close
close

Does Saltburn really exist? What you should know about the film location


Does Saltburn really exist? What you should know about the film location

With its baroque façade, opulent interior, shady rooms and infamous bathtub, the British mansion in “Saltburn” is a personality in itself.

If you dream of dancing through Saltburn to Murder on the Dancefloor, you’ll be pleased to know that the villa in the film is actually a real place.

The country house where the dark and twisted Prime Video film was shot is a real house in Northamptonshire, England.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the famous property.

How much of the fictional Saltburn mansion is real?

The film was shot at Drayton House, a 127-room English baroque mansion in Lowick, Northamptonshire, according to an interview director Emerald Fennel gave to Architectural Digest.

The Drayton House served as the backdrop for The Drayton House served as the backdrop for

The Drayton House served as the backdrop for

The long history of the house is conveyed very realistically in the film, because the first version of today’s Drayton House was built around the year 1300, according to Architectural Digest.

“It’s never even been photographed, let alone filmed,” director Emerald Fennell told Architectural Digest. “We always wanted to convey the exact feeling that this is a real place.”

Just being in the house had an effect on the cast. Rosamund Pike, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Elspeth Catton, was completely immersed in the environment.

“I actually lived in the house, so I kind of got deep into the role,” Pike said on TODAY on Dec. 11. “Didn’t do anything the whole time but act. After four weeks, I realized I hadn’t set foot in the real world yet.”

The baroque exterior was added in the 18th century, but not everything you see in the film is exactly like that in real life. The film’s art department created some of the artwork and sculptures, including portraits of the fictional Catton family. According to Architectural Digest, the bathtub used in one scene to illustrate Oliver Quick’s (Barry Keoghan) obsession with Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) was also built for the film.

The labyrinth, which plays a central role in a devastating scene during a summer night party, was also commissioned by the filmmakers and consists partly of CGI.

Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, looks out over the grounds of Saltburn, the real Drayton House in England Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, looks out over the grounds of Saltburn, the real Drayton House in England

Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, looks out over the grounds of Saltburn, the real Drayton House in England

“When you see buildings like this in films, you often feel like you’re not allowed to touch things or sit on them,” production designer Suzie Davies told Elle Decor. “It feels staid and respectable, and you’re a little in awe of the art, the furniture and the textiles. We wanted this film to feel lived in and fully inhabited by our characters.”

Can you visit the real Saltburn?

It’s a private home owned by a family and therefore not open to the public. The only possible way in is to hope the family has a college-age son and then hatch a plan to ingratiate yourself with him and snag an invitation for the holidays.

“You just can’t imagine the size of this house,” Pike said. “And there’s only one family living in it. They opened their doors and let us film in every room.”

Because it’s a private building and not under the control of Britain’s heritage authorities, Davies and filmmaker Emerald Fennell had a little more leeway in setting the stage, and the owners allowed them to make changes to the interior.

“I wouldn’t be allowed to go near a National Trust or English Heritage site!” Davies told Elle Decor.

Even though you can’t make your own TikTok video dancing around the house, people have still made the trip to check out the exterior and grounds.

“The #Saltburn obsession continues with a visit to #Draytonhouse in #Northamptonshire,” wrote one TikTok user under a video showing the outside of the house from a distance.

TikTok videos with the hashtag #draytonhouse have been viewed more than 6 million times.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *