles.

Although Rutshire itself isn't a real county in the UK, it is based in the very real Cotswolds, a region of central South West England that is known for its picturesque views and quaint market towns.

As described in Cooper's novels, the world of Rutshire is one of sprawling country estates and quintessentially British landscapes, so viewers are in for a treat when they tune into the Disney Plus series.

Where was Rivals filmed? All the locations

As for where the new Disney Plus series was filmed, as it is set in the Cotswolds, Rivals was shot across several locations in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Tetbury itself serves as the fictional village Cotchester, the town where Corinium is based in Rivals.

Working at the Tetbury Visitor Information Centre, Matthew Nichol told i News: "The Rivals cast and crew spent the first week of August here, and our Tetbury signs were replaced with Cotchester ones, while many businesses on Long Street had their fronts changed to look like 1980s displays."

According to Nichol, Tetbury also welcomed some fabulous old cars.

Chavenage House, Tetbury

In a press pack for the series, it's stated that the team behind the new series "required locations as impressive as their characters", with a starting point for producer Eliza Mellor being Caroline Lowsley-Williams, the owner of Chavenage House in Tetbury.

Mellor had previously worked with Lowsley-Williams on Poldark, and found that the Elizabethan Grade I-listed Chavenage was a perfect fit for Declan O’Hara’s (Aidan Turner) house in the series.

Chavenage House is open for visitors and you can book here.

Berkeley House, Tetbury

Cameron Cook's house was shot at a Grade II-listed property in Tetbury known as Berkeley House, which is available as a holiday rental.

St Mary's Church, Tetbury

St Mary's Church in Tetbury also became St Agnes and St Isaac Cotchester for a wedding scene.

Neston Park, Wiltshire

The house of Tony and Monica Baddingham, known as The Falconry, was shot on location at Neston Park, which is currently not open to visitors.

Thankfully, Lowsley-Williams also made a list of suitable local houses for other characters. "Caroline introduced us to the owners of our Falconry, Lord Baddingham’s home, and also to those of the house where we shot the tennis," Mellor added.

"They’d never had filming before, so we’d never have got it without her."

Wilton House, Salisbury

Other locations used in the series include Wilton House, Salisbury, an impressive English country house that has been used in The Crown, Bridgerton and Pride & Prejudice.

Corsham, Wiltshire

The market town of Corsham, Wiltshire, was also used for locations in Rivals, a place known for its history, original homes and winding streets. It was a location previously used for Poldark.

Wraxall, Somerset

The Battleaxes Pub in Wraxall, Somerset was used for a location in the series.

Cast member Aidan Turner reportedly revealed on Facebook that filming had taken place at the Tudor-style pub.

Bristol

In one of the later episodes, where the television awards take place and Tony (David Tennant), Rupert (Alex Hassell) and Declan (Aidan Turner) come face-to-face after their divide, filming took place in Corn Street, Bristol.

The red carpet scene unfolded outside Bristol's Harbour Hotel, while the interior shots were done at Bottle Yard Studios in the city.

Rivals is available to watch on Disney Plus. Sign up to Disney Plus now for £4.99 per month or £79.90 for a full year.

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