‘Vanity Fair’ filming locations: Where was ITV’s new mini-series filmed?

The director of ITV’s Vanity Fair has revealed where the new period drama mini-series was filmed.

The seven-part adaptation of English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray’s classic 1847 novel started filming in September 2017.

Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Vanity Fair follows modern heroine Becky Sharp as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English Society.

Discussing the production’s locations, director James Strong explained: “In part of the story they go to Brussels on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. We found that Budapest [in Hungary] gave us the perfect period architecture. It also doubles for Pumpernickel in Germany which is a place they travel to on the European tour.”

He continued: “The book is set very firmly in London, with the exception of the Queen’s Crawley. For me it was crucial we shot in London, in as many of the actual streets and squares Thackeray talks about.

“We used Fitzroy Square for the Osborne and Sedley houses. It’s Russell Square in the book but it’s the same architecture. We also filmed in locations like Lancaster House, Syon House, Osterley House and Marble Hill, which, again, give you that authenticity. They are the real thing.”

The director added: “Our production designer Anna Pritchard did an amazing job in recreating the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens which is a big part of episode one.

“The novel moves around a lot and goes to different places. The challenge was to have the scope of all of these different locations and places.”

He also revealed where they filmed their epic recreation of the Battle of Waterloo: “It was an amazing logistical experience to transform this farm in Reading, Mapledurham, where they shot The Eagle Has Landed.”

The original novel is available to buy on Amazon.

Vanity Fair is available to watch in the USA exclusively on Amazon Prime.