Haddon Hall: The magnificent Derbyshire manor house that's been the backdrop for blockbuster films

Derbyshire is home to many stately homes and tourist attractions. Among those is Haddon Hall, a magnificent manor house near Bakewell.

Haddon Hall is one of the best-preserved medieval houses in the UK. Although it dates back to the 12th century, much of its current structure is from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Because of this, and it’s idyllic location in the heart of the dramatic Peak District, Haddon Hall is a favoured location for filming blockbuster hits.

In 2019, it had a starring role as a backdrop for Mary Queen of Scots, starring Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan. Visit Peaks hailed this a “fitting choice, considering Derbyshire’s links to the real Mary Queen of Scots.”

In the film, Haddon was used in scenes representing Hampton Court Palace; as the interior of Lord Darnley’s Chamber at Holyrood; and as a servant prep room. The Hall's entrance and lower courtyard were also used as a makeshift camp.

This isn’t the first time Haddon Hall has appeared on the silver screen.

It has been the backdrop for several film and TV versions of Jane Eyre, including Cory Fukunagas’s acclaimed 2011 movie, cult classic The Princess Bride (1987), Elizabeth (1998), Pride and Prejudice (2005), and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Home to the Manners family, Haddon is renowned for its romantic atmosphere and unspoiled rooms, including a medieval kitchen and Elizabethan long gallery (which regularly makes an appearance on screen).