The story of King George VI, his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.
Old Royal Naval College Visitor Centre, King William Walk, Greenwich Town Centre, East Greenwich, Greenwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greater London, England, SE10 9HU, United Kingdom
Windsor Great Park Post Office & General Store, Prince Consort's Drive, The Village, Old Windsor, Windsor and Maidenhead, England, SL4 2HZ, United Kingdom
The Electric Elephant Cafe & Gallery, 186a, Crampton Street, Browning Estate, Elephant and Castle, London Borough of Southwark, Greater London, England, SE17 3AE, United Kingdom
College Tunnel, Park Row, Greenwich Town Centre, East Greenwich, Greenwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greater London, England, SE10 9NB, United Kingdom
Westminster Muslim Cultural Centre, 30, Winchester Street, Tachbrook Estate, Pimlico, City of Westminster, Greater London, England, SW1V 4RW, United Kingdom
The story of George VI conquering his stutter is intimate, but the film had to conjure Wembley Stadium, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace – none of which it could actually use. So it improvised brilliantly: a Cambridgeshire cathedral became the Abbey, two Northern rugby grounds became 1920s Wembley, and a Marylebone townhouse became the room where a king learned to speak.
Where was The King’s Speech filmed?
The film was shot in London and around England – Portland Place in Marylebone, Ely Cathedral as Westminster Abbey, Northern stadiums as Wembley, and stately locations standing in for palaces.
Every King’s Speech location, explained
1
33 Portland Place – the speech therapy
Lionel Logue’s consulting rooms – the peeling, intimate heart of the film – were shot at 33 Portland Place, a grand but faded Marylebone townhouse in London.
2
Ely Cathedral as Westminster Abbey
The coronation was filmed at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, whose soaring Gothic interior stood in for Westminster Abbey (which rarely allows filming).
3
Northern rugby grounds as Wembley
The opening 1925 Empire Exhibition at Wembley was recreated using Elland Road in Leeds and Odsal Stadium in Bradford – a clever, budget-savvy stand-in for the old Wembley.
4
Palaces and factories
Buckingham Palace interiors used locations like RAF Halton, with the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich, Lancaster House and the Queen Street Mill textile museum filling out the period world.
Planning a visit
Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire is a spectacular day out and welcomes visitors. In London, Portland Place is a walkable Marylebone street, and the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich is a free, grand slice of royal London.
King's Speech Fun Facts
1
Wembley was two Northern grounds The 1925 Wembley opening was recreated at Elland Road (Leeds) and Odsal Stadium (Bradford).
2
Ely Cathedral played Westminster Abbey The coronation was filmed at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, as Westminster Abbey seldom permits filming.
3
A real, faded townhouse Logue’s therapy rooms were shot at 33 Portland Place, a grand Marylebone house whose peeling walls were left as-is for atmosphere.
4
It swept the Oscars The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Colin Firth.
5
Logue's notebooks were rediscovered The real Lionel Logue’s diaries surfaced during production and shaped the script’s authenticity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cathedral plays Westminster Abbey?
Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire.
Where were the therapy scenes filmed?
At 33 Portland Place, a grand old townhouse in Marylebone, London.
Can you visit the King's Speech locations?
Yes – Ely Cathedral and the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich are both open to visitors.
How was Wembley Stadium recreated?
Using two Northern rugby grounds – Elland Road in Leeds and Odsal Stadium in Bradford.
