Rivals, an outrageous and raunchy adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel, has returned to Disney+ with its second series, diving back into the lives of the upper-class elite. Viewers have been captivated by the countryside ever since the new season debuted, set in the charming fictional county of 1980s Rutshire and centred on the cutthroat television world of Corinium TV.
Where Was Rivals Season One Filmed?
England
Tetbury, Gloucestershire – Tetbury served as the fictional village of Cotchester. Signage was replaced and shopfronts reimagined, including banners welcoming Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The real-life Cotswolds civil parish is near Highgrove House, formerly the family residence of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Chavenage House, Tetbury – Journalist Declan O'Hara's new home, "The Priory," was filmed at Chavenage House, an Elizabethan estate built in 1576. It previously appeared in Poldark and is open to visitors by reservation for £12 per person.
Berkeley House, Tetbury – Cameron Cook's house, "Hamilton Terrace," was filmed at the Grade II-listed luxury holiday rental Berkeley House, a three-storey Georgian townhouse with a large drawing room, cellar, and landscaped gardens.
Neston Park, Wiltshire – The Grade II-listed home of Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) dates back to around 1790. "The Falconry" hosts garden parties, helicopter landings, and punch-ups. The estate is not currently open to the public.
Corsham, Wiltshire – The fictional village of Cotchester was also staged in Corsham, a stone market town with historic buildings and quaint coffee shops.
Battleaxes at Wraxall – Cameras rolled at Battleaxes, a Grade II-listed Tudor-style gastropub used as a fictional Rutshire restaurant. The 1882 pub closed in 2019 and reopened as The Temperance House offices for property developers.
Cranmore Station, Somerset – Cranmore, the main railway station of the preserved East Somerset Railway, featured in scenes with Freddie and Lizzie (Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson). Families can take steam trains with Santa or festive high teas throughout December.
Bristol, England – Bristol provided backdrops for several scenes, including Castlewood office in Clevedon as Corinium TV headquarters. The Aeronautical technology museum Aerospace in Filton hosted the Concorde set for interior scenes and the opening romp. Corn Street doubled for London street shots, including the Harbour Hotel and club scenes at The Cosy Club. Rivals was the first project to use TBY2 at Bristol's The Bottle Yard Studios, including replica 1980s TV studios for Declan O'Hara's chat show.
Spain
Much of episode six takes place in Spain, where Cameron and Rupert stay at the five-star Las Dunas Grand Luxury Hotel in Estepona. They exchange gazes across Andalusian-style balconies and take walks through Calle San Agustin, Plaza del Obispo, and drink at Casa de los Bates Restaurant in Malaga's historic centre.
Where Was Rivals Season Two Filmed?
Beaufort Polo Club, Tetbury – One of the UK's most prestigious polo clubs, established in 1872, was used for close-ups of the Rutshire Cup sequence in episode one. Summer weekday matches are typically free to watch.
Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire – The crew created a polo pitch in the grounds of Berkeley Castle for much of the match in series two. The historic castle, built in 1153, remains home to the Berkeley family, with seasonal garden tours, a cafe, and gift shop open to the public.
Ammerdown House, Somerset – Campbell-Black's country abode, Penscombe Court, was filmed at Ammerdown House in Kilmersdon, a Grade I listed building from 1788. It is currently occupied by Lord Hylton and not open to the public.
Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel – Declan and Maud O'Hara stay at the 150-year-old Grade II-listed Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel in episode one. Extensively refurbished in 2019, the hotel is near the harbourside, cobbled Denmark Street, and the Bristol Hippodrome Theatre, which also appears this season.
The first three episodes of Rivals season two are streaming now on Disney+.
