The Bizarre History Behind The Filming Location Of 'The Great British Bake Off'
The newest season of The Great British Bake Off is officially upon us. And for the 14th installment of our favorite amateur baking competition, you can expect to see some changes.
Host Matt Lucas has been replaced with television personality Alison Hammond. There’s an entirely new lineup of competitors, including the show’s first-ever deaf baker. And the show has officially done away with international themed weeks (so don’t expect to be subjected to another painful Mexican Week).
But, of course, there are still plenty of the show’s delightful qualities that we know and love. And few are as iconic as the big white tent. Every year, the bakers beat the heat in a pristine white structure set in a charming pastoral field.
But did you know that the tent isn’t always in the same location? Over the course of 14 seasons, the production has bounced all over the United Kingdom. The very first season of the show involved filming at multiple different locations, from the Cotswolds to Scotland.
The GBBO team quickly decided that sticking to one location was a smarter idea, shooting the first few seasons in Redbridge and Somerset before finally settling on the perfect spot at Welford Park in Berkshire, about an hour and a half west of London.
Welford Park has been home to the iconic GBBO tent since 2014, with the exception of the 11th and 12th seasons. To accommodate for the pandemic and house the contestants during filming, production pivoted to Down Hall in Essex.
For season 14 of The Great British Bake Off, the contestants are back at Welford Park. The estate was formerly used by monks before King Henry VIII repurposed the space to become his personal hunting lodge. The property has changed ownership multiple times over its 371-year history and is still used as a private residence to this day.
Want to visit Welford Park? Well, you can't just pop in whenever you want. However, the grounds are opened to the public for a short time every year so guests can view the estate’s large collection of snowdrop flowers. And of course, the estate is often used as a location for film and television shoots.
If you want to see where the GBBO magic happens, you'll just need some careful planning. The dates when the grounds are open vary every year, usually according to when the flowers are in bloom. You can see when Welford Park is open to the public (and even book a stay at one of the cottages on the property!) by checking their official website.
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